2025 Rookie Offensive Line Insights

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The NFL draft has come and gone, and all 32 teams were able to draft the guys at the top of their boards. In all seriousness, this is when the offseason starts to get fun and dynasty rookie drafts (and best ball tournaments) begin to hit their stride.

Understanding the different moves made in the trenches has an important impact on figuring out which skill players to target and avoid in your fantasy drafts. Offensive linemen make up five of the 11 players on the field after all.

The 2025 class wasn’t the best offensive line class we have seen, but there were still eight players taken in the first round (and 19 on the first two days). Let’s dive into those players and their fits with their new teams below (plus a few Day 3 guys to keep tabs on). Also, feel free to get a deeper dive into some of the offensive line prospects by checking out my 2025 offensive line prospects article.

Day 1 (Round 1)

Will Campbell, OT, New England Patriots

Round 1, Pick 4

The Patriots desperately needed to address their offensive line during the 2025 offseason to ensure that young quarterback Drake Maye could stay healthy and continue to grow. Selecting LSU’s Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick was a crucial step to achieving that goal.

Campbell started at left tackle for LSU the second he stepped foot on campus and proceeded to allow just four sacks and 32 hurries on over 1,500 pass protection snaps. He isn’t a perfect left tackle prospect, but he has the right demeanor and requisite athleticism to warrant a shot at the position in the NFL.

At worst, New England got an immediate leader for their offensive line and a player who will work as hard as anybody to elevate the talent around him.

Length concerns

One of the biggest red flags for Will Campbell staying at left tackle is his short arms (33 inches) and wingspan (77 3/8 inches). On film, the lack of length frequently shows up against longer defensive ends and causes Campbell to play with urgency to make up for his inability to lock out defenders.

The arm length is fine, but the wingspan is essentially unheard of for a tackle at the NFL level. Campbell still elevates the talent of the tackle room for New England, but the Patriots may have selected a guard with a top-five pick.

Armand Membou, OT, New York Jets

Round 1, Pick 7

The Jets elected to add the final piece to their offensive line with the seventh overall pick, drafting Missouri right tackle Armand Membou. The Missouri product was a solid prospect during his final season (zero sacks and eight hurries on 411 protection snaps) before he blew up at the combine with a 4.91 40-yard dash at 6-4, 332 pounds.

Membou is light on his feet in pass protection and will be an excellent zone blocker on day 1 (87.4 zone blocking grade in 2025). There is still room for some growth regarding his power as a run blocker and pass protector, but he is only 21 years old and has plenty of time to ascend.

The Jets now have young, first-round pedigree tackles bookending a solid interior offensive line. This unit has the potential to become a top 10 unit in short order.

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, New Orleans Saints

Round 1, Pick 9

The Saints passed on adding a quarterback in the first round and instead continued to fortify their offensive line with left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

Banks had an uneven pre-draft process before winding up exactly where most expected him to at the start of the 2024 season (top 10 pick). Proving he had the measurables (6-5, 315 pounds, and 33 1/2 inch arm length) and movement skills (5.16 40-yard dash with a 1.79 10-yard split) certainly helped.

Still, some view Banks as a guard thanks to inconsistencies in staying on blocks and with balance. He also struggles with lengthy defensive ends. At the end of the day, he joins 2024 first-round tackle Taliese Fuaga as the next foundational piece for a New Orleans team that is in more of a rebuilding window.

NFL Position

The Saints have plenty of ways to utilize their new first-round pick by potentially playing him at left tackle, left guard, or right tackle.

Taliese Fuaga, a collegiate right tackle who flipped to left tackle as a rookie, played admirably in his first season but struggled in pass protection (six sacks and 39 pressures on 657 protection snaps).

The team got even worse play from Trevor Penning (five sacks and 54 pressures on 663 snaps) after moving him to right tackle to accommodate Fuaga. Banks would be a clear upgrade there as well.

Finally, New Orleans has a hole at left guard after letting Lucas Patrick leave in free agency.

