With the NFL draft less than 48 hours away, the rumors are flying as teams look to trade up to get their most coveted player. Most of the pre-draft focus has been on the high-profile players –– the quarterbacks, running backs and two-way star Travis Hunter.
However, the unsung heroes are the big linemen who make it all go. Several prospects are slated to be drafted in the top 10 on Thursday, April 24, who haven’t quite been in the spotlight.
Who might be the first lineman taken?
The New England Patriots, with the fourth overall pick, are rumored to be interested in LSU tackle Will Campbell. He has performed at an all-American level against big-time competition in the Southeastern Conference and delivered the soundbite of the pre-draft process after concerns about his arm length became a talking point.
“For two years, nobody had any measurements on me, and nobody said anything about my play,” Campbell said. “Now, all of a sudden, an arm length decides if I’m a good player or not. I think it’s B-S. But, you know, any decision makers in the NFL, they don’t really care. It’s all people who don’t coach, and they don’t coach for a reason.”
Who is the best defensive lineman available?
Michigan’s Mason Graham is talented enough to anchor a defensive line for years in the NFL but has been fielding questions about his weight. He played at 310 pounds during the 2024-25 season but was 303 pounds at the NFL scouting combine. He could be picked as high as fifth or sixth by either Jacksonville or Las Vegas, and he says he’s enjoyed the entire process thus far.
“It’s been cool, you know, meeting with the teams is always cool, probably met with like 20-something teams at the combine and then quite a few teams here,” Graham said. “It’s been cool to just talk to them and answer any questions they have or ask any questions I have.”
Is Armand Membou still a ‘work in progress’?
Armand Membou, who played college ball at Missouri, is another big man who has shot up the draft boards in recent weeks. Some scouts believe he is a “work in progress,” but he has shown the versatility to play tackle or guard, which is attractive to a number of teams looking for offensive line help.
He did not play football until the 8th grade, and it took an impressive growth spurt for anyone to notice. Over two high school seasons, he grew 4 inches taller and added 90 pounds. Membou admitted when he started playing football, he was “trash,” but now he’ll likely be a top 10 pick.
“I remember back to my junior year when I started getting offers, my high school head coach –– I love him, Jamar Mozee –– he sat me down, he was like, ‘Hey, I think you can take this seriously. Like, I think you could be a pro,'” Membou said. “From then on, I just continued to work hard.”
Other big men that will likely be picked in the first round include offensive linemen Tyler Booker of Alabama, Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon of Oregon.
