How to Build Through the Trenches in the 2025 NFL Draft

Welcome back to The McShay Report! In today’s newsletter, I’m talking about people movers. Space eaters. Hog mollies. It’s a linemen special—for both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. This is an exceptionally deep class—especially along the defensive line—so if your team needs help in the trenches, you’re in luck. Let’s dive into the top traits and player comps for some of the best linemen in the draft.

Mason Graham, Michigan

NFL comp: Quinnen Williams, Jets

Graham is a game wrecker who looks unblockable on tape for long stretches of games. Yes, he has shorter arms and might not look the part of a top-five pick, but his tape should make defensive line coaches across the country cry tears of joy. He’s the Picasso of ferocity, hand-to-hand combat, leverage, ball location, and fierce finishes. An absolute thing of beauty.

Top Traits

- Ferocity: Fires off the snap, gets into offensive linemen’s pads, locates the ball while stacking, and then disengages. Plus, I almost never see this dude on the ground.
- Leverage: When he’s asked to drop his anchor, his size and strength make it tough to move him off the ball. He can occupy double-teams without giving up much ground.
- Instincts: He pushes the pocket, tracks the quarterback, and gets off blocks late. He has an uncanny awareness of where the football is.

Derrick Harmon, Oregon

NFL comp: Bryan Bresee, Saints

Harmon still has room to improve but is skilled enough to start immediately. He’s better against the pass than the run—where he’s still impactful but not rock solid—and flashes elite traits for the position. Worst-case scenario, he’ll serve in a rotation and play on a higher percentage of pass-heavy downs. Regardless, he’s a difference-making 3-technique defensive tackle who will carry a first-round grade for one-gap-heavy defensive teams.

Top Traits

- Movement: He doesn’t have a devastating first step, but he uses his long arms to keep blockers off his pads and does a great job of advancing the rush while engaged. His feet are always moving. He carries his 313-pound weight so damn well. He changes direction smoothly and has very good closing burst for a defensive tackle.
- Frame: Tall and long, with a vastly improved physique from earlier in his career at Michigan State. His arm length and hand span are elite.
- Slipperiness: Does an excellent job of slipping away from blocks, locating the ball, and making the short chase. His pass rush win rate (per PFF) was in the 99th percentile.
- Ball tracking: Locates the ball quickly against both the run and the pass.

Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

NFL comp: Milton Williams, Patriots

Nolen was a Texas A&M transfer who got better every year and wound up with a career-high 14 tackles for loss in 13 games in his only season at Ole Miss. There’s no issue with his motor, and he’s a menace against the run.

But here’s the deal: While on tape he’s one of the most physically gifted interior defensive linemen in the class and he has plenty of college experience at big-time programs, he has yet to develop high-level pass rush moves, and far too often, he appears not to have a plan. If he gets with the right veteran group and has a great teacher as a defensive line coach, he has a chance to be a hit. A lot of untapped stuff here!

Top Traits

- Quickness: Quick hands to slip away from blocks. Quick first step to split blockers. Quick in getting down the line. 
- Strength: Can simply power his way off blocks at times. But he needs to play with leverage because he isn’t massive for the position.
- Versatility: Is a 3-technique but can also play the 5-technique and other spots along the defensive line.

Kenneth Grant, Michigan

NFL comp: Jordan Davis-lite, Eagles

Grant is a massive nose tackle prospect. He eats up a lot of space, but he has the traits to become a lot more than that. He has a lot of high-impact snaps, but there are also a whole lot of snaps when it feels like he’s just going through the motions—he needs more determination and consistency. At worst, he could be a monster in the middle of a run defense. At best, he could refine his skills and become an elite run defender and an occasional factor as a pass rusher.

Top Traits

- Strength: Massive space eater. Extremely difficult to move when he drops his anchor and maintains leverage, although his pad level and ferocity can vary from one down to the next.
- Speed: When he’s going 100 mph, he can do things that most others in his weight class are incapable of. There are snaps when he chases down RBs and cuts them off before they turn the corner.
- Instincts: Does a nice job of keeping his eyes in the backfield when he knows he’s not getting home and gets his hands up in time to disrupt the passing window (10 deflected passes in the past two seasons).

Darius Alexander, Toledo

NFL comp: Grover Stewart, Colts

Alexander may need a year to sharpen his blades, but he grades out as a future high-impact starter as a 3-technique. He’s an ascending player who put his traits on display at the Senior Bowl—showcasing great length, first-step suddenness, power, and versatility. He needs the right coaching to tap into his potential as a pass rusher, but it’s there.

Top Traits

- Power: Sudden penetrator with major snap in his hands and a powerful core. Jolts blockers when they’re on the move or if he simply gets a clean shot.
- Burst: Explosive first-step quickness and initial power. Also strong enough to convert speed to power.
- Frame: Has prototypical height and carries his weight beautifully. Also has long arms and big hands. 
- Athleticism: Ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash (tied for fifth), a 1.72-second 10-yard split (fourth), and a 7.60-second three-cone (fourth). His jumps were solid but not elite—31.5-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-3 broad jump (tied for 10th).

Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

NFL comp: D.J. Reader, Lions

Despite his massive frame, Williams is best suited to play nose tackle in a one-gap-heavy defensive scheme and could also work as a 3-technique. His good is really damn good. But he will need to work in a rotation to stay fresh and effective. And his countermoves and overall pass rush plan need to be crafted well so that he can offer more as a pass rusher. 

Williams is worth a Round 2 pick for a team with veteran leadership and strong defensive coaching. In the right situation and used properly, he could be a high-impact player. These big, strong, balanced, and mobile GROWN-ASS MEN typically translate well to the NFL! But for every D.J. Reader and Da’Ron Payne, there can be a Mazi Smith.

Top Traits

- Burst: Quick first step for his size. When dialed in, he fires out of his stance, stacks blockers in a flash, locates the ball, and sheds blocks in time to make the play. Generates a lot of tackles for loss and forces ballcarriers off course even more frequently.
- Athleticism: He did not run a 40-yard dash at the combine, but his jaw-dropping on-field drills (he’s 334 pounds) were a topic of conversation for personnel folks.

Shemar Turner, Texas A&M

NFL comp: Nnamdi Madubuike, Ravens

Turner played in multiple spots at A&M but is very clearly suited to be a one-gap penetrator as a 1-technique (firing through the A gap) and 3-technique (firing through the B gap). He has a slight frame and won’t hold his ground enough against double-teams, but his combination of lightning-quick hands, fast eyes to locate the ball, long arms, big hands for his frame, and relentless motor will be appealing for a one-gap-heavy defensive scheme. I really like this guy in the correct scheme fit!

Top Traits

- Fluidity: Very quick and sudden. Smooth mover for the position.
- Instincts: Does a great job with his eyes. Locates, is patient, knows when to disengage, and then has great short-area closing burst as a tackler.
- Motor: Chases no matter the situation (watch his effort when Texas A&M beat Missouri 41-10).

Joshua Farmer, Florida State

NFL comp: Kris Jenkins Jr., Bengals

I could see Farmer as a 3-technique or 5-technique, depending on the scheme. His greatest assets are his length, leverage, and power, which is why I think he could make a good 5-technique. But he can also be very disruptive at times along the interior. He grades out as a rotating backup as a rookie and has enough potential to develop into a solid starter if he makes strides with his pass rush plan and moves.

Top Traits

- Leverage: Good pad level. Fires out low and with some heaviness behind him. Gets into blockers’ pads quickly.
- Frame: Exceptionally long (35-inch) arms. Uses his arms to lock out and control blocks and then disengages at the last second to finish in tight quarters.
- Power: He’s much more effective when he plays a sudden stick-and-move brand of ball. Good initial power to knock offensive linemen back.

Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee

NFL comp: Kobie Turner, Rams

It’s difficult to evaluate Norman-Lott; he played fewer than half as many snaps as the guys ranked above him because of Tennessee’s extraordinary depth along the defensive line. That helps explain his substandard stat line, but it also allowed him to play with fresh legs most of the time. 

Regardless, Norman-Lott has athletic traits and the power to succeed in the NFL as a 3-technique, and I like the energy he brings to the field (his desire to learn and attention to detail at Senior Bowl practices really stood out to me as well). Yes, he’s undersized and gets knocked off his feet too often. Yes, he needs to broaden his pass rush arsenal. But put him in a rotation in a one-gap scheme and help him sharpen his tools, and you might just have a Kobie Turner on your hands.

Top Traits

- Quickness: Wins with his first step and explosive pop. At his best when firing upfield and when on the move. 
- Hustle: Legs and hands are always working. Active, active, active!

Alfred Collins, Texas

NFL comp: A’Shawn Robinson, Panthers

Collins is a tall, big, long, and strong interior defensive lineman with experience at 0-technique (over center), at 3-technique (outside shoulder of guard), and all the way out to 5-technique (over the tackle). He’s a handful as a run defender and can be disruptive when fresh as a pass rusher, but he does not project as consistently effective against the pass in the NFL. He grades out as a rotation run plugger as a rookie and could develop into a starting run stuffer on early downs in year two.

Top Traits

- Ferocity: Fires off the snap, gets into offensive linemen’s pads, locates the ball while stacking, and then disengages. Plus, I almost never see this dude on the ground.
- Leverage: When he’s asked to drop his anchor, his size and strength make it tough to move him off the ball. He can occupy double-teams without giving up much ground.
- Instincts: He pushes the pocket, tracks the quarterback, and gets off blocks late. He has an uncanny awareness of where the football is.

T.J. Sanders, South Carolina

NFL comp: Jordan Elliott, 49ers

Sanders could be a 3-technique all day long in the NFL, although he did play a lot of 1-technique at South Carolina, too. He’s an active disruptor with impressive movement skills. He has the height, frame, arm length, hand size, and agility you look for at that position. His hand technique needs refinement, and he gets pushed around when forced to drop his anchor. In the best case, he’ll sharpen his tools and become a disruptive starter. In the worst case, he’ll be a really good rotation player on a one-gap-heavy defensive front.

Top Traits

- Burst: Quick first step to get into offensive linemen’s pads. Engages quickly and disengages even more quickly.
- Motor: Not an elite penetrator, but he stays active with his feet, long arms, and hands.
- Movement: Moves well laterally. At his best when he can keep on the move and use his athleticism to disrupt.

Armand Membou, Missouri

NFL comp: Darnell Wright, Bears

Membou might be the most talented offensive lineman in this class. While he could possibly play left tackle in the pros, he’s best suited for right tackle. He’s a bit unpolished and may take a little time, but he will grow into a really good all-around right tackle early in his career.

Top Traits

- Balance: He’s light on his feet, and he keeps his base. Excellent natural bend, never on the ground.
- Sturdy: Thick in the trunk and strong lower body. Can drive defenders off the line.
- Athleticism: His 4.91-second 40-yard dash at the combine was fastest among offensive linemen. He had 31 reps on the bench press (second most), a 9-foot-7 broad jump (best), and a 34-inch vertical jump (fourth).
- Movement: His feet and range are excellent for his size. It’s easy to forget that he’s 332 pounds when watching his tape.

Will Campbell, LSU

NFL comp: Jake Matthews, Falcons

My money is on Campbell thriving as a left tackle in a zone-heavy scheme. Some scouts believe that he’ll be a right tackle, while others believe that he’ll kick inside to guard. He may never be a dominant left tackle in the echelon of Jordan Mailata, Trent Williams, or Tristan Wirfs, but his outstanding movement skills, combined with his elite football intelligence and technique, will make him a damn good starting left tackle for many years.

Top Traits

- Intelligence: Elite, elite football intelligence and communication skills. Will walk into his OL room in the NFL and immediately take over as a (or the) leader.
- Frame: Tall, well-proportioned frame and so damn light on his feet and athletic. He has the size and strength to wall off defenders in the run game.
- Movement: Smooth when getting set, and he rarely loses once locked on in pass protection.

Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

NFL comp: Orlando Brown Jr., Bengals

Ersery didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school, and he’s still developing his technique and feel. But he’s come a long way in a short period of time, and he has the tools to develop into a quality starting left tackle (despite people’s natural inclination to say that he’ll be a right tackle because of his size). I really think that this guy is quick, balanced, and smooth moving enough to stick on the left side. Vastly underrated. Big guys that move like this don’t fail.

