2020 NFL Draft: Creating the perfect spread offense from prospects
By Ryan Roberts
Offensive Guard: Ben Bredeson, Michigan
Michigan left guard Ben Bredeson has been a mainstay on the teams offensive line ever since he showed up on campus as one of the highest offensive tackle recruits in the country.
Despite the high regard at the offensive tackle position coming out of Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin, Bredeson has settled in on the interior where he has become an All-Big Ten selection and All-American candidate heading into his final season. There, he demonstrates an all-around game that can translate to many different offensive philosophies.
He is a good athlete for an interior offensive lineman, showing ideal lateral mobility to play in a zone-heavy running scheme. That lateral mobility is combined with a solid punch and hand placement to establish leverage to the up field shoulder. This goes a long way to controlling the leverage of opposing defensive lineman.
In pass protection, Bredeson’s offensive tackle experience shows well in his ability to mirror and match. While he may lack a flashy game, Bredeson profiles similarly to what I saw in former Wisconsin lineman Michael Dieter. Like Dieter, Bredeson has the ability to develop into a rock-solid interior offensive lineman at the NFL level.
Others considered: Jedrick Wills (Alabama), Aaron Banks (Notre Dame), Shane Lemieux (Oregon)
Center: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz is almost unanimously considered the top center and interior offensive line prospect potentially in the 2020 NFL Draft cycle. While I understand the buzz, there is one kid who may end up challenging him for that title: Oklahoma starting center Creed Humphrey.
I’ve been adamant since my viewing of Humphrey that the best offensive lineman in Norman last season may still be in Norman — and that’s saying a lot when you consider the other four members of that offensive line were selected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
An absolute wall at 6-5 and 325 pounds, Humphrey is dominant at the point of contact and consistently resets the line of scrimmage in the offense’s favor. He had a pleasantly surprising game against Alabama, holding his own against both Quinnen Williams and Raekwon Davis while completely dominating Isaiah Buggs.
The brute strength Humphrey demonstrates does not take away from what is above average lateral mobility. His experience in the spread offense at Oklahoma puts the cherry on top. He might be my top pick in any offensive set.
Others considered: Tyler Biadasz (Wisconsin), Cesar Ruiz (Michigan), Jake Hanson (Oregon)
Offensive Guard: Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
With the loss of now Cincinnati Bengals first-round left tackle Jonah Williams, the Crimson Tide have decided to move Leatherwood from guard to left tackle this offseason. This move demonstrates the athletic profile that Leatherwood possesses.
His evaluation may very well end up as an offensive tackle, but at this point, his evaluation has to be amongst the interior. His lateral mobility combined with the ability to climb to the second level make him a tremendous fit in my zone-based running scheme.
He possesses the mirror ability to match defensive linemen step for step. He shows more than enough power between his trunk and torso to counteract against either length, speed or power. His fit inside as a zone player valuing movement is a big sell, and I am a big buyer already.
Others considered: Solomon Kindrey (Georgia), Tommy Kraemer (Notre Dame), Navaughn Donaldson (Miami)