Conventional wisdom says keeping Banks at left tackle and moving Fuaga to right tackle would be the optimal offensive line. In that scenario, Penning would move into left guard (he struggled there last summer) to maximize the potential of this young group.

Tyler Booker, OG, Dallas Cowboys

Round 1, Pick 12

The Cowboys shocked many when they punted on wide receiver and drafted Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the 12th overall pick. The pick was widely considered a reach due to the positional value of a first-round guard and the top-100 prospect boards.

That said, Booker is a dominating presence on the interior offensive line with the power to move defenders in the run game and enough functional athleticism to stay in front of defensive linemen as a pass protector (83.5 PFF true pass set blocking grade in 2024).

Booker immediately fills the giant hole at right guard left behind by Zack Martin. And while it is unfair to put that level of expectation on him, he should immediately elevate the talent around him with his physical play style and excellent leadership ability.

Cowboys fans probably weren’t happy that the team chose to draft a guard in the first round, but Booker has the kind of talent to justify the lofty draft capital over time.

Questionable Athleticism

You can’t talk about Tyler Booker without acknowledging his subpar combine performance. Booker was the least athletic offensive lineman at any position in his combine testing, logging a 5.38 40-yard dash and 7-10 broad jump at 6-5 and 321 pounds.

Athleticism isn’t crucial for the guard position, but NFL defensive linemen are getting more and more athletic. It wouldn’t be shocking if Booker initially struggles against defensive linemen who are just as big as he faced in the SEC with consistently elite athleticism.

Grey Zabel, OG, Seattle Seahawks

Round 1, Pick 18

No team needed offensive line help in the draft as much as the Seattle Seahawks. They took one of the most intriguing prospects, North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel, with their first selection to fortify the group.

Zabel played all five positions along the offensive line in college, spending the most time at right tackle (1,084 snaps) and left tackle (961). He allowed just four sacks and 16 pressures in his collegiate career.

Despite the experience at tackle, Zabel figures to kick inside at the NFL level thanks to his exceptionally powerful run-blocking ability and above-average agility. Zabel dominated at the Senior Bowl at guard and center and figures to start his career at left guard.

Donovan Jackson, OG, Minnesota Vikings

Round 1, Pick 24

Many expected the Vikings to trade back thanks to their lack of draft picks. However, they stuck and picked Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson to put the finishing touches on their offensive line.

Jackson was the top offensive lineman in his recruiting class, and while he never really hit that ceiling at college, he still developed into a dependable offensive lineman with the Buckeyes (three-year First-Team Big Ten). He consistently flashes excellent footwork and has no problem getting movement as a run blocker.

Positional Versatility

It wouldn’t be fair to ignore Jackson’s contributions to Ohio State’s national championship run. After left tackle Josh Simmons tore his patellar tendon, Jackson kicked out to left tackle for the final 10 games of the season.

During that stretch, he faced off against some of the top edge prospects in college like Abdul Carter, Josiah Stewart, James Pearce Jr., and Derrick Harmon. Jackson continually improved on the edge despite having limited experience, allowing just two sacks and 12 pressures on the season.

That stretch cemented Jackson as a first-round pick, showing that while he profiles as an interior offensive lineman, he can provide solid play at tackle in a pinch if needed.

Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Washington Commanders

Round 1, Pick 29

Washington shocked the NFL by making it to the NFC Championship game in 2024 with a rookie quarterback and a roster filled with high-floor veterans. The Commanders wasted no time adding impact players to the offense this offseason, trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

The Commanders used their first-round pick to continue building the offensive line, selecting Oregon left tackle Josh Conerly Jr. Conerly is a fantastic athlete with excellent footwork and quickness. He will thrive as a zone-blocking tackle at the NFL level once he cleans up his technique with his punch placement.

Conerly won’t make an immediate impact at left tackle with Tunsil on the roster, but could easily upgrade the left guard (Nick Allegretti) or right tackle (Brandon Coleman) positions in his first season. Washington has now infused plenty of talent into an offensive line that outplayed their talent in 2024.

