Bleacher Report · Scouting Department · 2026 SeasonB/R Scouting Department
The top experienced centers in pro football, graded and ranked by the B/R Scouting Department. Rookies to be graded separately.Player photos: AP Images
35
Nick Allegretti
Nick Allegretti · C35
54Grade
Nick Allegretti
C35CenterAge 30
Pass Protection13/25
Run Blocking11/20
Play Strength/Anchor11/20
Movement Skills10/20
Hand Usage9/15

Allegretti started four games in 2025, with two early starts at right guard and two at center in Weeks 17 and 18. Allegretti displays below-average physical tools but plays with a gritty, hard-nosed style that gives him value as a combination blocker and interior jump-setter. He strains to stay attached and can keep reps alive with effort, timing and hand activity, but limited movement skills and power show up when he has to redirect against counters, finish late in reps or track smaller targets in space. Allegretti has the inside track to start at center, which would be his second full-time starting season and first at the pivot. An under-center, play-action-oriented system under coordinator David Blough gives the lineman a path toward serviceable short-term play, but his capped physical profile still fits best as a swing interior backup.

34
Alex Forsyth
Alex Forsyth · C34
57Grade
Alex Forsyth
C34CenterAge 27
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking12/20
Play Strength/Anchor12/20
Movement Skills10/20
Hand Usage9/15

Forsyth served as a quality backup center during his first two seasons, including three starts during the 2025 campaign with one coming in the Divisional Round. Forsyth has good size for the position and wins with processing, toughness and an understanding of how to operate within himself to keep the offense on schedule. He's alert in protection, plays on time and uses efficient, strong hands to stay connected when his landmarks are clean. Below-average square power and movement skills cap his ability to create displacement, recover late or handle high-end athletes in space, but his smarts, toughness and assignment reliability keep him rostered as a dependable interior reserve.

33
Blake Brandel
Blake Brandel · C33
57Grade
Blake Brandel
C33CenterAge 29
Pass Protection13/25
Run Blocking12/20
Play Strength/Anchor9/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage9/15

Brandel started nine games in 2025 across center, left guard and right tackle after a career-high 17 starts at left guard during the previous season. Brandel has a lean, angular build with minimal sand and an upright playing style, leaving him with below-average play-strength and limited point-of-attack power. He wins more with solid athletic ability, quickness and active hands, allowing him to refit, recover, climb to intersect backers and die slowly enough to keep the offense on schedule. His profile fits best in outside zone, play-action and protection plans, which give him guard help rather than extended isolated matchups. His narrow frame and upright posture limit his ability to command the point of attack or finish with authority, but his movement skills, dexterity and a full offseason to adapt to center give him a path to serviceable starter-level play.

32
Jared Wilson
Jared Wilson · C32
58Grade
Jared Wilson
C32CenterAge 23
Pass Protection13/25
Run Blocking12/20
Play Strength/Anchor10/20
Movement Skills16/20
Hand Usage7/15

Wilson moved from center to left guard during his rookie season and finished the campaign with 13 starts, while also working through a high-ankle sprain and concussion. Wilson was a twitched-up, light-in-the-pants interior blocker with clear movement talent but an undeveloped skill set. His quickness showed up climbing to intersect linebackers and redirecting to mirror defenders in space, giving him flashes that few centers in this range can match. The problem was everything attached to play-strength, timing and processing. Wilson's erratic hands and footwork exposed his frame, allowing defenders to take ground, while his late recognition left him slow to pass off or pick up basic stunts and twists. A move back to his natural position over the ball should give him more combination-block opportunities and fewer isolated matchups, creating a cleaner path to accentuate his athletic ability and quickness.

31
Jonah Monheim
Jonah Monheim · C31
59Grade
Jonah Monheim
C31CenterAge 24
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking11/20
Play Strength/Anchor10/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage10/15

Monheim was chosen in the seventh round of the 2025 draft and started two games as a rookie while also filling in during several short stints. Monheim is a severely undersized center with good movement skills, play-speed and an urgent, alert style. He understands the intent of concepts, provides timely help when uncovered and has the quickness to overtake combinations or climb and intersect linebackers. In protection, Monheim uses independent strikes to disrupt rush-timing and help offset his lack of length, but his narrow frame and middling power leave him vulnerable to compression when isolated. He faces an uphill battle protecting his edges and holding ground against NFL defensive tackles. Even so, his movement skills, processing and versatility give him useful pivot depth with spot-start potential, especially if flanked by powerful guards.

