NFL draft profile: Why the Detroit Lions should draft Zach Frazier

In last year’s NFL Draft, I would argue there was no prospect more DAN CAMPBELL GRIT than linebacker Jack Campbell. It came as very little surprise that Detroit took him, despite the fact that the Lions didn’t have a pressing need at linebacker.

If I were to award that honor to a player in the 2024 NFL Draft class, it would go to West Virginia center Zach Frazier, and I think he should be on the short list of candidates for the Detroit Lions’ 29th overall pick—the reasoning goes well beyond his blatant and obvious character fit

Here’s why the Lions should draft Zach Frazier.

Previously:

• Why the Lions should draft Zak Zinter
• Why the Lions should draft Mike Sainristil
• Why the Lions should draft Chop Robinson
• Why the Lions should draft Darius Robinson
• Why the Lions should draft Cooper DeJean
• Why the Lions should draft Kool-Aid McKinstry
• Why the Lions should draft Keon Coleman
• Why the Lions should draft Johnny Newton
• Why the Lions should draft Qwan’tez Stiggers

The grittiest grit that ever gritted

Let’s start with Frazier’s incredible football character, which we know is incredibly important to the Lions’ evaluation process.

Frazier’s most notable “gritty” performance came during his final snap at West Virginia. The Mountaineers were down a score, without a timeout, and had less than 1:30 left in the game. Unfortunately, Frazier suffered a serious leg injury on the very first play of the drive. But instead of staying down and potentially costing the team a 10-second run-off, he dragged himself off the field—crawling and hopping on one leg. The Mountaineers would end up scoring the game-winning touchdown later in the drive.

That injury? A fractured fibula.

Just a few months later, Frazier insisted on going through on-field drills at the NFL Combine despite only being four months removed from the injury.

The drive it took to attack rehab as aggressively as he did is impressive. The confidence to then put his future employment on the line by taking the field in Indianapolis is unbridled confidence.

If that isn’t enough grit for you, how about some actual game film breaking down Frazier’s tenacious attitude?

Frazier’s tape is littered with clips like this: plowing a defender 10 yards downfield and then planting them into the turf. Effort will not be an issue with this guy.

Okay, but is he good?

A snooty question deserves a snooty answer. Is he good? I don’t know, do you like players who have ranked 17th, 7th, and 21st in PFF run blocking grade in their three seasons as WVU’s starting center? Do you like players with guard/center versatility who were named two-time All-American and a member of the Freshman All-American team?

Do you like a player who absolutely stalemated a pair of Texas defensive tackles who will likely be drafted highly this year?

As a guard turned center, Frazier’s intelligence jumps off the film. He quickly recognizes disguised pressure looks and rarely is seen scrambling to reclaim his leverage.

“He’s gonna set the standard with how he works. He’s extremely intelligent,” WVU coach Neal Brown said back in February. “From a football standpoint, for us, he was a quarterback for our offensive line. He made all our identification, in both the run game and the pass game. He has a deep understanding of making sure we get our five on their five.”

Frazier will shine as a run blocker at the next level, and his wrestling background allows him to compensate for what is just above-average athleticism.

Offensive line experts love him

I’m humble enough to admit I am far from a scout or an offensive line expert. But when it comes to line play, there are two names I trust above all else: Duke Manyweather and Brandon Thorn.

Manyweather—who was also a huge Colby Sorsdal fan last year—helped train Frazier this offseason and came away a big fan, listing him as one of the best run blockers in this class during a recent media appearance.

“I think Zach Frazier had around 147 knockdown blocks,” Manyweather recently told Kay Adams. “I think Zach Frazier’s one of those guys, he can make every block from the center position and he’s just a brick house. You look at him and what he did in his wrestling background, he’s pretty special.”

Frazier also made Thorne’s list of “My Guys,” giving him a fringe first/early second-round grade. Here’s what Thorn had to say about him:

Frazier is a highly decorated, experienced and stout presence at the pivot with tremendous grappling and run blocking skills. He can quarterback the line from day one.

Frazier to Detroit has also gained momentum with some NFL writers in the know. Dane Brugler, Peter Schrager, Dave Birkett, and Eric Edholm all had Frazier going to the Lions in their latest mock drafts.

This pairing is too obvious to ignore.

The Lions already have Frank Ragnow

I don’t like your tone. Try forming this into a question.

Okay, how would he fit on the roster? Do the Lions really need an offensive lineman?

While I do think Frazier’s best position is center given his intelligence and skillset, I think he’s a perfectly capable guard, as evidenced by his freshman All-American year at left guard in 2020. And while Frazier would likely start the 2024 season coming off the bench, he represents a fantastic backup option at both guard and center.

He can take the 2024 season adjusting back to guard, and if/when the Lions opt to move on from Kevin Zeitler next season, Frazier should be able to slide right into either the right or left guard position.

Plus, given Ragnow’s injury history, nothing wrong with having a highly intelligent young player waiting in the wings to take over either on a short or long-term basis.

Weaknesses

Technically speaking, there’s not much wrong with Frazier’s game. Of course, he’s not a perfect prospect, otherwise we may be talking about a sure top-20 pick. Frazier’s arm length (32 ¹⁄₄ inches) is quite small for the position and it occasionally shows on tape when facing long-armed defenders who can keep him at bay.

His pass protection needs work, too—although it’s an area he has improved upon. After allowing three sacks and 12 pressures in 2022 (per PFF), he didn’t allow a single sack in 2023 and just six pressures.

Overall

I’ve often accused Brad Holmes of narrowing his focus on players he’s completely all-in on, and I think Frazier could be that guy this year. He absolutely checks all the boxes of the kind of person and football player that this regime will love, and the kid can ball, too.

We all know how important the team’s offensive line is to their entire identity, so I don’t think pick 29 is too early for a guy like Frazier, who will lock down an interior offensive line position for a decade once he gets on the field.

I think some Lions fans are too narrowly focused on getting an immediate-impact player with the team’s first-round pick. Detroit has graduated from that level of overall talent. It will be hard for any rookie at any position to crack this roster as a full-time starter. In other words, securing the future of your offensive line by using a first-round pick is just as good as using it on any other position.

Frazier is a perfect fit for Detroit in every way. Don’t overthink it.