We are just a day away from the NFL draft returning to our televisions. This means we have to start taking a look at what players are the best of the best at their position.

Roger Goodell will be hugging the draft picks again, so let’s look at the top offensive line prospects in this year’s draft that will be getting that long awaited hug from Mr. Goodell.

1. Penei Sewell, Oregon

Penei Sewell is the far and away top offensive lineman in this year’s NFL draft class. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and 331 pounds, Sewell has outstanding size coming into the league. He is an exceptionally gifted athlete and has great explosion out of his stance.

Sewell opted out of the 2020 season, but back in 2019, he started 13 games at left tackle and won the Outland Trophy as the best lineman in the country. He was also a unanimous All-American.

Look for Sewell to be off by the board within the first 10 picks of this year’s draft.

2. Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

Rashawn Slater is a prospect that came a little bit out of nowhere and is now touted as one of the best offensive linemen in this year’s draft. Slater is 6 feet 4 inches and 304 pounds and has started since his freshman season at Northwestern.

He opted out of the 2020 season, but in his three years as a starter for the Wildcats, Slater tallied 37 starts. In 2019, Slater matched up with 2020 No. 2 overall pick Chase Young, and that is when people really started paying attention to his incredible blocking ability.

Slater will most likely hear his name called mid-first round but could go as high as the top 10.

3. Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

Christian Darrisaw only received one FBS offer out of high school, and that was from Virginia Tech. In his junior season, he showed why the Hokies were right to recruit him, earning second-team All-American status. Darrisaw is a super athletic guy for his size, standing at 6 feet 5 inches and 322 pounds.

Darrisaw has very good lateral quickness and athletic feet moving in all directions. He should be picked in the mid-to-late-first round of the draft.

4. Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

Alijah Vera-Tucker opted out of the 2020 season initially but decided to come back once the Pac-12 announced its return to play in the fall instead of the spring. He started all six of USC’s games and earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Vera-Tucker is 6 feet 4 inches and 308 pounds and has a wide frame with extremely solid core strength. He should expect to be selected in the mid-to-late-first round.

5. Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State

Teven Jenkins comes into the draft with an NFL-ready body, standing at 6 feet 6 inches and 317 pounds. He has a very good feel for the position and has surprisingly good athleticism for someone at his height. Jenkins earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in his final season with the Cowboys when he started seven games before opting out of the final month of the season.

Look for Jenkins to be selected in the late-first round.

Trevor Grady is a junior majoring in supply chain management. To contact him, email tmg5685@psu.edu.