30
John Michael Schmitz Jr.
John Michael Schmitz Jr. · C30
59Grade
John Michael Schmitz Jr.
C30CenterAge 27
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking12/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills11/20
Hand Usage9/15

Schmitz worked through multiple injuries to start 13 games last season as part of a run-heavy Giants offense that lowered the pass-game exposure from his first two campaigns. The structure helped quiet his middling athletic ability and movement skills, allowing his leg drive, grip-strength and strain to carry more of his performance. Schmitz is an adequate pass protector who can be picked against twists and will step under himself when redirecting against moves across his face, creating soft edges. When centered, he is difficult to work through once latched and can turn reps into a slog for defenders trying to disengage. In the run game, his sustain skills and effort help impede shed attempts, though his subpar foot quickness limits his range. Schmitz is a limited athlete, but he can provide functional play in a run-heavy structure that reduces how often he has to operate in space.

29
Garrett Bradbury
Garrett Bradbury · C29
59Grade
Garrett Bradbury
C29CenterAge 31
Pass Protection13/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor10/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage9/15

Bradbury started every regular-season game for the second straight year, recorded zero penalties for the first time in his career and reached 20 total starts during the New England Patriots' run to Super Bowl LX. Chicago traded for him this offseason after Drew Dalman's sudden retirement, giving the Bears a veteran pivot with proven durability. Bradbury is a squatty, sawed-off center with fluid movement skills, quick processing and strong zone-run utility, excelling on reach/overtake blocks while sorting stunts and games on time. A lack of power remains the limiting factor. His lack of mass and play-strength create marginal anchoring ability, leading to compression and displacement when isolated against nose tackles in protection or drive-blocking scenarios. Bradbury is reliable and experienced, but his skill set is narrow, projecting best as a serviceable starter in a zone-oriented, play-action-heavy system.

28
Robert Hainsey
Robert Hainsey · C28
60Grade
Robert Hainsey
C28CenterAge 28
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking11/20
Play Strength/Anchor10/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage11/15

Hainsey provided functional play during his first year in Jacksonville, starting 15 games last season. He wins with quickness, awareness and timing more than size or power, getting into fits on schedule and offering some pop in the run game when working zone combinations or climbing to the second level. The limitations show up when he has to generate movement on his own, where he can get stalemated on base and angle-drive blocks with accessible edges late in the rep. In pass protection, Hainsey is alert and active with good hand placement, helping shore up the A-gaps when working with support. His sawed-off, narrow build limits his anchor, creating variance when isolated against power. Even so, his quickness, awareness and active hands give him enough functional value to hold up as a low-end starter.

27
Ryan Neuzil
Ryan Neuzil · C27
60Grade
Ryan Neuzil
C27CenterAge 29
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking12/20
Play Strength/Anchor12/20
Movement Skills12/20
Hand Usage10/15

Neuzil gradually developed into Atlanta's starting center since arriving as a sawed-off undrafted free agent in 2022. He became a full-time starter for the first time in 2025 and didn't miss a snap. Neuzil lacks the mass and girth to command the point of attack when isolated against hulking nose tackles, and his anchor can get stressed when asked to shore up the A-gaps against late loopers or interior power. But he plays with enough snap, toughness and contact balance to pack a punch in the run game and provide help when uncovered in protection. Neuzil is an efficient combination blocker who is better at solidifying lanes than creating or maintaining them himself. Still, his awareness, timing and ability to keep the offense on schedule give him low-end starter value.

26
Danny Pinter
Danny Pinter · C26
61Grade
Danny Pinter
C26CenterAge 30
Pass Protection13/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor11/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage10/15

Pinter made one start at center in 2025 with another near-complete game, bringing him to 10 career starts since entering the league as a 2020 fifth-round draft pick. Pinter is a sawed-off, squatty center with fluid movement skills, good hand usage and enough sustain skill to keep blocks alive. His lack of mass and raw power can get him compressed when isolated against power down the middle of his frame, and he is vulnerable to getting picked by penetrators. But he does a very good job creating leverage with his hands, closing space and running his feet to stay attached. Pinter is not an overwhelming physical presence, but he maximizes his frame with technique, strain and quickness. Baltimore's zone-oriented scheme and lack of an established starter give him his clearest path to become a full-time contributor.