Josh Simmons, OT, Kansas City Chiefs

Round 1, Pick 32

Kansas City had to do SOMETHING to address the left tackle position after getting exposed and thoroughly beaten on the edge in the Super Bowl. The team added an inexperienced veteran in free agency (Jaylon Moore) but took another swing at the position with Josh Simmons at the end of round 1.

Simmons might be the best left tackle in the draft if you just watch his early 2024 film. In it, he allowed just one hurry on 158 pass-blocking snaps and consistently flashed heavy hands and excellent movement skills. It is worth noting that almost all of that film was against subpar competition on the edge. Based on his size and athleticism, Simmons was a no-doubt first-round pick and possibly the top tackle in the class.

Injury concern

Unfortunately, the bigger story for the rookie is the fact that he suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear against Oregon. Not only did it rob us of a chance to see him go against elite pass rushers, but it also created questions about his availability in 2025.

That said, the Chiefs took a calculated risk on a top-15 talent in the draft who was available because of an injury. If it works, they may have fixed their left tackle problem for the next decade plus.

As stated above, Simmons tore his patellar tendon in Ohio State’s first matchup against Oregon. This is a complicated injury (speaking from experience) that very few NFL players have returned from with the same level of play.

Simmons has youth on his side, but a return to elite play is not a guarantee given the healing process of the injury. Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t see the field until later in the year despite being “on track for training camp.”

Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3)

Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Miami Dolphins

Round 2, Pick 5

Miami needed to do something to address its offensive line, especially after Terron Armstead officially retired this offseason. The 2024 second-round pick figures to get the first shot at replacing him, but this unit needed more on the interior.

They addressed the guard position with Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea early in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Savaiinaea played left tackle (345 snaps), right guard (985 snaps), and right tackle 1,057 snaps) during his three seasons with Arizona. He wins with athleticism and hand placement as a pass protector, but struggles with powerful opponents. He should excel in Miami’s zone-heavy offense as an interior lineman and figures to be the starting right guard on day 1.

Aireontae Ersery, OT, Houston Texans

Round 2, Pick 16

Houston’s offensive line was awful in 2024, which is why jettisoning their top two linemen (Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason) was a curious choice. The Texans worked through free agency to bring in better culture fits to add depth (Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, Ed Ingram, and Trent Brown) with experience.

Still, it was clear that Houston would need to continue to add pieces during the NFL draft. They added a big one in the second round with Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery.

Ersery was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Golden Gophers and has the size (6-6, 330 pounds) and athleticism (5.01 40-yard dash and a 9-3 broad jump) to stick at tackle in the NFL. To stick at the NFL level, he will need to learn how to stay low in his stance to mirror speed rushers and be more patient when delivering a punch.

The Minnesota product gives Houston another option on their offensive line to compete at left tackle (Cam Robinson), right tackle (Blake Fisher), or left guard (Tytus Howard). Any combination of those players can land at any starting position, giving Ersery a shot to contribute in his rookie season with a good camp.

Anthony Belton, OT, Green Bay Packers

Round 2, Pick 22

The Packers disregarded other holes on defense in the second round to select North Carolina State left tackle Anthony Belton in the second round of the draft.

Belton was a three-year starter at left tackle for NC State with excellent size (6-6, 335 pounds with a 33 7/8 inch wingspan) and middling athleticism (5.26 40-yard dash and 8-11 broad jump). He has an excellent first step and consistently flashes excellent raw power in both the run and pass game. However, his overall athletic limitations make it more likely that he will land on the interior at the NFL level.

Thankfully for Green Bay, Belton won’t be called to start day 1 (although he will likely compete for playing time at left tackle or either guard position). The Packers have Rasheed Walker returning at left tackle and signed Aaron Banks in free agency. 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan also figures to compete for a spot at left tackle or right guard.

Could the Packers have used a second-round pick on something other than a developmental lineman? Sure.

