- Gennings Dunker is a mauler: The Iowa tackle, who could benefit from sliding inside, is a ferocious run blocker who also thrives in space.
- Jake Slaughter is the early top center: Even though he's on the smaller side, Slaughter has adequate athleticism for reach blocks and is cerebral.
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Estimated Reading Time: 23 minutes
The 2025 college football season has just begun, but it's never too early to break down prospects for next spring's draft class.
PFF Lead NFL Draft Analyst Trevor Sikkema offers his breakdowns for 24 interior offensive line prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Gennings Dunker, Connor Tollison and more.
Zone Guards
Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Strengths
- Hulking, well-built frame that looks like it can carry even more weight
- Plays with bad intentions as a run blocker
- Good foot speed
- Impressive core strength and balance
- Thrives as a puller and in space for screens
- Strong hands with a grip that is tough to break
Weaknesses
- Appears to have below-average arm length for the NFL level
- Kick slide doesn't cover enough ground to pass block at tackle in the NFL
Scouting Summary
Dunker has been Iowa's consistent starting tackle for the last three seasons, but his NFL home will likely be at guard. His arm length appears well below average, and his kick slide in pass protection doesn't cover enough ground. Outside of his physical limitations, there's a lot to love. He has a hulking frame that can handle even more weight. He has the contact power to displace and drive defenders off the ball. He is well-balanced with a strong core thanks to his track and wrestling background. Moving inside will allow him to lean on his strengths while mitigating weaknesses, specifically in a zone-blocking scheme.
Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
Strengths
- Feet and upper body movements enable him to play with good balance
- Ideal balance and posture in pass protection to take and dish out contact
- Wide footwork allows him to have a strong base during contact
- Good grip strength with reliable positioning inside
- Play-through-the-whistle type of mentality
Weaknesses
- Arm length could be a limiting factor at tackle in the NFL
- Lacks the ideal “pop” to displace defenders when run blocking downhill
Scouting Summary
Zuhn has a ton of experience on his resume, and most of his snaps have come at left tackle. He could get the chance to remain at tackle in the NFL, but he could also be a candidate to move inside to guard. He plays with a wide base pre-snap, which remains the same at contact, creating good balance and power. His posture is also very good, so he is rarely off-balance. He has a strong grip and always plays through the whistle. Zuhn's arm length could be an issue if asked to stick at tackle, but he has the background to do so in a pinch. If he displays more strength and “pop” in the run game, he could garner an even higher draft projection.
Tomas Rimac, Virginia Tech
Strengths
- Has a tackle's frame while playing guard
- Can get pretty low in his pre-snap stance despite his height
- Will enter the 2026 draft with almost four years of starting experience
Weaknesses
- Reportedly has long arms but lunges for contact more than expected, even though his length shouldn't be an issue
- Dips his head and eyes when making contact
- Naturally high pad level, especially for interior play
- Does not look comfortable in space
Scouting Summary
Rimac has been a consistent starter for West Virginia for three seasons and now enters both his first and final year at Virginia Tech. He has plus size and length for an interior lineman, which gives him some potential to be a swing lineman on the depth chart. He can get low in his pre-snap stance but generally struggles to play with a low pad level. He has a bad tendency to dip his head on contact and can sometimes seem lost in space. However, he does have a good first step for reach blocks on inside zone runs.
Tree Babalade, South Carolina
Strengths
- Most of his weight is held in the chest and midsection; built like a guard
- Very nimble and fast footwork, especially in pass protection
Weaknesses
- Doesn't pack much of a punch when making contact
- Needs to get his hands raised and ready to fire more consistently; low and late in 2024
- Pre-snap pad level is too high
Scouting Summary
Babalade earned some early starting experience as a true freshman but his playing time was more limited (and he even redshirted) in 2024. He has a big build, but he looks like a guard more than an NFL tackle. He is light and nimble on his feet, which is impressive given that he's listed at 330 pounds. He doesn't seem to have much of a punch on contact, which is a reason why rushers have been able to get off his blocks quickly. He also needs to have his hands up and at the ready more consistently. As of now, he will likely convert to guard in the NFL.
