2024 NFL Draft positions of need: Interior offensive line

[ad_1]

Each group has completely different wants throughout NFL Draft weekend and, as you might have surmised from being a soccer fan for longer than 30 seconds, it informs every group’s board. The Philadelphia Eagles are not any completely different and I’ve taken the freedom of choosing 5 place teams that might use some reinforcements from the school ranks heading into the 2024 season.

The final group up is: inside offensive line.

“The Eagles may go plenty of other ways right here…relying on what future Corridor of Fame middle Jason Kelce decides on taking part in yet another season or not,” is how this submit began earlier than Monday. Now that Kelce has officially announced his retirement it makes this place an even bigger want within the offseason.

Presumably Cam Jurgens, who excelled at middle for Nebraska in school, would slide into that position for the Eagles and Landon Dickerson would occupy one of many guard slots. Tyler Steen, a 2023 third spherical pick of Alabama, performed largely sort out in school however was moved to protect within the professionals and even began one recreation at RG for the Eagles final season. Arizona Cardinals 2022 sixth spherical choose Lecitus Smith was signed to the Philadelphia apply squad in November final yr and signed a reserve/future contract in January. He was an All-ACC guard at Virginia Tech and will work his method onto the ultimate roster.

Even when Kelce had run it again for yet another crack at a Super Bowl, the Eagles would’ve been clever to herald somebody to bolster their depth at G/C for the long run. With Kelce off to retirement, listed below are a trio of IOL choices (not simply early rounds) that the Eagles ought to contemplate when they’re finally on the clock. (All measurements are from participant’s school bio or NFL Combine if relevant)

Cooper Beebe (guard), fifth 12 months Senior, Kansas State

Measurements: 6-foot-3 and 322 kilos (NFL Mix)
Profession stats: 51 video games (48 begins); allowed 5 sacks in 1,488 move blocking snaps per PFF

Bio: A local of Kansas Metropolis, however on the Kansas facet, Beebe was ranked as a 3-star defensive lineman for many of his highschool profession, however he excelled on either side of the ball. He comes from a household of athletes as his dad (Pittsburg State), older brother (tight finish at Minnesota), and youthful brother (o-lineman at Ok-State) have all performed/are nonetheless taking part in school soccer. Beebe redshirt freshman season in 2020 noticed him begin eight video games (seven at RT and one at LG) and permitting 4 sacks. In the event you learn his stats above and are good at math, you might have found out that Beebe solely allowed one sack in his last three years of faculty (40 begins). In 2021 he was honorable point out Massive 12 Offensive Lineman of the 12 months and he was First Crew Educational All-Massive 12 yearly between 2020 and 2023.

His last three seasons had been chock stuffed with accolades that I received’t bore you with all of them right here. Simply know that he was All-Massive 12 First Crew (2021, 2022, 2023), Massive 12 Offensive Lineman of the 12 months (2022, 2023), 2022 Second Crew All-American (AP, CBS, PFF, USA Immediately), 2022 First Crew All-American (Athletic, ESPN, FOX, Sporting Information), and a 2023 Consensus First Crew All-American. He was an Outland Trophy finalist and a Campbell Trophy (aka Educational Heisman) finalist in 2023 and he was a Lombardi Award semifinalist as a fifth yr senior too. He was additionally a two-time group captain. Per NFL.com, he had the very best Subsequent Gen Stats Complete Rating of any guard on the Mix this yr.

Scouting report: Beebe is a flexible offensive lineman. Final season he performed 20 snaps at left sort out, 106 snaps at proper sort out, and 832 at left guard, however he began 13 video games at left sort out in 2021 and even stuffed in at proper guard too. Principally, when you’re drafting Beebe you should utilize him wherever however middle, however I’d wager most groups have him as a guard on their boards. He’s constructed like a keg of beer and, sadly, has about the identical attain, however the negatives to his recreation just about finish there. He’s stout in move safety and a steamroller within the run recreation. Beebe sees the sport at a sophisticated stage and is extraordinarily sensible about passing off rushers and in addition attending to the second stage to filter out linebackers on working performs. He is probably not essentially the most thrilling prospect as he’s extra of a “high-floor/low-ceiling” participant, but it surely’s essential to notice that his flooring is already “rotational NFL participant.”

