Guards and center aren’t flashy positions but are players that can help tremendously in pass protection and running the football. Let’s take a look at the prospect.
Guards
Forrest Lamp (Western Kentucky)
Lamp is a four year starter for the Hilltoppers. He played left tackle but will move inside to guard in the NFL. Lamp is 6’4 309 pounds and is pretty athletic. He is balanced, aggressive and a good run blocker that can get into space. Lamp needs to add more power and bulk but should be a starting guard in the league. I love lamp.
Dan Feeney (Indiana)
Mr. Feeney is a four year starter at right guard for the Hoosiers. He is quick and powerful and a pancake specialist. Feeney has some injury history including a concussion and Lisfranc injury. He is athletic but not a super athlete at guard. He should be a starter in the league.
Second and Third TIER
Dion Dawkins (Temple), Dorian Johnson (Pitt), Isaac Asiata (Utah), Danny Isidora (Miami FL), and Nico Siragusa (San Diego State) is the next tier of guards for day 2 and day 3.
Centers
Pat Elflein (Ohio State)
Efflein isn’t very athletic but is smart and produces. He has a lot of experience with Ohio State but should only be a center in the league.
Ethan Pocic (LSU), Tyler Orlosky (West Virginia), and Kyle Fuller (Baylor is the second TIER of centers.
There shouldn’t be any Round 1 centers and most may not be picked until day 3. It is a weak center class.
Needs
The Vikings are set at center with Joe Berger in a contract year and Nick Easton as the backup from Harvard. The Vikings could really use a starting right guard after cutting the ineffective Brandon Fusco. Jeremiah Sirles will get first crack at right guard from the roster. Left guard is set with Alex Boone for Minnesota. Minnesota could take a guard on day 2 with their extra 3rd. The Vikings don’t have a first round pick to take Lamp.
The Lions are set with Travis Swanson healthy again (concussion) in a contract year and Graham Glasgow as a good backup center. Glasgow may start at left guard but would move to center and be back filled by Joe Dahl or Laken Tomlinson at left guard. The Lions are set at guard with TJ Lang (top 5 guard), Graham Glasgow (LG), Laken Tomlinson and Joe Dahl. Detroit shouldn’t need to draft any interior offensive linemen unless they trade Tomlinson.
Green Bay needs a starting right guard unless they play Jason Spriggs or Kyle Murphy at guard. Lane Taylor will be the left guard but is on a contract year. The loss of TJ Lang should be big for Green Bay and hurts in pass protection and the running game. Ted Thompson could really take a guard in Round 1 or day 2.
Green Bay is set at center with Corey Linsley for 2017 but he is in a contract year. Green Bay could use center depth behind Linsley with Tretter bolting for the Browns. Green Bay has two interior offensive linemen needs including a starter. Don Barclay may end up being the backup yet again at guard.
The Bears have a great interior offensive lineman with Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair and Kyle Long. Hronnis Grasu returns from injury to be the backup center. The Bears could add a backup guard at some point in the draft (day 3).