2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: IOL

7. JALEN RIVERS, Miami (6-5 ½, 319, 5.36, 3-4): Starting left guard when healthy for much of 2021-’22, starting left tackle when healthy in 2023-’24. “Great character, tons of versatility throughout his career,” one scout said. “He’s an athlete. He’s long. They moved him around so much so he still hasn’t reached his ceiling. More of an early-to-midday Day 3 pick. He’ll probably be a third or fourth tackle you cross-train at guard. He’s so smart and versatile. Still a little bit raw in a lot of his game.” Underwent knee surgery after three games of the ’21 season before going down again in late ’22. Missed five more games with another unspecified injury in ’24. “Didn’t have the best week at the Senior Bowl,” said a second scout. “He got edged and overpowered a little bit. Nonetheless, he’s a mature guy and a multi-year starter. He’s most comfortable at left guard. He has shown he can play Power 5 football at tackle and do a good enough job. The Senior Bowl knocked him down a little bit. I see him more third or fourth round, maybe even fifth.” Arms were 34 7/8, the longest of the leading guards, and hands were 10. “He was just OK at the combine and on tape,” a third scout said. “The value is he played both left tackle and left guard so he’s got some position flex.” Won a state championship in the shot put and played basketball as a prep in Jacksonville.

MaroonBells wrote:
7. JALEN RIVERS, Miami (6-5 ½, 319, 5.36, 3-4): Starting left guard when healthy for much of 2021-’22, starting left tackle when healthy in 2023-’24. “Great character, tons of versatility throughout his career,” one scout said. “He’s an athlete. He’s long. They moved him around so much so he still hasn’t reached his ceiling. More of an early-to-midday Day 3 pick. He’ll probably be a third or fourth tackle you cross-train at guard. He’s so smart and versatile. Still a little bit raw in a lot of his game.” Underwent knee surgery after three games of the ’21 season before going down again in late ’22. Missed five more games with another unspecified injury in ’24. “Didn’t have the best week at the Senior Bowl,” said a second scout. “He got edged and overpowered a little bit. Nonetheless, he’s a mature guy and a multi-year starter. He’s most comfortable at left guard. He has shown he can play Power 5 football at tackle and do a good enough job. The Senior Bowl knocked him down a little bit. I see him more third or fourth round, maybe even fifth.” Arms were 34 7/8, the longest of the leading guards, and hands were 10. “He was just OK at the combine and on tape,” a third scout said. “The value is he played both left tackle and left guard so he’s got some position flex.” Won a state championship in the shot put and played basketball as a prep in Jacksonville.

I think he is a great player. I would not be upset or scared to plug him in day one at LG. His injury history is what worries me about him. He is a smart player. Very good leadership on the line. I just switched my main focus to Caleb. Rogers can play every position within the interior. Had a good week at teh senior bowl. Showed a lot. We would have to get him at 97, if he made it that far. Started over 50 games as well. I wonder why he didn't leave TT his senior year.

This is the feedback I get from most teams.

The tape says Will Campbell is a LT. So that's what he is until he shows he isn't. https://t.co/tdUyZdP5XP

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 31, 2025

If Wolf passes on this guy the Pats fan base should rise up and file a class action suit.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/dpbrugler/status/1906676680791314562?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

If Wolf passes on this guy the Pats fan base should rise up and file a class action suit.

Not to send this thread in the wrong direction, but the universal talk on NFL Radio is Ward and Sanders are going to go 1 and 2, and that makes sense as to why the Giants went ahead and signed Russell Wilson. If that plays out, the Giants have their choice of either Hunter or Carter at 3. Patriots likely do take Will Campbell at 4 and address their glaring need for a blindside protector for their young quarterback. So you could conceivably have the #1 overall prospect in either Hunter or Carter on almost every draft board still sitting on there at #5. That's almost unheard of, but this is a funky draft crop.

supafreak84 wrote:

Not to send this thread in the wrong direction, but the universal talk on NFL Radio is Ward and Sanders are going to go 1 and 2, and that makes sense as to why the Giants went ahead and signed Russell Wilson. If that plays out, the Giants have their choice of either Hunter or Carter at 3. Patriots likely do take Will Campbell at 4 and address their glaring need for a blindside protector for their young quarterback. So you could conceivably have the #1 overall prospect in either Hunter or Carter on almost every draft board still sitting on there at #5. That's almost unheard of, but this is a funky draft crop.

It is funky because the top end is so light. I could see Vrabel pounding the table for Carter because he’s a defensive guy and Carter is just scratching the surface on what he can do. Signing Landry mitigates that a bit but you don’t pass on AD because you have Chester Taylor. 

But with Maye at QB and former 6th round Vikings pick as your nominal LT, Wolf has to take Campbell. I’ll write that one down in pen.

JustInTime wrote:

It is funky because the top end is so light. I could see Vrabel pounding the table for Carter because he’s a defensive guy and Carter is just scratching the surface on what he can do. Signing Landry mitigates that a bit but you don’t pass on AD because you have Chester Taylor. 

But with Maye at QB and former 6th round Vikings pick as your nominal LT, Wolf has to take Campbell. I’ll write that one down in pen.

And if the Browns are somehow able to land Kirk Cousins before the draft, this thing is going to get real wild in the top 10

supafreak84 wrote:

And if the Browns are somehow able to land Kirk Cousins before the draft, this thing is going to get real wild in the top 10

It’s funny you mention Cousins to the Browns because Sirius NFL radio just talking on this

JustInTime wrote:

It’s funny you mention Cousins to the Browns because Sirius NFL radio just talking on this

That's one of the last big moves everybody is still waiting to see play out. The Browns are definitely in the driver's seat on that one since they could just as easily take Sanders with the second pick if they think Atlanta is asking for too much, but Cousins would certainly give Cleveland the better chance to win immediately which I think is important for Stefanski going into year six.