He’s most likely a mid-second spherical to early-third spherical man, however appears to be on the rise.

Highlights:

Zak Zinter (guard), Senior, Michigan

Measurements: 6-foot-6 and 322 kilos
Profession stats: 45 video games (42 begins, all at RG besides one)

Bio: Born and raised in Florida, he moved to Massachusetts earlier than highschool and was a 247Sports Composite 4-star offensive lineman popping out of Buckingham Browne and Nichols Faculty. He was a four-time letterwinner at Michigan and was named Honorable Point out All-Massive Ten in 2021 after which consensus First Crew All-Massive Ten in 2022 and 2023. He was voted a group captain as a senior and in addition earned unanimous First Crew All-American honors. Zinter was an integral a part of a dominant Michigan offensive line which received the Joe Moore Award (greatest offensive line unit within the nation) in 2021 and 2022, the primary back-to-back winners in award historical past.

Scouting report: The very first thing to debate with Zinter is his damage, which triggered him to overlook Michigan’s playoff run to the nationwide title. Zinter broke his tibia and fibula within the third quarter The Sport in opposition to OSU and didn’t take part in any on-field work in the course of the NFL Mix. Zinter said that he’ll “be able to roll in a month” however clearly each group will wish to do their due diligence on him.

If you consider a stereotypical Massive Ten Offensive Lineman, Zinter might be who you’re picturing. He’s massive, sturdy, imply, and desires nothing greater than to depart tire tracks in your jersey as his group runs down your throat. He’s a superb move protector, however NFL-level athletes will give him points originally of his profession. Like Beebe, Zinter is a cerebral participant and may have the ability to contribute to an NFL offensive line rotation as a rookie.

As a consequence of damage considerations, Zinter might be now a third-fourth spherical choose, however there may be a whole lot of potential worth available if the medical workers for Philly clears him.

Highlights:

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (middle), Redshirt Junior, Georgia

Measurements: 6-foot-4 and 298 kilos (NFL Mix)
Profession stats: 48 video games (44 begins)

Bio: The highest middle prospect within the class of 2020, Van Pran-Granger was a Composite 4-star prospect out of New Orleans’ Warren Easton Excessive Faculty. Throughout his first season on campus Van Pran-Granger appeared in 4 video games (to protect his redshirt) after which began 44 straight video games over his last three seasons with the Bulldogs. He was Second Crew All-SEC in 2022 after which unanimous First Crew All-SEC final yr. In 2023 he additionally earned: First Crew All-American (ESPN, SI), Second Crew All-American (AFCA, AP, CBS, FOX Sports activities, FWAA, The Sporting Information, The Athletic, Walter Camp), received the SEC Jacobs Blocking (greatest blocker within the convention) Trophy, and was a finalist for the Rimington (greatest middle in nation) Trophy.

Scouting report: Van Pran-Granger is, in my humble opinion, a super undertaking for the Eagles and Jeff Stoutland to put money into. He’s robust, imply, and performed effectively in a convention stuffed with freak defensive linemen. He has a body that may add slightly extra weight to it with out sacrificing any mobility, however he wasn’t the quickest in school the place he was listed 30+ kilos heavier so there may be positively a superb line to stroll there. Van Pran-Granger is a potent run blocker and is ready to rise up to the second stage and eradicate linebackers on runs between the tackles. He doesn’t have the Kelce-like capacity to drag and prepared the ground on outdoors working performs however, to be honest, few do, particularly as a rookie. The Birds have had a whole lot of current success with drafting gamers from Georgia in order that they’ll have already got a superb relationship with the Bulldogs workers to get any inside data they want earlier than deciding on him. I’d guess he’s a 3rd or fourth spherical choose proper now.

Highlights: