Miami Dolphins 2025 NFL Draft needs: Interior offensive line rankings

The NFL Draft for 2025 is just over a week away. As NFL teams close in on the addition of college prospects for this year, it is time we took a look at some of the top players at the Miami Dolphins’ positions of need. To start this series, we will work our way through some of the interior offensive linemen who could find their way to South Florida soon.

The list below started with the top five rankings from NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, then continued to expand with the addition of other players from other rankings around the web. Throughout, if the website provided analysis on the player, that is included as well.

If the Dolphins were to select someone from this list, who should they take and when should they make a pick to address the offensive line? Is there someone this list misses who should be in consideration? Head to the comments to discuss.

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Tyler Booker, Alabama

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Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 1

ESPN: 1 (Guard)

PFF: 1 (Guard)

CBS Sports: 1

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 1

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 1-2. Two-year starter and team captain with elite physical traits. Booker is a downhill run blocker with average explosiveness into first contact, but he utilizes his size and power to overtake defenders in the second phase of the block. He can play too far out over his toes but that’s correctable. Booker is an average athlete in protection but makes up for it with technique and football intelligence to defend against twists. He’s tough, smart and a top leader. The traits, football character and play strength will make him a good starter for a downhill, power-based attack.

ESPN: Booker covers up defenders and gets some push in the run game. His footwork is sound on zone runs, and he takes sound angles working up to the second level. He is an outstanding competitor who plays with an edge and to the whistle. Booker doesn’t change directions well on tape, but he’s an effective pass blocker who delivers a powerful punch. His outstanding length makes him tough to get around. His size makes him tough to move. He identifies assignments and communicates with teammates. He picks up line stunts and pressures. — Steve Muench

PFF: Booker has some foot speed and balance issues that keep him from being a blue-chip prospect, but there is still a lot to like as a powerful, well-built, competitive and high football IQ guard prospect for a man/gap heavy run scheme.

CBS Sports: Tyler Booker is a massive road-grader with heavy hands and an elite motor to play through the whistle on almost every snap. He excels at moving and pulling in space as well as displacing defenders on double teams. He’s experienced with over 2,000 reps vs. high-level competition.

SB Nation: Booker received all but one first-place vote in our rankings. He is one of the largest players in this draft class, regardless of position, at 6’5 and 321 pounds. Add in 11” hands and you got yourself a ready-made starter on the interior that will envelop opposing players with his massive power and girth.

Despite testing poorly at the NFL Combine, Booker did not see much of a drop across draft boards. That’s because his game is winning in a phone booth with a high football IQ that helps him transcend any athletic shortcomings. Booker will thrive in a power-run scheme where he’s asked to wash down and kick out defenders while avoiding having to run out into space to make blocks. In pass protection, he’s impossible to rush through and can dissect stunts and twists coming his way in a hurry.

Even without an elite get-off, Booker is capable of absorbing contact and readjusting to win the rep. If he can refine his game to be more of a proactive punisher instead of being more reactive, he’ll be able to take his game to a whole other level in the pros.

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Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

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Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 2

ESPN: 4 (Guard)

CBS Sports: 3

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 2

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Broad-framed three-year starter with core power and leg drive to hold the line of scrimmage or change it. He can stick and sustain in-line or on the second level and is a plus finisher. Jackson has the athleticism for all tasks as an outside-zone blocker. He is also able to accelerate and lead the way on long pulls or counters. He leans against stunting/slanting fronts, and he can be tardy in opening his hips and activating his feet for recoveries. He’s long but punches with wider hands and struggles to consistently maintain his edges when mirroring. Overall, Jackson has the measurables, power and movement for any scheme as a starting guard.

ESPN: Jackson started 30 games at left guard and nine games at left tackle at Ohio State. He covers up defenders and gets some push in the run game. Jackson is also quick enough to reach linebackers when he climbs to the second level and can get out in front when he pulls. He is tough to shake when he locks on in pass protection, and he can easily reset if he doesn’t win with his hands initially. He fits best at guard, where he is a better pass blocker than he is at tackle, but he moves well enough to compete and provide some depth at tackle. — Steve Muench

CBS Sports: Donovan Jackson has a high ceiling and is one of the better athletes in the country on the offensive line. He’s a superior and versatile athlete who has hit 20 miles per hour on the GPS. He has Pro Bowl potential at guard with good feet to get in the proper angles for success. He’s played more than 2,500 snaps and is battle tested and productive against good competition.

