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On January 3, 2024, a stalwart on the Alabama offensive line jumped into the transfer portal looking for a new opportunity. At that point, the last time we saw Seth McLaughlin was when he struggled with snaps, and it had an impact on the loss in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Only three days later, he found a new home in Columbus and ended up as one of the better centers the Buckeyes have had in a long time. Unfortunately, a freak injury cut his final season short. Despite that, McLaughlin won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in the country and was a consensus All-American. Will that injury scare off NFL teams?
Seth McLaughlin 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6′ 4″
Weight: 304 pounds
Arms: 31″
Hands: 9 1/2″
College: Ohio State
Seth McLaughlin NFL Draft Overview
Coming from Bufiord, Georgia, McLaughlin was a three-star recruit and actually took over center duties at his alma mater with the graduation of eventual Buckeye, Harry Miller. As a true freshman in 2020, McLaughlin sat and learned but managed to get on the field for 10 snaps for the national champions. In his second season with the Tide, McLaughlin started off the year as a reserve but worked his way into the starting lineup at the tail-end of the season. In total, he appeared in 10 games with three starts (301 snaps) and did not allow a single sack.
Then, in 2022, he took over as an eight-game starter with three other appearances at center for Alabama. Over his 913 snaps, he did not allow a sack yet again. He was an integral piece of one of the nation’s top offenses. In his final season in Tuscaloosa, McLaughlin continued as the starting center. According to PFF, he allowed one sack over 850 snaps (421 pass-blocking snaps). After the loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, McLaughlin elected to hop in the transfer portal before the retirement of Nick Saban. He landed at Ohio State and ended up having his best season.
McLaughlin took over as the Buckeyes’ starting center and started 10 games. Across those 10 games, he played 565 snaps and didn’t allow a sack or even a quarterback hit. Unfortunately, his season ended due to an Achilles tear. Despite that, he was awarded the Rimington Trophy and a consensus All-American honor.
Strengths
- One of the most experienced players in the draft
- Great usage of hands and base
- Can recognize twists, stunts, and blitzes
- Incredibly intelligent both on and off the field
- Finishes his blocks well
- Plenty of Power 4 playing experience
Weaknesses
- Working back from an Achilles tear
- Pad level can get a bit high
- Length isn’t quite there, could get handled by longer defenders
- Was already not the best athlete
- There was often a lack of a strong initial punch
Best Fits: Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints
Projection: Fifth Round
Bottom Line on Seth McLaughlin
McLaughlin had an interesting career. From being a scapegoat for Alabama’s loss in the Rose Bowl to being one of the best centers Ohio State had rostered in a long time, McLaughlin’s path to the NFL has been bumpy. As a center, McLaughlin struggled with low snaps while at Alabama. That issue disappeared when he transferred to Ohio State, whereas the new Tide center had similar issues snapping to the same quarterback, suggesting the issue was more on timing.
From a play standpoint, McLaughlin earned his consensus All-American honors in 2024. In Ohio State’s offense, he led what went from a massive question mark to a group that was considered for the Joe Moore Award alongside two other NFL-bound linemen. The film on McLaughlin is strong.
The knock on him will be his measurements and that Achilles injury. Already, he had shorter arms and could be blown up by stronger, longer defensive linemen. He could make a move to guard so that he doesn’t have to worry about snapping as well as blocking. Either way, his injury will slide him down draft boards if not off some completely.
He is what he is at this point and could be a solid depth piece on the interior who could spot-start when needed. Pro Bowls may not be in his future, but he could have a solid career.
More must-reads:
- CFP rankings: SEC in great shape after third reveal
- Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin breaks silence on reported ultimatum
- The 'NFL QB rushing TD leaders' quiz
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