2026 NFL Draft Bible: Centers
All Access Football counts you down to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with our center big board and scouting reports.
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2026 NFL DRAFT BIBLE: QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | OG
OFFICIAL 2026 NFL DRAFT BIBLE: CENTERS
What’s it like to be the center of attention? A top-end center needs to be cerebral, to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for his quarterback. He also needs to be ale to communicate pre-snap, as the leader of the offensive line. In addition, he must be agile enough to pull block and climb the second level. The NFL happens to be in luck, as the center Class of 2026 is a deep group.
With the quality of depth, it can be a ‘catch-22’ proposition, as NFL teams could opt to take a wait-and-see approach. There are a handful of players who should compete immediately for a starting position, including Sam Hecht of Kansas State, Parker Brailsford of Alabama and Jake Slaughter of Florida.
A few collegiate offensive tackles have decided to make the position switch to center, as they transition to the pros, including Brian Parker II of Duke and Delby Lemieux of Dartmouth, two highly intelligent players who have made the move look easy based on early impressions.
While the center spot might be one of the last positions drafted, it’s very possible that more are drafted than usual due to the abundance of depth.
Below is the Official 2026 NFL Draft Bible Center Big Board, along with 17 in-depth scouting reports on the top prospects in the draft. For our expanded big board, including verified measurements, be sure to reserve your copy of the Draft Bible here (coming in April).
DRAFT WATCH SHOW 2026 POSITIONAL PREVIEW ARCHIVES
2026 NFL DRAFT BIBLE CENTER BIG BOARD
RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | PROJECTION [# = indicates combine invite]
#Sam Hecht, Kansas State, Rd3
#Parker Brailsford, Alabama, Rd3
#Jake Slaughter, Florida, Rd3
#Connor Lew, Auburn, Rd4
#Brian Parker II, Duke, Rd4
#Logan Jones, Iowa, Rd5
#Pat Coogan, Indiana, Rd6
#Jager Burton, Kentucky, Rd7
Delby Lemieux, Dartmouth, HPFA
#Matt Gulbin, Michigan State, HPFA
James Brockermeyer, Miami, HPFA
Bryce Foster, Kansas, HPFA
Mason Rudolph, Boise State, HPFA
Greg Crippen, Michigan, HPFA
Pete Nygra, Louisville, HPFA
Ryan Linthicum, Clemson, HPFA
Luke Petitbon, Florida State, HPFA
Nick Dawkins, Penn State, HPFA
Jordan White, Vanderbilt, HPFA
Connor Tollison, Missouri, HPFA
Gavin Gerhardt, Cincinnati, PFA
Jaren Kump, Utah, PFA
Jim Bonifas, Iowa State, PFA
Jack Walsh, Wyoming, PFA
Brock Dieu, Washington State, PFA
NFL DRAFT BIBLE CENTER SCOUTING REPORTS
HECHT, SAM | Kansas State | C | rSr | #75 | Shawnee, KS | Day 2
Combine: HT: 6041 | WT: 303 | HD: 0978 | ARM: 3158 | 40-YD: 5.10 (1.73) | VJ: 28” | BJ: 8-5 | SHTL: 4.71 | 3C: 7.75
Pro Day: HT: 6041 | WT: 303 | HD: 0978 | ARM: 3158 | WS: 7678 | BP: 20
Senior Bowl: HT: 6042 | WT: 297 | HD: 0938 | ARM: 3200
Evaluation: An anchor for the Wildcats offensive line, Hecht possesses a strong base and great leverage to keep his defender under control and away from the ball. He owns quick feet, which shows up in his lateral quickness and ability to mirror pass-rushers. In addition, Hecht displays great fundamentals and discipline in his snap delivery, never having a fumble due to his snap, while displaying great awareness and football IQ in his protection calls. A mauler as a run blocker, Hecht drives defenders off the ball with his strength, leverage and violent hands. He excels at climbing to the second level and sustaining blocks, as well as combo blocks and pulling in zone schemes. K-State coaches have noted his wrestling background as aiding his sound hand placement, balance and low center of gravity. Has a high motor finishing every play. In addition, he possesses the versatility to move to guard in jumbo sets. Hecht has struggled in pass-protection at times, as bull-rushes from bigger defensive tackles can cause him to get upright. His short arms can lead to overextending, resulting in him getting off-balance. Overall, Hecht has proven durability and leadership, both on-and-off the field, as he mentors younger offensive linemen, per staff. Hecht is a solid mid-round prospect who could be an immediate plug-and-play starter and can immediately help upgrade the run game.
