Interior line options abound
Draft could address departures, boost competition at draft
TAMPA — Two months after Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet’s stunning retirement at age 28, the jolt is just now dissipating around Tampa Bay Bucs headquarters.
“I don’t want to say shocked, but initially a little surprised [at the announcement],” general manager Jason Licht said Tuesday. “But now knowing Ali and the conversations we’ve had, [I] certainly understand and respect his decision.”
This was seismic news, though, and while the initial shock may have been absorbed, the foundational crack resulting from that retirement — as well as free-agent guard Alex Cappa’s departure to the Cincinnati Bengals — must be repaired.
Marpet’s departure “did [affect strategy] a little bit; that’s why we went and traded for [veteran Patriots guard] Shaq Mason,” Licht said.
“And we feel really good about [veteran backup] Aaron Stinnie having that playoff experience that he had when we won the Super
Bowl. And [reserves] Nick Leverett, Robert Hainsey — we’ve got some good players that we thought have been doing some good things early on in their careers that there’s going to be a lot of competition.”
The question is do the Bucs want to create more competition — and depth — along the interior offensive line? In addition to adding Mason, will they select a guard — or guard/center hybrid — with the 27th overall pick Thursday in the draft or possibly in the second round Friday?
They have an appealing menu from which to select.
As many as four guard-center types are projected to go in the first round in some prominent mock drafts. Here are five prospects we believe make the most sense for Tampa Bay:
Zion Johnson, Boston College: Size: 6 feet 3, 312 pounds Measurable of note: Led all offensive linemen with 32 bench-press reps of 225 pounds at scouting combine
Johnson is widely deemed the top guard prospect. A former zerostar recruit who played his first two seasons at Football Championship Subdivision Davidson, he allowed no quarterback pressures in 2021 and one sack in 2,288 snaps at Boston College, according to ESPN’s advanced statistics. The owner of two degrees (computer science and cybersecurity), he met with the Bucs in a formal interview during the combine.
Kenyon Green, Texas A&M: Size: 6-4⁄323
Measurable of note: Ran 40-yard dash in 5.24 seconds at scouting combine (35th among 50 offensive linemen)
The most versatile guy on this list, Green started at four positions on the offensive line last season, playing left tackle in the Aggies’ 41-38 upset of Alabama. An Associated Press All-American and Lombardi Award finalist, he’s hailed as a dominant run blocker, which could make him appealing to a Bucs unit bent on running more effectively.
Cole Strange, Chattanooga: Size:
6-5⁄307
Measurable of note: Did 31 benchpress reps of 225 (one fewer than Johnson) at NFL scouting combine
Licht’s history of unearthing offensive-line gems from small schools (see Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa) could extend with this five-year starter. A 4.0 GPA student who graduated with a psychology degree, Strange won the Southern Conference’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy (best blocker) last year, then had an impressive Senior Bowl week and shined at the combine.
Dylan Parham, Memphis: Size: 6-3⁄311
Measurable of note: 40-yard dash time at NFL scouting combine (4.93 seconds) was third-best among centers and guards
One of the draft’s most seasoned players, Parham logged 50 college starts, including 39 at right or left guard. As a redshirt senior in 2021, he allowed only two quarterback hits and didn’t surrender a sack in 545 pass-protection snaps. He formally met with the Bucs — who love versatility in their linemen — at the combine.
Sean Rhyan, UCLA: Size: 6-5⁄321 Measurable of note: Three-cone drill (7.55 seconds) was eighth-fastest among guards and centers at NFL scouting combine
Rhyan started for three years at left tackle for the Bruins, who averaged more than 200 rushing yards a contest each of the last two years. He projects as a guard in the NFL, however, and has been deemed one of the draft’s top five prospects at the position by ESPN analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.