25
Ethan Pocic
Ethan Pocic · C25
61Grade
Ethan Pocic
C25CenterAge 31
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor12/20
Movement Skills11/20
Hand Usage9/15

Pocic now has 99 career starts after his most recent four-year stint with the Cleveland Browns, which ended after he sustained a season-ending Achilles tear. After getting medically cleared in July, the veteran snapper signed with the Ravens shortly thereafter. At 6'6", Pocic is a tall center with good length, solid play-strength and adequate athletic ability. His experience shows up in his quick processing skills and crafty, sound technique seen in his spacing, timing and ability to square up defenders on combination blocks. His below-average lateral quickness and tendency to drift against wide rush alignments lead to soft, accessible edges. In the run game, he lacks the power to uproot down linemen by himself but works well in unison on combos with the necessary sustain and steer skills to overtake effectively. Pocic's recent Achilles injury coupled with his age (31) create some questions about his burst and anchor being diminished. Even so, he should remain a functional starter inside Baltimore's familiar zone-oriented system.

24
Elgton Jenkins
Elgton Jenkins · C24
61Grade
Elgton Jenkins
C24CenterAge 30
Pass Protection13/25
Run Blocking14/20
Play Strength/Anchor15/20
Movement Skills11/20
Hand Usage8/15

Jenkins signed with the Browns this offseason after starting nine games at center for the Green Bay Packers last season. A fractured fibula ended his campaign. His 2026 position remains unsettled, with center still a strong possibility. Jenkins projects better at guard, where the best stretches of his career have come and where his grade would likely be higher. At center last season, his movement skills looked diminished and he struggled to gain space off the line in pass protection, creating persistently soft edges. Jenkins still showed the stiff punch, instant clamp and play-strength to end reps quickly once latched, and his size/power can blot out defenders in the run game. However, the space limitations, recent injury and positional uncertainty cloud his 2026 projection.

23
Josh Myers
Josh Myers · C23
62Grade
Josh Myers
C23CenterAge 28
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills13/20
Hand Usage9/15

Myers put together the best season of pass-protection so far during his first year with the Jets, giving New York durable and functional play over the ball. Myers is a thickly built pivot with solid physical traits. The 27-year-old veteran even showed improved awareness against basic line games and stunts to provide steadier A-gap play than seen earlier in his career. He can still be fooled by simulated pressures and bite on setup moves when isolated, but his pass-protection baseline proved to be more stable. In the run game, Myers has enough burst and size to intersect, shield and wall off targets within the flow of the play. His robotic style and below-average body control still create shaky sustain late in reps, keeping him closer to a functional starter than a true difference-maker.

22
Jordan Meredith
Jordan Meredith · C22
63Grade
Jordan Meredith
C22CenterAge 28
Pass Protection15/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills12/20
Hand Usage10/15

Meredith started 11 games in 2025, primarily at center, with two starts at left guard in Weeks 10 and 11 before a season-ending ankle injury. Meredith is a sawed-off interior blocker with a stiff, jarring punch, solid play-strength and an attacking mentality. He plays low to the ground and can function as a sturdy point-of-attack blocker when defenders are within his frame. A lack of length and short-area quickness are limiting factors, though. His lack of reach shows up when isolated against hulking rushers, as it did against Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark in Week 11 last year, while his middling range caps his ability to line up targets on the move. Meredith could survive as the fifth-best starter on a good line, with real value as a swing interior backup.

21
Luke Fortner
Luke Fortner · C21
64Grade
Luke Fortner
C21CenterAge 28
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor12/20
Movement Skills13/20
Hand Usage10/15

Fortner delivered a stabilizing performance after taking over for injured starter Erik McCoy as the New Orleans Saints' center in Week 8. He started the final 10 games and provided functional play. Fortner does not have a defining high-end trait, but he is an alert, assignment-sound center with enough quickness and processing to keep the offense on schedule. In the run game, he is best in zone concepts and combination work, where his initial fits, timing and ability to climb allow him to cover up targets and create functional angles. In pass protection, Fortner sorts line games, plugs gaps on time and helps keep the A-gaps contained. However, his lack of mass and play-strength limit his ability to consistently anchor or displace against higher-end interior defenders. He can survive within a rhythmic, quick-hitting system, but he is not a physically imposing presence who consistently changes the line of scrimmage. Fortner's rebound last season restored his value as a viable interior depth piece and spot starter capable of handling extended stretches at center without becoming a major liability.