But this team always hits the right notes on the offensive line in the draft and has allowed Green Bay to upgrade numerous positions with Belton as soon as this season. It is a chance worth taking.

Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Chicago Bears

Round 2, Pick 24

The Bears chose to ignore the trenches with their first two picks (Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III) but ultimately took a chance on massive Boston College tackle Ozzy Trapilo in the second round.

Trapilo has starting experience at both left tackle (646 snaps) and right tackle (1,483 snaps) over the last three seasons. He was able to clean up his issues in pass protection in 2022 (five sacks and 17 hurries), allowing just two sacks and 20 hurries over his final two seasons combined.

The Boston College product is gigantic (6-8, 316 pounds) and a high-IQ player with good strength in his initial punch and his run blocking. He does struggle with speed, which isn’t shocking considering his large frame.

At worst, Trapilo will be a dependable swing tackle in his first season. However, he does open up an interesting three-way competition between left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright for two starting line positions in 2025.

Tate Ratledge, OG, Detroit Lions

Round 2, Pick 25

The Lions once again upgraded their offensive line with Georgia guard Tate Ratledge in the second round. Ratledge was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs who somehow flew under the radar despite his experience and fantastic combine performance (6-6, 308 pounds with a 4.97 40-yard dash and 9-5 broad jump).

Ratledge’s film is filled with powerful run blocks and excellent pass protection techniques thanks to his quickness. He allowed just two sacks and 10 pressures in over 1,100 pass protection snaps the past three seasons.

The Lions needed a right guard after letting Kevin Zeitler walk in free agency and had a day 1 starter fall into their lap in the second round.

Dylan Fairchild, OG, Cincinnati Bengals

Round 3, Pick 17

The Bengals’ offensive line has been mediocre for ages, but they needed to add another piece to the group after letting long-time guard Alex Cappa hit free agency. They selected Georgia guard Dylan Fairchild in the third round to compete for a chance to replace him.

Fairchild was a two-year starter at Georgia who struggled with injuries in 2023. When healthy, he proved to be an excellent pass protector (87.0 PFF pass blocking grade in 2024) thanks to his excellent footwork and lateral agility. He leaves a lot to be desired as a run blocker (especially in his ability to displace defensive linemen).

In all reality, Fairchild will serve as a developmental depth piece behind Cordell Volson, Cody Ford, and Lucas Patrick in 2025. That will give him time to add strength to his game to hopefully become a starting-level guard in the future.

Wyatt Milum, OG, Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 3, Pick 25

The Jaguars invested a third-round pick in West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum to kick inside and fortify their interior offensive line. Milum played left tackle in college and didn’t allow a single sack in three years as a starter. However, he’s a very stiff athlete with short arms (32 1/8 inches), which means a move inside is very likely.

That will likely play to Milum’s strengths. Milum was at his best in college, running through defensive linemen in the run game thanks to his powerful hands and excellent grip strength. Kicking him inside mitigates his athletic limitations and allows him to play to his strengths far better.

He will have a chance to compete for a starting job in training camp against left guard Ezra Cleveland. Don’t be surprised if he forces his way into the lineup if the veteran starts the season off on mediocre play once again.

Emery Jones Jr., OT, Baltimore Ravens

Round 3, Pick 27

Emery Jones Jr. was a top 100 recruit as a guard coming out of high school, but settled in as a three-year right tackle starter for LSU at right tackle. Jones consistently flashed solid ability as a run blocker due to his power at contact, but struggled mightily defending against pass rushers on the edge (eight sacks and 76 hurries allowed in three seasons).

Jones could provide some depth at right tackle, but is far more likely to compete for a position at guard after the Ravens lost Patrick Mekari in free agency. Baltimore can certainly win a job at left guard, competing with 2023 seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees and long-time backup Ben Cleveland.

Jared Wilson, OC, New England Patriots

Round 3, Pick 31

The Patriots selected the first true center off the board at the end of the third round in Georgia’s Jared Wilson.