Top Traits

- Quickness: Really good quickness and knee bend in his set … that really surprised me on tape!
- Strength: Can drop the anchor when his technique is sound.
- Frame: Massive. Engulfs defenders in the run game.
- Movement: He is smooth when combo blocking to the second level. He moves well laterally and can seal edge defenders.

Josh Simmons, Ohio State

NFL comp: Broderick Jones, Steelers

Simmons is the most talented tackle in the class—and it’s not close. But there is big-time boom-or-bust potential here. Multiple NFL sources have warned me about immaturity and concerning work habits. He could be a starter at left tackle if he continues to develop at the clip seen early in his 2024 tape. But reports about poor fundamentals and football character raise questions about whether he will put in the work required to become the high-end level blindside protector in the NFL that his traits indicate he can be.

Top Traits

- Movement: Easy mover. From a size, movement, and balance standpoint, he’s exactly what you look for in a left tackle. He’s smooth when getting set in pass protection.
- Range: I really like his ability to latch on in space and sustain.
- Burst: He fires off the ball and gets good initial pop in the run game. He’s strong enough to generate some push.

Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

NFL comp: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets

Banks is a left tackle prospect, but he could move over to right tackle or kick inside to guard if necessary. He just isn’t a finished product yet, which is somewhat surprising considering he has started 42 games at that position at the highest level of college football. You have to really believe in your offensive line coach and his ability to get Banks ready for Week 1 of the NFL season if you elect to use a first-round pick on him.

Top Traits

- Balance: He has the quickness, foot speed, and strength to develop into a high-end pass protector. He also mirrors well.
- Movement: He has the lateral quickness to seal the front side and cut off backside defenders in the run game. He has the range to reach second-level defenders and the powerful punch to knock linebackers off course.

Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

NFL comp: Less technically sound Rashawn Slater, Chargers

Conerly is the best pure left tackle in the class, and he’d fit beautifully in a zone-heavy scheme.  He’s not quite strong enough yet, but he should get there pretty quickly in the NFL—he’s still just 21 years old. I’m betting on this guy! Great intangibles, too.

Top Traits

- Footwork: Ultra-quick feet. Agile. Mirrors and slides with ease. Keeps his feet under him.
- Burst: Has some snap in his hands in his initial contact as a run blocker.

Marcus Mbow, Purdue

NFL comp: Zach Tom, Packers

Mbow is an outstanding athlete, but he’s still a work in progress at this point. He’s a lean-framed offensive lineman who spent most of his time at guard and right tackle in college. Center could wind up being his best pro fit, but he is determined to play left tackle—and many teams are looking at him as a left tackle whom they can move to guard if he doesn’t work on the perimeter. 

His core strength is noticeably lacking on tape. However, his natural agility and movement skills are tough to find. He fits into only a zone-heavy scheme offense, but in that scheme, he has a lot of potential. Mbow could struggle as a rookie while still getting stronger and working to improve his hand usage, but if coached and developed properly, he can emerge as a very good starter in the NFL.

Top Traits

- Athleticism: Excellent athlete for the position. Sets quickly in pass pro and has no trouble cutting off the edge against high-end speed rushers.
- Movement: Elite movement skills as a puller and second-level blocker. Agile and quick and takes great angles. Excellent range in the run game.
- Temperament: He’ll surprise you with his nasty streak. Not big or overly strong, but boy, can he finish! Very competitive. Fights through the whistle.

Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College

NFL comp: Roger Rosengarten, Ravens

Trapilo is tall and narrow framed with below-average arm length, but he would be a plug-and-play right tackle in the NFL. He should be a very good, if never elite, player. Top-shelf speed is a challenge for him, but otherwise, he is a very smart player who takes great angles and shows a high-end understanding of concepts and situations. He had a strong week at the Senior Bowl.

Top Traits

- Intelligent: Excellent character. Will be a great addition to an offensive line room. Hardworking. Three-time All-Conference academic selection.
- Balance: Really good body control, rarely leaves his feet.

Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

NFL comp: Dominick Puni, 49ers

Zabel possesses standout strength, bend, experience, and temperament. His versatility is highly coveted. I think that he should be a starting guard or center from day one, but the fact that he can play all five offensive line spots should be enticing for NFL teams. I see him as next in the line of small-school Senior Bowl standouts who succeed in the NFL—Terron Armstead (Arkansas–Pine Bluff), Ali Marpet (Hobart and William Smith), Cody Mauch (NDSU), Dillon Radunz (NDSU), and Quinn Meinerz (UW-Whitewater) come to mind.

Top Traits

- Lateral movement: Mirrors and slides with ease and can handle outside-in moves. Just moves differently than other guards in this class (Tyler Booker and Donovan Jackson).
- Power: Good sting in his punch. Also does a plus job versus bull-rushers (I saw just one bad rep in 2024, and that came when his feet crossed with his guard’s).
- Temperament: Tough and physical, takes great angles, has excellent leverage, and is a flat-out grinder!
- Versatility: Started 16 games at left tackle in 2024 but started at every position except for center during his five-year career. Played some center at the Senior Bowl and excelled.

Tyler Booker, Alabama

NFL comp: Steve Avila, Rams

Booker should be a good starting guard in the NFL for more than a decade. He lacks the athletic traits of elite guards in the league, but he’s so damn consistent, powerful, and smart. He’s one of the “safest” players in the entire 2025 class.

Top Traits

- Temperament: Under Armour All-America staff rave about his competitiveness and work ethic. Alabama coaches talk about his character, saying he’s among the top 1 percent of guys they’ve had (in Nick Saban’s group). NFL personnel I spoke with said he had the best interview of the combine
- Frame: Elite arm length (34 1/2 inches) and massive hands (11 inches).
- Power: Fires out low and has great leverage as a gap blocker in the run game. Squares up and rarely loses once he gets into a defensive lineman’s pads.

Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

NFL comp: Tyler Smith, Cowboys

Jackson is ideally suited for power or gap schemes but is capable of playing at a high enough level in an outside zone-heavy scheme. Regardless, he’s a day one starter at guard. He’ll be an elite run blocker right away and should hold his own in pass pro as a rookie. He can even swing out to tackle in a pinch, as he did when he moved to left tackle after Josh Simmons’s injury in 2024. He has All-Pro potential.

Top Traits

- Run blocking: Elite, elite run blocker. Fires out and latches on. Does a better job of keeping his hands inside as a run blocker than he does in pass protection.
- Power: Tough, physical player who consistently moves the line of scrimmage.
- Smarts: Very good job with first-step angles.

Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

NFL comp: Kingsley Suamataia, Chiefs

Savaiinaea is a thickly built, heavy-handed tough guy with the type of power and nastiness that you look for in a starting guard in the NFL. He also held up really well in pass pro at right tackle. I love his versatility. As a plug-and-play starter at guard who can also kick out to tackle in a pinch, he’s a vastly underrated prospect.

Top Traits

- Versatility: Five starts at left tackle, 16 starts at right tackle, 15 starts at right guard.
- Athleticism: Ran a sub-5.0-second 40-yard dash at 324 pounds (third fastest, behind Jared Wilson and Armand Membou).
- Pass protection: Bends pretty well for his size and has a powerful core.

Jared Wilson, Georgia

NFL comp: Zach Frazier, Steelers

Wilson is a high-character hard worker with good size and length for the position. He’s smart and can play in both zone and gap schemes. He has excellent intangibles and the versatility to push for a starting center job in the NFL, but he can also be a backup at guard.

Top Traits

- Athleticism: Elite combine workout: 4.84-second 40-yard dash (fastest of all offensive linemen), 1.72-second 10-yard split (T-second), 32-inch vertical (tied for eighth, second best for centers), 9-foot-4 broad jump (tied for fourth among offensive linemen), 4.56-second 20-shuttle (tied for fourth among offensive linement).
- Frame: Longest arms and hands of the centers. Natural knee bender.
- Movement: Really good moving in space. Gets out quickly, takes good angles, and plays under control. Good athlete.
- Leverage: Has some initial pop and moves defenders enough in the run game. Really good job of using angles against defenders.