SB Nation: Jackson is a three-year starter for the Buckeyes who helped lead them to the CFP National Championship this past season. While he mainly played left guard, Jackson started nine games at left tackle in 2024 to replace the injured teammate Josh Simmons.

The 6’4, 315-pound Jackson is the whole package at guard. He’s well-built, powerful, and athletic enough to fit any scheme at the next level. With experience (and success) at both left guard and left tackle, Jackson will provide excellent versatility for a team that wants to stay multiple on offense.

Jackson plays with fantastic leverage tied to phenomenal footwork in the run game. He plays with a sturdy base and is rarely pushed off his spot in pass protection. Jackson played his best football against the best competition, as well.

He was the only other player to receive a first-place vote.

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Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

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Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 3

ESPN: 2 (Guard)

CBS Sports: 2

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 3

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 1-2. Tough-guy profile on this prospect coming out of North Dakota State. Zabel has an NFL frame with room for additional mass and possesses a good starting point in terms of his play strength. He has to play with really quick hands and good feet in order to compensate for short arms that make sustaining blocks and controlling pass rushers more challenging. Teams might ask Zabel to snap during draft season in order to project positional flexibility.

ESPN: Zabel started 41 games over five seasons at left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard. His 9-foot-3 broad jump is outstanding for an interior offensive lineman, and that lower body explosiveness shows up on tape. He fires off the ball, lifts defenders and gets some push in the run game. He is effective at combination blocking and working up to the second level. He times his punch well, works his hands inside and moves his feet once he’s engaged in pass protection. Zabel mirrors and redirects well. He can recover when he gets caught leaning or out of position. He gives too much ground at times but digs in and fights to anchor. He recognizes and picks up blitzes. — Steve Muench

CBS Sports: Grey Zabel played LT at a high level in 2024, but he’s also played RT, LG and C in college. His NFL future is almost certainly inside, where he has a chance to become a special player on Day 1. When he’s technically sound, he’s patient in pass sets, times punches well and can anchor vs. bull rushes. Technique can break down vs. NFL-caliber speed rushers, hence the move inside. He moves really well laterally, mirrors well in passpro, and he’s both athletic and powerful as a run blocker.

SB Nation: Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson (No. 2) and Zabel are justifiably interchangeable at their spots, which really goes to show just how good this guard group is here at the top. One fifth-place vote by our experts kept him from passing Jackson, but he was second or third on every other ballot.

Zabel was a standout at left tackle for the reigning FCS champ North Dakota State Bison but the interior is where he’ll likely find his best position in the NFL. At 6’6” and 312 pounds, Zabel is gritty and tough coming from a mid-major power known for exemplifying those same traits throughout their running dynasty. Zabel is built well to handle the rigors of the NFL and his experience having played four of the five positions up front will be valuable to a team who cherishes elite versatility in its offensive line room.

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Jared Wilson, Georgia

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Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 4

ESPN: 1 (Center)

PFF: 1 (Center)

CBS Sports: 7

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 7

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 2-3. Wilson is a one-year starter lacking the size and power to hold his own against an NFL nose tackle. He’s athletic and should continue improving with additional experience but will need help from bigger guards next to him. He plays with inside hands and decent core strength in both phases but would benefit from better strain and a finisher’s mentality. He’s rangy and agile in protection and was rarely bull-rushed. Wilson could be targeted by teams in the middle rounds of the draft, but his potential to struggle against the power of NFL opponents lowers his floor.

ESPN: Wilson started for one year at Georgia and has a high ceiling. He ran by far the fastest 40 (4.84 seconds) and tied for the second-fastest 10-yard split (1.72 seconds) out of all offensive lineman at the combine. His broad jump and short shuttle also ranked in the top five. Wilson is already an effective pass blocker and has the tools to get even better. He gets set quickly, mirrors well and can press defender off his frame when he gets his hands inside. Despite limited experience, Wilson shows great awareness, redirects well and properly passes off defenders against stunts. His mobility makes him a great fit for zone heavy teams, and he does a good job of covering defenders at the second level. Acting as a lead-blocker when pulling is another one of his strengths. — Steve Muench

PFF: Wilson may be just a one-year starter, but he has the movement skills to be a starting center in the NFL if he can continue to improve his IQ and anticipation with more snaps.

