In the second part of our dive into the offensive line class in the upcoming draft, we head inside to take a look at the guard position.

The expected starters at the position for the Cardinals are currently Evan Brown and Isaiah Adams. Brown earned a new contract with the team after winning the starting job last year and exceeding expectations. Adams had more of an up and down time as he logged 444 snaps at right guard over the course of 11 games, deputising for the injured Will Hernandez (now a free agent), during his rookie season.

The team have also added Royce Newman and Jake Curhan to the roster who both have starting experience on the interior.

Protecting Kyler Murray from interior pressure, an area of the game that has always caused concern for the QB, is imperative for the team to succeed in the upcoming season and they reportedly made a move to sign Will Fries during free agency before he signed an $88m contract with the Vikings.

With the guard market exploding across the league, they may look to the draft to solidify the position in a more cost-effective manner and there are some intriguing options available.

Tyler Booker – Alabama – 6’4″ – 321 lbs – 34 7/8″ arms – 21 years old

If I was going to get into a bar fight, I’d want Tyler Booker backing me up. A well-built mauler, Booker has the desired build for an NFL guard and knows exactly how to use it.

A two-year starter at Alabama, the 21-year-old loves to scrap it out at the line of scrimmage, stating that he views his play style as “legal assault” and claiming that he “makes guys not love football anymore”. Using his long arms and strong hands, Booker pummels defensive linemen with stiff strikes and does so at every opportunity – there are no off plays on his tape.

He prides himself on putting defenders on their backsides, always aiming to finish plays and eliminating the opposition from making an impact.

When under pressure, Booker has a rock solid anchor to keep the pocket deep for his quarterback, utilising a strong lower half that also gives him a fantastic push in the run game. He’s able to create lanes for the running back by displacing defenders and keeps a wide stance to make himself tough to move around.

There are occasional blips in Booker’s game when his hands are too wide, hurting his ability to latch onto defenders. That can be coached up and it’s a picky point rather than an alarming red flag.

Booker has been a popular selection in many Cardinals mocks over the past few months and he is going to be a good player in the NFL, but he might not be a good fit for the team.

When he is moved outside of his comfort zone, Booker’s game can begin to unravel as he has below average foot speed which is especially noticeable when out in space. He had the second lowest 3-cone score amongst OLine prospects at the Combine (7.96) and the second lowest 40 time (5.38) with the worst split (1.96).

It can also cause him issues when facing quick counters as he doesn’t have the suddenness in his feet to react in time.

That wouldn’t be an issue in some schemes but for the Cardinals, who have a propensity for athletic talent, it could be a deal breaker.

Miles Frazier – LSU – 6’5″ – 317 lbs – 32 7/8″ arms – 23 years old

“He had an extra edge. You could see he was different”. That’s what Arkansas defensive lineman Eric Gregory said about Miles Frazier, the experienced guard who will likely be the pick of the punch of former LSU offensive linemen entering the draft – after Will Campbell, course.

A mean mugged bully who didn’t allow a single sack in his final 20 college games, Frazier dominates at first contact and calls on a filled-out frame to overpower defenders who come within arms reach.

After a lengthy college career that saw him first as a left tackle at FIU before transferring to LSU, Frazier has developed mature and purposeful hands in pass protection.

Over 3200 offensive snaps across the last four years, across every position on the line except center as he featured in every game, have given Frazier the confidence to not panic when under pressure and he is able to recognise adjustments quickly.

He performed well at the Senior Bowl, being voted the American Team’s top offensive linemen during the week of practices.

Frazier is a middling athlete which necessitated his move inside following his transfer to LSU, lacking burst in his lateral movements and is guilty of being caught flat-footed and exposing his chest.

A far better pass protector than run blocker, in 2024 PFF awarded Frazier an 88 pass-blocking grade and a 64.1 run-block grade. While he has the desired strength and attitude to excel in the run game, his feet can be clumsy, often lagging behind his frame which causes him to be off balance when taking on blocks.

He’ll also have to reign in some of that aggression to become more of an asset in the run game. Instead of fighting, he needs to translate his pass pro skills into his efforts as a puller.

Donovan Jackson – Ohio State – 6’3″ – 317 lbs – 34 1/2″ arms – 22 years old

The unsung hero of Ohio State’s championship run, Donovan Jackson filled in at left tackle after the well documented injury to Josh Simmons, doing an admirable job as the Buckeyes secured the title.