Could NDSU OT Grey Zabel be an option for the #Vikings at the NFL Draft? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/xFxOvSVAQL

— SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) April 1, 2025

StickierBuns wrote:
VikingzFanPage @vikingzfanpage · 10m According to @alec_lewis , he is under the belief that the #Vikings like North Dakota IOL Grey Zabel, he mentioned via @KFAN1003 . Zabel’s flexibility could be a factor in their interest in him, due to him being able to play all along the IOL.

Oh baby! Starting LG, future C. LETS FUCKING GO!

MAUL OF AMERICA!

StickierBuns wrote:

Timer set for 4 hours

Talking to Marcus Mbow about his artful, crafty approach in pass protection; switching up sets, angles and timing to disrupt rushers.

Preview of our nearly hour long film room now available for subscribers 👇 pic.twitter.com/2ctsWB2Jug

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) April 7, 2025

In his latest mock Mel Kiper has the Vikings selecting Left Guard out of Ohio State Donovan Jackson. Very steady player with some flexibility on the offensive line. Feel like they could trade back and get him but not going to argue with building trenches. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/GEksotfXUF

— The Brohioan (@TheBrohioan) April 8, 2025

It might just be my imagination, but it does appear the Vikings want to get a little bigger up front and use a little more gap. That's exactly what the Buckeyes did. 

"They have gone from zone blocking to more of a gap scheme, which creates good blocking angles for offensive linemen."

I think Jackson would be a great fit for us. He came in for left tackle Josh Simmons after he went down with a knee injury and played well there. Vikings may ask him to do the same thing while Darrisaw recovers. Played a lot of gap at OSU, but you see a lot of reach blocks in his clips. 

Wyatt Milum is an absolute MAULER and one of my favorite day 2 options.

He’s a guard in the NFL, but a damn good one. pic.twitter.com/vdaEfOOUNl

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 8, 2025

9. WYATT MILUM, West Virginia (6-6 ½, 313, 5.30, 3-4): Made 43 starts at both tackles in a four-year career. “Second-round pick,” one scout said. “Great kid. Needs a little more anchor strength. Good enough feet. Not a left tackle; definitely a right tackle. He’s better than the tackle (Colton McKivitz) that came out of there a couple years ago (fifth round, 2020) and he’s better than the center (Zach Frazier, second round, 2024) that went to Pittsburgh.” Shortest arms (32 1/8) of the top nine guards. Hands were 10 ¼. “He’s a solid Day 3 pick,” a second scout said. “There will be some questions about his arm length. Some people think he’ll be a better guard than tackle.” From Kenova, W.Va. “He’s nasty, tough, physical,” said a third scout. “Eat-shit-and-die kind of guy. Bad athlete. Rickety, on the ground all the time. It didn’t help that he was playing left tackle. He’s barely draftable. He’ll probably make it somewhere but he’s not very good.”

"The way I see it, a perfect scenario for the #Vikings."

– @Thorku on the #Vikings trading back and still landing Grey Zabel at pick 30. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/wyfY66SsZl

— SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) April 10, 2025

A strong OL is quite the deodorant for any shortcomings.

1. GREY ZABEL, North Dakota State (6-6, 312, no 40, 1-2): Played on FCS national championship teams in 2021 and 2024. “He’s what you would expect from North Dakota State: tough, physical, friggin’ blue-collar brawler,” said one scout. “Very smart. Instincts and reactions are very good. Played pretty good on the move. Good bender. At the Senior Bowl, the practices were better than the game. Real-deal interview. Loved the interview. He’s probably a great fourth-round pick. If somebody buys too much into the dude he might end up in the third.” Started 16 games at left tackle in 2024 after starting at every other position besides center in a five-year career. NFL scouts from each team voted him the overall practice player of the week in Mobile. Impressed personnel people by how effective he was playing some center during the week. “He’ll probably be a starting guard or center but he could get you out of a game at tackle,” said a second scout. “There’s real value there. The Senior Bowl has had a good run of small-school offensive linemen. Terron Armstead, the Hobart kid (Ali Marpet), (Cody) Mauch, (Quinn) Meinerz. But why he’s going (high) is because people are trying to make him a center.” Mauch played alongside Zabel from 2020-’22 before being drafted by the Buccaneers in 2023 (second round). “I gave Mauch the same grade,” said a third scout. “I think Cody was better in the run game because he could get out in space and run a little faster. I liked Grey a little more in the pass. The way they finish — Grey models his game after Cody’s. My only hangup with Grey is the length.” Arms were just 32. Hands were 9 ½. “He’s not exactly the measurements you want,” a fourth scout said. “Little bit short-armed. This kid can play center but I think he’s better off at guard. Tough, powerful, can move his feet, OK in space, can mirror and adjust. The last two guys out of there the last three years (wide receiver Christian Watson, Mauch) are starters. He’ll play a long time.” His vertical jump (36 ½) led the offensive linemen at the combine. Bench press of 26. “He’s all right,” said a fifth scout. “Does a little bit of everything OK. Nothing too exciting. He’s not a first-rounder at all. He’ll start.” Three-sport athlete from Pierre, S.D., where as a left-handed pitcher he threw in the 90’s on the radar gun.

I probably wouldn't go OL, but when I think about this...

Darrisaw—Booker, Zabel or Jackson—Kelly—Fries—O'Neill

...it makes me wriggle.

MaroonBells wrote:
I probably wouldn't go OL, but when I think about this...

Darrisaw—Booker, Zabel or Jackson—Kelly—Fries—O'Neill

...it makes me wriggle.

You want the chocolate mousse but you have to eat your broccoli first. It’s good for ya. In this scenario you can land Henderson or any home run hitter you want.