CBS Sports: Jared Wilson was a one-year starter vs. top competition who showed a lot of traits and promise to be a starting center based on this season. He’s a good athlete with strength at the point and a good understanding of the position. It seems as though he can play guard as well, which would add to his value at the next level.

SB Nation: Wilson put on a show at this year’s NFL Combine and has asserted himself as our top-ranked center in the draft class.

In Indianapolis, Wilson ran a position-best 4.84 in the 40-yard dash and jumped 34 inches in the vertical. He’s athletic for his size and a worth ethic that’s evident on film, but he overall lacks the strength to immediately come in and start for an NFL team.

Wilson wins with a finesse game that works at the collegiate level but he’ll have to spend some time in the weight room and refine his body composition to maximize his potential at the next level.

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Tate Ratledge, Georgia

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Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 5

ESPN: 6 (Guard)

PFF: 2 (Guard)

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 4 (tied)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 2. A three-year starting right guard with a relatively safe floor, Ratledge plays with a dirt-dog mentality. His pad level is too high, but he mauls his way into early advantages in the run game. He has strong hands and uses them effectively to control and sustain his block. He’s an average athlete with adequate foot quickness and technique to get the job done. Ratledge lacks length and will reach when punching, opening him to quick counters. He sees and handles twists with above-average success and has enough anchor and redirect power to protect his pocket. Ratledge’s mentality and toughness should help him become a solid starter fairly quickly.

PFF: Ratledge isn’t the most dynamic athlete, but his solid pass-blocking technique and downhill power in the run game give him a chance to be a starter in the NFL.

SB Nation: Ratledge was one of the standouts amongst his position group at this year’s combine. He posted a 4.97 in the 40-yard dash to go with a 32” vertical jump and a 9’5” broad.

A three-year starting right guard for the Bulldogs, Ratledge is just that on the field: A dog. He plays with a nasty and physical demeanor which goes well with his 6’6, 308-pound frame and the timeless mullet he’s often sporting.

Ratledge works double-teams very well with a stiff upfield hip to uproot interior defenders and make space for Georgia’s stable of running backs. He fights like hell to reach inside shades and has the hand and core strength to torque defenders where he wants them. He needs to work on his pad level but a surprising anchor helps make up for the plays where he loses initially off the snap.

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Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

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ESPN: 3 (Guard)

CBS Sports: 6

SB Nation Consensus Rankings:

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 2-3. Durable three-year starter who is built like a right guard but has valuable protection experience as a collegiate tackle. Savaiinaea doesn’t have the athleticism to stick at right tackle in the NFL, but can play there in a pinch with some help. He’s very wide and can engulf smaller opponents as a base blocker while sealing off double teams and down blocks. His feet often deaden on contact, creating opportunities for defenders to leak through his edges in both the run and pass games. Savaiinaea’s size works to his advantage and he could become a serviceable starting guard in time.

ESPN: Savaiinaea lined up at right tackle, left tackle and right guard in college. At the combine, he tied for the second-fastest 10-yard split (1.72) out of the offensive linemen and ran a 4.95 40-yard dash. Those are impressive numbers for an offensive lineman, especially one that weighs 324 pounds. He played guard in four games in 2023, and he’s a better pass blocker on the inside than at tackle. Savaiinaea’s length and frame make it tough to get around him when he plays inside. He moves well enough to mirror when his footwork is sound, and he’s strong enough to anchor when he wins with his hands. He primarily played offensive tackle, and he can provide depth there in the NFL. He’s not a fundamentally sound run blocker, but he is big enough to wall off defenders and strong enough to get push. — Steve Muench

CBS Sports: Jonah Savaiinaea is a thick and powerful tackle who played both sides of the offensive line this year, and he has a ton of room to grow and improve with a high ceiling. He is noble-footed and agile for such a big man, so he can displace defenders in the run game and get to the spot with ease in protection. Overall, he’s a high-ceiling prospect who could be special inside.

SB Nation: Savaiinaea is a ton of fun to watch in the run game, especially when he gets the chance to ear-hole inside shades and wash them out of the play immediately. The strength behind his punches is one of the first we noticed on tape. He’s got a burly, compact build at 6’4 and 324 pounds with his musculature dispersed very evenly throughout his limbs.

He’ll need to work on keeping his feet moving through contact and staying active to look for extra work during longer plays, but he looks more than natural working in the short-area. With experience at both tackle spots and inside at guard, Savaiinaea will provide a team with a versatile piece up front who could move around the line in a pinch.