Jackson played 529 snaps at left tackle and got stronger as the season went on, with the only sacks he conceded being in his first game at the position against Penn State, a veritable baptism of fire. Some analysts are pegging him to even move to the position full time when he enters the league. That could be a possibility, though in my opinion, Jackson could make a much bigger impact at his natural guard position.

In 2023, where he played exclusively at left guard, Jackson gave up just 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 8 hurries. At guard in 2024, he didn’t give away a single sack.

Capable of keeping incredibly clean with accurate punches and controlling the action with his long arms, Jackson sees things well and has the smooth technique you’d expect from a three-year starter at a prestigious programme like Ohio State. He demonstrated excellent control in pass sets at left tackle following the Penn State game and that is mirrored in his work inside.

The 22-year-old isn’t a groundbreaking athlete yet he has polished footwork and is comfortable when climbing to the second level to meet blockers.

Disciplined in every aspect of his game, Jackson was penalised just twice across his final 28 games at OSU.

Jackson is strong but not dominating in the same way that the likes of Tyler Booker are and it could be questioned whether he has the mean streak in him that you want from the big fellas in charge of keeping your quarterback upright.

There are times where he overextends his frame and in those situations defenders can pull him downwards, using his weight against him.

The links to new Cardinals offensive line coach Justin Frye are obvious and that LT/LG flexibility would be desirable. Donovan Jackson will allow a team to put their best five offensive linemen on the field whether he’s at tackle or guard.

Emery Jones Jr. – LSU – 6’5″ – 315 lbs – 34 1/4″ arms – 21 years old

One of the main talking points of the 2025 draft cycle has been around Will Campbell and whether he will have to move inside at the NFL level. The former LSU tackle that HAS to move inside is Emery Jones Jr.

Though he earned second-team All-SEC honours the past two seasons as a right tackle, the strengths and weaknesses of Jones’s game are screaming out for him to take up a role as an NFL guard.

On the positive side of things, Jones anchors incredibly well in pass protection, sinking down to slow down bull-rushes with relative comfort. His big, heavy mitts can thunder into defenders and knock them out of rhythm when he uses them properly and he generates considerable power from his wide frame.

Where Jones struggles – he gave up 23 hurries and 4 QB hits in 2024 – is when pass-rushers can target him on the outside shoulder. At times, he is able to use his length to guide them away from the pocket, but is too inconsistent in doing so.

Jones throws himself off balance and doesn’t recover fast enough, leaving him vulnerable. He especially struggled with this against premier rushers where he wouldn’t be set by the time they made contact or hit the outside edge.

Despite being a multi-year starter at LSU, Jones doesn’t have the same level of anticipation as his Tiger teammates which results in him being late to pick up on defensive adjustments and simulated pressures. The opposite can be true as well, when he prematurely throws his hands and misses the target, further affecting his balance or trying to preempt the snap something which resulted in five false start flags in 2024.

Having played almost exclusively at right tackle in college (98.3% of his snaps where at the position), a move would be a gamble but it could hide the negatives in his game and accentuate the positives.

Marcus Mbow – Purdue – 6’4″ – 302 lbs – 32 1/2″ arms – 22 years old

A senior captain and starting center on Wauwatosa East’s 2021 Division I state championship basketball team, Marcus Mbow grew up dreaming of taking to the NBA court before also taking up football in middle school. After being a three-year starter at Purdue, Mbow enters the NFL draft as an intriguing prospect capable of playing a number of positions.

His basketball background is evident in the way Mbow glides around the field, with incredible body control and grace, giving him the ability to take on different defenders. Against speed rushers, Mbow is often as talented an athlete so can match them step for step, while his fluid hips and well-cut frame make him a challenging prospect for power rushers as he can absorb contact and flip the momentum of impact.

Able to mirror well in pass pro, with sharp and reactive footwork, Mbow has significant burst going forwards and side-to-side. He has intelligent hands that can trick rushers into prematurely reaching out and disrupting their attacks.

In the run game, he understands the correct angles to take when blocking because he has to win that way.

Being a smaller offensive lineman, while complementing his footwork and agility, comes with some knock backs. Mbow doesn’t have the desirable size, length or natural power to stick at tackle in the NFL. He can already be overpowered at the college level and that will only be more likely in the pros.

