2021 NFL Draft Prospects: Center

4/24/21: Some are projecting Slater high in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, while some team sources say they have Slater graded late in the first round and some have him in the second round. The discrepancy is due to some projecting Slater to remain at tackle and other evaluators feeling he is too undersized and lacks length, so he will have to move to guard or center in the NFL. Northwestern's pro day proved Slater's length issue, as his arms measured in at 33 inches.

Slater is a solid athlete who is quick, agile, smart, and tough. Given his lack of height and length, he might be a better fit on the inside at guard or center, but his foot quickness, athleticism, and agility are that of a tackle. Teams like how tough and intelligent Slater is, and some sources think his best position in the NFL could be center, where they think he could be a Maurkice Pouncey-caliber snapper.

8/29/20: Slater has been a starting right tackle for Northwestern, but he projects to the NFL for a move inside to guard. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection, but he could end up rising with a solid all-star game performance.

4/24/21: Dickerson played well for Alabama in 2020 before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Florida in the SEC Championship. Prior to the injury, he was getting second- and third-round grades, according to some team sources. Dickerson has some skill-set limitations, but he has very good technique and is fundamentally sound. He is a smart center who knows how to play the game. Dickerson has an extensive injury history, including three season-ending injuries during his time at Florida State. The durability and medical concerns could be a problem with some teams.

8/29/20: Dickerson is a transfer from Florida State who had a strong 2019 season for Alabama. Over his first season with the Crimson Tide, Dickerson was a solid run blocker and dependable in the passing game. He has good size to him with more length than most centers. Dickerson could be a riser as a senior.

4/24/21: Humphrey was solid for the Sooners in 2020. However, he has some limitations for the NFL. Humphrey is smart, and tough, plus has good technique. While he doesn't have a great skill set, he could be a solid starter and have a long NFL career.

8/29/20: Humphrey became a starter as a redshirt freshman in 2018 and had an impressive debut for Oklahoma. He anchored the middle of the Sooners' line and was a steady producer at the point of attack. That trend continued in 2019 as Humphrey was dependable for Oklahoma with reliable pass protection and productive run blocking.

Humphrey has good size to him. Team sources say he could be a mid-rounder who becomes a starting center in the NFL, but they don't see him as having an early-round skill set entering the 2020 season.

4/24/21: Hill had a disappointing 2020 season in which he was too heavy, letting his weight get out of control. That led to a breakdown in technique, and he really hurt his draft stock with area scouts. While Hill showed some poor technique, he also fired some bad snaps, so he needs to improve on his snapping accuracy for the NFL. Hill was impressive in 2019 and disappointing in 2020, so he is a tough evaluation as far as which player NFL teams are going to get.

8/29/20: Hill was very good for Georgia in 2019. He is a tough run blocker and shows the ability to handle pass-rushing defensive tackles one on one. Taking on a future top-10 pick in Auburn's Derrick Brown, Hill was very impressive, and team sources have said Hill was impossible not to notice when they scouted Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kindley for the 2020 NFL Draft. Those scouts feel Hill could be an early-rounder and the top center in his draft class.

Hill is big for the position and moves well for a big blocker. With his large size, Hill can block defensive tackles one-on-one in pass protection and the ground game. While Hill is not as fast and athletic as some smaller centers who have gone as early-rounders in recent years, he brings more size and power to the position than those players. He could also move to guard for the NFL.

4/24/21: Morrissey was solid, if unspectacular, for Pittsburgh in 2020.

8/29/20: Morrissey has enough size to work his way into starting consideration in the NFL, and he had a very good junior year for Pittsburgh. Morrissey did not allow a sack in 2019 and graded out as the best run blocker on Pittsburgh's offensive line. The former walk-on won the starting center position as a redshirt freshman and has improved each season. Morrissey could stand to get stronger for the NFL.

4/24/21: Myers closed out the regular season blocking really well for Ohio State and opening a lot of holes for Trey Sermon. Myers could stand to improve his reaction to blitzes and games in pass protection. He decided to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

8/29/20: Myers earned the starting center position in 2019 as a sophomore and had an excellent debut for the Buckeyes. He has good size with length for an interior blocker, and was tough at the point of attack. Myers was an effective run blocker for J.K. Dobbins and a steady pass protector for Justin Fields.

Now that Myers has a year of experience, he could be even better and may end up being one of the top center prospects in his draft class. It will be interesting to see if Myers enters the 2021 NFL Draft following the Big Ten's foolish decision to cancel the 2020 season.

4/24/21: Menet accepted an invitation to play at the Senior Bowl after a solid career at Penn State. He is more of backup who needs to show flexibility to play guard and center to stick with an NFL team.

8/29/20: Menet was a solid starting center for Penn State over the past two seasons after breaking into the starting lineup as a sophomore. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection, but he has upside to develop for the next level.

4/24/21: McGough is a sleeper guard/center who has enjoyed a late rise. There has been chatter that McGough worked out well recently and impressed some offensive line coaches. McGough could be a late-round pick who is a solid backup with the potential to grow into more.

4/24/21: Reid has quality size, but he needs more development for the NFL.

8/29/20: Reid has been a mainstay as a starter for Michigan State over the past three years, and entering his senior year, he has made 27 starts at right tackle. Even though Reid plays right tackle for the Spartans, the advance scouts for NFL teams project Reid moving to center for the pros, as they listed him at the positions on their preseason watch list. Given his skill set, moving inside looks like the best plan for Reid.

4/24/21: Jackson played well for Kentucky in 2020. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection for the NFL, but he was a reliable quarterback protector for the Wildcats.

8/29/20: Jackson is a tough run blocker at the point of attack. He is strong and plays with solid technique. Jackson broke into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman and has locked down the center position for the Wildcats. He is a good college player who would be ranked higher if he had more size for the next level.

4/24/21: Sculthorpe's draft stock is based more on his past seasons than 2020, but he had a solid playing career at N.C. State.

8/29/20: Aside from missing the game against Clemson with a suspension, Sculthorpe had a solid 2019 season for N.C. State. He has played guard and center for N.C. State, and as a pro, he could be backup at either position to start out his career. Sculthorpe should get stronger for the NFL.