2023 NFL Draft: Peter Skoronski, Joe Tippmann, O’Cyrus Torrence Lead Offensive Line Rankings

2023 NFL Draft: Guard Rankings

OG11: Andrew Vorhees (USC)

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 3

OG10: Braeden Daniels (Utah)

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 3

OG9: Antonio Mafi (UCLA)

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 3

OG8: Emil Ekiyor (Alabama)

NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3

OG7: Nick Broeker (Ole Miss)

NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 3

OG6: Jaxson Kirkland (Washington)

NFL Draft Grade: Fringe Day 2

OG5: Chandler Zavala (NC State)

Anyone who knows me knows I love Chandler Zavala. His power jumped off the screen at NC State, but his time at the Shrine Bowl stamped everything I saw on tape. Zavala manhandled an impressive group of pass rushers and flexed the best anchor of any interior lineman in the 2023 NFL Draft. Once he sets his feet, there is no moving him.

As a run blocker, Zavala uses his relentless motor to create holes and free up room for his ball carriers between the tackles. He is not the most athletic guy in the world but could be an instant starter in a power-run offense. I’d take Zavala late on day two and let him compete for a starting gig in training camp.

NFL Draft Grade: Late Day 2

OG4: Cody Mauch (North Dakota State)

North Dakota State may not be a powerhouse to the casual college football fan, but the pipeline of players they have sent to the NFL in the last decade grows more impressive by the year. The next one to come through the school and go inside the top 100? Cody Mauch.

Mauch is full of personality and is the type of prospect that will not rest until he puts his assignment into the turf. The Bison star started for 2.5 seasons and became a fixture on one of the best offensive lines in the country. He served as the starting left tackle and allowed two sacks in his entire career.

That is where the projection gets interesting because I do not see Mauch as a tackle. His arms are too short, and his form is too inconsistent to hold up on the edge. This is not a death sentence for Mauch, as he grades out as a starting guard early in his career. His blend of deceptive quickness and hard-hat mentality will make him a fan favorite.

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 2

OG3: Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse)

I have no qualms with evaluators that put Matthew Bergeron in the offensive tackle group. However, his traits are best fit on the inside. The Syracuse lineman boasts adequate arm length, but he would be more comfortable and effective with help on each side of him.

Bergeron only has four career snaps from the interior, but his time at the Senior Bowl showed him predominately taking snaps from guard. He looked smoother, quicker, and more confident. Bergeron’s ability to recover when he loses leverage is his calling card, as he can never be counted out of a play, but it will be more difficult to do this on Sundays.

Talent-wise, Bergeron checks the boxes. Fundamentally, he could be better at the point of attack and using his footwork and hands to slow the progress of pass rushers. Kicking inside to a spot he never played at Syracuse is risky, but it is the way to get the most out of his potential.

NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Day 2

OG2: Steve Avila (TCU)

Steve Avila is another prospect with droves of college experience on the offensive line. His overall athleticism and agility leave much to be desired, but the teach tape blocking technique he exhibits is enough to mitigate the physical risks.

Avila spent most of his career with TCU as a center, but he moved over to left guard in 2022 and put up the best tape thus far. He is as good as any in the class at hand fighting and mirroring pass rushers, even showing the ability to play 100+ snaps at right tackle when called upon.

Avila’s lack of top-end talent shows up more in the run game. He is limited when it comes to blocking in space, as the TCU leader is slow to leak out and doesn’t always have a plan when he engages. Defenders can take advantage of this lack of agility, but his power blocking levels the playing field.

He is experienced and motivated and brings a leadership quality many NFL coaches look for in linemen. Avila may never be a consistent All-Pro, but he will be an above-average starter for quite some time. That is worth an early day two selection on my Big Board.

NFL Draft Grade: Early Day 2

OG1: O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida)

The best guard in the 2023 NFL Draft is O’Cyrus Torrence out of Florida. He is a bruiser in the run game and regularly overpowers his assignment with dominant grip strength and a lower-body drive that allows him to churn the pile with ease.

Torrence is tall, and this sometimes is a detriment as a pass blocker. He fails to get as low as he could, allowing the defender to get under his pads and neutralize the strength that Torrence brings to the table.

Still, he is not a liability in pass protection. Torrence is strong enough to anchor in and is right there with Chandler Zavala when it comes to rooting himself into the turf. The Florida superstar was charged with zero sacks in 2022 and didn’t allow one in three seasons with Louisiana-Lafayette before joining the Gators.

Torrence’s only year in the SEC resulted in some of the best tape from any lineman. He is an easy projection to the NFL due to the strength he possesses. Torrence doesn’t rank amongst the best athletes in the class, but he has more than enough in his 347-pound frame to be a needle mover on any offensive line.

NFL Draft Grade: Fringe Day 1

Honorable Mentions:
Henry Bainivalu (Washington)
Jake Andrews (Troy)
Asim Richards (North Carolina)
Caleb Chandler (Louisville)
Brandon Kipper (Oregon State)