Top 5 Center Prospects In 2022 NFL Draft

The NFL draft is almost two months away. Given how many teams suffer on the offensive line, and need to nail their draft picks in this particular position group, the focus on quality linemen will be intense. There will be separate evaluations of the different offensive line positions. In this piece, we’ll look specifically at the center position, which is almost as important as the left tackle spot on any NFL offensive line (right tackle if the quarterback is left-handed).

1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes have turned out plenty of NFL-caliber linemen in recent years. Linderbaum has one of the highest grades Pro Football Focus has ever seen. People didn’t get to see Iowa light up scoreboards because the Hawkeyes were so bad at quarterback last season. If Iowa had C.J. Stroud or another top quarterback on its 2021 roster, the Hawkeyes would have made the College Football Playoff instead of Michigan and would have given Georgia a battle in the playoff semifinals. As it was, Iowa had a moderately good season but nothing spectacular. That shouldn’t make anyone overlook how solid and relentlessly airtight Linderbaum was in his blocking and his line calls at the center spot. This guy should go in the first round.

2. Dohnovan West, Arizona State

The offensive line which enabled Rachaad White to have a big year at running back for Arizona State was led by West, a muscular prospect who shows great promise as a run blocker in the middle of the line. Teams which want their center to be especially strong at run blocking should give West a good long look. There were a lot of problems with Arizona State’s 2021 team, but West certainly wasn’t one of them.

3. John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

The Golden Gophers, much like Minnesota, struggled at quarterback last year, but they had some road-graders on the offensive line, and Schmitz was steady as a rock at center. The Big Ten has a reputation for cranking out farm-grown offensive linemen, and Schmitz fits firmly into that track record and legacy for the conference. One thing to note about Minnesota in 2021 is that its top running back got hurt early in the season. Had that injury not happened, you would have seen even more production from the running game, which Schmitz blasting open some gaps in the middle of the line.

4. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

The Irish almost made the College Football Playoff last year, even with a noticeably deficient passing attack which sputtered for much of the 2021 season. Having a top-tier center such as Patterson made that possible. The Irish needed stability from their line in order to minimize the weaknesses at the skill positions. Patterson provided what coach Brian Kelly needed before Kelly went to LSU in the offseason.

5. Alec Lindstrom, Boston College

The Boston College Eagles entered 2021 with multiple top NFL offensive line prospects. When the season ended, Lindstrom had done nothing to warrant any downgrade or demerit relative to his NFL draft stock. He should make a team very happy in the first 40 to 50 picks of the draft.