Roderick Kearney, Florida
Strengths
- Appears to be naturally athletic with a good first step
- Arm length appears to be average to above average for a guard at the NFL level
- Good core strength and balance to adjust to power moves
- High-effort player
- Wants to be a finisher in the run game (sometimes lacks the strength)
Weaknesses
- Has yet to start a single game entering 2025
- Lack of snaps and starts show in his lack of anticipation for where the ball is going
- Must improve hand speed to reposition and not let pass-rushers execute their moves as cleanly
- Likely needs to add at least 10 pounds to be a full-time interior player
Scouting Summary
It's hard to judge Kearney much, given how little he has played entering 2025. He does show good baseline athleticism for the offensive line with a good first step, coordinated running in space and balance — which is why he fits best in an outside zone blocking scheme. However, he needs to get stronger and has to play more to improve his anticipation and eyes. We'll check back in once he gets some starts under his belt.
Man/Gap Guards
Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
Strengths
- Ideal frame to play guard in the NFL
- Seems to have plus arm length for an interior lineman
- Good all-around athlete; coordinated, not off balance with higher weight
- Wide, low base gives him a ton of lower-body power to anchor and drive
Weaknesses
- Lacks twitch with his punches, first step and when changing directions
- Tougher for him to reach landmarks in mid and outside zone run concepts
- Long lateral movements can give him trouble (picking up late blitzers)
Scouting Summary
Reed-Adams is a downhill, ass-kicker type of interior offensive lineman who brings ideal size and plus length to the guard position. He's a coordinated and well-balanced athlete for his size and does his best work with combination, climbing or pulling blocks in power run-blocking schemes. He lacks quick-twitch in all of his movements, especially when moving laterally, so zone-blocking assignments are more of a chore. In pass protection, he uses a low, wide base and that plus arm length to make it very tough to beat him to either side.
Earnest Greene III, Georgia
Strengths
- Experience at offensive tackle but has an NFL guard build
- If he does move inside, he should have plus arm length
- Has a mean streak
- Effective leg drive to displace defenders as a combination blocker on duo concepts.
- Good fundamentals in pass protection
Weaknesses
- Could lack the length to play tackle in the NFL; it won't be an issue if moved inside
- Tends to dip his head and lead with the helmet as a puller
- Lacks a little sand in the pants when anchoring
Scouting Summary
Greene has been a starting offensive tackle for Georgia, and though he can play tackle in the NFL, he could be a plus starter at guard. He has a nasty play style (in a good way); he wants to move guys against their will. He is fundamentally sound in pass protection, as he plays with good balance. He can get pushed back farther than you want versus power, but that could be mitigated if moved inside because rushers won't have a runway to generate power and momentum. Greene is a versatile offensive lineman who could be a nice swing option in the NFL.
Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State
Strengths
- Big frame that could allow him to play tackle or guard in the NFL
- Plays with a low base and pad level; anchors well against power
- Has a mean streak
- Good weight in the lower half; will never question anchor weight and power
- Long arms help mitigate his subpar kick slide speed
Weaknesses
- Kick slides don't cover much ground
- Can sometimes get so worried about moving defenders that he doesn't maintain the block
Scouting Summary
Onianwa has a dense frame that could hold up inside at guard, but he does have the arm length that could give him a shot at tackle in the NFL, especially if he holds up there at Ohio State. His lower body has a ton of mass, and he can generate a ton of power due to his wide base and low pad level. He has a finisher's mentality as a run blocker but sometimes can get too obsessed with pushing defenders instead of maintaining the block. His long arms help mitigate the fact that his kick slide doesn't cover much ground. We are eager to see how he will play in the Big Ten.
Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
Strengths
- Massive, dense frame
- When his hands hit defenders, they get jolted back
- Long, strong arms for a guard
- Decent coordination as a puller
- Pretty high motor for a big man
Weaknesses
- Heavy feet can hurt him when sliding to pick up blitzers
- Must maintain posture; tends to dip his head and hunch over on contact
- Still lunges a bit too much; not needed due to his impressive strength
Scouting Summary
Roberts will be one of the strongest prospects at any position in the 2026 NFL Draft. He has a hulking frame that packs a serious punch — when his hands hit a defender, they are jarred back. When he gets his hands up and in a defender's chest, it's a wrap. He has some lapses in posture, and he tends to lunge and miss his target, which isn't necessary given his notable play strength. In pass protection, he is tough to get around, but his feet can be heavy when mirroring defenders and maintaining blocks. He's a true power guard who has some room to improve in pass protection.
