Bucs Draft 2023 Preview + Bucs Best Bets: Cs

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2023 NFL Draft with its position previews – energized by CELSIUS, the official energy drink of Pewter Report. JC Allen continues the previews with the center position, and a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at center. Allen also provides a detailed list of this year’s top centers while Scott Reynolds offers up the Bucs draft needs and the annual Pewter Report Bucs’ Best Bets – the most likely running back for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Center

When healthy, veteran Ryan Jensen is one of the absolute best centers in the league. He’s the highest-paid center and sets the tone not just for Tampa Bay’s offensive line but for the entire offense. His leadership and tenacity were missed last year during the regular season as he suffered a season-ending knee injury on the second day of training camp. Jensen was able to return for the playoffs as his knee injury, while serious, did not require surgery.

Second-year player Robert Hainsey filled in at center all season for the Bucs and did a credible job, learning in each game as he played. Hainsey was solid, but not spectacular, yet he could grow into the role of being Jensen’s eventual replacement down the road. Versatile Nick Leverett, who started at left guard over the second half of the season, can also play center is is the Bucs’ third center on the depth chart. Reserve guard John Molchon is the Bucs’ emergency center.

What The Bucs Need At Center

With Jensen turning 32 the Bucs might want to bolster the position for the future and add another center prospect. While Hainsey played well as a 17-game starter, the team might want to see what he can do at guard this year. With Shaq Mason’s departure, both guard spots are essentially open and the four current leading candidates to fill those vacancies include former second-round pick Luke Goedeke, newcomer Matt Feiler, Leverett and Hainsey.

If the Bucs are going to draft a center it will likely be on Day 3 of the draft, as the team has more pressing needs elsewhere. Yet if a top-rated center is available in the third round it could be tempting for the team to draft another candidate to be Jensen’s eventual replacement. The Bucs had a formal interview with Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Top Centers In 2023 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Wisconsin C Joe Tippmann – Junior – 6-6, 313 – N/A

Tippmann is regarded as the best center in this year’s class. Taller than usual for the position, he brings great size and athleticism to go with his nasty demeanor. He had an outstanding 102 pancake blocks his senior year and is one of the best finishers in the draft. The fourth-year junior possesses excellent grip strength, once he has you in his grasp it’s over, to go with a stout anchor that allows him to handle bull rushes with ease. His ability to move in space is eye opening and he may be the best pulling interior lineman in the class.

However, Tippmann doesn’t always play with ideal balance and because of his height can lose leverage battles. He has average footwork that will need polishing and will struggle to mirror defenders if he doesn’t win early on passing downs. Cleaning up the penalties will also need to be a focus, as he had six holding calls go against him in 2022. He is expected to be selected early on Day 2. 

2. Minnesota  C John Michael Schmitz – Senior – 6-3, 301 – 5.35

Schmitz might be the best technical center in the entire draft. He is an elite run blocker and is probably the nastiest lineman available this year. A four- year starter at Minnesota he has a wealth of experience and a high football IQ for the position. Strong at the point of attack, he fires off the line using his tremendous hand strength to drive defenders off the ball. Schmitz is capable of making all the calls up front and displays the ability to recognize and execute against twists and stunts that come his way.

Whereas he is elite as a run blocker, he’ll need to improve in pass sets. Speed-to-power pass rushers can give him problems, and he can play a bit high allowing defenders to get under his pads. Schmitz doesn’t wow you with his foot quickness and will sometimes lunge at defenders. He is strictly a center at the next level with no real position flexibility and is an older prospect at 24. He is projected to be drafted early on Day 2. 

3. Arkansas C Ricky Stromberg – Senior – 6-3, 306 – 5.26 

The former Razorbacks lineman is well-tested going up against top competition in the SEC. He displays great awareness and a high football IQ, able to make all the line calls. His bread and butter is his quickness and instinctiveness off the ball. Allowing him to read and react quickly to take on twists and stunts and get to the next level. Stromberg’s gritty and physical style is combined with the athleticism and fluidity to adjust to seal off back side rushers and get to the next level. 

Though Stromberg doesn’t have the ideal length at the position, and his hands tend to wander outside which leaves him susceptible to powerful rushers. He can also get straight legged while engaged in blocks and sometimes get off balance causing him to over extend into contact. Stromberg is expected to be selected on Day 3 of the draft.

