The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its eight-part series previewing top players in the 2023 NFL draft (April 27-29) with offensive linemen. The offensive tackle selection is top notch while the interior offensive line selection is decent. The Dolphins, such as most teams, could use help at a few offensive line positions. Two keys for the Dolphins are starting right tackle, which protects quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side, and a backup left tackle for Terron Armstead.
Peter Skoronski, OT-G, Northwestern
Skoronski (6 foot 4, 313 pounds), a left tackle in college, could play either guard or tackle. The problem is he has short arms (32.25 inches), which means he’s better suited for guard than tackle. Still, technique-wise he’s NFL ready at either position.
Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State
Johnson (6-6, 313) played left tackle last season after playing right guard in 2021. He’s probably a better run blocker than pass blocker. His long arms — more than 36 inches — have scouts excited.
O’Cyrus Torrance, G, Florida
Torrance (6-5, 330) is likely the best right guard in the draft. He’s a top-notch run blocker who has the ability to steamroll anyone in his way. And no one is getting past him in pass protection. Torrance, who is the size of a tackle, hasn’t allowed a sack in three years (1,082 pass-blocking snaps).
Steve Avila, C-G, TCU
Avila (6-3, 332) played 1,010 snaps at left guard last season after spending most of his time at center the previous two seasons. NFL teams will like that versatility. He combines aggression with good technique, especially in the run game.
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Jones (6-5, 311), a left tackle, didn’t allow any sacks in his 470 pass blocking snaps last season (933 snaps overall). That’s a big improvement from allowing two sacks in 194 pass blocking snaps in 2021. His run blocking skills are slightly ahead of his pass blocking skills.
Best of the rest
There’s a long list of prospects here who could have their names called in the first three rounds including tackle Anton Harrison (Oklahoma), tackle Darnell Wright (Tennessee), guard-center Joe Tippman (Wisconsin), center John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota), guard Luke Wypler (Ohio State), tackle Dawand Jones (Ohio State), guard-tackle Cody Mauch (North Dakota State), tackle Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse), tackle Blake Freeland (BYU) and tackle Jaelyn Duncan (Maryland).
Class grade: A
This is considered a strong class whether you need a tackle, guard or center, and it’s a really strong class through the first two rounds. There could be three or four offensive tackles selected in the first round.
Teams in need
Aside from the Dolphins, who don’t have a first-round selection, Chicago, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Washington, the New York Jets, New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati and San Francisco might be the teams most in need of offensive line help. But again, almost every team in the league could be listed here.
Dolphins’ focus
The Dolphins could be in the market for a starting right tackle, backup left tackle, starting left guard or backup center. On the other hand, they could find help from returnees, or potential returnees such as starting right tackle Austin Jackson, starting left guard Liam Eichenberg, reserve tackle Brandon Shell, reserve guard Robert Jones, or newly-signed center-guard Dan Feeney, among others.
Previously addressed
