2024 NFL Draft- Top 10 Centers

A good offensive line starts from the center out. A team can have two pro bowl tackles but if they are weak at center it will show. The center position is the glue that holds the line together and a good center is able to navigate assignments and make pre-snap reads to shift the line.

Last season there were 7 centers selected in the draft, with two taken in the 2nd round. Here's a list of this year's top prospects:

Complete list of every Center pick from the 2023 NFL Draft:

Round 2, Pick 43: Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin

Round 2, Pick 57: John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

Round 3, Pick 97: Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Round 5, Pick 154: Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

Round 6, Pick 190: Luke Wypler, Ohio State

Round 6, Pick 201: Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

Round 7, Pick 257: Alex Forsyth, Oregon

The center’s in this year’s class are talented and the class is deeper than usual. Draft Nation can envision a scenario where a pair of centers come off the board by the end of round one and up to four taken by the end of round two.

1. Oregon- C- Jackson Powers-Johnson (6’3” 320 lbs)

Strengths

• Hands
• Versatility
• Football I.Q.
• Run Blocking

Weaknesses

• Footwork
• Pass blocking
• 2nd level

Jackson Powers-Johnson is Draft Nation's favorite to be the first center off the board and perhaps even a first round pick. He explodes off the ball and is strong enough to withstand bull rushes up the middle. If fact, he tested out as the strongest player in the draft. He is proficient in using his hands to clamp on to an opponent and manhandle them. 

Projection- 1st round or 2nd round pick

2. Duke- C- Graham Barton (6’5” 315 lbs)

Strengths

• High-motor
• Football I.Q.
• Run blocking
• Hand placement

Weaknesses

• Leverage
• Base
• Pass blocking
• Reaches

Graham Barton has been flying up draft boards since the completion of the 2023 season. He has played right and left tackle but NFL brass see him as a dominant force at the center position (which he played as a freshman at Duke). He is a high-motor athlete with elite football IQ and he’s a road grader in the run game.

Projection- 1st round or 2nd round

3. West Virginia- C- Zach Frazier (6’3” 310 lbs)

Strengths

• Agility
• Football I.Q.
• 2nd level
• Initial punch
• Leadership

Weaknesses

• Strength
• Pass blocking
• Playing in space

Zach Frazier is another solid prospect at the center position. The ex-West Virginia wrestling state champion knows how to use his hands and leverage to get the upper hand on his opponents and has the skill set to step right in and start.

Projection- 2nd Round or 3rd Round

4. Georgia- C- Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (6’4” 309 lbs)

Strengths

• High motor
• Football I.Q.
• Run blocking
• Nasty side

Weaknesses

• Footwork
• Strength
• Balance
• Pass blocking

Sedrick Van Pran-Granger was considered the top center entering the 2023 season. However, he has not had quite the season many expected and showed some weaknesses in pass protection. Some scouts question his overall strength too but there's no arguing against the results of the Georgia running game under his watch. He still has a high ceiling and will hear his name called on day two.

Projection- Round 3 or Round 4

5. Wisconsin- C- Tanor Bortolini (6’4” 306 lbs)

Strengths

• Quickness
• Footwork
• Athleticism
• Versatility

Weaknesses

• Hands
• Power
• Initial punch

Tanor Bortolini ran an impressive 4.94 at the combine and has without a doubt the best footwork of the center class. On the downside, he still needs to get stronger and improve his contact 

point with defenders.

Projection- Round 3 or Round 4

6. Miami, Fla- C- Matt Lee (6’4” 301 lbs) 

Strengths

• Hands
• Quickness
• Footwork
• Strength

Weaknesses

• Power
• Initial punch
• Explosive off snap

Lee has some upside, but needs to improve his power and explosiveness off the snap. He could be a later round draft pick that makes his mark in the league.

Projection- 5th round

7. Michigan- C- Drake Nugent (6’2” 301 lbs)

Strengths

• Footwork
• Football I.Q.
• 2nd level
• Whistle to whistle

Weaknesses

• Strength
• Balance
• Lunges
• Pass blocking
• 
  

Nugent was the glue to a very good offensive line at Michigan. He has a nasty side that he uses in the run game but struggles with pass blocking. He has a habit of leaning and losing balance against faster opponents. Worth a pick in the 5th round.

Projection- 5th round

8- Arkansas- C- Beaux Limmer (6’5” 307 lbs)

Strengths

• Athleticism
• Base
• Run blocking
• Nasty side

Weaknesses

• Penalties
• Upright
• Leverage
• 2nd level

Beaux Limmer is a nasty center who will go out of his way to hit you. He struggles with penalties and plays too upright at times. He loses leverage against opponents and needs to improve his mechanics to help him be successful at the next level. He has heart and plays hard, not a bad project for a 5th-6th round prospect.

Projection- 5th or 6th round

9- N.C. State- C- Dylan McMahon (6’4” 305 lbs)

Strengths

• Hands/Upper body
• Versatility
• 2nd level

Weaknesses

• Lower body mechanics
• Stamina
• Balance

Dylan McMahon will bring versatility to a team. He can play both guard or center and is one of the stronger lineman coming out in the crop of draftees. He needs to improve his lower body mechanics and he tends to lose stamina as games go on.

Projection- 6th round or 7th round

10. LSU- C- Charles Turner III (6’4” 300 lbs)

Strengths

• Athleticism
• Versatility
• Football I.Q.
• Combo blocks

Weaknesses

• Strength
• Balance
• Bull rush
• Sustaining blocks

Charles Turner’s versatility will make him a quality depth pick late in the draft. He has played each position on the offensive line and is very athletic. However, he struggles with strength, balance and sustaining blocks. 

Projection- 6th round or 7th round