2023 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Offensive linemen

theScore's prospect rankings series takes a position-by-position look at the top players available in the 2023 NFL Draft.

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
EDGE | DL | LB | CB | S

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Skoronski is the rare offensive line prospect who will jump to the professional level having already demonstrated sound technique in all phases of his game. Add in his high-end athleticism for the position, not to mention his intelligence, and it's no wonder he's almost always in perfect position to execute his block - run or pass. Although his lack of length (4th percentile among offensive tackles) could impact his fit at the position, that's the only real question about his NFL future. He should have the opportunity to prove that the other aspects of his game will still allow him to succeed on the edge, and if that doesn't work out, he still figures to be a great option at guard.

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Jones is an incredible athlete. There's some development required here in terms of technique - he could stand to improve his positioning and hand usage - but he's got all the tools to be a high-end left tackle at the next level. Jones' profile is quite similar to that of former Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas, who had obvious physical gifts but needed some technical refinement in order to thrive in the NFL. Thomas struggled as a rookie, took a major step as a sophomore, and then emerged as one of the league's best tackles in 2022. Jones has a chance to follow a similar path to stardom.

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Wright stonewalling Will Anderson Jr. for the entirety of Tennessee's game against Alabama this season was one of the most impressive individual performances we saw from this draft class. Wright is patient at getting into his pass sets, rarely allowing himself to get out of position, and the rep is over when he gets his hands on his opponent. He's also a road grader in the running game, showing the ability to both overpower defensive linemen and climb to the second level with good angles to cut off linebackers. His lateral movement could be better, and he has a tendency to bend at the waist and lean out over his lower half in the run game, but these are minor gripes about an otherwise outstanding skill set.

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Johnson is a fantastic athlete. His natural abilities were on full display in his first full season at left tackle in 2022, demonstrating impressive foot quickness and recovery speed in pass protection. He'll need to get stronger as he transitions to the NFL level in order to anchor against power rushers and more consistently move defenders off the ball in the run game, but that's a reasonable expectation for young linemen. Afforded the necessary time to develop in that regard, Johnson has the potential to become a high-level starter on the blind side.

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Don't let the athletic profile fool you here. Schmitz running a 5.35-second 40-yard dash at just over 300 pounds wasn't encouraging, but the tape tells a different story. The Minnesota standout has plenty of quickness off the ball and, more importantly, is plenty efficient with his movement. Overall, Schmitz is a technician. Whether it's engaging in pass protection, moving laterally for difficult reach blocks in the run game, or working to the second level to seal off linebackers, he's almost always in perfect position with both his hands and feet. While he may lack the power to be an efficient drive-blocker at the next level, the ability to play with leverage allows him to hold his own. Schmitz is the type of reliable and intelligent player you want anchoring the middle of your offense, particularly in a zone scheme that can take advantage of his ability to get on the move.

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Torrence is a powerhouse on the interior. He demonstrates supremely strong hands and an incredible base. The rep is just about over if he gets his hands on his opponent, both in pass protection and as a run blocker. Torrence also demonstrates the processing ability to adjust his assignment against twists and games up front. He'll tend to struggle against finesse rushers who can challenge him laterally, but anyone who tries to go through him with power doesn't stand much of a chance. Torrence should be an effective long-term starter in a gap scheme that takes advantage of his ability to dominate as a drive blocker.

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Football players, and human beings in general, don't get much more imposing than Jones. The Ohio State product is in the 97th or 98th percentile for height, weight, arm length, and hand size among offensive tackles. His game is exactly what you'd expect from a player of that stature. College defenders had no shot when trying to beat him with power, and there's a good chance NFL pass-rushers won't have any success there either. Jones needs to be in the right situation to succeed consistently at the next level, as - understandably - he doesn't have the movement skills required to match up with finesse rushers in vertical pass sets. If a team can limit situations that put him on an island against speed, though, Jones can be a dominant force as a Day 1 starter at right tackle.

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Harrison's draft stock is all about projection. The Oklahoma product needs to get stronger to hold up as a starting offensive tackle, particularly in the run game. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him settle into a swing tackle role as a rookie. But players are drafted based on who they can become, not so much who they are right now - and Harrison has a particularly intriguing ceiling based on his athleticism. He's got impressive movement skills to mirror rushers and a patient approach to pass protection, and he's flashed some encouraging hand usage. Harrison could be a solid long-term starter at left tackle if he's given the time to add enough strength to match up with NFL defensive linemen.

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Mauch is an impressive athlete who plays with a mean streak - a heck of a combination for an offensive lineman in the NFL. The North Dakota State standout demonstrates impressive movement skills, particularly when it comes to redirecting at the second level to seal off linebackers from difficult angles, and he flashes the power to match his aggressive play style. Mauch's key to success will be finding his ideal role. A lack of length may prevent him from sticking at left tackle in the NFL, so a transition to guard could be in his future, but he may need to add some mass to hold up against interior linemen. Mauch could easily outperform his draft position with the right fit.

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Wypler is a solid center prospect. He's not the biggest interior lineman, and at times he'll be outmuscled by particularly powerful defensive tackles. With that in mind, he should focus on building lower-body strength. As for the rest of his game, what's not to love? Wypler is a good athlete who demonstrates impressive footwork to establish position on difficult blocks, using strong hands and sound technique to sustain and finish through the rep. His movement skills also make him effective at climbing to the second level and getting out as a lead blocker in space. Wypler should be an impact starter for years to come.

Other notable prospects

Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
Chandler Zavala, NC State
Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
Steve Avila, TCU
Wanya Morris, Oklahoma

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