The Baltimore Ravens need to beef up the interior of their offensive line this offseason. Ever since Baltimore let Kelechi Osemele walk in free agency during the 2015 offseason, the left guard position has been a revolving door, especially between Alex Lewis and James Hurst.
With a push to a more run-heavy offensive scheme last year, upgrading at left guard immediately should be a priority for the Ravens. Even though Baltimore signed right guard Marshal Yanda to a one-year contract extension this offseason, they need to really begin searching for his heir now too.
To help provide some of the best prospects for the Ravens, we’ve put together a list of the best guards for each round of the 2019 NFL draft.
First round: Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Lindstrom is developed in the mold the Ravens typically like. He’s a player who can play multiple positions — tackle, guard and center. That’s a rare combination in today’s NFL.
Lindstrom is a smart player. He can recognize blitzes and stunts from opposing defenses fairly well, which is partly why he would be intriguing as a center too. Lindstrom’s also an incredibly athletic offensive lineman, allowing him to pull and block well on the move.
That athleticism means he’s not quite as strong as teams might like him to be. But he makes that up with solid technique and quickness to beat the defender to the punch. That flaw is just enough to push him down to the Ravens’ No. 22 pick.
Second round: Connor McGovern, Penn State
McGovern is one of the stronger offensive linemen in this year’s draft. He has ideal size at 6 feet 5 and 308 pounds. But he still has the athleticism to play guard and center. That strength and athleticism show up immediately, making him a legit starter as a rookie.
McGovern’s strengths reside with his run-blocking ability but could use some work with his pass-blocking technique.
Third round: Michael Jordan, Ohio State
Jordan has the ability to play both guard and center at 6-6 and 312 pounds. Between the two positions, he was voted first-team All-Big Ten honors as a guard in 2017 and he was voted second-team All-Big Ten honors as a center in 2018.
The Ravens love drafting players who can play multiple positions, so grabbing a talent like Jordan in the third round who has untapped potential would be an excellent addition.
Fourth round: Dru Samia, Oklahoma
Samia is a guard who does the little things well. He has the length and athleticism needed for a starting guard in the NFL, along with the ability to excel as a zone blocker and read his assignments on the fly. His game seems to be more of him relying on his physical ability than technique, however. But the good news is that his technique can be corrected, especially when it comes to hand placement and footwork.
Fifth round: Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin
Benzschawel is a guard with really sound technique. But at the same time, he isn’t the strongest guy at the point of attack. He’ll have to get stronger to match his 6-6 frame and do a better job of staying down when he fires out from the snap to take advantage of it. Right now, he’s a far better finesse pass blocker than a road grader but has the size to become both.
At this stage of the draft, it’s all about prospects with upside that need a little time and development to reach their ceiling. Benzschawel is a great example of that.
Sixth round: Ben Powers, Oklahoma
Powers certainly lives up to his name because he’s one strong offensive lineman in his upper body. He also knows how to use his hands well at the point of attack to take advantage of that power. He’s got a ton of upside because of that pure strength.
But the main issue with him is he’s not very athletic. That could come back to haunt him if he’s asked to pull or if he faces a quick defensive lineman. That isn’t the end of the world as Baltimore’s coaching staff can improve his technique. But his first year will likely be learning on the bench as depth.
Seventh round: Nate Herbig, Stanford
At 6-3 and 335 pounds, he’s one of the largest offensive linemen in this draft class. He has a nasty streak to his game, but he can also play stronger at the point of attack given his size. Herbig is likely a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent thanks to some rawness to his game.