Mbow is also too laid back. Not in a bad attitude/team player way – he is a high-motor dude in all four quarters – but he never looks concerned or panicked. That’s usually a great quality to have but it’s like he thinks he’s 340 lbs. Adding some urgency will make taking on those bigger guys a bit easier.

Unlike with other tackle-to-guard converts, Mbow actually has experience there having played 14 games at right guard for Purdue, meaning a position change should be more comfortable for him.

Wyatt Milum – West Virginia – 6’6″ – 313 lbs – 32 5/8″ arms – 22 years old

Wyatt Milum was a one-man wrecking crew during his time at West Virginia. The home-state stand-out didn’t give up a single sack between 2022 and 2024. In the same time frame, he was responsible for one QB hit and 29 hurries, 6 of which came in the last year.

A mauling beserker of an offensive lineman, defenders were left reeling by Milum’s booming punches and were unable to disengage when he got hold of them. Milum plays with a terrifying competitive edge and put opposition players into the ground with ease.

In 2024, Milum earned elite PFF grades of 92.5 (pass blocking), 92.9 (against true pass sets), 90 (zone grade) and 89.2 (run blocking) with a 96.70% pass-block win rate in 1-on-1 pass-rushing scenarios.

When rushers could evade Milum’s grasp and challenge him, he showed a consistent anchoring technique and football IQ to put out any fires before they could spread. Unlike other bully-boy offensive lineman, the 22-year-old Milum is able to take it as well as dish it out, happy to absorb contact as long as you’re prepared to receive an immediate receipt.

His average length and lateral quicks will necessitate a move to guard to get the best out of him in the NFL and Milum is already preparing for that. He took guard snaps at the Senior Bowl and has been practicing at the position during the lead up to the draft.

At the Senior Bowl, some of the better rushers on display were able to exploit Milum’s high pad level to win 1-on-1 reps. This isn’t a new thing for Milum, it was apparent at West Virginia, it just wasn’t an issue because of the level of competition he was up against. He will have to figure that out as he gets used to the position – he only played LT in college – to force himself into an NFL lineup.

Luke Newman – Michigan State – 6’3″ – 308 lbs – 31″ arms – 23 years old

When “scouting” offensive linemen for a specific team, it’s incredibly important to take scheme into consideration. A player can have excellent traits, accolades and/or experience but if they don’t fit into your team’s scheme, they might not even be on your team’s board.

The Arizona Cardinals use a lot of gap runs. In fact, nobody accumulated more gap runs in 2024 in the NFL than the Cardinals. Michigan State’s Luke Newman was the best run-blocking guard in this class when it came to gap runs in 2024 according to PFF who awarded him an 80.2 grade. He had the only impact block rate over 20% in the entire class.

Not the biggest of guards, Newman makes up for that with violent upper-body torque to rip down rushers and shows good recovery skills to adjust his hands and anchor down when under pressure.

Quick to shuffle, slide and mirror incoming defenders, Newman didn’t give away a single sack or QB hit in 2024 for Michigan State. Having transferred to the Spartans from Holy Cross, where he played left tackle, Newman wracked up 739 snaps at left guard. The highlight of his season came in an impressive showing against Oregon.

In the run game, he plays with the commitment that his journey required and never giving up, going from the FCS to NFL consideration.

With shorter than average arms, Newman will be up against it when trying to control the point of attack against NFL athletes. At the East-West Shrine Bowl, CJ West got into chest at will, though he fared much better against the rest of the field.

Likely a late Day 3/UDFA option, Newman doesn’t leap off the page like others listed here, though could do well under NFL tutelage.

Tate Ratledge – 6’6″ – 308 lbs – 32 1/2″ arms – 24 years old

Receiving All-American and All-SEC First Team honours in both of the past two seasons, Tate Ratledge cemented himself as one of the leaders of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Clocking up over 2000 snaps in the past three seasons at right guard, Ratledge is the human embodiment of the mullet he sports- business at the front, party at the back. He’s an infectious, fun personality off the field but when the helmet goes on and there’s football to be played, he’s 100% dialled in, ready to tear heads off of defensive linemen.

Ratledge is an offensive line coach’s dream player because he moves defenders with his lower half and controls them with his upper half, bullying the opposition out of gaps. He plays with a flat back, tight hands and consistent low pads. When he latches on, he doesn’t let go and is a super-smart football player who isn’t fooled by adjustments. Technically sound and well-disciplined, Ratledge was penalised only 3 times in his final 2 seasons.

