NFL Draft
12/31/24
5 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Superlatives For This Year's Offensive Line Class
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, I’ve started a superlatives series to preview each position group.
This series will cover a wide range of prospects and highlight the players who stand out the most in specific categories. Today, we’re breaking down the offensive line class.
QB Superlatives | RB Superlatives | WR Superlatives | TE Superlatives
2025 NFL Draft OL Superlatives
BEST ANCHOR
Tyler Booker, Alabama 
Alabama guard Tyler Booker is listed at 348 pounds and, unsurprisingly, has the best anchor in this class. He has a massive, dense build with tree trunks for legs and can effortlessly withstand bull rushes.
Opposing pass rushers rarely even tried using power against him, as it’s much easier to go around him than through him. Even with his limited foot speed, Booker only allowed nine pressures in 2024 (two were at left tackle) and didn’t give up a sack.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 31, 2024
Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson also has a very strong anchor and would win this superlative in most classes. At tackle, Anthony Belton (NC State), Jalen Rivers (Miami), and Jalen Travis (Iowa State) deserve recognition.
Honorable Mention: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
BEST HANDS
Kelvin Banks, Texas
Kelvin Banks has played more than 2,600 snaps at left tackle, and his hand usage is as polished as any offensive lineman in this class. He’s good at using the flash-bait technique, where he flashes his outside hand to draw out the pass rusher’s move before retracting it and causing the move to miss.
Banks’ rare patience in pass protection allows him to protect the corner consistently despite average range. He’s been one of the most reliable pass blockers in college football this year, only allowing eight pressures on 450 pass blocking snaps.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 31, 2024
Oregon left tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is also very skilled with his hands and probably has the most diverse arsenal of techniques, although he needs to improve his punch accuracy.
LSU guard Miles Frazier and Oregon State tackle Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan have advanced hand usage as well.
Honorable Mention: Miles Frazier, LSU
BEST FOOTWORK/RANGE
Josh Simmons, Ohio State
When it comes to pocket range, footwork, and technique, Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons is the complete package. He has explosive pass sets and light feet to slide up the edge with speed rushers. His recovery range allows him to take deep sets but still neutralize inside counters.
Last year, his footwork was a bit frantic and unbalanced, but he’s significantly improved this year. Unfortunately, he missed the second half of the year with a knee injury, so we didn’t get to see him matched up with players like Abdul Carter, Josaiah Stewart, or James Pearce Jr. But against lesser competition, he only allowed one pressure on 158 pass blocking snaps.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 31, 2024
Chase Lundt (Connecticut) and Charles Grant (William & Mary) are undersized tackles with very light feet who probably need to add some weight.
Honorable Mention: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
HEAVIEST HANDS
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Florida
Florida right tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson is an underrated Day 3 offensive lineman with the heaviest hands in this class. At 6072/322, he already has plenty of natural strength as a pass protector, but his strike power erases defenders’ momentum on impact.
Against bull rushes, Crenshaw-Dickson meets power with power and stalls the initial surge. He can also knock speed rushers off balance and prevent them from turning the corner.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 31, 2024
I also considered Jalen Rivers (Miami), Will Campbell (LSU), and Tyler Booker (Alabama) for this superlative.
Honorable Mention: Jalen Rivers, Miami
BEST ZONE BLOCKER
Chase Lundt, UConn
Connecticut right tackle Chase Lundt is one of the most athletic run blockers I’ve ever seen at the college level and will be highly coveted by outside zone schemes. Lundt is a converted tight end with elite acceleration and flexibility to execute any blocking assignment.
He explodes from his stance to connect to moving targets at the second level and glides in open space to synchronize his movements with linebackers and defensive backs. He has elite range to pull off difficult reach blocks and backside cutoffs. His first-step quickness gives him immediate playside leverage, and he can flip his hips smoothly to seal off defenders to the backside.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 31, 2024
At 6066/295, he’ll definitely need to add some weight to anchor against NFL power, but his upside as a run blocker makes him worth a third- or fourth-round selection.
Charles Grant (William & Mary) and Wyatt Milum (West Virginia) are some other players who fit zone-heavy schemes.
Honorable Mention: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
BEST RUN BLOCKING POWER
Anthony Belton, NC State
North Carolina State left tackle Anthony Belton is the most powerful run blocker in this class. At 6054/354 with 34 5/8 inch arms, Belton has unparalleled play strength that leads to dominance in both phases.
He does a great job running his feet through drive blocks to maximize displacement and obliterate his assignment. He can cave in his size of the line of scrimmage on Duo, creating a wide-open C-gap and a trail of flattened defenders.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 14, 2024
Armand Membou (Missouri), Tyler Booker (Alabama), and Joshua Gray (Oregon State) also create some serious movement in the run game.
Honorable Mention: Armand Membou, Missouri
Make sure to check out our new home for all of our NFL Draft content.