20
Austin Schlottmann
Austin Schlottmann · C20
65Grade
Austin Schlottmann
C20CenterAge 30
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor14/20
Movement Skills12/20
Hand Usage10/15

Schlottmann has been a career backup, never starting more than four games in a season. His 2025 tape with the New York Giants was quietly encouraging, though. He started four games at center, including quality showings against the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys, plus a solid 30-snap appearance against the Philadelphia Eagles. Schlottmann followed former Giants head coach Brian Daboll to Tennessee—where he now serves as the Titans' offensive coordinator—and enters 2026 with the inside track to start for the first time in his seven-year career. On film, Schlottmann played with a strong, balanced base and tight, firm hand placement, creating impressive jolt and contact balance. He stayed centered on most blocks, was effective on double-team feeds and showed the spatial awareness in protection to keep the A-gaps secure. His raw power and athletic ability are closer to the middle of the pack, but the technique and system familiarity give him a viable path to functional starter play.

19
Sean Rhyan
Sean Rhyan · C19
65Grade
Sean Rhyan
C19CenterAge 25
Pass Protection14/25
Run Blocking14/20
Play Strength/Anchor15/20
Movement Skills13/20
Hand Usage9/15

Rhyan opened the 2025 campaign as Green Bay's starting right guard before losing the job, then moved to center after Elgton Jenkins suffered a season-ending injury in Week 10. He started seven games at center despite having almost no prior NFL experience there, giving the Packers enough confidence to extend him as their projected starter entering 2026. The 321-pound Rhyan is a bigger pivot with square power, heavy hands and good pop on contact, giving him the ability to cover up, uproot and steer defenders in the run game when his aiming points are clean. His size and play-strength also give him a functional anchor profile in pass protection. Mental spacing at the position is problematic due to a lack of experience. Rhyan's pass-protection losses often came from late processing, losing levels with his guards and failing to sort pressure quickly enough, leading to leakage and free runners against blitz looks and counter moves across his face. His hand-timing and placement are still more forceful than refined, which creates some volatility when isolated against quality interior rushers. Given the abrupt position switch, some improvement is reasonable with a full offseason at center. However, Rhyan remains more of a functional starting projection than a fully stabilized answer.

18
Jake Brendel
Jake Brendel · C18
67Grade
Jake Brendel
C18CenterAge 34
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking14/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage10/15

Brendel remains a useful overachiever at center, winning with quickness, efficiency and timing rather than size or raw power. He is undersized, but his movement patterns are clean enough to consistently reach landmarks, fit with proper leverage and shield defenders in a way that works inside Kyle Shanahan's balanced, rhythm-based offensive structure. In the run game, Brendel is more effective than his frame suggests as the drive man on double-teams and combination blocks, where he can deliver a surprisingly firm punch into already-engaged down linemen before climbing, while being effective on reach blocks. He also has enough burst to intersect second-level targets when the angle is clean. In pass protection, he can sort games, stay in phase and use timing, leverage and quick hands to survive most controlled reps, but the limitations show up when he is isolated late. Brendel can struggle to hold ground against power, bounce off contact and allow separation or leakage when defenders work through his frame. His quickness, awareness and system fit keep him functional, but the lack of mass and anchor strength leave him closer to a capped starter than a difference-making center.

17
Jalen Sundell
Jalen Sundell · C17
67Grade
Jalen Sundell
C17CenterAge 26
Pass Protection15/25
Run Blocking15/20
Play Strength/Anchor12/20
Movement Skills16/20
Hand Usage9/15

Sundell won Seattle's starting center job in training camp and started 13 regular-season games before returning from a midseason knee injury to snap for all three playoff games. His chemistry with former college teammate Grey Zabel was evident throughout the year, particularly on combination blocks where their timing and fits helped fuel Seattle's run game. Sundell's value is rooted in quickness, range and zone-blocking utility. He is effective on reaches, overtakes and second-level climbs, using his burst and angles to intersect targets and keep the offense on schedule. In pass protection, he was functional inside Seattle's run-heavy, play-action-based structure, playing with clear eyes, sorting A-gap threats and providing timely help when uncovered. A lack of mass and anchor strength are limiting factors when isolated. Interior rushers could push-pull him out of position or gradually walk him back. Sundell was a solid system starter in 2025, but his lack of sturdiness and scheme versatility create a defined ceiling unless his play-strength and hand usage improve.

16
Cade Mays
Cade Mays · C16
68Grade
Cade Mays
C16CenterAge 27
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking15/20
Play Strength/Anchor16/20
Movement Skills12/20
Hand Usage9/15

Mays started 12 games in 2025 and established himself as a brute-force center. His game is built on size, length and raw strength, giving him the ability to create displacement and secure interior lanes when he can work vertically in gap-oriented, downhill concepts. Mays is at his best playing square, fitting with force and using his anchor to absorb power in pass protection. He showed progress last season with the Carolina Panthers by keeping his head out of blocks and reducing some of the volatility that can come with his aggressive, brawling style. Limitations still show up when he is forced to operate laterally, redirect in space or survive isolated true one-on-one pass-protection reps against quicker interior rushers. His hand usage remains more forceful than refined, and his movement skills cap how consistently he can recover when defenders make him adjust after initial contact. Mays is not an all-situations center, but his size, anchor and vertical run-game power give him a path to functional starter value in a scheme that lets him play forward and limits space exposure.

15
Cam Jurgens
Cam Jurgens · C15
68Grade
Cam Jurgens
C15CenterAge 27
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking14/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills16/20
Hand Usage9/15

Jurgens gutted out 14 starts last season while dealing with lingering back issues, plus knee and concussion setbacks during the year. A diminished version of the player, who had looked like an ascending top-five center, was the result. Even so, Jurgens remained a solid overall starter. The injuries around him and Philadelphia's inefficient offensive structure limited how often his best trait—twitchy, explosive movement—was weaponized in space. He still showed the quickness to reach, climb and work laterally, but his play-strength and anchor were below his top form, especially when absorbing power down the middle of his frame or overtaking on double-teams. When caught in compromised positions, his recovery skill also looked less dynamic than it had at his peak. Jurgens' processing and athletic profile still give him a clear path back toward high-end center play if his back fully heals and Philadelphia's new Shanahan-adjacent structure places him on the move more often. For now, his 2025 grade reflects a functional starter with legitimate rebound potential but enough health uncertainty to keep him below his prior trajectory.

14
Coleman Shelton
Coleman Shelton · C14
70Grade
Coleman Shelton
C14CenterAge 31
Pass Protection17/25
Run Blocking15/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills14/20
Hand Usage11/15

Shelton returned to the Rams in 2025 after one season with the Chicago Bears and immediately stabilized the pivot, starting 20 games including the playoffs. His year proved to be a useful reminder of how much the environment can shape perception, because he worked through a difficult '24 situation with a rookie quarterback, fired staff and unstable guard play. Shelton returned to an elite offensive structure with better surrounding pieces and a quarterback who consistently keeps the offense on schedule, and the blocker's play reflected that setup. Shelton is extremely undersized in terms of wingspan, arm length and hand size, but he extracts nearly everything from his frame with clean footwork, precise hand-placement, processing speed and elite strain. In the run game, he is a sticky, well-rounded blocker who wins with leverage, effort and body positioning more than mass or raw displacement. In pass protection, Shelton is a clear-eyed presence with the awareness to sort line games, pass off stunts and use active hands to play longer than his measurements suggest. His lack of size still shows up against high-end power and length, but his technique, toughness and fit inside the Rams' system make him a rock-solid starting center.

13
Ted Karras
Ted Karras · C13
70Grade
Ted Karras
C13CenterAge 33
Pass Protection18/25
Run Blocking13/20
Play Strength/Anchor14/20
Movement Skills13/20
Hand Usage12/15

Karras has missed just one game since joining the Bengals in 2022 and remained quietly rock solid this past season while working inside the league's pass-heaviest, least play-action-oriented offense. The Bengals' quick-release QB environment helped, but Karras held up because of clear eyes, quick processing and light feet to shore up the A-gaps at a high level. He can still be pried open by bigger interior rushers when isolated, but he resets well enough to die slowly with his anchor. In the run game, Karras is an efficient combination blocker with the quickness to reach landmarks and work through contact, though he loses steam when forced to sustain solo blocks. He is not physically imposing, but his pass-protection efficiency, durability and veteran processing make him a solid starting center.

