Rankings and quick lookaheads of all the guard and center prospects invited to the 2019 NFL Combine.
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2019 NFL O Line Combine Workout: Friday, March 1
Here we go with the 2019 NFL Combine, with all the breakdowns and analysis of every positive and negative for all of the top prospects. This isn’t that hard. Just simplify it – who can play football well enough to make an impact at the next level?
The bigger breakdowns will come before the NFL Draft, but for now – again, from the college perspective – here are the pre-combine rankings for all of the guards and centers invited to the big workout.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest.
2019 Pre-NFL Combine Guard, Center Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted pre-NFL Combine.
25. (OT) Trevon Tate, Memphis 6-3, 287 (7 FA)
There’s just no size. He’s was a fantastic college tackle who might find a role as a swing backup, but the bulk isn’t there.
24. Fred Johnson, Florida 6-6, 330 (7 FA)
He’ll get his shot. He’s only a guard, but with his size, there’s potential to stick as a pure run blocker.
23. Sua Opeta, Weber State 6-4, 305 (7 FA)
The former defensive tackle needs time, and he needs to learn how to play guard after mostly working at offensive tackle, but he’s a nice veteran blocker worth a long look in a camp.
22. (OT) Alex Bars, Notre Dame 6-6, 315 (7 FA)
Good at tackle in college when healthy, he’ll live on the inside at the next level. He’s a tweener, though, coming off a knee injury.
21. Phil Haynes, Wake Forest 6-4, 313 (7 FA)
Okay at everything, but not great at any one thing, he has functional backup potential at either guard spot.
20. Shaq Calhoun, Mississippi State 6-3, 315 (7 FA)
The overall mass is there, it’s just not quite proportioned the right way – he doesn’t quite look the part. He’s a destroyer, though, who isn’t going to get beat and will fight for a block.
19. Martez Ivey, Florida 6-5, 309 (6)
A superstar high school prospect who was good enough in college, he’s too much of a tweener at the next level. He’ll be a late pick and a tough cut.
18. Javon Patterson, Ole Miss 6-3, 308 (7 FA)
There’s the potential to be tried out at center, but he’s an undersized guard who’s missing the pop. He might find home in a zone-blocking attack.
17. (C) Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas 6-5, 308 (7 FA)
A good all-around backup prospect for the interior, he’s good enough to hold his own as a key, versatile reserve.
16. (C/OT) Zack Bailey, South Carolina 6-5, 311 (7 FA)
Nothing great about his game, but he can play anywhere on a line and might stick as a jack-of-all-trades backup.
15. (C/OT) Ryan Bates, Penn State 6-4, 302 (6)
It would be nice if he was little bit bigger, but he’s a fighter who’ll end up starting somewhere on a line … but where? He might not bring a lot of pop, but he’s a good technician.
14. (C) Lamont Gaillard, Georgia 6-2, 305 (4)
Can you get past his lack of size? He’s not tall, he doesn’t really look the part, and he’s missing a slew of NFL tools, but he could be a leader of a line as a value mid-round pick.
13. Ben Powers, Oklahoma 6-3, 306 (5)
He can play either guard spot with the nastiness everyone wants. He’s missing the athleticism at the next level, and he’s not big enough, but he’s a fighter.
12. Nate Herbig, Stanford 6-4, 348 (5)
He never quite lived up to the potential or the hopes, but he was terrific as times when healthy. Very big and very tough, he’ll pound in a phone booth, but don’t expect him to move.
11. Nate Davis, Charlotte 6-3, 305 (4)
Great no matter where he played, he showed just enough at right tackle when needed to potentially get a shot. However, he’s an undersized power blocker for an NFL guard spot.
10. (C) Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama 6-4, 297 (4)
He can block, but he’s missing the raw bulk and size. With his quickness, run blocking skills, and pure talent, he could grow into a quarterback of a line, even if he’s not a blaster.
9. (C/OG) Connor McGovern, Penn State 6-5, 323 (5)
Good enough to play anywhere in the interior, he played up to his prep hype as he grew into a strong all-around blocker. He’ll blast away with the right size and right toughness – he’ll be a later round steal.
8. Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin 6-6, 315 (3)
A true guard who can do a little of everything right, he’s going to get on the move, and he’ll be a rock in the interior as a pass protector. He’s not a typical Badger road grader, but he’s more than functional for the ground game.
7. (C/OT) Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State 6-4, 304 (2)
Versatile, but with his future on the inside somewhere, he grew into a terrific center and an anchor for the Bulldog line. His all-around skills are good enough to be a longtime pro and leader on a line, even if he’s not the star to work around.
6. (C/OG) Michael Jordan, Ohio State 6-7, 310 (3)
It doesn’t matter where he plays – he’ll start on an NFL line as either a center or a guard. There’s a world of upside as he keeps getting better, and with the room to add more to his frame. Even at his current size, don’t be shocked if he’s a steal of a Day One starter taken after the second round.