Xavier Chaplin, Auburn
Strengths
- Thick, dense frame for an offensive tackle
- Very strong upper body to wrestle defenders when he gets his hands on them
- Powerful people mover on man/gap run concepts
Weaknesses
- Lacks twitch in his movements; has build-up speed
- Struggles to follow and pick up late blitzers and stunts
- Feet are heavy when pass blocking
- Will retreat into the pocket to turn and face edge rushers in pass protection
Scouting Summary
Chaplin is a mauling offensive lineman with great size. His build makes you feel like he can play tackle, but his style, strengths and weaknesses feel more like a guard. He packs a powerful punch on contact and can drive defenders downhill. However, in pass protection, his feet are heavy, and his movements lack twitch — even when accounting for his weight. His pass protection struggles might cause him to get moved inside to guard.
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Strengths
- Thick build that is adequate for an NFL guard
- Can get low, wide and strong in his pre-snap stance
- Adequate upper- and lower-body strength to drive block smaller defenders
- Good hand fighter who can punch and reposition throughout the rep
Weaknesses
- Lateral movements can be tough, especially outside zone and cross-face pass-rush moves
Scouting Summary
Ioane is a densely built guard prospect who does a lot of things well when projected to a downhill man or gap run-blocking scheme. Along with football, he grew up playing rugby and basketball, giving him an intriguing multi-sport background. He has a low, wide and powerful pre-snap stance, which gives him a good first step for reach blocks and power when blocking downhill. He does a good job of hand-fighting with coordination and balance to reposition in pass protection. His wide base helps him neutralize some pass-rush moves, but he can struggle with lateral movements, such as when outside zone-run blocking and facing cross-face pass-rush moves.
Joshua Braun, Kentucky
Strengths
- Imposing frame; well-filled out and tough to get through
- Arm length is a major plus; has tackle-level length
- Strong grip when he gets his hands inside
- Feet are naturally heavier at his weight, but he does keep them moving
Weaknesses
- Has length to play tackle but not the foot speed
- Contact doesn't come with as much “pop” as you'd expect for a guy pushing 350 pounds.
- Doesn't have that consistent mauler mentality for downhill run blocking
Scouting Summary
As strange as it might be to explain, Braun is a bit of a finesse guard at 6-foot-6 and 350 pounds. He's heavier, but his feet stay moving at all times. His build makes him naturally tough to get around in pass protection, especially when lined up as a guard, due to mass and offensive tackle-like arm length. He doesn't have the explosiveness at his size for consistent stretch zone blocking, but he also seems to lack that “pop” and mauling strength you want for a downhill blocker. He seems quite reliable in pass protection for a super-sized lineman, but he needs more of a mean streak as an impact run blocker.
Brian Parker II, Duke
Strengths
- Low, wide base pre-snap gives him good leverage and power
- Experience at both left and right tackle
Weaknesses
- Likely lacks the length and foot speed to play tackle in the NFL
- Will let rushers get into his chest too easily
- Hands must stay more compact in pass protection
Scouting Summary
Parker has versatile starting experience at left and right tackle. As an offensive tackle, his measureables are lacking. He also seems to really struggle with his vertical kick slides to cut off speed rushers, which will only get tougher in the NFL. His best path to playing time could be to gain more weight and move inside to guard.
Cayden Green, Missouri
Strengths
- Good upper-body strength to throw defenders
- Downhill blocker
- Strong initial punch, which he wants to use to initiate contact
Weaknesses
- His weight looks a bit top heavy, which can cause some imbalance
- Needs to maximize arm length
- Might lack the foot speed to have consistent success in zone-blocking schemes
- Can struggle with cross-face pass-rush moves
Scouting Summary
Green is a well-built guard prospect who possesses a strong upper body to displace defenders in a downhill blocking scheme. His lack of quickness and overall athleticism could cause him to struggle in zone-blocking schemes, and he needs to anticipate cross-face pass-rushers better, but he does have NFL potential as an interior player for a power run scheme.