Savaiinaea had the widest voting range on our list with one third-place vote and one ninth-place vote, with a bunch more in between.

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Emory Jones, Jr., LSU

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CBS Sports: 4

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 3. Three-year starting right tackle with broad shoulders and long arms. Jones gets to lateral landmarks on reach blocks, is fluid getting into space and can erase rushers looking to flatten and corner at the edge. His consistency as a run blocker is impacted by a lack of hand-readiness and balance issues that see him on the ground too often. In pass protection, he struggles to gain ground quickly enough, causing him to open and race to the edge. Skilled rushers are sure to attack his pass-setting inconsistencies with success unless coaching can correct the issue. The traits and talent should make him a starter, but there might be issues that flare in the pro game, necessitating a move to guard.

CBS Sports: Emery Jones Jr. is a multi-year starter who has faced top-end competition with mixed consistency. He’s a powerful and twitchy prospect with good length who will mix up his sets and hand placement at times. He’s a finisher who plays through the whistle. Jones has nice upside with good traits to be successful if he can button up his pass sets and the timing of his strikes.

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Marcus Mbow, Purdue

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ESPN: 5 (Guard)

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 4 (tied)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 3-4. What Mbow lacks in desired size and mass, he makes up for with athleticism, hustle and elite instincts. He is likely to head back home to guard after two years manning right tackle for Purdue. He’s a free-flowing athlete with the ability to create chunk-run opportunities with blocks on the second level or in space, but he’s also willing to swap paint with aggressive first contact. His tendency to let his hands drift outside and a lack of mass could be early stumbling blocks in both blocking phases. Mbow’s smarts and athleticism should help upgrade an offensive line-needy team that utilizes a move-blocking scheme.

ESPN: Mbow started 18 games at right tackle over the past two seasons, but his arms are short for an NFL guard let alone an offensive tackle. He’s expected to shift over inside, and he did feature in 14 games at right guard for Purdue in 2022. Mbow’s range is outstanding. He is an effective puller and can get out in front on screens. His burst and lateral quickness also make him a good fit for zone heavy schemes. He has the potential to develop into an excellent pass blocker at guard, and he is strong enough to anchor when he sinks his hips. He has a strong punch, and he works with independent hands. Mbow’s footwork is still inconsistent, but he moves well enough to recover when he gets out of position. — Steve Muench

SB Nation: Mbow is an athletic guard prospect who started at right tackle for the Boilermakers in 2024. He played right guard for the first two years of his collegiate career before transitioning outside in 2023. Unfortunately, he was limited to just six games that season due to injury.

The 6’4, 303-pounder is a fluid athlete with surprising power behind his contact. He’s got the quick-twitch muscles to mirror speed off the edge in pass protection combined with the demeanor to hunker down and dig out interior defenders on the ground. Mbow likes to win early on passing downs with a two-hand swipe on the rusher’s hands which quickly knocks them off balance so he can yank them into the dirt.

Mbow hasn’ played guard in almost three calendar years, but scouts are confident he’ll be able to hit the ground running with an offseason of work.

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Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State

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ESPN: 2 (Center)

PFF: 2 (Center)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 5. Highly intelligent center-only prospect coming off of an Achilles tear. McLaughlin has his itinerary fully mapped pre-snap but makes quick alterations when needed. He’s gritty with good core strength. He has the range and radar to pull effectively and operates with timing on work-up blocks. He lacks ideal knock-back pop at the point and his block sustain could take a small downturn against NFL power. He’s technically sound in protection but a lack of length and range causes it to get leaky when rushers find his edge. His injury status could hurt his draft slotting, but he has the makeup and consistency to make it in the league.

ESPN: McLaughlin is a good fit for a zone-heavy run team. HeÕs quick, moves well laterally and is smooth climbing to the second level. HeÕs tough to beat when he wins with his hands in pass protection. McLaughlin has a strong punch and turns to help when no one comes to him. He plays with an edge and blocks to the echo of the whistle. — Steve Muench

PFF: McLaughlin’s experience and toughness could be an asset to an offensive line room, but his status in 2025 will be in question due to his injury.