Background: Senior Bowl Participant. Appeared in 42 games; started his final 25 games at center. Originally a walk-on at Kansas State in 2021; was awarded a scholarship in 2023 and became the starter in 2024. Named to the 2024 All-Big 12 Second team and is on both the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy watchlist in 2025. Awarded academic honors every year in college. Majored in construction science and management. A three-star prospect out of Mill Valley High School where he won two consecutive state championships and earned all-state honors. Prioritized football over Ivy League academics, turning down full scholarships to elite schools like Yale and Princeton. Son of Jon and Shelley Hecht; has three siblings, Ben, Will and Andrew.
BRAILSFORD, PARKER | Alabama | C | rJr | #72 | Mesa, AZ | Day 2
Combine: HT: 6020 | WT: 289 | HD: 0948 | ARM: 3200 | 40-YD: 4.95 (1.70) | VJ: 32.5” | BJ: 9-10 | SHTL: 4.72
Evaluation: A battle-tested, two-year starter, Brailsford brings a bulky, physical frame, along with a rare combination of nasty demeanor, elite football IQ and surprising athleticism to the pivot position. He excels at quarterbacking the offensive line, confidently communicating fronts, blitzes and twists pre-snap to keep the unit aligned. In pass protection, Brailsford showcases quick feet on jump sets, elite mirroring ability to handle a wide array of rushers and stout anchoring against power moves, bull rushes and speed-to-power threats. As a run blocker, he possesses tremendous foot speed to pull effectively on gap schemes, maintains active feet through contact and has a knack for staying square in a phone-booth. However, Brailsford can be slow to adapt to defensive stunts and twists, occasionally ending up off-target when a defender crosses his face. His biggest area for growth is hand placement and punch timing, as he needs to refine his initial hand positioning and counter more efficiently against savvy inside moves to limit vulnerabilities. Overall, Brailsford is a plug-and-play NFL starter with early-to-mid Day 2 draft upside, projecting as a high-floor, high-IQ center who thrives in pro-style or gap-heavy schemes that value communication, leverage wins and physical presence at the point of attack. Continued polish on hand usage and stunt recognition could push him toward All-Pro potential.
Background: A transfer from Washington, where he started 15 games in 2023 as an All-Pac-12 Second Team member, a Freshman All-American First Team selection (College Football Network, College Football News, PFF, AFCA, and FWAA), and a Shaun Alexander Award Semifinalist. He missed one game in 2025 due to a high ankle sprain. A four-star recruit from Saguaro High School, where he was a state champion in 2021 and named to the Arizona 5A All-State First Team and the All-5A San Tran First Team.
SLAUGHTER, JAKE | Florida | C | Sr | #66 | Sparr, FL | Day 2
Combine: HT: 6050 | WT: 303 | HD: 1000 | ARM: 3238 | 40-YD: 5.10 (1.74) | VJ: 32.5” | BJ: 9-2
Senior Bowl: HT: 6044 | WT: 305 | HD: 0978 | ARM: 3234 | WS: 7900
Evaluation: An experienced, true center who thrives in tight spaces, Slaughter shows strong positional awareness and quickness. He sets a firm anchor using excellent lower-body drive and core strength to stonewall bull-rushers and maintain pocket integrity. He consistently stacks and controls defenders, rarely getting walked back. In pass protection, he deploys violent, well-timed hands with solid punch timing to disrupt rushers early and keep them off balance. An aggressor, Slaughter likes to play through the whistle with good balance, rarely losing his footing during engagement, while demonstrating the ability to shed his initial man and climb to the second level with purpose. As a run blocker, he brings power to engage, displace and finish defenders, creating clear lanes. He displays impressive lateral agility when pulling in gap or zone schemes, effectively reaching the second level or sealing edges. A high-football-IQ leader, he reads defenses pre-snap, communicates adjustments effectively along the line and plays with a relentless motor. Slaughter consistently leverages proper technique and positioning to win battles, rather than relying solely on raw size. On the downside, his leaner frame limits his ability to dominate heavier interior defenders. Occasional over-aggressiveness has led to discipline issues, including a career-high seven penalties in 2025 (matching his combined total from the previous two seasons), which could hinder reliability if not addressed. Overall, Slaughter projects as a smart, tough, high-effort starting center with starter traits in technique, instincts and competitiveness, provided he bulks up and refines his discipline.
Background: Senior Bowl participant. Appeared in 51 games (33 starts) at Florida. A team captain and two-time All-SEC selection. Member of the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society. Earned a degree in Agricultural Education and Communications (Spring 2025). Played high school at Trinity Catholic.
LEW, CONNOR | Auburn | C | Jr | #75 | Kennesaw, GA | Day 3
