Keeping Offensive Lineman Grey Zabel in Perspective

Grey Zabel this and Grey Zabel that.

This name has become increasingly popular as we get closer to the 2025 NFL Draft. The North Dakota State University (NDSU) offensive lineman’s draft stock has been soaring.

NBC Sports, NFL.com, Pro Football Network, SI, 33rd Team, Pro Football Focus, Fox Sports, CBS, USA Today, and The Athletic have all mocked Zabel first round, and that’s just in April (nflmockdraftdatabase.com).

I had to study him and find out what all the hype was about.

I’m not sure, to be honest.

For me, when I start watching any Bisons offensive lineman, my mind immediately jumps back to Cody Mauch (who I loved and gave a first round pre-draft grade). Let’s set the record straight, Zabel is no Cody Mauch. Even though Zabel is projected to make the same positional move from left tackle inside to guard, let me repeat, Zabel is no Cody Mauch (2023 Tampa Bay No. 48).

Are they similar prospects, or different?

Both Mauch and Zabel have aggressive natures. I’ll still give the edge to Mauch.

That’s not taking anything away from Zabel’s aggressiveness, but it’s just more inconsistent than Mauch’s was coming out of NDSU. Make no mistake, Zabel loves to pancake defenders when he has everything lined up right.

Where Mauch separates from Zabel is in the area of his speed and his athleticism.

Zabel is tough and he’s physical and all that good stuff, but he’s an average athlete with average playing speed.

Level of competition

When projecting talent to the NFL, it’s important to consider who the prospect played against. That’s not to take anything away from the teams that were on his schedule, but NDSU is in the FCS.

That’s a hell of a jump to the NFL.

This is how Mauch described it⎯

“The thing about the transition last year, especially pass pro-wise, was you do three years at left tackle and you are so use to throwing your outside hand with your left and now you are on the right side at guard and everything happens so much faster. It was so dumb because last year I knew what I wanted to do and what I had to do but my body just wouldn’t do it (pewterreport.com).

I learned from Dick Haley at the Jets (Director of Player Personnel during my time there) that prospects from smaller schools REALLY need to stand out on tape to have a chance in the NFL.

Mauch dominated the schedule at NDSU.

It was a mixed bag with Zabel.

Tough short-area guard

I do like the idea of projecting Zabel to guard in the NFL. I want to see better consistency, but this is where he fits best.

There are too many inconsistencies at left tackle.

Zabel is as strong as an ox.

He’s tough and physical. He shows a high football IQ, and he looks for “extra work.”

All of that will serve him well as he makes the jump.

#74 Grey Zabel 6-foot-6, 312 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 26.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 8, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film evaluated: Colorado, Tennessee State, Missouri State, Abilene Christian, Mercer, South Dakota State, and Montana State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 Senior Bowl Day One, Day Two, and Day Three

NFL comp: Bob Dahl (1991 Bengals third-round selection)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Hard-nosed try-hard prospect with some stiffness in his movements. Shows good understanding of offensive line play. Equally distributed dense muscular frame. Draws power from his lower back area. Ironclad upper body. Relies more on natural strength than technique. High-level protective instincts. Alert. Active hands at the point of attack. Works at it. Sturdy. Hunkers down vs. bull rushers. Decent at picking up stunts and blitzes. Excellent at combo blocks. Can give up too soon at times pass and run blocking. Subject to losing control of run blocks thrusting forward. Devastating with leverage. Hit-and-miss at the second level and out further in space. Tends to get out of control downfield. Emergency left tackle.

Final words

Zabel will develop into a starting guard in the NFL.

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 is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.