2023 NFL Draft Prospects: Offensive Guard

4/22/23: Sources with NFL teams who traveled through Evansville during Wildcats training camp said the Northwestern staff was hyping up tackle Peter Skoronski as a better player than Rashawn Slater. Skoronski then played very well across the 2022 season, shutting down the pass rush and showing improved strength.

“[Skoronski is] athletic, moves well, and is smooth,” said an AFC Director of player personnel. “He has very short arms, like 32 inches – he plays with better length than he has – but he doesn’t have a tackle body and looks more like a guard. Some guys I have spoken with compare him to Jonah Williams and some others have said Jonah Jackson.”

Pro sources said Skoronski looked heavier and stronger in fall camp than he did in 2021, and he showed more strength in 2022. They say adding power has given him the flexibility to also play right tackle in the NFL. They note that like Slater, Skoronski can bend and move. Not all pro teams are sold on Skoronski being as good as Slater, and the debate about Skoronski staying at tackle or moving to guard will probably extend through the 2023 NFL Draft until his franchise decides where to start him out.

6/28/22: Skoronski is slated to play left tackle for the Wildcats in 2022, but NFL teams have him as a guard on their preseason watch list. That is easy to understand because he is short and lacks length for tackle as a pro. Skoronski broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and played well over the past few seasons. Skoronski is a tough, polished technician who could be a good NFL guard.

4/22/23: Torrence blocked well for the Gators in 2022, and he was especially a beast in the ground game while being dependable in pass protection. For the NFL, Torrence looks like a fit at right guard. However, he needs to get in better shape, with team sources saying he has a terrible body.

6/28/22: Torrence was a three-year starter at La.-Lafayette, but after last season, he transferred to Florida to continue his playing career under the same head coach, Billy Napier. With big size, Torrence is a load at the point of attack and is well-rounded as a pass blocker and run blocker. If he handles the SEC defensive linemen, he could really rise.

4/22/23: Some team sources say Mauch could be the 2023 NFL Draft’s version of Cole Strange as a small-school offensive lineman who sneaks into the first round even though he is more of a second-day talent. At 6-foot-6, 301 pounds, Mauch has a lot of projections of playing guard in the NFL even though he played left tackle predominantly for North Dakota State. Some other sources are not high on Mauch at all and think he is a mid-rounder for the 2023 NFL Draft. At the Senior Bowl, Mauch had a quality week of practice that should help him with evaluators for the 2023 NFL Draft.

6/28/22: Mauch is a tall guard with quality length for the NFL. It would help him to add some weight to his frame to grapple with pro defensive linemen. If Mauch impresses at an all-star game, he could rise.

4/22/23: Team sources say Avila is a solid player and looks like a future starter. He played left guard and center for the Horned Frogs, and he could play either spot in the NFL. Avila is strong and can generate a push at the point of attack. On top of his strength, Avila moves well for being a large, rotund interior lineman. However, team sources say Avila has a terrible body and needs to get in better shape for the NFL.

6/29/22: Avila is a big center who has also logged some starts at right tackle and right guard during his collegiate career. He is big and strong while possessing enough quickness and athleticism to remain at center in the NFL. With his skill set and experience, Avila could be a plug-and-play pro starter.

4/22/23: Tippman was a tough starting center for the Badgers over the past few years. He had his best season in 2022, blocking effectively against the run and thriving in pass protection. He only allowed one sack and five pressures over the year. It was Tippman’s second straight quality season. He looks like a potential NFL starter.

4/22/23: Patterson was injured and missed the 2022 season opener against Ohio State, but after that, he had a solid season for the Fighting Irish. He played guard for Notre Dame and has the flexibility to play guard or center for the NFL. Patterson is a technician with good knee bend, hand placement, and footwork. He is strong in the ground game and rock solid in pass protection. He looks like a plug-and-play competitor for the NFL. Some team sources said they were projecting Patterson to the second day of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Patterson was unimpressive at the Senior Bowl and could slide in the draft.

6/29/22: Patterson enters the 2022 season having been a 3-year starter, and Notre Dame has graded that he has not allowed a sack throughout his career. Patterson is a polished technician who is a solid blocker in the ground game and in pass protection. If Patterson stays healthy, he will be extremely experienced as a 4-year starter and could compete for a starting job immediately in the NFL.

4/22/23: Broeker started at left guard in 2022, which could be his best fit for the NFL. He was a solid blocker there for Ole Miss. Broeker had a decent week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

6/28/22: Broeker had an impressive debut as a freshman in 2019, starting 12 games at left tackle. He remained at left tackle in 2020 and 2021 and did a solid job of protecting quarterback Matt Corral. Broeker’s size and length might make him a better fit at guard as a pro, but he is a tough blocker who should enter the NFL with good development and experience as a 4-year starter.