12
Cooper Beebe
Cooper Beebe · C12
71Grade
Cooper Beebe
C12CenterAge 25
Pass Protection17/25
Run Blocking15/20
Play Strength/Anchor16/20
Movement Skills13/20
Hand Usage10/15

Beebe started 11 games in 2025 while working around an ankle injury. When available, he remained a rock-solid presence along the interior. Beebe's game is driven by a stout build and very good play-strength, allowing him to absorb and generate force at a high level. He roots his feet quickly to anchor on command, has the power to uproot down linemen and processes well enough to sort movement and pass off games. He is closer to an average athlete, but efficient angles help him stay on schedule in the run game. However, his sawed-off build can create short corners when isolated in protection and separation issues against hulking nose tackles. Flanked by two of the league's more powerful guards with schematic and QB continuity in place, Beebe is in an ideal spot to maintain a high floor and maximize his full potential in Dallas.

11
Graham Barton
Graham Barton · C11
71Grade
Graham Barton
C11CenterAge 24
Pass Protection15/25
Run Blocking16/20
Play Strength/Anchor14/20
Movement Skills16/20
Hand Usage10/15

Barton started 17 games during his second season, including three early starts at left tackle while Tristan Wirfs worked his way back from a knee surgery. His tackle snaps were predictably uneven in pass protection, but Barton remained an impact run blocker because of his rare blend of burst, body control and play-strength for a center. He is a weapon on the move, using angles, acceleration and thump to line up second-level targets, displace linebackers and create jarring movement when he lands square. He also flashes the power to uproot bigger down linemen when his leverage is right. Tampa Bay also lost both starting guards for extended stretches, which stressed the communication and feel for the interior trio. Barton's pass-protection side remains the developmental piece. The 2024 first-round pick is sturdy once latched, but his timing, spacing and recognition against line games and stunts still need to quicken, creating A-gap leakage and delayed responses when defenses force him to sort post-snap movement. His physical tools remain among the league's better center profiles. At the same time, he needs cleaner processing and pass-off timing to convert those traits into a more stable all-around starting profile.

10
Tanor Bortolini
Tanor Bortolini · C10
72Grade
Tanor Bortolini
C10CenterAge 24
Pass Protection16/25
Run Blocking16/20
Play Strength/Anchor12/20
Movement Skills17/20
Hand Usage11/15

Bortolini filled in for five starts as a rookie two seasons ago before becoming Indianapolis' full-time center last year, starting 16 games while battling through a Week 16 concussion to return in Week 18. Bortolini is a sawed-off, lean center with very good movement skills and high-end zone run-blocking utility inside a run-first, play-action-heavy structure that maximizes his range and minimizes his lack of size and raw power. He is a weapon on combo blocks, with the quickness, angles and body control to track and intersect linebackers, while his refined hand-placement helps him establish leverage early in both the run game and pass protection. His low pads, core strength and active hands help him die slowly against power. His narrow build and middling strength still get exposed on pick stunts, back blocks and movement across his face, but the skill set fits the scheme well enough to produce quality starter value.

9
Hjalte Froholdt
Hjalte Froholdt · C9
73Grade
Hjalte Froholdt
C9CenterAge 30
Pass Protection17/25
Run Blocking16/20
Play Strength/Anchor16/20
Movement Skills15/20
Hand Usage9/15

Froholdt remained a solid starting center in 2025, extending his streak to three straight seasons without a missed start while also operating inside the league's most pass-heavy offense. That environment muted some of his best traits, because Froholdt's value is still most evident as a physical, tone-setting run blocker with enough movement ability to pull, climb and create force on the move. Arizona's low rushing volume limited the frequency of those impact opportunities, though the gap and pull concepts they did feature still allowed his power and underrated range to show. The tradeoff was more exposure in true pass protection. Froholdt has a stout anchor and can absorb power when square, but his sawed-off frame, shorter strike radius and average recovery skills leave him vulnerable against high-end interior quickness and length. Dynamic fronts, particularly within the NFC West, were able to slip and access his edges more often than during prior seasons. Froholdt's durability, physicality and run-game value keep him among the solid-starter tier, but his pass-protection ceiling is capped when the offensive structure forces him into a heavy diet of isolated dropback reps.

