2018 NFL Draft Prospects: Centers

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2018 Center prospects available for the 2018 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2019 prospect. ** – denotes 2020 prospect.

This page was last updated April 24, 2018. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 305. Arm: 32.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.34.
   Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
   4/24/18: Price tore a pectoral muscle while bench pressing at the combine. The injury should not have a big impact on his rookie year.
   
   Price impressed NFL evaluators, both with his work in fall training camp and in the games of the 2017 season. They say that Price plays within himself. They like his awareness and call him an above-average athlete. He isn’t overly fast or twitchy like the Pouncey brothers, but Price has movement skills and is better than average in space. The sources also like that Price handles big nose tackles well, which can be difficult for centers and is a hard-to-find talent. As a result of his well-balanced play, Price is being viewed as a prospect who could go in the early rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. One team source thought that if Josh Garnett and Laken Tomlinson were worthy of first-round picks, then Price could be as well because they feel Price is a better prospect than either of Garnett or Tomlinson. Teams are projecting Price to be a starting center in the NFL.
   
   7/17/17: Price had problems with penalties in 2016, including three in the season opener, but blocked well for the Buckeyes. He has size and some athleticism at the point of attack. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection. The junior was wise to return for his senior year, which should help improve his pass blocking.
   
   Price broke into the starting lineup in 2014, and his play has steadily improved. In the ground game, he helped open a lot of holes for Ezekiel Elliott while becoming more reliable in pass protection. Price has upside and could easily rise in these rankings during the 2017 season.





2. Isaiah Wynn, C/G/OT, Georgia
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 308. Arm: 33.13. Hand: 8.5.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
   Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
   4/24/18: In speaking with sources at six teams, they were split on if Wynn would end up being a first-round pick or go as an early second-round pick. Wynn impressed scouts in 2017 as an excellent run blocker for the Bulldogs. He blocks with aggression and has a temperament that is hard to find in college blockers. In pass protection, Wynn was very dependable as well. He performed well at the Senior Bowl practices, but did not work out at the combine.
   
   Because he is shorter and doesn’t have ideal length, most sources think that Wynn could move to guard or center in the NFL. Wynn started at left guard in 2016, but scouts think he is athletic enough to also play center. Wynn’s size and skill set has drawn comparisons to Kelvin Beachum, who is undersized but has managed to carve out a career at left tackle in the NFL. Wynn is just a natural football player who finds a way to get the job done, thus he might end be able to get by at left tackle. However, his best position as a pro could come at guard or center.



3. James Daniels*, C, Iowa
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 306. Arm: 33.25.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.00.
   Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
   4/24/18: Over the past three seasons, Daniels was a starter for Iowa. In 2017, he was a rock-solid run blocker for Akrum Wadley and was reliable in pass protection. Daniels has good technique and should be able to play quickly in his NFL career. While Daniels doesn’t have great size, he is very strong and team sources are raving about his heavy hands with the ability to sustain blocks while getting movement at the point of attack. Daniels has a shot at being a late first-round pick, and if he slips to Friday night, he should get selected in the second round.
   
   After his true junior season, Daniels submitted for feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory and then declared for the 2018 NFL Draft. He should go no lower than the second or third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.





4. Frank Ragnow, C/G, Arkansas
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 307. Arm: 33.25. Hand: 9.13.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.24.
   Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
   4/24/18: Ragnow played well for Arkansas in 2017 before a high ankle sprain ended his season early. The injury required surgery, but Ragnow should be ready for the start of the 2018 season. Ragnow had a late rise, and some team sources say they think that Ragnow could be a late first-round pick. If he slips out of the first round, Ragnow could easily go in the second round. He is a strong blocker at the point of attack who is a developed technician with the ability to play guard or center.
   
