Who is the best center in upcoming NFL Draft? Ranking top 3 prospects in 2023 class

The center is one of the more underrated offensive positions in the NFL. However, over the past decade, we have seen Jason Kelce punch in his Hall of Fame ticket, and a handful of others glamorize the position. The 2023 NFL draft is around the corner, and all eyes will be on Kansas City as all 32 NFL teams make picks that could change their fortunes.

Minnesota's John Michael Schmitz is the best center in the upcoming NFL Draft, a hefty offensive lineman with a penchant for the spectacular. He leads his position in the 2023 Draft, and barring any wacky situation, should be selected in the first round. Let's look at some other prospects with scouts and GMs licking their lips.

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Top three center prospects in 2023 NFL Draft

Here are the top three centers ahead of this year's Draft, from third to first:

#3 Steve Avila, TCU, Steve Avila, TCU, Center/Guard, 6-4, 332

It might have taken Steve Avila two years to crack TCU's starting lineup. However, once he did, he was a mainstay prized for his versatility and dependability, spreading his starts between the C position (17 starts), left guard (15 starts), correct tackle (two) and right guard (one start) in the next three years.

Steve Avila is a potential Pro Bowler, thanks to his leadership skills, versatility and ability to make off-the-cuff decisions beneficial to his team. He has the proper frame for the interior offensive line with a stocky, square core with good overall weight distribution and thick limbs, including 33" arms and vices for hands. Moreover, he did not allow a single sack in 2021 (at center) and 2022, despite playing left guard for the first time.

He has room for improvement, though, as he needs to do a better job of maintaining his knee bend and keeping his feet shuffling through contact, both of which take away from his power. If he can work on that, he could be a steal for any team that selects him in this month's Draft.

2023 NFL Draft Projection: Late Second or early Third Round

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#2 Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin, Center, 6-6, 313

Joe Tippmann became the starting C for Wisconsin in 2021 and brought a different dimension to the position. Some might feel he's too tall for the position, but his play said otherwise throughout his 22 starts for the team. After each season, Tippmann earned Honorable Mention honors from the league's coaches and media.

He has a unique blend of size and agility for the position. He skips out of his stance to pull, showing impressive balance, lateral agility and adjusting to defenders. Tippmann's rare athleticism isn't just evident on tape (where it matters most); he's also expected to work out exceptionally well.

Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving, and Tippmann is less powerful than his size suggests. Like most tall players, Tippmann can struggle with pad level, sapping his own strength by losing the critical leverage battle inside that often goes to the lowest man.

He will need to work on that in the NFL, as there will be teams that plan around his deficiencies. If he works on these shortcomings, he could be a challenging player to come up against in the next decade in the league.

2023 Draft Projection: Early Second Round

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#1 John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota, Center, 6-4, 301

If anyone gives us Jason Kelce vibes among the new prospects, it's John Michael Schmitz.

Schmitz needed two years to get on the college gridiron. Nevertheless, once he took over the starting center job late in 2019, he became the glue behind PJ Fleck's iconic "Row the Boat" motto, helping guide a once-written-off Gophers programme to four consecutive Bowl game wins.

Schmitz looks like an NFL-ready C with broad shoulders, wide hips and sturdy limbs. He has good snap-to-step quickness, beating defenders to the punch and showing sneaky body control to slither around defensive tackles to seal them from the action. He complements that quickness with NFL-ready power and football IQ.

While he passes the eye test, Schmitz has average size, speed and general explosiveness for the position, which shows up on tape, with Schmitz winning more blocks with technique than sheer talent.

Moreover, at 24, Schmitz is already older than most prospects, having spent six years at Minnesota. He will likely hear his name first among his peers at the center position when it's all said and done, though.

2023 Draft Projection: Late First Round