4. Ohio State C Luke Wypler – Junior – 6-2, 303 – 5.14

Where Wypler shines is his athleticism. He has excellent hand placement when reaching the defender first and displays great positional awareness. A two-year starter, he routinely shows the ability to get to the second level, and the reactive athleticism to mirror defenders and handle speed rushers. He has elite lateral quickness and due to his shorter arms, understands and establishes leverage against bigger defenders. 

Wypler is more of a mauler than a mover in the run game. He has trouble sustaining blocks and can get caught leaning causing him to lose balance. Due to his lack of ideal arm length, he can get moved around if he doesn’t make initial contact. Not overly physical or strong, he has trouble dealing with power moves and rushers. Wypler has a wide range of outcomes in the draft. He could go as high as early Day 2 or hear his name called in the fifth round. 

5. Oregon C Alex Forsyth – Senior – 6-3, 303 – N/A

As far as technicians go in the draft, Forsyth is right up there with the best of them. The three-year starter relies on sound football IQ and athleticism to overcome mismatches. He is quick out of his snap and shows the agility to quickly get to the second level in the run game. The former Duck has excellent grip strength to hold on to defenders bigger than him and ride out blocks. 

Forsyth has a tendency to lunge at defenders knocking him off balance and prone to holding calls. He can get high in his pass sets and doesn’t show the symmetry between his upper and lower body. Doesn’t have the “pop” to his punch teams look for and struggles to set the edge due to limited range. Forsyth is expected to be selected on Day 3 of the draft.

Best of the rest 

6. Penn State C Juice Scruggs – Senior – 6-3, 301 – 5.22 

Scruggs has the ideal length and hand size that allows him to latch onto defenders with his powerful punch. Displays a strong anchor in pass sets with the ability to wall off defenders from the quarterback. He’s quick out of his stance, firing into defenders with good pad level. Scruggs’ read and react ability to counter stunts and twists is impressive and he demonstrates patience and balance as a blocker.

Unfortunately Scruggs does not possess any elite traits in any aspect of his game. He has just average lateral quickness to react to speed rushers, and struggles to flip his hips quick enough to recover on blocks. He’s not a people mover and will stop his feet when defenders come across his helmet allowing them to work past him. Scruggs is projected to be selected on Day 3 of the draft. 

7. Michigan C Olu Oluwatmi – Senior – 6-2, 309 – 5.38 

The reason to buy into Oluwatmi is because of his pass blocking prowess. He has a strong anchor and can take on bull rushes from defenders. The four-year starter displays great mental awareness, able to quickly read and react to defenders. He possesses great core strength with the ability to take on double teams and disengage to get to the next level. 

Oluwatmi doesn’t have the lower body bend you want and can get stiff-hipped blocking. He can also be susceptible to lunging when he is late to the point of attack which can cause balance issues. He possesses limited range and agility and must improve his pad level. The former Wolverine also has smaller than desirable hands and can get them knocked down by defenders when latching. Oluwatmi is expected to be drafted sometime mid-Day 3.

8. Notre Dame C Jarrett Patterson – Senior – 6-5, 306 – 5.33 

Patterson plays with great technique and intelligence with understanding of blocking angles and uses his body positioning to his advantage. He displays excellent balance and leverage, showing good knee-bend and the ability to anchor against speed-to-power rushers. As a four-year starter, Patterson is a true competitor that will finish blocks and isn’t easy to disengage from once he has defenders in his grasp. He also has some position flexibility after starting 12 games at left guard in 2022.

Patterson’s arm length is less than ideal, which lessens the impact of his punch and can cause balance issues when bigger defenders get into his body. He doesn’t possess elite lateral agility and struggles to work out of the “phone booth.” He lacks the ability to consistently succeed at getting to the second level and doesn’t demonstrate the power to knock back defenders. Patterson is projected to be selected in the mid-rounds on day three. 

9. South Carolina C Jovaughn Gwyn – Senior – 6-1, 297 – 5.12

Crafty is how I would describe Gwyn’s playing style, as he uses an understatement of blocking angles and technique to win against most opponents. He plays with a wide base and good balance and is better in pass sets than run fits. He’s not an athletic specimen, but shows enough agility to get out in front on pulls and screens and to mirror defenders.