He is also light on his feet. At the Combine, Ratledge scored the joint-2nd best 10-yard split (1.62) amongst OL, the best 40 time (4.97) and the best 3-cone (7.38).

Adored by his teammates, 95% of Georgia’s players voted for him to be a team captain.

The main concern with Tate Ratledge is his medical record. He has missed at least one game in each of his last four seasons and 20 in total across his career. He missed four games in 2024 and had season-ending surgery on a Lisfranc injury in his freshman year.

There are also occasions when he can miss his punches and become overextended. Anyone who has boxed at all will know how jarring it is to miss the target. As is common with these powerful, mean fellas, Ratledge can also become overzealous in his blocking.

He could be a great addition to the Cardinals roster if the team are comfortable with his medical history. They haven’t shied away from taking that type of gamble under Monti Ossenfort.

Jonah Savaiinaea –  University of Arizona  – 6’4″ – 324 lbs – 34″ arms – 21 years old

Offensive linemen with Polynesian roots are usually really good in the NFL. Draft them. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

Jonah Savaiinaea falls into that category and while his future will likely lie at guard, he brings experience at both tackle spots from his time as a Wildcat.

A thickset individual with bear claws to snatch and stun at contact (he has 10 1/4″ hands), Savaiinaea takes you trying to do your job of hunting the quarterback like a personal attack on a family member and having spent time with Polynesian guys in my younger days on the rugby field, that’s the last thing you want.

He plays hard and is always searching for the next block rather than admiring his work.

However, he isn’t a one-trick pony. The 21-year-old has efficient quickness, able to transfer his weight well, with his 1.72 second 10-yard split at the Combine being the fastest amongst prospects weighing over 315 pounds.

He was only flagged once in 2024 and brings a reliability factor having played in 36 straight games across three different positions (LT, RT, RG) at Arizona.

Though he brings that positional versatility, Savaiinaea will be best suited to the interior in the NFL. There is some stiffness in his hips that becomes more apparent the more he’s asked to move laterally and that should be hidden better on the inside.

He can be guilty of playing upright and has struggled in the run game where he falls off blocks more than you’d like. NFL coaching should help him add the necessary discipline to his footwork to keep his feet underneath him.

Promisingly, he still has additional strength to add as a 21-year-old. He only picked up weights in high school. He could become a monster under the right S+C plan.

Grey Zabel – North Dakota State – 6’6″ – 312 lbs – 32 1/4 arms – 23 years old

Small school tackle takes interior reps at the Senior Bowl and thrives, skyrocketing his draft stock in the process. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

There weren’t many players who had the same impact on the 2025 Senior Bowl as North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel. Whether taking reps at guard or center during practices, Zabel dominated some of the best players in the country and has been discussed as a first-round talent since.

A good athlete who is quick off the ball and has light feet when on the move, Zabel picked up play time at both tackle spots and left guard in college, conceding 1 sack, 2 QB hits and 4 hurries as a left tackle in 2024.

Extremely effective on deep pass sets, Zabel played more than 300 snaps on five to seven step drops and surrendered a measly 2% pressure rate, being the highest PFF graded offensive lineman on third and fourth downs. When North Dakota State needed him most, Zabel answered the call.

He has strong legs (as seen by his 36″ vertical jump at the combine) that come in handy in both pass pro to sink his hips and anchor and in the run game to drive blocks.

He’s been a reliable option for NDS, finishing his college career with 36 straight starts and was a team captain as he led by example. One scout told Dane Brugler that Zabel only cares about three things – “football, family and farming”.

Zabel does have to iron out some kinks in his game. He can be beat inside as he fires out his hands prematurely and it remains to be seen how he’ll handle true NFL size and power. He gave away 15 penalties in his last two seasons which is a worry given the level of competition he was against.

Only one of his 40 career starts came against FBS competition when he played against Colorado in 2024.

Excelling at the Senior Bowl isn’t a 100% verified pass to having a good NFL career but it should go some way to proving that he’s capable of playing far beyond the level of competition he faced at North Dakota State.

It would be a stretch for the Cardinals to take him at #16 but recent rumours have suggested that the Cardinals could trade back into the first round to target a player at a “development position”. Zabel could fit that mould.

Image Credits: Windy City Gridiron, Purdue Sports, Dominion Post, Michigan State University, Online Athens, Sean Arbaut, North Dakota State University