   7/17/17: Ragnow could be in the running to be one of the top center prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft. Over the past two seasons, he hasn’t allowed a single sack while taking on excellent competition. As one can expect coming from Arkansas, Ragnow is also a tough run blocker. He is a technician who enters his senior year having made 26 straight starts. As a sophomore, Ragnow was the Razorbacks starter at right guard. He has the size to be a guard or center in the NFL.



5. Austin Corbett, C/OT, Nevada
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 310. Arm: 33.38. Hand: 10.63.
   40 Time: 5.15.
   Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
   4/24/18: At the combine, Corbett had a nice workout to help himself. He was a versatile blocker for Nevada over four years. As a redshirt freshman and sophomore, Corbett was Nevada’s starter at left tackle. For his junior year, he moved to right tackle, but was back at left tackle as a senior. Given his lack of height and length, Corbett looks like a better fit as a center in the NFL.



6. Scott Quessenberry, C/G, UCLA
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 314. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 9.63.
   40 Time: 5.09.
   Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
   4/24/18: Quessenberry was decent for UCLA in 2017. He was very good in the second half of the opener to help the Bruins pull off their legendary comeback over Texas A&M. Quessenberry is an okay athlete, but could stand to improve his run blocking for the NFL. Generally, he was a reliable pass protector for Josh Rosen.
   
   7/17/17: Quessenberry was UCLA’s starting center in 2016 and did a nice job. He saw game action as a sophomore and freshman before missing the 2015 season. Quessenberry has the size to play guard or center in the NFL.







7. Sean Welsh, C/G, Iowa
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 296. Arm: 32.13. Hand: 10.25.
   40 Time: 5.43.
   Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
   4/24/18: Iowa has consistently produced NFL talent, and Welsh is the latest Hawkeye who has impressed evaluators enough to receive professional consideration. Welsh made some starts at right tackle during his collegiate career and logged time at center, but mostly he started at guard. For the NFL, Welsh is a guard, although he almost certainly will be cross-trained at center to make him more versatile and valuable on game days. Welsh played well enough over 2017 to earn a Senior Bowl invitation, but he didn’t impress in Mobile.



8. Tony Adams, C, N.C. State
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 300.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.22.
   Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
   4/24/18: Adams was a good college player who faces size limitations for the NFL. That forces him to be a center only, and that was given further proof at the East-West Shrine. That being said, team sources liked what they saw from Adams, and one general manager told me they liked Adams as a center prospect for the NFL. Adams did not participate in the combine.
   
   7/17/17: Adams is a highly experienced starter for the Wolfpack. He impressed in pass protection as a junior as he did not allow a sack all season. Adams would be rated higher if he were taller and had more length, but his lack of height and length will hurt his draft grade. Moving to center would help his NFL hopes.





9. Mark Korte, C, Alberta
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 285.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.09.
   Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
   4/24/18: Sources have said that Korte was better than expected at the East-West Shrine. He doesn’t have the size to play tackle in the NFL, his college position, but teams think he has shown the athleticism to be a center. At the Tuesday practice in St. Petersburg, he saw some time in the middle of the line and created a few rushing lanes for his back by firing to the second level. Korte played some right tackle the next day, and it was clear that he has to be on the inside.
   
   Korte has a center’s build and could get stronger in a pro strength and conditioning program. That could yield more size for him to be a backup as a guard and center. Korte may need a redshirt year to get stronger and adjust to the NFL with much bigger, stronger and faster defensive linemen. That being said he really helped himself at the East-West Shrine.



10. Mason Cole, C, Michigan
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 303. Arm: 32.25 Hand: 9.88.
    40 Time: 5.23.
    Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
    4/24/18: Cole is a solid player, but he doesn’t have a special trait, such as being very strong or particularly athletic.
    
    7/17/17: With Graham Glasgow in the NFL in 2016, Cole moved to center and had a good season for the Wolverines. He could stand to get stronger and improve his pass protection for the NFL. Cole was Michigan’s starting left tackle during 2014 and 2015 and really improved in that time. For the NFL, Cole would fit best at center.



