2017 NFL draft rankings: Centers

Ryan Kelly has promptly rewarded the Colts with steady play in the middle. Are any of this year’s best college centers equipped to make a similar instant impact?

Author:
Publish date:: Apr 24, 2016

Alabama’s Ryan Kelly was the gold standard at center last draft—the Colts nabbed him in Round 1, and he instantly upgraded their entire line. Expecting any of the 2017 center prospects to have that impact is a high bar, but here we find an ultra-experienced group with a couple names at the top that could be Week 1 starters.


Rank	Player	School	Measurables
1	Pat Elflein	Ohio State	6' 3", 300 lbs.
2	Ethan Pocic	LSU	6' 6", 310 lbs.
3	Tyler Orlosky	West Virginia	6' 3", 298 lbs.
4	Kyle Fuller	Baylor	6' 5", 307 lbs.
5	Jon Toth	Kentucky	6' 5", 307 lbs.
6	Deyshawn Bond	Cincinnati	6' 2", 287 lbs.

Elflein and Pocic are both up there with the center prospects we’ve seen in recent drafts: Kelly, Travis Frederick and so on. Expecting either to match the impact those players made is setting the bar awfully high, but don’t be surprised if it happens. This is a good group overall.