Due to lack of functional strength Gwyn doesn’t generate enough power at the point of attack to blow back defenders and isn’t going to be a people mover. He’ll struggle against opponents coming across his face and can get grabby when he starts to lose positioning leading to flags. Gwyn has no center experience after only playing guard in college, but his lack of size and length suggest he’ll play center at the next level. He is expected to be drafted in the later rounds on day three. 

10. Troy C Jake Andrews – Senior – 6-2, 305 – 5.15

Experience isn’t an issue for Andrews as he has 38 starts under his belt at center and right guard. Andrews is a competitor with a nasty demeanor that finishes blocks through the whistle. He possesses a good anchor against power and the strength to move rushers off their track. The fifth-year senior has strong grip strength and a powerful core to hold up against nose tackles. 

Length is a concern for Andrews as he doesnt have any elite traits to fall back on. He has just average short area quickness and lacks the ability to consistently mirror defenders. Symmetry between his upper body and lower is a concern and he tends to play high, losing power and leverage. Read and react recognition is also a concern as he can hesitate on twists and stunts and has limited recovery ability. Andrews is projected to be selected in the seventh round of the draft.

11. Oklahoma C Chris Murray – Senior – 6-1, 294 – 5.31 

Murray comes into the NFL from an Oklahoma program that just puts out sound offensive linemen. A two-year starter at right guard, Murray will make the move to center at the next level. A tenacious blocker, he plays with a mean streak right through the whistle. He has good lateral agility displaying the ability to pull effectively when asked, and to mirror speed rushers. Works well in space and getting to the second level and has the quickness off the line to get into defenders pads.

Length is a big concern for Murray as it contributes to his ability to sustain blocks. He doesn’t possess the lower body strength to move defenders off the spot and struggles with body control which can lead to balance issues.  Murray could sneak into the seventh round but is likely an priority free agent. 

12. TCU C Alan Ali – Senior – 6-4, 301 – 5.32 

Solid all around but doesn’t have any elite traits sums up Ali. More efficient in the run game, Ali has excellent instincts and awareness after the snap. He plays with good pad level, grip strength and patience when climbing to the next level and out in space. Versatility will be his key to success in the league with 54 starts with at least one at each position along the line. 

Length and mass are issues for Ali, inhibiting his ability to anchor against bigger power defenders. Ali can be guilty of lunging when knocked off balance leading to penalties and will need to rely on his athleticism for recovery. He can get caught dropping his head and can get disorganized in pass protection. Like Murray, Ali could be picked up in the seventh round but is likely a priority free agent.

Bucs’ Best Bets: Centers

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 1-3: Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz

Bucs center Ryan Jensen turns 32 in May and is coming off a serious knee injury that cost him the 2022 regular season. Will Jensen, who has two years left on his contract before void years kick in, return to his Pro Bowl form? The Bucs received solid play from Robert Hainsey last year in his first season of real action, but Hainsey could figure into the team’s plans at guard in 2023. So drafting a center for the future might make some sense in the third or fourth round this year, and Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz would be an ideal fit.

Schmitz is a big, tough center who plays the game with a nasty disposition. He can hold his own as a pass protector, but really excels in opening up holes for the interior run game. Schmitz isn’t overly athletic, but can get to the second level and wipe out linebackers. The Bucs have had good luck drafting players from Minnesota before in safety Antoine Winfield Jr in 2020 and tight end Ko Kieft last year. Schmitz might be the next one if they’re looking for another interior lineman in Round 3.

Bucs’ Best Bet – Rounds 4-7: Oklahoma C Chris Murray

Murray started his career at UCLA where he started 24 games in two years, including three at center and 21 at right guard. He transferred to Oklahoma where he was a two-year starter at right guard, earning honorable mention All-Big XII status. Murray is a fast, athletic, physical, explosive interior lineman, who is quite effective as a puller and also in a wide zone scheme.

His lack of size (6-1, 294) and short arms (30.5 inches) could cause him to go undrafted, but the Bucs might take a late-round flier on him or sign him as an undrafted free agent. Murray was one of Tampa Bay’s Top 30 visits and it’s easy to see why the team likes him when you turn on the tape. He has honed his skills through plenty of experience, and should be able to make a smooth transition to center at the next level.