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Drew Kendall, Boston College

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ESPN: 3 (Center)

PFF: 5 (Center)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lanc Zierlein): 4th Round. The traits and athletic features don’t stand out, but Kendall comes from NFL bloodlines and simply knows how to play. He’s detail-oriented as a run blocker with good footwork, hand placement and body control. He adjusts well to movement in-line or in space to execute his block. He’s not a bender, so I expect him to have trouble dealing with A-gap pluggers and longer bull-rushers who can roll him into the pocket. Kendall’s technique, toughness and intelligence are important elements as a center, but given his measurables and lack of position flexibility, his ceiling might be on the lower end.

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Wyatt Milum, West Virginia

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CBS Sports: 5

SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 10

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 3-4. Tough, strong and assignment-oriented, Milum possesses the frame and mentality of an NFL player. It’s hard to get excited about his prospects as a tackle due to his shorter arms, but there is no reason to believe Milum can’t bump inside to guard and offer tackle depth in a pinch. He plays with heavy hands in pass protection and has ideal instincts to sniff out twists and stop them in their tracks. He’s hard to bull-rush or push around in the running game but he will slip and slide off sustain blocks at times due to a narrowing base. His physical profile, play strength and football intelligence could have him ready as an early starter for gap-scheme teams.

CBS Sports: Wyatt Milum is an experienced four-year starter who has a ton of production and is one of the better pass protectors in the draft. He has excellent technique and heavy hands to displace defenders in both phases. However, he’s a little too stiff in the hips to be a dominant tackle. Overall, Milum is a high-ceiling interior player with good worth ethic and advanced techniques.

SB Nation: Milum is a short-armed, tall (6’6 1/2”) guard prospect who starred at left tackle for the Mountaineers. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American in 2024 as a senior after logging 43 consecutive starts over his four-year career.

His lack of lateral athleticism will force him to the interior at the next level but there’s a wealth of strong fundamentals that should allow him the versatility to play tackle in a pinch. Milum plays with a fighter’s mentality where he wants to finish his opponent into the ground on every play. He plays out of a fairly upright position and could stand to work on his natural bend to mitigate the advantages of shorter rushers, but he still shows a decent amount of core strength to hunker down and anchor against power.

If there’s someone on this list that could end up outplaying their ranking here, it’s Milum, who came in fifth on some of our ballots but outside the top 10 on others. He’s a sound player with a higher floor than several of the players ahead of him.

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Dylan Fairchild, Georgia

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SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 9

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 4. Two-year starter who will offer more with his pass protection than his run blocking. Fairchild plays with quick hands and adequate athleticism as a move blocker. He’s big but struggles to push opponents and sustain blocks at the point of attack and wasn’t enough of a difference-maker for the run game. He’s steady in protection with decent range and active hands. He’s athletic enough to recover against counters but could have issues when matched against a good bull rush. Fairchild could go in the middle rounds and eventually become a starter.

SB Nation: Fairchild is the first of three former Georgia interior linemen on this list. He offers good length and big 10” hands on his 6’5, 318-pound frame. A two-year starter at left guard, Fairchild was named a second-team Associated Press All-American in 2024.

The Cumming, Georgia, native has a quick get-off at the snap and routinely keeps his elbows tucked to efficiently strike the inside chest plate of defenders on contact. This also translate to pass pro as he is an active hand-fighter when jockeying for better inside positioning. When working against stunts and twists, he tries to pass off rushers with a shove to make the transition easier for his center and tackle.

Fairchild needs to be more impactful on double-teams before climbing to second-level defenders. In pass pro, he struggles against power and can be walked back into the quarterback too easily.

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Miles Frazier, LSU

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SB Nation Consensus Rankings: 8

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 4. Four-year starter who classifies as a physical short-area guard with satisfactory height, weight and length. Frazier has knock-back pop and is capable of mauling in tight spaces. His short pulls and lead blocks around the end are solid. Difficulties with reach blocks and second-level cut-offs on stretch plays could cause zone teams to scratch him. He possesses adequate range and foot quickness in protection and is fairly clear-eyed to recognize gaming fronts. His hand placement is average and he’s tight in his knees, which could be a concern for his anchor. Frazier has things to clean up but carries pro measurables and a play demeanor that gives him a shot to become a starter.

SB Nation: Frazier is a tall guard prospect at 6’6 and 317 pounds. He spent two seasons at Florida International before transferring to LSU in 2022. After starting as a redshirt freshman for the Panthers in 2021 at left tackle, he’s racked up 50 career starts across every position up front aside from center.

