Guards Drafted In 2023 NFL Draft

Which guards were drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted those guards, and how does the 2023 class compare to previous years?

Which Guards Were Drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Steve Avila, TCU | Los Angeles Rams

Round 2, Pick 36
Avila grades out as one of the best guards in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he carries a slightly higher grade than Torrence on PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cumming’s board. That said, he’s only a fringe top-75 prospect for him.

Avila might end up being scheme-specific at the next level, but he does have a solid foundation to build off of. He offers great width, strength, and hand power on the interior, and also has steady footwork and combative hands. He’s shown to gather rushers with independent hand usage, and particularly as a zone blocker, he uses his anchor, drive, and core strength to plow open and maintain lanes.

Click here to view the full Steve Avila Scouting Report.

Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse | Atlanta Falcons

Round 2, Pick 38
There are a few factors keeping Bergeron from entering the highest echelon, even with his elite physical talent. Bergeron can still seek more refinement with his hands, as well as become more controlled with his footwork and leverage management in space. He also has room to get a bit stronger when anchored, which an NFL training regimen will help with.

All this being said, Bergeron is a tantalizing talent at OT, with an impressive mix of high-floor and high-ceiling traits. Few blockers around 320 pounds, with near-34″ arms, carry their weight as well as Bergeron does. He’s an elite athlete with superb explosiveness, fleet-footed energy, fluid hips, and superb recovery capacity and smoothness as a lateral mover.

Click here to view the full Matthew Bergeron Scouting Report.

O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida | Buffalo Bills

Round 2, Pick 59
On the interior, Torrence’s brand of physicality fits perfectly. He’s an overwhelming size threat with devastating power and torque. And with his size and power, he can be a major mismatch in a phone booth. Torrence has the strength to dominate opposing defensive linemen, and with his sheer width, he’s tough to get around.

While athleticism isn’t a strength of Torrence’s profile, he does flash better mobility on tape than what he tested with. He can be stiff laterally, but he has enough burst to get off the line and work to the second level as a zone blocker. You don’t want Torrence flipping his hips and pulling often, but he has the power and burst to displace what’s in front of him, and he has the awareness and physicality to stack blocks.

Click here to view the full O’Cyrus Torrence Scouting Report.