Zone Centers
Jake Slaughter, Florida
Strengths
- Impressive athlete, even at a smaller size
- Very quick out of his stance
- Has the athleticism to execute reach blocks on outside zone runs
- Good anchoring technique and footwork make up for his lack of size
- Coordinated and impactful blocker in space and at the second level
- Makes pre-snap protection calls and adjustment callouts
- Decent “pop” on contact despite his lighter weight
Weaknesses
- Can struggle to anchor versus NFL-level power
- Can have trouble with longer defensive tackles
Scouting Summary
Slaughter is a smart and savvy center prospect who does his best work when he can show off his athleticism behind mid and outside zone blocking concepts. He's coordinated and impactful in space and at the second level. His quick first step enables him to gain leverage on defenders quickly, which helps him mitigate some of his small stature. NFL-level power and length can give him trouble when he's blocking one-on-one, but this is a field general type of center prospect.
Carter Smith, Indiana
Strengths
- Fast play speed and play style
- Quick footwork to re-establish his base versus power
- Very good all-around athlete for the position (natural, multi-sport background)
- Skillset could translate very well to center
Weaknesses
- Lower size percentiles for an NFL offensive tackle
- Fast hands and feet can, at times, feel frenetic
- Needs to get stronger; grip strength is good but must add more power overall
Scouting Summary
Smith has put on more than 30 pounds since his recruiting days, when he was a standout offensive tackle and even a volleyball player in high school. He's been a consistent starter at left tackle for Indiana, but his measureables don't project well at tackle for the NFL. He also struggles the most with anchoring against longer defenders. Regarding his strengths, his foot and hand speed are excellent, and he displays impressive overall athleticism for the trenches. These strengths and weaknesses lend themselves to a potential position switch to center — a favorable projection at that.
Bryce Foster, Kansas
Strengths
- Good first-step explosiveness for reach blocks on outside zone runs
- Comfortable moving laterally while engaged with a defender
- “Look for work” type of mentality
- Finishing blocker
- Good grip strength to maintain blocks
Weaknesses
- Pad level is a bit high
- Arm length appears shorter than average, even for a center
Scouting Summary
Foster maximized his college eligibility by returning for the 2025 season, but that could be the best move for him. He had his best year after his 2022 ACL injury in 2024 for Kansas. He has adequate height and weight to play either guard or center, but his shorter arms could make him a center-only player in the NFL. He has a nice first step and is not only coordinated but also strong when zone blocking. Foster also brings “pop” on contact with a finisher's mentality. His pad level is a bit high, but correcting that could lead to even more success in 2025.
Parker Brailsford, Alabama
Strengths
- Quickness and explosiveness are huge advantages
- Has the foot quickness to angle and wall off defenders very effectively
- Has impressive hand quickness and hand fighting
- Excellent use of leverage and length to force interior defenders' momentum upward
- Good grip strength when his hands land inside on a defender
Weaknesses
- Will have trouble maintaining blocks against interior defenders at the NFL level
- Was not able to displace SEC interior defenders in 2024
- Knees bend inward, narrowing his stance and impacting how balanced he is versus contact
Scouting Summary
Brailsford will enter the NFL with outlier measurables that require a leap of faith to draft. His Washington tape was excellent in 2023 and showed him consistently winning due to quickness and finesse while mitigating strength and length concerns. However, that was not the case in the SEC in 2024. He could still move his feet well and stay in front of defenders in pass protection, but his lack of strength and weight really showed up in his lack of impact in the run game between the tackles. His fleet-of-foot style lends itself to an outside zone blocking scheme.
Logan Jones, Iowa
Strengths
- Versatile trench player with an offensive and defensive line background and intelligence
- Quick footwork to shuffle and retreat after the snap
- Decent punch as a combination blocker; leg drive is the main reason
- Good athleticism to climb to the second level
- Hands and feet constantly move in unison
- Quick handwork
Weaknesses
- Tends to lunge and miss his aiming points while blocking in space
- Arm length is an outlier (short)
- Defenders can cross his face more easily due to his lack of length when reacting
Scouting Summary
Jones is a feisty, high-intelligence center prospect who has experience at both center and even defensive tackle at the college level. He has quick footwork and good overall athleticism to reach and block successfully in zone-blocking schemes. He's also very comfortable hand-fighting and repositioning. His arm length isn't just short — it's outlier short, even for a center. This makes it easier for defenders to cross his face and shed his blocks, even if he gets his hands inside.