8
Tyler Biadasz
Tyler Biadasz · C8
73Grade
Tyler Biadasz
C8CenterAge 28
Pass Protection17/25
Run Blocking16/20
Play Strength/Anchor13/20
Movement Skills16/20
Hand Usage11/15

Biadasz remained a clear starting-caliber center during the 2025 campaign, even if his second season in Washington did not quite match his career-best from a season earlier. Offensive regression and interior turnover are necessary context, but his core skill set remained intact, with excellent timing, leverage, angles and reliability. Biadasz is one of the league's better movement centers, using precise footwork and body positioning to intersect targets on climbs, wall off linebackers and create access in the run game despite ordinary size and power. In pass protection, he provides a scrappy, technically sound presence by protecting his frame, establishing quick leverage and getting into his anchor efficiently enough to hold up against most competition. His ceiling is capped by modest physical traits, and he can be stressed by high-end power when isolated. Still, his processing, balance and improved hand usage give him a high floor. Biadasz is not elite, but his polish, durability and run-game value make him a dependable plug-and-play starter.

7
Luke Wattenberg
Luke Wattenberg · C7
76Grade
Luke Wattenberg
C7CenterAge 29
Pass Protection19/25
Run Blocking15/20
Play Strength/Anchor15/20
Movement Skills15/20
Hand Usage12/15

Wattenberg started 15 regular-season games before a shoulder injury cost him Weeks 17, 18 and the Divisional Round. He then returned for the AFC Championship Game. Since winning the job in 2024, he has developed into an above-average starter inside Denver's offensive line-friendly structure, which leans heavily on play-action, screens, roll-outs and a well-schemed run game. Wattenberg wins with solid athletic ability, good arm length, strong hands and precise strike-timing, allowing him to offset below-average mass and play bigger than his frame indicates. His hand-placement and grip-strength show up in the run game, where he can clamp, drive and stay leveraged, while his awareness in protection limits free runners and late surprises when uncovered. His mediocre sand still shows up when defenders access his frame and pry him open on base/back blocks. Even so, his length, timing and ability to establish first meaningful contact keep him in control often enough to sustain a good starter profile.

6
Connor McGovern
Connor McGovern · C6
78Grade
Connor McGovern
C6CenterAge 28
Pass Protection20/25
Run Blocking15/20
Play Strength/Anchor14/20
Movement Skills16/20
Hand Usage13/15

McGovern reestablished himself as a starting center in 2025, building on the transition back to his natural position after spending his first season in Buffalo as a guard. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2022, his durability and steadiness have provided significant value. McGovern wins with processing, alertness and positional leverage more than high-end physical traits. In pass protection, he plays with an aggressive mindset, and uses his length and hand-timing to establish first meaningful contact. He does a good job sorting games, blitzes and late movement from the pivot. He can play upright and lacks top-end power, but he consistently re-leverages, finds his anchor and dies slowly enough to keep the depth of the pocket intact. In the run game, McGovern is most effective using timing, angles and movement skills to intersect targets at the second level rather than creating consistent displacement. He is not an elite-trait snapper, but his processing, hand usage, durability and technical reliability give Buffalo a dependable, high-floor starter in the middle.

5
Erik McCoy
Erik McCoy · C5
79Grade
Erik McCoy
C5CenterAge 29
Pass Protection19/25
Run Blocking17/20
Play Strength/Anchor16/20
Movement Skills17/20
Hand Usage10/15

McCoy was limited to seven starts for the second consecutive season, this time due to a torn biceps suffered in Week 7 after missing a large portion of 2024 with a groin injury. On the field, McCoy still looked like one of the league's better centers. He remains an explosive, athletic pivot with the movement skills to reach, climb, pull and create impact blocks in space, giving New Orleans a true run-game catalyst. In pass protection, McCoy plays with quickness, leverage and enough anchor to stay firm against most interior rushers, while his processing and range allow him to sort movement and stay connected through line games. He is not quite as refined with his hands as the elite centers, and his strike placement can create some variance against high-end interior rushers. Few glaring weaknesses can be found within his skill set. Availability is the issue. McCoy has played fewer than half the games over the last two seasons, turning what would otherwise be a clear high-end center profile into a more conditional evaluation entering the 2026 campaign.

