Seen 'em all – 133 FBS teams in action. Three new members to be added the next two years. All divisions: 712 games attended since 1979! Get my new book now available on Amazon.com in Kindle and in Paperback: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly! Follow our 31-game schedule in 2024.
Lebanon, TN – Despite the mock drafts calling for quarterbacks to go first, top offensive linemen outweigh signal-callers as far as the best long-term value in most drafts. Especially when NFL teams bring up the rear in the standings. They don’t have effective pass or run-blocking offensive systems that land them at the bottom in the first place. In recent years, pro teams recognized that this is where games are won – up front in the trenches.
Just ask QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley of the world Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Just compare Barkley’s improved performance on his move to the Eagles from the Giants. No guarantees but watch what happens to QB Daniels Jones after his departure from the same Giants. And why would that Giants chance any new young QB behind an inept offensive front? They’ve proven they can’t protect their QB or open holes for their RBs. Successful teams and turnarounds on football Sundays start with their offensive lineman.
Scouting the O-lines
This is difficult to do for capturing the best play makers up front in pictures. Most often, it’s difficult to discern them from withing the heaps of humanity battling each other up front. When we do get a decent view, we’ve followed the passer or ball carrier benefitting from their blockers up front. We saw games played by some of the best teams with the best offenses during the 2024 season. Some pass-oriented, some run-oriented, and some very balanced. Those three categories determine the best skills they bring with them from the college level. All the pros will look for balanced blocking techniques most likely. So, some of their development programs have to adapt to improve skills based on what their new offensive linemen bring to training camp.
What we’ve gathered below show some of the top linemen we’ve seen in action entering the 2025 draft. We’ve seen others from the rosters of Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, Oregon and others like Ohio U. Other MAC squads may also be among some of the best. However, we just didn’t get the right angle or right time when we attended their games. However, some noted below should be selected somewhere in the draft and possibly have success for years to come.
Best offensive linemen we caught on camera
Texas RT Kelvin Banks (70) seen blocking for RB Bijan Robinson in 2022. He looks primed to go as a top offensive lineman in the 2025 draft.Oregon left tackle Josh Conerly lines up against Wisconsin this past season. He’s had a stellar career blocking for prolific Oregon QBs Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel in college. Now we’ll see what he can do to protect signal callers at the next level.Georgia Bulldog right tackle Tate Rutledge (blocking in foreground) keeps Auburn Tigers at bay. Hedemonstrates here why he could be a top offensive lineman at the next level.Missouri OT Armond Membou (79) protects QB Brady Cook from Vanderbilt defenders in 2022. Seen as very effective in the power run game, reports indicate he will need to develop skills against EDGE rushers. At 6’3″ considered short at OT, hut his great athleticism should compensate. First or second round pick.
Offensive Linemen tapped for middle rounds
Purdue’s Marcus Mbow (2nd OL from right) started his first game as a sophomore guard blocking for QB Aidan O’Connell here against Penn State in 2022. He demonstrated versatility the pros like by moving to OT his junior season.Boston College offensive tackle Ozzie Trapilo (70) showed the skills in line with other top offensive linemen from the BC Eagle program. Many BC players have excelled in the NFL over the years.Jacksonville State OT Clayton Webb (74) blocked for a very potent run-pass Gamecock offense. A team will probably find him as a solid pick in the middle rounds.With 56 starts at Center in his wake, C Jake Major (65) looks to continue to open holes as seen here for Bijan Robinson against Baylor in 2022. Scouts tout him as a better pass blocker than run game leader. A pass-oriented teams will seek his value.
Low Rounds to long shot offensive linemen
Boston College C Drew Kendall (66) gets ready to snap against Florida State last season. Looks to be a low round selection or free agent as determined by some scouting reports – kind of a fixer-upper at the pro level.Kentucky C Eli Cox (75) looking to make a downfield block in an upset loss against South Carolina in 2022. Team Captain, 2nd team All-SEC and graduate student indicate his leadership potential in the pros. Moved from RG to C in 2022 displaying his versatility. Iowa OT Connor Colby (77) started four years including this Hawkeye Music City win against Kentucky in 2022. Despite 37 starts at RG, seven at LG and seven at LT before 1st team All-B1G honors in 2024, he comes from an Iowa offense that struggled the past four years. Maybe he’s learned well from his experience there!
