The day that Dane Brugler drops his first NFL Draft board should be a holiday, if only because I need it to fully get a grasp on which prospects rank where in the eyes of one of The Athletic’s analysts. We haven’t reached that point just yet. But I found myself digging into Brugler’s 2025 NFL Draft Big Board yesterday and emerged thinking: Dang, there are a whole bunch of offensive linemen here.

The 2025 NFL Draft has a bunch of intriguing offensive linemen

There are 17 offensive linemen who check in among Dane Brugler’s top 100 prospects who are eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. For those of you who are not mathematically inclined, that number comes out to 17 percent. For what it’s worth, the Chicago Bears have four picks in the top 100 — all of which are among the first 75 selections. In other words, Chicago’s front office is well-positioned to upgrade in the trenches during the 2025 NFL Draft.

I’ve listed the top offensive line prospects, their overall ranking, and a blurb from Brugler. Plus, I have added some of my own thoughts about the prospects and the Bears’ offensive line situation. Enjoy!

(6) Will Campbell, LSU offensive tackle — Brugler says: “If I were running an NFL team, I’d be keeping him at tackle until I have a reason to move him inside to guard.”

(8) Armand Membou, Missouri offensive tackle — Brugler says: “Some teams like him best inside at guard, although there is nothing on his tape that says he can’t stay outside at tackle.”

(17) Josh Simmons, Ohio State offensive tackle — Brugler says: “Simmons made a strong case over the first month of the season for OT1 status in this class, before a non-contact knee injury ended his year.”

(18) Tyler Booker, Alabama guard — Brugler says: “Booker is a plug-and-play guard and should be a longtime pro.”

(22) Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas offensive tackle — Brugler says: “Teams are split on his best position, between tackle and guard.”

It would not surprise me to see any of the top five linemen end up with the Bears as a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. I’ve lost count of mock drafts that send Campbell and Banks to Chicago. I’ve also seen Simmons and Membou pop up in some mocks. Drafting Booker might not be a sexy pick, but he might be the best pure guard in this class.

(31) Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon offensive tackle — Brugler says: “A quick, fluid mover, Conerly has the range to reach his landmarks laterally in pass protection, on the move at the second level and in the run game.”

(34) Donovan Jackson, Ohio State offensive tackle — Brugler says: “Long considered a guard prospect by NFL teams, his left tackle tape was better than what he showed at his previous position, forcing scouts to reevaluate his best fit at the next level.”

It might be too early to put this in ink, but I feel as if there is a path for the Bears to move out of the No. 10 pick, add some draft capital, and still end up with one of the offensive linemen ranked in the bottom half of this cluster of talent.

(38) Grey Zabel, North Dakota State center — Brugler says: “Zabel is a college left tackle who fits best inside and is the draft’s top prospect at center.”

(50) Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota offensive tackle — Brugler says: “With his NFL-ready build and length, Ersery has a stiff punch to steer rushers wide of the pocket, and he can anchor down when rushers try to attack him up the middle.”

(52) Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona guard — Brugler says: “Though he has the length and functional movements to stay at tackle, his square play style and bear-claw hands are better suited inside at guard, where he can develop into an NFL starter.”

(63) Cameron Williams, Texas offensive tackle — Brugler says: “With his wide frame, long arms and functional movement skills, Williams has the ability to overwhelm defenders in the run game and force rushers to take a $20 Uber ride to get around him in pass pro.”

(66) Marcus Mbow, Purdue guard — Brugler says: “Some teams are keeping him at tackle on their boards, while others like him best inside at guard or even center.”

Ooh! Another center prospect. Also, I am intrigued by the potential positional versatility. There was a moment early in the Ryan Poles years in which the Bears GM valued versatility and flexibility in offensive linemen. And then he locked himself into a contract with Nate Davis, a player who could play only at right guard. Perhaps there are prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft whose versatility will move them up Chicago’s draft board.

(69) Tate Ratledge, Georgia guard — Brugler says: “He is a self-described “dirtbag” who should compete for a starting role as a rookie and has the necessary tools for a decade-long pro career, if he stays healthy.”

HERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN THE 2025 NFL DRAFT CLASS

(81) Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College offensive tackle — Brugler says: “He needs to be more consistent blocking low to high in the run game, but he quickly establishes body positioning to manipulate spacing and cut off defenders.”

There are some NFL bloodlines here with Ozzy’s father, Steve, playing 57 games (52 starts) as a guard for the New Orleans Saints from 1987-92. And I can’t ignore the Boston College connection that the prospect shares with Bears GM Ryan Poles. Perhaps Trapilo is a third-round target who could be on Chicago’s radar.

(83) Jared Wilson, Georgia center — Brugler says: “He only started for one season in college but put promising play on his film, and scouts are excited about his movement skills.”

Even though prospect-watchers don’t believe the 2025 NFL Draft is loaded with center prospects, there are a handful of players who are mentioned as possible targets to play that position at the next level. Maybe there is a diamond in the rough somewhere here.