Wilson shocked at the combine, measuring in at 6-3, 310 pounds and running a 4.84 40-yard dash with a 1.72 10-yard split. He also logged a 32-inch  vertical jump and a 9-4 broad jump. Wilson was one of the pound-for-pound athletes in this draft class.

The former Bulldog was just a one-year collegiate starter, but his athleticism and quickness consistently flashed on tape. Wilson has all the tools to be a fantastic zone blocker and can even be used as a puller thanks to his athleticism. There are limitations to his strength, but those will be mitigated due to his athleticism on the interior.

The Patriots added a veteran center in free agency (Garrett Bradbury), which gives them time to add strength and size to Wilson’s frame. He could also factor in as a backup guard during his rookie season.

Caleb Rogers, OT, Las Vegas Raiders

Round 3, Pick 34

Vegas added an experienced lineman to their group at the end of the third round with Texas Tech tackle Caleb Rogers. Rogers had over 55 career starts in college with over 4,300 snaps worth of experience.

Rogers has excellent power but struggled with his quickness as a pass protector over the last three seasons (22 sacks and 57 pressures allowed). He will likely kick inside to guard to provide depth in his first season.

Charles Grant, OT, Las Vegas Raiders

Round 3, Pick 35

The Raiders double-dipped on offensive linemen in the third round, selecting developmental tackle Charles Grant just one pick after Caleb Rogers.

Grant played at FCS William & Mary thanks to a late start to his football career (junior year of high school). However, his film is filled with plays of him mauling defensive linemen thanks to his excellent footwork and powerful hands. Grant’s film looks exactly how you would hope an NFL prospect would against marketing majors and future real estate agents.

Grant was able to get away with some poor technique (especially in his upright stance) thanks to a clear difference in his strength and athleticism at a lower competitive level. If those things are corrected, he has the potential to become a starting-level tackle in the upcoming seasons.

This was an excellent pick for the Raiders to make (especially with Kolton Miller‘s contract set to expire) in the third round of the NFL draft.

Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) Players to Note

Carson Vinson, OL, Baltimore Ravens

Round 5, Pick 3

Carson Vinson was a four-year starter at Alabama A&M with ideal size (6-7, 314 pounds with a 34 ½ inch wingspan) to make the jump to the NFL from the FCS level. Vinson is a solid athlete who struggles with power and didn’t have the best showing against FBS-level competition (he did have a strong Senior Bowl during the pre-draft cycle).

Those limitations likely get him moved inside at the NFL level. But with time to add strength, he could certainly develop into a starting offensive lineman. They just don’t make many people with his size and movement skills.

Marcus Mbow, OG, New York Giants

Round 5, Pick 18

There was no reason for Marcus Mbow to fall to the fifth round (outside of medical or character questions that weren’t made public).

Mbow started 18 games at right tackle for Purdue but will have to move inside due to impressively short arms (32”). He needs to add weight and strength at the NFL level, but has the kind of explosion and quickness to become an excellent zone-blocking interior lineman with time.

Miles Frazier, OG, Detroit Lions

Round 5, Pick 35

Frazier logged starts at both tackle and guard positions throughout his time with LSU, but will settle in as a guard at the NFL level. He plays with excellent power and shows good lateral agility in footwork. He does struggle with high pad level, which limits his ability to consistently get movement against defensive linemen.

His combination of power and experience gives Detroit another interior offensive lineman who could play as soon as 2026 as a replacement for left guard Graham Glasgow.

Cameron Williams, OT, Philadelphia Eagles

Round 6, Pick 31

Howie Roseman does it again. Williams is a massive (6-6, 317 pounds with 34 ½ inch arm length) but raw right tackle prospect out of Texas. When all of Williams’s parts (hand placement, foot speed, and flexibility) work together, he mauled people in the run game. However, far too often, one of those pieces was missing, leading to a stalemate on the edge or a loss in pass protection.

Now he gets to learn from the best offensive line coach in football. Don’t be surprised if Williams is tabbed as the heir apparent to Lane Johnson in the next season or two.

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