John Michael Schmitz was the anchor in the middle of the offensive line for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He’s 6’4″ and weighs 320 pounds and while he may not wow you with his physical tools, it’s his football intelligence that makes him stand out.
He’s regarded as the best center in this year’s draft and has played a ton at the highest level of collegiate football. He played 2,495 snaps and 48 games during his five-year career.
Schmitz could be a great replacement for Mitch Morse should he decide to retire due to the history of concussions or if he elects to play, the Bills have an insurance policy in case Morse goes down again.
Morse is currently under contract through the 2024 season and is set to make over $19 million during that span. If the Bills were to move on after next season to save some dollars on the cap, Schmitz could step in right away and not miss a beat.
Many analysts say that Schmitz is a first-round talent, but most mock drafts have him going in the second round. His strength is without question run blocking, but his pass protection is solid as well, giving up only two sacks in his career.