Could Wilson be a sleeper on the offensive interior?
The NFL is constantly in search of offensive linemen, and while tackles get most of the attention, good linemen are appreciated at every position.
The fact of the matter is that there are fewer good starting offensive linemen than there are offensive line positions in the NFL. Few teams have five rock-solid starting linemen, and fewer still have enough depth to survive more than one or two injuries along the line.
So not only are starters in short supply, so is quality depth, as the New York Giants are well aware.
This year’s interior offensive line class isn’t a deep one, and many players who will be drafted as guards or centers this year played tackle in college. One of the exceptions is Georgia offensive center Jared Wilson.
Wilson might not be a starter right out of the gate, but he’s a natural center with the skillset teams will want to develop. Would the Giants be the right environment to develop him?
Prospect: Jared Wilson (55)
Games Watched: vs. Alabama (2024), vs. Texas (2024), vs. Ole Miss (2024), vs. Tennessee (2024)
Red Flags: Ankle (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-3 (estimated)
Weight: 310 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Athleticism
- Competitive toughness
- Versatility
Wilson has a good blend of size, athleticism, and versatility to play the offensive interior at the NFL level.
He should be able to play in a wide variety of schemes as a center prospect at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds. He has enough power to execute man-gap blocks as well as the athleticism to pull or execute inside or outside zone blocks. Furthermore, he has experience at guard and could play the position for a team that bases their blocking scheme on zone principles.
Wilson has quick feet which allow him to redirect or mirror speed on the interior, as well as pull or work up to the second level. He also has enough play strength to sustain his blocks or anchor against power when he plays with good leverage.
Wilson flashes a good football IQ, understanding the importance of positioning and how to take half-man leverage to open running lanes against larger defenders. Likewise, he processes pressure well and is able to effectively play stunts and twists, as well as pick up delayed pressure.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Lunging and footwork
Wilson has a pronounced tendency to lunge at defenders which has a fairly profound impact on the rest of his game.
Rather than move his feet to meet defenders who aren’t coming to him, he will bend at the waist and get his chest past his toes to try to get his hands on them. When that happens, his feet get stuck in the mud, compromising his anchor, his footwork to mirror speed, and his overall leverage. Those lunges minimize Wilson’s play strength as well as his balance, and he can find himself on the ground, stumbling forward, or being walked back into the pocket. Defenders with good technique can exploit his lunges for easy access into the backfield.
Wilson’s tendency toward being a heavy-legged waist bender is most pronounced against athletic defenders, but can occur any time he has to make a reach block.
Wilson also suffered an ankle injury in 2024, which cost him a game. It’s unlikely to be a significant issue, but teams will want to do their due diligence with respect to his health.
Game Tape
(Wilson is the Georgia center, wearing No. 55)
Projection
Wilson projects as a reserve interior offensive lineman, at least to start his career.
Wilson has the physical and athletic traits to push for a starting job at the NFL level, but he’ll likely need development to overcome his tendency toward lunging at defenders. That tendency to lunge compromises pretty much every aspect of his game, from his footwork, to his hands, to his overall play strength.
He flashes legitimate upside as a scheme-diverse center, but can also be prone to some pretty ugly reps when he gets out over his skis. Teams could look at Wilson as a utility interior lineman who can be depth at both guard and center, particularly if they’re a zone-based offense. But whether he’s able to develop into a starter will depend on the caliber of his offensive line coach and whether he gets the time to overcome his bad habits.
Does he fit the Giants?
No.
Final Word: An early Day 3 value.