NEXT: Top 5 Guard, Center Prospects Before the NFL Combine
5. Michael Deiter, Wisconsin 6-5, 322 (3)
Why Michael Deiter Is Here On The List: While he’ll work as a guard in the NFL, he was terrific with the Badgers at tackle and could even be thrown in at center if needed. there sin’t anything flashy, but he’s a very good, very sound blocker who can fit and play in any system.
He’s not quite as blasting of a blocker as you might think considering what he did for the UW ground game, but he’s more than good enough. He can also move a lot better than he’ll get credit for. He’ll never come up short with the motor.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Is there anything that stands out at an elite level? He might not be the perfect all-around guard prospect, but he’ll be the type that everyone gets interest in and wants. A big workout could move him into the top 50.
Bottom Line: You know those Wisconsin linemen who get into the league and hang around at a high level for a decade? Here’s another one. No, he’s not another Travis Frederick or Ryan Ramczyk, but he’ll stick as a good value get after the second round.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Guard/Center
4. (C) Garrett Bradbury, N.C. State 6-3, 300 (2)
Why Garrett Bradbury Is Here On The List: He’s not massive, and he might be purely a center at the next level, but he’s a technician who did a great job of keeping QB Ryan Finley upright and healthy. The Rimington Award winner as the nation’s best center, and in the right offensive system, he could be a star.
More athletic than most for the position, he’ll make up for his lack of blasting ability with his quickness and experience. He can handle the bulky Coke machines just fine, but he’ll be at his best on the move.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Just how quick is he? Like all offensive linemen at the Combine, the bench will matter – especially to make up for his lack of pure bulk – but if his feet are great and he’s more agile than the rest for the position, he’ll be a top 50 pick.
Bottom Line: He might not be for everyone because he’s not 320 for the interior, but he’s as sound as they come. He’s strong enough to get by, and all the other intangibles are enough to make him a safe value get in the mid-to-late second round.
NEXT: No. 3 Pre-NFL Combine Guard/Center
3. (C/OG) Erik McCoy, Texas A&M 6-4, 315 (2)
Why Erik McCoy Is Here On The List: A leader and star for a good A&M offensive line over the last three seasons, he’s got the bulk and size to fit on the pivot right out of the gate.
No, he’s not going to be much on the move and he’s not much of an athlete, but he’s a strong technician who doesn’t get overwhelmed. While he could move any play guar without much of a problem, his career is in the middle.
What The NFL Types Want To See: How well can he move? There’s no concern when it comes to what he did on the field, and the power is there, but can he manage to show just enough quickness to show a little more than being a crusher in the middle? Anything positive will be gravy.
Bottom Line: Someone will fall in love with him and make the call somewhere in the top 50. He’ll be the leader of a line for the next ten years and should be ready to go right out of the gate. In workouts, he’ll impress as he’ll look, sound, and play the part of a next-level center.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Guard/Center
2. Christopher Lindstrom, Boston College 6-3, 307 (2)
Why Christopher Lindstrom Is Here On The List: While he saw plenty of time at tackle, he’s going to become a terrific guard at the next level with enough power to overcome his lack of bulk, and his fantastic athleticism that helps fit every and any system.
No, he isn’t going to destroy anyone as a power blocker who’ll be a road grader over the bulkier defensive linemen, but he’ll make up for it all with his ability to move. Yes, he’ll get downgraded because he won’t be quite as tall or the exact right size, but that’s overlooking that he’s simply a really, really good overall blocker.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Can he be so much more athletic, quick, and fluid than the other interior linemen to stand out? He’d be a first rounder if he was 6-5ish, 315ish, but then he might not be quite the quick athlete that got him to this point.
Bottom Line: There’s no need to overthink this. Now, he’s not Quenton Nelson in terms of being the prototype, but he’s going to be a versatile starting interior lineman for the next ten years, he’s going to fit today’s modern passing offenses, and he’s going to play at a high level with multiple Pro Bowls in his future. Now he needs to show it.
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Guard/Center
1. (OT) Cody Ford, Oklahoma 6-4, 337 (1)
Why Cody Ford Is Here On The List: Whether he played at tackle or guard, he was a special blocker on a terrific offensive line that came into its own last season as one of the nation’s most effective. Ford has the bulk, the size, and the talent to be an anchor on an interior, but he’s going to get tested out at tackle early on.
He’s going to be an emotional tone-setter for a front five, with the leadership and toughness to take over as soon as he gets his feet wet. The motor is always going, and there’s absolutely no questioning his fight to finish a block.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Are the feet there to be a tackle? His future millions will be made at guard, but the more athletic he can look and run, the higher up he’ll go in a first round that’s missing the star interior blockers.
Bottom Line: All of the tools are there to quickly become a star and a good value … as a guard. He’s not worthy of a top 15 pick, but he should go somewhere between 20-and-30 as a final piece of the puzzle type of selection for a line. There’s upside at tackle with a little work and patience, but stick him in the interior and he’ll be off and rolling.
