'My guys' along the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft

Photo via Tyler Wise

Now that my work for the 2024 draft is complete, I have sorted through my top 70 graded offensive linemen to filter out ten of my favorite prospects ranging from projected day one, two and three picks. Rather than just highlight my top ten overall, I prefer to vary the range of grades to add some variety while picking my personal favorite players to study. This also allows for some ‘long shot’ types of prospects from later in the draft that I would most comfortable betting on being featured players.

The outline will go as follows:

First round grade (1)

Fringe first/early second round grades (2)

Round three grades (2)

Fringe round three/early round four grades (3)

Mid/late day three grades (2)

For reference: ‘My Guys” from the last three draft classes

2023

2022 (no first round grades)

2021

Round 1 Favorite

• Washington OL Troy Fautanu

  • Size: 6’4” 317 pounds

  • Stats: 30 career starts split across LT (28) and LG (two)

  • Age: Turns 24 years old on October 11th

  • Top traits:

    • Twitch/explosiveness

    • Length/build

  • Reasons for concern:

    • Questions about best long-term position

    • Charged up, frenetic pace

  • Sales pitch: Fautanu is one of my four highest-graded linemen in the draft due to an outstanding blend of movement skills, power, length and some of the best hands in the draft.  I could easily envision him as an Ali Marpet-caliber guard in the NFL, but his skill-set is special enough to make a case as a building block at any of the five positions.

  • Grade: 1st

  • 16 play snapshot:

Favorite fringe first/early second grades

• Duke G Graham Barton

  • Size: 6’5” 313 pounds

  • Stats: 39 career starts split across LT (34) and center (five)

  • Age: Turns 22 years old on June 1st

  • Top traits:

    • Sustain and finishing skills

    • Core strength and contact balance

    • Work ethic, toughness

  • Reasons for concern:

    • Tardy strike timing leaves his chest and frame exposed to speed to power

    • Good, but not great size and power

  • Sales pitch: Each draft cycle I make an effort to reserve the term ‘sticky’ to describe a run blocker for one player, and this year that term is a great place to start when explaining what makes Barton worthy of a top 32 pick. Barton uses excellent core strength, contact balance and active, light feet to arrive on contact square before latching, steering and finding ways to consistently finish through the whistle. Those traits typically translate and serve as a rock solid foundation for a long career, and we got to see those traits on Barton’s film for two years.

  • Film Room

  • Grade: Late 1st

  • 15 play snapshot:

• West Virginia C Zach Frazier

  • Size: 6’3” 313 pounds

  • Stats: 46 career starts split across center (37) and LG (nine)

  • Age: Turns 23 years old on August 29th

  • Top traits:

    • Grip strength and grappling skills

    • Mental processing and competitive toughness

  • Reasons for concern:

    • Closer to average athletic ability

    • Mediocre length

  • Sales pitch: Frazier is a highly decorated, experienced and stout presence at the pivot with tremendous grappling and run blocking skills. He can quarterback the line from day one.

  • Film Room

  • Grade: Early 2nd

  • 15 play snapshot:

Favorite round three grades

• Kansas OL Dominick Puni

  • Size: 6’5” 313 pounds

  • Stats: 41 career starts split across LT (25), LG (13) and right tackle (three)

  • Age: Turned 24 years old on February 24th

  • Top traits:

    • Square power and body control

    • Calm, collected footwork

  • Reasons for concern:

    • Played in a run-heavy, RPO based system with minimal true drop-back concepts

  • Sales pitch: Puni’s wide-bodied, thick frame/build and jarring power jump out as soon as you turn on the film, but what made me sit up in my chair was his ability to stay attached, in control and sustain blocks through shed attempts. Add in very good movement skills that allow him to intersect and erase targets on the move and you quickly run out of reasons why he can’t be an early starter at guard or center.

  • Grade: Top of the 3rd

  • 17 play snapshot: