Joe Tippmann: Top Center in the 2023 NFL Draft

Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann is the best center in the 2023 NFL Draft.

That’s not what I say, it’s what the game film says.

All I did was write down what he did.

I love how aggressive Tippmann is. Aggression wins.

Ironically, the only thing holding Tippmann back from being a first-round value, is he gets too aggressive at times when he gets out of control in both pass and run blocking.

If you don’t believe me, go back and watch the Iowa game in 2022.

It was rough.

Improvement shown from 2021 to 2022

After studying three of Tippmann’s games in 2021, I studied four of his games in 2022.

The first thing that stood out was the noticeable increase in his playing speed and strength.

Tippmann was moving around better in space, which is what separates centers.

High win rate in pass protection two seasons in a row

Outside of the Iowa game film, Tippmann looked really good in pass protection.

He showed equally distributed upper and lower body strength which enabled him to hold up in solo blocking situations, and also against bull rush attempts.

In today’s pass-happy NFL, that bolds well.

How does Tippmann compare with Tyler Linderbaum?

There are not a lot of centers taken in the first-round of the NFL Draft in recent history.

In the past five years, only four centers have gone that high (2022, BLT, Linderbaum, 2020, NO, Cesar Ruiz, 2019 MIN, Garrett Bradbury, and in 2018, DET, Frank Ragnow). Interestingly, all four went in the first-round between picks 18-25.

Even though center is the second most important position on the offensive line next to left tackle (for teams with a right-handed starting quarterback), the league does not esteem the position anywhere near as high. Outside of quarterback, centers are the only position on the team that touches the ball on every single offensive snap. They also make all the offensive line calls.

Last year, I evaluated Linderbaum prior to the 2022 NFL Draft and put a first-round grade on him.

How should the league value Tippmann in comparison?

Similar to Linderbaum in terms of pass blocking, but a step down in terms of run blocking (especially in space).

How do other draft platforms see Tippmann?

Just this month, Pro Football Focus, The 33rd Team, CBS, and Pro Football Network all mocked Tippmann into the first-round (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

The New York Post has mocked him into the second-round and Draftwire has him in the third-round.

Where does First Round Mock have him?

Game film values him in the second round.

He’s a solid plug-and-play prospect who can anchor an offensive line for some time to come.

#75 Joe Tippmann 6-foot-6, 317 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 8.5% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 21, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: Penn State, Northwestern, and Notre Dame (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 game film reviewed: Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Iowa

Note: There are only four starting NFL centers who are 6-foot-6 or taller (pff.com)

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic, quick, tall, and muscular center who plays with extreme aggression and excels pass and run blocking. Good looking snaps (QB under center and shotgun). Plays with a real mean streak. Active and sets up with long arms and good reach. Often gets under pad level with hands and controls. Head is on a swivel. High effort from start to whistle. Looks to help. Works well in tandem with guards. Can handle a high percentage of solo situations. Strong anchor when challenged. At times, throws technique out the window and attempt to over-power instead, which causes him to overextend and give up pressure. Great positional and leverage run blocker. Has pure power to get movement in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Excellent pulling guard in limited area. Has the speed to get way out in space, but it’s hit-and-miss.

Final words

Tippmann tips the scales.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.