Davion Carter, Texas Tech
Strengths
- Shorter height makes him a natural leverage king
- Fast initial punch
- Good body control and core strength
Weaknesses
- Has not played center in college but likely has to move there to survive in the NFL
- Arms are very short, even for a center prospect
- Easily pushed onto his heels versus any interior defender with average NFL arm length
- Struggles to hold the line of scrimmage due to a lack of length
- Lacks the “pop” at contact as a puller due to low weight
- His anchor takes two or three hops to really stop bull rushes
Scouting Summary
Carter has outlier size for an NFL prospect. His lack of height and length likely push him into the center spot in the NFL, but he has not played there in his college career. However, his lack of height has its leverage advantages, and his hands are fast. At the same time, his balance can be consistently manipulated against interior defenders with even average arm length. It also takes him a few more hops or steps to mitigate bull rushes at his lower weight.
Connor Tollison, Missouri
Strengths
- Strides are short, but he moves fast
- Can fire out of his stance; ideal for a zone-blocking scheme
- Fast footwork to mirror cross-face pass-rush moves
Weaknesses
- Short strides make lead blocking more difficult
- Lean body build for a trench player
- Lacks NFL-level punch on contact
- Will dip his head and eyes to hit bigger, but it causes him to whiff on defenders
- Lack of arm length really impacts pass protection and his ability to maintain blocks
Scouting Summary
Tollison is an experienced, quick center prospect with a skillset that lends itself to an outside zone run-blocking scheme. His feet are light and fast, which allows him to fire out of his stance for stretch and reach blocks as well as mirror cross-face moves. His lack of arm length impacts his ability to maintain blocks in pass protection. He also struggles to generate leg drive in the run game. He has the speed, but you have to live with the shortcomings in the weight and length departments as a center-only prospect.
Connor Lew, Auburn
Strengths
- Wide, low base makes him visually tough to get around
- Very consistent with low pad level and leverage advantages
- Quick inside hands
- Long, strong kick slides to mirror cross-face moves and pick up loopers
- Good core strength and balance; he rarely doesn't have his feet/power under him
- Excellent understanding of angles
- Back posture is flawless
Weaknesses
- Punch timing and overall power are inconsistent
- Can get overwhelmed by top-tier power
Scouting Summary
Lew has the chance to be a really good center prospect. His wide, low base in his pre-snap stance sets the stage for a fundamentally sound approach to blocking. It allows him to consistently win the leverage battle. He also has great posture in his posterior chain with a flat back, keeping his feet underneath him at all times for good balance with the ability to take and dish out power on any step. He is a bit light and can sometimes struggle against the best bull rushes, and he also must be more consistent with his stride timing and readjusting his hands during reps. However, there is so much to like about how he plays the position as one of the youngest prospects in the class.
Man/Gap Centers
Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
Strengths
- Dense, thick body type
- Phone booth type of blocker
- Arm length appears to be a plus despite shorter height
Weaknesses
- Goes for the kill shot too much when run-blocking in space
- Lacks the top speed for outside zone blocking
- Plays with a higher pad level despite shorter height
Scouting Summary
Laloulu is a dense, thick-bodied interior player who seems to have the overall size and length to play guard or center. He's a phone booth type of blocker who wants to hit defenders between the shoulders with nice pop on contact. That mauler mentality can get him in trouble, though, as he goes for the kill shot in space too often. He struggles to reach landmarks on outside zone runs, and he plays with a higher pad level than he should given his natural leverage. Laloulu is still rounding out his game, but he has the look and feel of a man- or gap-scheme center.
Luke Petitbon, Florida State
Strengths
- Light on his feet to help block the most imminent threat
- Quick first step out of his snap to dictate contact with leverage
- Good anchor technique from his leverage, hand placement and lower-body base
Weaknesses
- Light weight is too easily manipulated by strong defensive linemen
- Decent help blocker but a low-impact solo blocker
Scouting Summary
Petitbon will have a ton of experience to boast in the 2026 center class, as he will be 25 years old during his rookie NFL season. He is a smart offensive lineman who wins with good technique, positioning and anticipation. However, he is physically limited in stature and speed. Despite his lower weight and strength profiles, he projects best to a man- or gap-blocking scheme, where he can be a help blocker and mitigate how often he'll need to impact-block one-on-one.
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