Late Round Gems: Centers the Titans Could Target on Day 3 of 2023 NFL Draft

The Tennessee Titans moved on from veteran center Ben Jones this offseason and while they have some solid internal candidates to replace him, they may choose to look at a developmental prospect who could be the starter at center in the future.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans could look to bolster the offensive line at different points throughout the draft. Yes, they could of course look for some options early in the process, but there are guys worth developing that could be had later in the draft as well. With Aaron Brewer and Corey Levin back and presumably set to battle it out for the starting center spot, the Titans may be looking to the end of the draft to get a depth piece at the position. Let’s take a look at some names and see what Sports Illustrated’s Draft Bible has to say about them.

Luke Wypler, Ohio State:

“Wypler is one of the younger interior offensive linemen in the draft. He displays the necessary power to open and maintain rushing lanes. There are flashes of Wypler displacing defenders downfield, but he’s inconsistent in this area. The former four-star recruit had the anchor and core strength to maintain his position in pass protection against Georgia’s Jalen Carter in the 2022-23 College Football Playoff Semifinals. He displayed excellent hand fits and placement against Carter several times in that game. Wypler displays the recovery athleticism to get back into plays in pass protection when initially beaten. In pass protection, he consistently looks for additional work and guides threats upfield and around the pocket when they gain penetration. Wypler shows some initial quickness on down and reach blocks. He has decent speed to reach the second level. He plays with good foot speed and a stout base. The New Jersey native keeps his feet active and engaged throughout the play. Perhaps most importantly, Wypler is rarely off-target with his snaps. The star center has a squat frame that appears close to maxed out physically. He has subpar arm length for a lineman at any position and lacks positional versatility. Wypler can be late to recognize and address blitzes and stunts. The redshirt sophomore doesn’t consistently identify the guard who needs help the most, which leads to protection breaking down. Pad level is sometimes a concern with Wypler, and his short arms invite defenders into his chest. His play strength carries question marks and falls short of elite. The most powerful defenders Wypler faced in 2022, including Georgia’s Jalen Carter and Nazir Stackhouse and Michigan’s Mazi Smith, drove the center backward in pass protection and gave no ground in the run game. Wypler’s open-field agility and speed vary. Sometimes they flash, but there are plenty of plays where Wypler struggles to mirror defenders and land second-level blocks. He excels in tight spaces but sometimes looks lost in the open field. The All-Big Ten selection struggles to sustain blocks on the move and doesn’t clamp down on and steer defenders. Balance issues occasionally pop up on Wypler’s tape.”

Alex Forsyth, Oregon:

“Stepping into a starting role with minimal experience playing time during a global pandemic is no easy feat. That said, Alex Forsyth started for the Oregon Ducks at center in 2020 after only playing sparingly at both guard spots and right tackle earlier in his career. Still, the West Linn native passed for a seasoned veteran on the field. Forsyth’s game is predicated on his technique. The inexperienced center maintains a wide base throughout engagement. He also consistently practices accurate hand placement. This refined skillset allows the Oregon standout to manufacture power. Moreover, Forsyth consistently plays with proper weight discipline and keeps his feet and hands in sync. Consequently, he avoids whiffing. The former three-star recruit also distinguishes himself with his impressive movement skills. Forsyth routinely mirrors defenders with natural lateral agility. He has the hips to hinge and engage defenders at the line or in space. What’s more, he reliably gets to the second level or the open field. Forsyth can also pull and climb in the run game. He also has notable grip strength to sustain blocks as he mirrors. Should he be pushed back, the Oregon center is coordinated enough to reset his base and drop a late anchor. Additionally, Forsyth plays with an excellent motor and even lead blocks downfield on big plays. Once engaged, he consistently churns his legs in an attempt to drive defenders back. Finally, Forsyth exhibits patience, gap integrity and awareness in pass protection and as a run blocker. Although the first-year starter stood out last season, his game is plagued by a glaring weakness. Namely, Forsyth has an underwhelming power profile. He has light hands at the point of engagement and fails to reliably latch onto and control defensive linemen. What’s more, he is regularly displaced at first contact. Forsyth is bench pressed, stacked and shed far too often. He is also susceptible to push-pull and rip moves. In fact, most pass rushers that can force a half-man relationship can work through the Oregon starter. Further, the athletic lineman lacks an NFL-caliber anchor and is regularly driven back by long power rushers. Forsyth sometimes gives up his chest as a result of his tendency to shoot his hands late and play high due to a somewhat stiff frame. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that Forsyth’s technique and movement skills do not compensate for the power disparity against NFL talent. Future draft picks exploit Forsyth’s weaknesses and minimize his strengths. For example, the Oregon center does not exhibit the requisite grip strength to sustain blocks against high-level defensive line talent. While his power profile is his biggest concern, Forsyth is not an otherwise perfect prospect. The athletic center’s best traits are called into question by his inconsistent results when attempting to engage at the second level. Just a one-year starter, Alex Forysth has several promising traits and a level of technical refinement that teams will appreciate. That said, he is severely limited by his underwhelming power profile. Forsyth projects as a developmental center in a zone offense.”

Juice Scruggs, Penn State:

“On film, the best way to describe Scruggs is that he does his job. Whether at guard or center, he got the most out of his natural ability. Scruggs has above average play strength. He did a very good job anchoring down again bullrushes. Scruggs handles stunts and twists with ease, showing off good reaction time. In the run game, Scruggs flashed solid grip strength and when his hand placement was tight, he was able to finish defenders. His hand timing needs work in both the run and pass games, as defenders were able to predict his punch and beat him with a counter. Scruggs has the tendency to overset and lunge at defenders. This in combination with being a waist bender, led to too many losses in pass protection. The better defensive lineman were able to win quickly against Scruggs and his lack of athleticism prevented him from recovering. In pass protection, part of Scruggs’ problem are his sluggish feet. His below average foot quickness, left him “stuck in the mud,” hurting his ability to push defenders who beat him outside the pocket. Scruggs' poor athleticism showed up on the move as well. This season, Penn State didn’t ask him to get to the 2nd level very often but he wasn’t effective at sealing off linebackers. His lack of foot speed made it easy for linebackers to avoid his block or dip under him. Overall, Scruggs has two years of experience in the Big Ten at guard and center. That is valuable but there was a lot left to be desired on his film. His better position at the next level will be guard and he could help out at center in a pinch. He also looked very good at the Shrine Bowl. Scruggs doesn’t have starter upside but his versatility and experience could help him make a roster for a few seasons.”

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