4
Tyler Linderbaum
Tyler Linderbaum · C4
81Grade
Tyler Linderbaum
C4CenterAge 26
Pass Protection18/25
Run Blocking18/20
Play Strength/Anchor16/20
Movement Skills18/20
Hand Usage11/15

Linderbaum will enter the 2026 campaign as a very good, scheme-dependent starting center whose value is driven by rare movement skills and high-end run-game impact. He is at his best in zone concepts and working on the move, where his quickness, range, leverage and angle control allow him to reach landmarks, create displacement and unlock second-level access. Linderbaum's athletic profile remains among the league's better center-specific traits. His processing, balance and natural leverage help him punch above his weight class. Pass protection can be problematic, because his smaller frame and compact build create a thinner margin when isolated against high-end interior rushers. He can be compressed by power and presents softer edges when forced to anchor without guard help. Despite those concerns, the three-time Pro Bowler has the leverage, balance, recovery athleticism and functional strength to keep him from becoming a liability. Linderbaum is not the most physically imposing center, but his movement skills and run-game range give him clear high-end starter value.

3
Aaron Brewer
Aaron Brewer · C3
84Grade
Aaron Brewer
C3CenterAge 28
Pass Protection18/25
Run Blocking19/20
Play Strength/Anchor16/20
Movement Skills20/20
Hand Usage11/15

Brewer produced a special season in 2025 inside Mike McDaniel's zone-heavy run game and quick-hitting passing structure, which leaned heavily into screens, play-action, perimeter concepts and timing throws that fully maximized his skill set. The second-team All-Pro is a sub-300-pound center with rare movement skills, giving Miami a true weapon on reach blocks, overtakes, climbs and space concepts. His second- and third-level impacts were as good as any offensive lineman's in football last year, with Jason Kelce-esque range and finishing ability. In pass protection, Brewer has made meaningful strides with his hand usage, using quicker strike-timing and improved placement to establish first meaningful contact and protect his frame despite a lack of mass. He will always have a smaller margin against high-end power, but his leverage, balance and elite recovery skills allow him to survive enough anchor stress, while staying effective against quickness and movement. Brewer's build keeps him from being a scheme-proof center, but his movement skill, run-game impact and improved pass-protection make him one of the league's most valuable interior linemen.

2
Zach Frazier
Zach Frazier · C2
86Grade
Zach Frazier
C2CenterAge 25
Pass Protection22/25
Run Blocking18/20
Play Strength/Anchor19/20
Movement Skills15/20
Hand Usage12/15

Frazier followed an outstanding rookie season with another high-end year in 2025, reinforcing his place among the league's top centers. Rare play-strength, leverage and contact balance are the pillars of his game, giving Pittsburgh a tone-setting presence at the pivot. Frazier consistently plays from positions of strength, using his natural power and feel for angles to create movement in the run game, displace on doubles and strain through contact without losing balance. In pass protection, his anchor is already one of the position's best, allowing him to sit down against power, absorb force and keep the depth of the pocket firm. The next layer of his growth has come with cleaner processing and hand usage, where he has become more efficient sorting games, passing off movement and staying square rather than turning early or opening soft edges. He is not a rare space player like some lighter centers are, but his functional movement is good enough because he wins so consistently with leverage, power and positioning. Frazier already has the physical presence, processing and down-to-down reliability of a top-tier center, with enough remaining technical polish to keep climbing.

1
Creed Humphrey
Creed Humphrey · C1
93Grade
Creed Humphrey
C1CenterAge 27
Pass Protection24/25
Run Blocking19/20
Play Strength/Anchor20/20
Movement Skills17/20
Hand Usage13/15

Humphrey remained football's best center in 2025, continuing the same elite standard that has defined his first five seasons in Kansas City. Humphrey's profile is rare because he combines center-specific processing and spatial awareness with guard-level play-strength and anchor ability. In pass protection, he consistently plays with leverage, balance and core strength, allowing him to stonewall power, mirror quickness and keep the depth of the pocket firm. His feel for spacing and line games keeps him in clean position, and he rarely gives rushers easy access to his edges or chest. Humphrey is equally valuable in the run game, where his power, pad level and body control allow him to displace on angle-drive blocks, create movement on doubles and stay attached in space on screens and climbs. There are no meaningful structural weaknesses in his game. He is durable, technically sound, physically imposing and still athletic enough to execute across concepts, making him the league's most complete and reliable center.

Grades and rankings by the B/R Scouting Department.