Most sports fans know the saying: defense wins championships. But if you asked the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles what powered their title run, they’d likely point to their offensive line. Games are often won or lost in the trenches, and elite offensive linemen are essential to any team’s success.
Emory Hunt joined Ross Tucker on the latest edition of the Ross Tucker Podcast to break down the top offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft Class who are ready to make an impact in the trenches.
Hunt and Tucker kicked things off by analyzing the top tackle prospects. LSU left tackle Will Campbell is the pick of the litter with Hunt jokingly issuing a PSA: Don’t be afraid of offensive line guru Duke Manyweather and his crew. If you think Campbell’s a guard, stand TEN TOES on it — don’t let them bully you. However, Hunt believes Campbell’s skill set is best suited to play tackle. Afterall, he plays like a tackle and has played left tackle his whole life. That being said, he added, half-jokingly, that he didn’t want Manyweather and his crew flooding his Twitter mentions. Let’s not forget that Manyweather was instrumental in developing five of the top seven prospects that tested high at the NFL combine.
One of most prominent criticisms of Campbell is his short arms. Hunt shared that Campbell’s arm length will only matter when it matters. He made the analogy of Mike Tyson in his prime, whose reach was most of the time significantly shorter than that of his opponent. Tyson was so compelling because his short reach allowed him to dip under opponents to land devastating haymakers. That is how Hunt sees Campbell using his short arms to be effective. Hunt added that despite his short arms, Campbell consistently knows how to improve and win battles in the trenches. In Hunt’s opinion, he is the best tackle on the board.
Hunt ranked Texas right tackle Cameron Williams second behind Campbell. Hunt said he is very impressed with how technically sound Williams is and championed his recognition skills, particularly when it comes to defensive stunts, as well as passing off defensive linemen. When Williams gets his hands on a defensive lineman and locks out, the rep is OVER, according to Hunt. He expressed that, at times, Williams can be too patient in shooting his hands. In turn, he gives himself too much depth in the pocket, shortening the margin for error. Hunt contends that if you are looking for a technically sound tackle who can sustain blocks consistently, look no further than Williams. Closing out the tackle rankings is Boston College’s Ozzy Trapilo. Trapilo’s offensive lineman pedigree can be traced back to his father, Steve, who played for the Saints in the late 1980s. Hunt expressed that at 6-foot-8, Trapilo has terrific knee bend and is fundamentally and technically sound. Hunt added he is not just big and in the way, he has the athleticism to block on the move and has great film. Trapilo’s strength is that he knows how to play like he is 6-foot-5, allowing him to use his length effectively in the run game.
Moving down to the interior portion of the offensive line, Hunt has Tyler Booker from Alabama as his No. 1-ranked guard. Hunt jokingly questioned if Alabama and Georgia make their offensive and defensive linemen in a lab. Hunt said that Booker had a DOMINANT senior season and that Booker locks in and moves defenders out of the gap regardless of the direction they want to go in. Hunt’s second-ranked guard is Purdue’s Marcus Mbow, who is SUPER ATHLETIC and his abilities POP when you turn on his tape. He can be positioned anywhere in the front seven and will execute his block. A criticism of his game is that he does not drop his anchor early and instead spends too much time engaged with the defender, which could cause problems in the pocket. Oregon State’s Joshua Gray rounds off the list for guards. Hunt was surprised to hear that Gray measured at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds because he plays like he is 6-6, 330. Hunt noted that Gray’s ball get-off is key, as he fires into the defender’s chest, putting him in retreat mode and allowing the running back to run right past him. To Hunt’s point, you can open up the playbook with Gray. His only drawback is that he sometimes fires off too low and may be privy to a defender swiping him off balance.
Getting to the centers, North Carolina’s Willie Lampkin checks in as Hunt’s top-ranked Center, with Tucker saying that he loves this guy. Hunt explained at 5-foot-11, 270 pounds, it is easy to watch his film to try to find a reason he is not worthy of playing center at the next level. However, Lampkin’s consistent play stands out on tape. Hunt expressed that if he is playing well at the Power Four level and at the Senior Bowl, then there should be no doubt that he can do it at the next level. Hunt also highlights Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin, who has struggled with injury but says he likes the way he uses his hands and plays with the consistency you can rely on. Jake Majors of Texas rounds out the list of centers. Hunt describes Majors as an athletic center whose feet never stop moving.
Check out Ross’ full conversation with Hunt in the full video or podcast below. And make sure to tune into the Ross Tucker Podcast on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
What it’s like to be drafted by an expansion team? Talking with Seth Payne
VIDEO:
Check out the Ross Tucker YouTube page for more and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the show on X at @rosstuckerpod and Ross at @rosstuckernfl.
