I downright disagree with the idea floating around the internet that this year’s interior offensive line class is weak. Is it littered with Week 1 starters? No. But, I’ve watched a lot of guys that, quite simply, play well enough to make it in the NFL. There’s a wealth of guys who could push for starting roles in the right system – for instance, Braeden Daniels with the Chiefs/Bengals makes a whole lot of sense, but if the Eagles end up drafting him, well…I don’t know. Likewise, if O’Cyrus Torrence ends up with the Ravens, he could be a starting guard for the next 10 years…if the Vikings draft him, well, I’m not sure why. But, you get my point. It’s a sort of conditional class of offensive guards. These guys aren’t just going to waltz into any system on any offense in the NFL and find success, but in the right spot, there’s a ton of value to be had with this class. Hell, even my #1 guy is a tackle who projects to kick inside to guard. There’s not a lot of proven commodities on this list, but by and large, I like the traits so much, and I see such a clear path to success for some of these guys, that I end up liking this class of guards a whole hell of a lot more than the consensus. So, let’s get to it! Here’s my list of the top 10 offensive guards in this year’s NFL Draft.
2023 NFL Draft: Top 10 Offensive Guards
1. Peter Skoronski, Northwestern – This is a projection here, but I’m joining the masses in sliding Skoronski inside at the NFL level. Now, that’s not to say he’s incapable of playing tackle. The tape is so damn good that I think if you need tackle help, you absolutely say “fuck it” and give him a shot at it. But, if you draft him to play guard, you’re getting a guy that has that “10 year solid starter” quality to him. I think there’s the slightest bit of bust potential with Skoronski, but it has little to do with his arm length, and more to do with what looked to me like a bit of inconsistent quickness taking on twitchy edge defenders and a lack of consistent aggression. That said, he’s one of the most technically polished and fundamentally sound prospects in this entire draft class.
2. Cody Mauch, North Dakota State – I feel like I’m higher on Mauch than a lot of people. If he played in the FBS and looked more consistently and powerfully dominant in games, he’d be a lock for the first round, but those questions exist, and they’re fair. What I’m basing my projection on when I say “I wouldn’t hate someone taking him in the first round” is the attitude. He has a scrappy style – he’ll get in there and wrestle with anyone, and he packs a punch in space. But, it’s his nasty streak that sets him apart.
3. O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida – Torrence has a high floor with a power running team that needs to just plop a road grader down at right tackle, and doesn’t ask him to do too much in space. Torrence is a powerful guard prospect, and can play either side of the center.
4. Steve Avila, TCU – Steve Avila moves like a serial killer in a horror movie. He doesn’t look like he’s moving all that fast, but before you know it, he’s right behind you. He has powerful vise grips that can lock on and neutralize defenders, and can deliver a knockout punch in space if he gets his sights set on you.
5. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame – Patterson was at one point considered a first round prospect, but has slid throughout the draft process. I still see a guy who is technically and fundamentally sound, and while he might not be elite from an athletic standpoint, he has the pedigree to play in the NFL.
6. Tyler Steen, Alabama – There’s a clear mismatch between the tape and the pre-draft process. I’ll acknowledge that. Steen’s tape can leave a little to be desired, but he showed up big time in Mobile. He worked out a lot at tackle throughout the week, and then switched to left guard for the game. That could be a better fit for him in the NFL, and if a team gets the guy from the Reese’s Senior Bowl and not the guy on tape, they’ll get a guy who has the size and athleticism to push for a starting role.
7. Braeden Daniels, Utah – Daniels is a quick, smooth, and seamless athlete and it makes him a great pass protector. He played left tackle at Utah, where his size wasn’t an issue, but he doesn’t have the ideal length to play tackle in the NFL. That’s why he’ll kick inside to guard, but he could be one of the steals of this draft class for a team that need athletes along the interior.
8. Jaxson Kirkland, Washington – Kirkland is a pretty safe guard prospect that could theoretically offer you some tackle upside in a pinch. He’s good with his hands, keeps his feet moving when engaged in a block, and has a wealth of experience that gives him a fairly secure floor in the NFL. I’d like to see a little more consistent pop from the guy, but if a team is value shopping for a guy in the middle rounds who could pitch in right away, Kirkland is a sound option.
9. Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion – Saldiveri is listed on an awful lot of big boards at offensive tackle, but I think his NFL future lies along the interior positions. He played pretty well exclusively at guard during Reese’s Senior Bowl week down in Mobile, but he proved to be an athletic guard that could move with pass rushers. He is among the smoothest movers in this entire offensive line class.
10. Andrew Vorhees, USC – If Vorhees didn’t tear his ACL at the Scouting Combine, he’d be a lot higher on this list. He’s tall at 6’6″, and you see that height come into play when it seems difficult for him to get the pad level down in run blocking. But, he has some dominant tape in situations where he can just get his hands on a guy and drive him back and out of the play. He could be a steal for someone who may be thinking about 2024 and doesn’t need immediate help.
I recently had the chance to hop on The Hot Read Podcast with Easton Freeze to dive further into this interior offensive line class. I won’t be writing up a “top 10 centers” piece, so you can get my thoughts on John Michael Schmitz and Olusegun Oluwatimi, in addition to our discussion on this year’s guard class, here:
Best of the Rest
11. Jon Gaines II, UCLA
12. Chandler Zavala, NC State
13. Emil Ekiyor, Jr., Alabama
14. Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
15. Jordan McFadden, Clemson
16. Joey Fisher, Shepherd
17. Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
18. McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga
19. Anthony Bradford, LSU
20. Asim Richards, North Carolina
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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