11. Will Clapp*, C/G, LSU
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 311. Arm: 31.25.
    40 Time: 5.39.
    Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
    4/24/18: Clapp was solid for LSU in 2017. His run blocking is ahead of his pass blocking at this point. Clapp has an NFL frame, but could use more development. He should’ve returned to LSU, but he declared for the 2018 NFL Draft. Some team sources have told me they gave Clapp a third-day grade.
    
    7/17/17: One could argue that Clapp was LSU’s best interior lineman over Ethan Pocic in 2016. Clapp has dealt with a shoulder injury, but the plan is for him to be the starting center for the Tigers in 2017. He is a tough run blocker at the point of attack and reliable in pass protection.





12. Austin Golson, C, Auburn
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 310.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.22.
    Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
    4/24/18: Golson and the Auburn offensive line had a rough start to the season, but improved a huge amount over the back half of 2017 and opened a lot of holes for Kerryon Johnson. Golson played well in games against Georgia and Alabama, but then had an underwhelming performance in the rematch loss to Georgia. He didn’t impress at the East-West Shrine.
    
    7/17/17: Golson started out his collegiate career at Ole Miss before transferring to Auburn. At Ole Miss, he saw some time at guard as a true freshman in 2013 and then sat out the 2014 season.
    
    Golson became Auburn’s starting center in 2015 and had a quality season despite some injuries. He continued his quality play in 2016. Golson started out at left tackle before being switched to center. During spring ball of 2017, he took some snaps at right guard but the transfer addition of former Florida State guard Wilson Bell should allow Golson to remain at center in 2017.



13. Coleman Shelton, C, Washington
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 292. Arm: 31.5.
    40 Time: 5.24.
    Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
    4/24/18: Shelton played well at center for Washington, showing a lot of versatility in his collegiate career – see his 7/17/17 entry. Center is his best position for the NFL, but Shelton needs to get stronger. He didn’t impress at the East-West Shrine.
    
    7/17/17: Shelton had a solid junior season as the starting center for Washington. As a sophomore, he showed some versatility with two starts at left guard, seven starts at right guard, and two starts at left tackle. As a redshirt freshman in 2014, Shelton was the starter at right tackle. He should add weight for the NFL, but could draw interest as a versatile backup on game days while he works on developing his strength.



14. Bradley Bozeman, C, Alabama
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 317. Arm: 31.63. Hand: 9.88.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.24.
    Projected Round (2018): 6-FA.
    4/24/18: Bozeman started for the Crimson Tide in the middle of their line. Some sources are very down on him and graded him as an undrafted free agent. They feel Bozeman lost too many blocks and spent too much time on the ground. He also had some struggles at the Senior Bowl.
    
    7/17/17: Bozeman was Alabama’s replacement for Ryan Kelly and put together an impressive season as the starting center. Bozeman has good size and strength, and shows the ability to develop into a good technician. He could be even better in 2017 due to having a year of starting experience. Bozeman was a backup as a sophomore and freshman, but made two starts in 2014 when Kelly was out with an injury.



15. Brian Allen, C, Michigan State
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 298. Arm: 32.38.
    40 Time: 5.34.
    Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
    4/24/18: Sources have told me that Allen is getting very late-round or undrafted free agent grades. They like Allen because he is a tough player who plays with a salty demeanor and is a physical blocker. He’s 6-foot-1, however, and there are very few centers who can stick in the NFL at that height. Allen also can’t get movement and struggles with odd fronts. He was a good college player, but has limitations that could prevent him from translating to the NFL.
    
    7/17/17: Allen was solid at center for Michigan State in 2016. He looks limited in size and athleticism for the NFL, similar to his brother Jack Allen. Brian Allen has started mostly at guard, but also has a few starts at center. Despite being undersized, he was one of Michigan State’s better run blockers in 2015. In 2016, Allen replaced his brother as the starting center for the Spartans, yet went undrafted in 2016.

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