4/22/23: Ekiyor was a 3-year starter at guard for Alabama and a powerful force as a run blocker. He has a strong build with the ability to lock up defenders in the ground game. For the NFL, Ekiyor could start out as a backup who develops into a starter at guard or center. Teams liked how Ekiyor looked at center in the Senior Bowl.

4/22/23: Vorhees was a versatile blocker for the Trojans over the past three seasons, starting at right guard, left guard and left tackle. He spent the majority of his starts at right guard. Vorhees has good size to him, and he is intelligent and tough. Playing guard looks like his best fit for the NFL.

4/22/23: Daniels played left tackle for Utah, but he would fit better as a guard at the next level. He has quality strength, but should be on the inside given his movement.

6/28/22: Daniels has split time starting at left guard and right tackle for Utah. The NFL advance scouts project him as a guard for the NFL. Daniels has quality size for a guard and is tough at the point of attack. Continuing to improve his pass protection and blocking speed rushers would help him for the 2023 NFL Draft.

4/22/23: The NFL world was shocked when the Patriots selected Cole Strange in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft because some teams had Strange graded on Day 2 and others had him in the mid-rounds. Curtis may not go in Round 1 like Strange, but he will keep the Mocs tradition of generating a drafted player alive. The 6-foot-6, 328-pounder is a big lineman who could profile to guard as a pro. Curtis earned a Senior Bowl invitation, which signals he has mid-round potential.

4/22/23: Team sources said they were impressed with Leveston in 2022. He has good size, strength, and some quickness and athleticism. Leveston was a part-time starter and rotational backup during his previous years at Kansas State, but he settled in at left guard for 2022 and played well for the Wildcats. Leveston is a tough run blocker with the skill set to develop into a well-rounded lineman. The Wildcats had a lot of success running Deuce Vaughn behind Leveston.

4/22/23: Saldiveri earned a spot at the Senior Bowl, where he put together an okay week.

6/28/22: Saldiveri has been the starting right tackle for Old Dominion for the past few seasons, but NFL teams have him projected at guard for the next level. It would help Saldiveri to impress at an all-star game.

4/22/23: McFadden started at left tackle for Clemson. He does not have the height or length for tackle in the NFL and will have to move inside.

6/28/22: McFadden is the starting left tackle for Clemson and is coming off a solid 2021 season. He has played left tackle and right tackle for the Tigers, but moving to guard could be his best fit for the NFL due to his lack of height and length. Perhaps McFadden can prove to be an undersized, shorter left tackle prospect like Rashawn Slater or Isaiah Wynn.

4/22/23: For Washington in 2022, Bainivalu started at right guard. He turned in some good games for the Huskies. Bainivalu should trim weight for the NFL.

6/28/22: Bainivalu is a large guard who possess solid weight. He was a starter at right guard for the Huskies during the past two seasons. Staying low and playing with proper leverage will be points of emphasis for Bainivalu to compete at the NFL.

4/22/23: Clark started at left guard in 2022. He put together a decent outing versus Baylor, but he was not impressive against Oregon or Notre Dame.

6/28/22: Clark has height and length for the NFL. Entering his senior year, Clark’s run blocking is ahead of his pass protection. It would help him to do well in pass-rushing one-on-ones at an all-star game.

4/22/23: Downing started at center for the Cyclones. He was solid versus Iowa and in other outings.

6/28/22: Downing has played guard and center for the Cyclones, with guard being his primary position. He has solid technique in pass protection and did a respectable job of run blocking for Breece Hall in 2021. Downing could fit as an interior backup at guard and center.

4/22/23: Jones played right guard for the Buckeyes in 2022. For the most part, Ohio State cruised against easy defensive lines.

6/28/22: Jones has been a quality starter for the Buckeyes over the past few seasons. In the ground games, Jones is a steady presence to get a push and create running lanes while also being reliable to keep the interior pocket clean.

4/22/23: Wilson’s only real shot to rise for the 2023 NFL Draft was to make an all-star game, which didn’t happen.

6/28/22: Wilson has NFL size, and his play was good enough despite his D-II level of competition to earn a spot on NFL teams’ preseason watch list. It would help Wilson to play well and stand out at an all-star game.

4/22/23: Greenfield needed an all-star game to boost his draft stock, and he didn’t have the opportunity.

6/28/22: Greenfield has started at right tackle for the Jackrabbits, but NFL advance scouts have him listed at guard. Greenfield possesses good length and height, but needs to fill out his frame for taking on pro defensive linemen. Getting to impress, and succeeding, at an all-star game is important for Greenfield.