With the NFL Combine in the rearview mirror, we at Pewter Report have you covered on which prospects the Bucs have had formal interviews with. Over the next two weeks, I am going to provide you, the reader, with brief scouting reports on the players the team had formal visits with.

You can check out our first article on the wide receivers here, cornerbacks can be found here, safeties here tight ends here and linebackers here.

The Bucs have not met with many offensive linemen formally that we know of so this will be a shorter profile than our most recent.

Grey Zabel – North Dakota State

NDSU G Grey Zabel and Toledo DT Darius Alexander – Photo by: USA Today

Height – 6’5.875
Weight – 312
Arm Length – 32″
40 – N/A
Vertical – 36.5″
Broad – 9’3
3-cone – 7.66
Short shuttle – 4.60

Zabel’s stock has risen at an exponential rate since the close of the college football schedule. His tape at North Dakota State is impressive as he shows a size/power/agility combination that can evolve into one of the best players in the NFL. It showcased his run blocking in North Dakota State’s zone run heavy offense. But questions remained about the level of competition he faced and how he would handle a better-quality opponent.

At the Reese’s Senior Bowl Zabel laid those concerns to rest as he was the best offensive lineman in attendance that week. He was near perfect in pass protection drills which is an environment designed for them to fail. He anchored extremely well against a talented group of interior defensive linemen, and showed an awareness for functional physics, using his hip sink and hand usage to overcome shorter arms and a taller frame that limits his natural leverage. Zabel also showed quick reactions and feet to prevent defenders from crossing his face on two-way opportunities.

Since Senior Bowl Zabel tested as an elite athlete in both agilities and explosive drills, which are the ones that matter.

North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel enters the Round 1 conversation by rounding out his athletic testing with elite agilities.

We now have 9 offensive linemen with Round 1/Borderline Round 1 grades. pic.twitter.com/JNraXCxpcK

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) April 8, 2025

Zabel’s profile is not dissimilar to the Bucs’ own right guard Cody Mauch and if Tampa Bay were to draft him it would signal that the two would pair with each other as guards for years to come.

Jonah Monheim – USC

Height – 6’4.125
Weight – 302
Arm Length – 30.125″
40 – N/A
Vertical – N/A
Broad – N/A
3-cone – N/A
Short shuttle – N/A

Monheim’s arm length is in the 0th percentile for offensive linemen which limits his versatility, but he is one of the few natural centers in this draft class and the Bucs have some need for center depth. This makes him a natural roster fit for the team. He is light and nimble and can quickly get out in front of defenders, especially running wide and outside zone. But he will struggle against length even when his leverage and pad level are perfect.

He can get to the second level quickly with good targeting to eliminate linebackers.

With his light frame come strength concerns. He holds up well as a doubler and when he can engage from an angle, but against formidable nose tackles playing from an even front he will struggle to hold up 1-v-1. But as a center he won’t have to face these situations very often and it is the best place to weaponize his plus movement skills.

Monheim is best in a zone-based scheme, which is what the Bucs started as last year. But the team moved to a more gap-based attack as the year went on and that type of system will not leverage Monheim’s strengths to their fullest.

Jackson Slater – Sacramento State

Height – 6’5.875
Weight – 312
Arm Length – 32″
40 – N/A
Vertical – 36.5″
Broad – 9’3
3-cone – 7.66
Short shuttle – 4.60

Slater is an athletic lineman from a small school. But unlike former Bucs players like Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa, Luke Goedeke and Cody Mauch, Slater has played primarily interior during his collegiate career. He plays with a low center of gravity and good pad level. Slater is at his best when he can pivot his hips and wall off defenders away from the play. He’s good at working to space defenders on climbs, especially off of double teams, as well as to the perimeter.

Slater’s stature and shorter arms mean he won’t have much versatility at the next level as a swing lineman who can play tackle. He has strong hands that he tries to get latched quickly in pass pro, but his zealousness in doing so can lead to him getting out over his ski’s. Despite a strong frame and good play strength, Slater is seen as a day three prospect because his footwork is sloppy and slow.