Everybody raves about the person which is part of the reason why I always thought he might fit us. Stylistically he does as well and in the two prior year (2024 in particular) he was a total menace in terms of attacking the ball. Not sure where that went bc going into the year I thought he was Avril like in terms of his instincts for the strip sack. That is of course where the similarities of those two ends.
Yep, and his juice at the snap really looked sluggish this year. He was never an Avril-esque speed maven, but I never noticed it being that much of an issue before this season. Maybe he was playing hurt? Actually that would sort of add up with the way his play picked up over the last third of the season. I wish we could listen to the interviews.
Video in tweet
Zion Young: Career High 56 QB Pressures Last Season
2nd Most Among ALL Players in the SEC in 2025
A trade down would be ideal unless one of the premier tackles or DEs fallsā¦ I LOVE Allen as a Monty replacement, I think he goes in the 3rd and was one of the motivations for making that trade
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Someone posted this:
The best Center youāve never heard of in this draft
Brian Parker, Duke.
A right Tackle for the last 4 years with 2400+ snaps there, he moved to Center for the Shrine Bowl. Short arms and a low anchor facilitated the move. Scouts have been WOWED by his practices inside, strong hands, low anchor and high football IQ are propelling him as a 2nd round pick and the BEST CENTER in this draft. Watch his combine performance and he is likely the first Center drafted. Go watch his Shrine Bowl tape. A perfect Holmes target due to his versatility.
So, counter point.
I donāt like him at all lol. I have him as a day 3 guy. Middling athlete, middling strength, small. I heard the reports that he held up well at the Shrine Bowl so Iām interested to see that tape, but that doesnāt jibe with what he put out all year.
He is very, very smart though. As youād expect of a guy from Duke.
Thereās one of the draft guys out there, I canāt remember who, who doesnāt only have him as a UDFA but a camp invite only 
I thought that was crazy, but heās really, really down on him. Thatās too far for me but I definitely donāt see him making the transition as smoothly as his former teammate Barton.
Oh, I found him. Heās also really low on Dunker, as you can see. I believe heās a Lions fan as well.
I think Jake Slaughter may start to reestablsih himself. Not that I see a star or anything but I think he can be Mike Compton like and right away. Probably a bit better than that but that sort of long, smart, scrappy Center without a ton of people moving abikity.
I far prefer him to Parker. And I still think Lew is the best of all of them.
I like Lew the best as well. But thatās a 2027 solution.
Yeah, probably so. And with McLaughlin that seems like a less likely approach weād take.
The move to center was not a surprise for Parker as many of us expected that move. Parker looked good in the drills and the practice at center but in the game it was a whole different story for me. Guys were passed him before he got in position to block anyone. Also in the shrine game defenders have to play a 4 man front and nobody over the nose. I do believe he will get better in time but he has a long way to go. I will go back and watch the game a few more times. It was odd because he played on the west squad and his Duke teammates were on the east squad so I may have missed some of his early snaps. It does look like day 3 for Parker because it looks like make it at center or bust for him.
One center convert that looked pretty good was Iowa OG Beau Stephens in the senior bowl practices. I think the move could move him up a round or 2 because he can always play OG while he learns the center position,
ever notice that we have 5 or 6 guards that canāt play center, and one center that only wants to play guard? we have centerphobia. SMH.
I wish we had a clue as to their plan for Tate in 2026. It would be nice to know if they see him as a center of the future or he stays at OG. One of these inside reporters needs to do some digging.
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Beau Stephens is my favorite Guard in this class. If he can play Center I would 100% be for that. Or Tate. But I think weād want a veteran option rather than just relying on young converts entirely.
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Iām a huge fan of Stephens, Iāve got him ranked top 50.
I donāt know his history but he looked pretty natural at center in the practices. Iām sure he will be playing some center in the game on Saturday. I thought he was viewed more as a day 3 guy that could now be more of a certain day 2 pick.
I always thought he was a top 75 pick. Maybe even top 50. Heās in the overlap of a venn diagram of ass kicker and technician.
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Not interested in a Center this draft . Sign a experienced C as FA draft a OT rd 1 or 2 an a edge rd 1 or 2 depending on who they like best. Not saying top end Center but there are some good ones in FA I saw posts saying while rookie learns if there is not a rd one worth that rd pick they use FA for Center Den always over reacts They will sign maybe two FA an stick with draft.
McLaughlin is lets see season Center back up to FAS signed. The OL is not as bad as Den thinks we need Center an should plan on a OT after that we are ok The Center will have pro experience an doesnāt have to be guy from Ravens. Some here in den keep saying need this an that position when we are ok with depth. We donāt know how staff feels . We will see what we need later but I want experience Center an use McLaughlin next season as rookie depth He has more lets call them stars from college than any coming out this season.
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