Frazier lacks notable athleticism but possesses ideal size and strength for the position. He’s smooth and even-keel with his footwork in pass protection where he keeps rushers at arm’s length and his chest free. His future NFL team should refrain from asking him to do any work in space as he’s a bit of a plodder.

The experience and fundamentals are there for Frazier but the athleticism to propel and enforce those fundamentals is lacking.

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Clay Webb, Jacksonville State

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ESPN: 5 (Center)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 5-6. Webb signed with Georgia as a top-rated center recruit but transferred to Jacksonville State after seeing limited action over three seasons. He played guard for JSU, but needs to move back to center due to a lack of mass and length. His core strength makes him tough to knock around in protection and he’s solid against twists. He’s an athletic move blocker and creates push on down blocks, but stepping up against bigger, longer opponents will challenge his consistency. Webb plays with a level of control and confidence that gives him a chance to compete for NFL snaps.

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Jake Majors, Texas

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PFF: 4 (Center)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Rounds 6-7. Majors is a short-armed, center-only prospect. He’s technically sound and plays with poise and control. He’s athletic enough to lead the charge around the corner and can get into the second level. He has neutralizing core strength but that won’t mean much against NFL two-gappers who can strike and control him when singled up. He’s a coach’s dream with a high football IQ and operational toughness. He punches with inside hands and a well-balanced base to immediately stall early bull-rush tries. Majors is smart, tough and reliable with the potential to eventually become a starter.

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Willie Lampkin, North Carolina

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PFF: 3 (Guard)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 7/UDFA. When it comes to the three phases of a run block (positioning/sustain/finish), Lampkin has the best tape I’ve studied of any prospect in the 2025 draft. He’s tremendously quick and athletic to beat defenders to the spot laterally or to climb and connect in space. He plays with excellent hand placement, leverage and footwork to sustain blocks. He uses that stickiness to finish blocks, too. He’s sound in pass protection but will give way to size and length from time to time. Unfortunately, he falls far below NFL size standards, but he’s too good a football player to ignore. Smart teams should consider using Lampkin as a fullback who can get into space and stick to his block while offering position flexibility as an emergency backup at center. Whether he’s drafted or not, Lampkin has NFL-caliber talent.

PFF: Lampkin’s size is certainly concerning and could relegate him back to center, where he played just one game over the past two seasons. His technique and determination should give him a chance to prove his worth in the NFL with five years of outstanding college tape under his belt.

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Luke Kandra, Cincinnati

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PFF: 4 (Guard)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): Round 7. Two-year starter at Cincinnati with a burly body type and a lack of natural fluidity. Kandra possesses a strong core and adequate base, but he’s a waist-bender who struggles with balance and positioning. He doesn’t explode into contact and will have trouble removing defenders from his gaps. His punch is firm and adequately timed but defending twists and mirroring athletic rushers will be a challenge.

PFF: Kandra’s athleticism and measured approach to the game give him the floor of a solid zone scheme backup and an average starter’s ceiling. The end result will depend on his ability to play with better pad level and flexibility.

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Connor Colby, Iowa

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PFF: 5 (Guard)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): UDFA. Four-year starter who can play guard in a primarily move-oriented rushing attack. Colby started 50 games at Iowa and is well-versed in the inside-outside zone attack. He reads defensive movements and adjusts his blocks accordingly. He connects with strong hands and looks to finish lateral engagements but doesn’t have the pad level or play strength to deal with power across from him. His pass protection is troubling, with areas of concern that might not be correctable.

PFF: Colby projects as potentially valuable depth in a Shanahan-style outside zone scheme. His lack of a plan and tendency to lunge in pass protection is currently a major barrier to him earning a starting role.

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Jonah Monheim, USC

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ESPN: 4 (Center)

PFF: 3 (Center)

What they are saying:

NFL (Lance Zierlein): UDFA. Versatile offensive lineman with impressive football intelligence and quality pass protection. Monheim has started at guard, tackle and center, but a lack of functional length narrows the focus on where he could take snaps at the next level. He plays with punch quickness and accurate hands but will get beat by longer rushers and a two-gapping nose tackle. He fits up blocks on time, but won’t get much push or displacement. He does excellent work identifying fronts and communicating with teammates, which will endear him to coaches, but Monheim might not create enough plus reps against NFL opponents to make his mark.

PFF: Monheim has the raw athleticism to succeed as a zone-scheme center if he can get stronger. His lack of length is the biggest deterrent to his success and will likely prevent him from playing a swing role at other positions.