Washington Position Group Breakdown: Guards and Centers

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May 16, 2025

by David Earl

This interior unit looks to potentially be the strongest and deepest it’s been for a very long time, especially when Sam Cosmi returns. The Laremy Tunsil trade and drafting Josh Conerly Jr., as discussed in the tackle position group breakdown, sent a much-needed surge through the offensive line. This unit is two years removed from allowing 60-plus sacks of Sam Howell but now looks to be stout enough to compete against the top defensive lines in the league. As the Tunsil deal gives improved blindside protection to Jayden Daniels, that trade started an offseason of decisions that sent Andrew Wylie to his more natural position as a guard and potentially second-year lineman, Brandon Coleman, inside as well. While I have Coleman in my tackle position group, I see Coleman being developed into the longer-term answer inside and likely at the team’s left guard. There is a strong upside in an interior offensive line consisting of right guard Sam Cosmi, center Tyler Biadasz, and left guard Brandon Coleman over the long term, but let’s look at how the 2025 season looks for this group.

Projected Starters for Week One:

LG Nick Allegretti, 6′ 3” / 320lbs, age 29

  • Experience: 6-year career primarily as a left guard with 30 total career starts and 17 coming this past season alone.
  • Run Down: As a primary spot starter throughout his career, he did well last season, starting all 17 games, playing in 99% of the available offensive snaps. Allegretti will certainly start this offseason as the top left guard, but there looks to be more competition from Andrew Wylie and second-year lineman Brandon Coleman. The former 7th-round pick came into the draft struggling against counters and defenders’ quick first step, but seemed to manage well last season against more complex defensive looks. While he may struggle in pass protection against a more athletic rusher, he comes with a good base and hand technique, proving to be stronger in the run game.

C Tyler Biadasz, 6′ 3” / 318lbs, age 27

  • Experience: 5-year career at the center position with 68 total career starts.
  • Run Down: After anchoring a Cowboys unit that was one of the better pass-protecting units in football during the 2023 season, Biadasz proved to be the anchor this offensive line needed since Chase Roullier. He played in 92% of the available 946 snaps last season, missing 2 games due to injury as Biadasz brings experience and health to the second-most-important position along the offensive line.

RG Andrew Wylie, 6′ 5” / 309lbs, age 30

  • Experience: 7-year career with time split between guard and tackle. In 88 total career starts, 35 starts were at guard and 53 as tackle.
  • Run Down: A move back to his more natural position, Andrew Wylie will be among the primary competitors for the right tackle position to start the season while Sam recovers from ACL surgery.

G Sam Cosmi, 6′ 5” / 309lbs, age 26 (Recovering from ACL Surgey)

  • Experience: 4-year career with time split between guard and tackle. In 49 total career starts, 15 starts were at right tackle and 34 (last two seasons combined) as a right guard.
  • Run Down: Cosmi’s struggles at right tackle, especially against the top athletic edge rushers, validated his scouting report. He’s been a very good, reliable right guard these last two seasons. While there’s no timetable on when Cosmi will return from his ACL injury, it’s almost guaranteed he’ll be out for some of the 2025 season. During his recovery, the competition looks to be initially Andrew Wylie and Brandon Coleman to fill in for Cosmi. One other scenario is if Coleman looks to be their long-term plan at left guard, the team could move Nick Allegretti over to right guard as Wylie becomes the primary backup.

Primary Depth

G/C Nate Herbig, 6′ 3” /  334lbs, age 30

  • Experience: 5-year career with 30 career starts as a guard.
  • Run Down: The former undrafted free agent had his season cut short due to a rotator cuff tear last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He worked primarily at center with the first-team line throughout training camp for the Steelers before suffering the injury, so he could provide emergency depth for the center position. He is not an overly great athletic player, but maintains good foot technique when engaged.

G Julian Good-Jones, 6′ 5” / 313lbs, age 28

  • Experience: 2-year career originally signed to a futures contract by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 offseason, then later by Washington in November of 2023. Has only recorded 2 snaps in his career.
  • Run Down: According to his scouting report, solid lateral mobility and can engage his blocks strongly when set in proper technique. Does transitions well from one block to another but tends to lose balance as he overcommits too much. Hand technique is inconsistent, which tends to allow rushers to get into his body. This will be a crucial year of development if he wants to take a serious step towards any potential playing time.

G/C Michael Deiter, 6′ 5” / 310lbs, age 28

  • Experience: 6-year career with a near-even split in games started between guard and center. He started 17 games at guard and 18 as a center.
  • Run Down: A veteran lineman who adds versatility to the interior of the offensive line. A physical presence who is not very often overpowered. Does well not allowing the rusher to reset, and has good lateral movement. Ideal to step in for Biadasz at the center position if needed. He will face some potential competition from Nate Herbig as the primary backup to Biadasz so this will be a situation to watch entering training camp.

G Chris Paul, 6′ 3” / 324lbs, age 26

  • Experience: 3-year career with a total of 8 career starts as a guard.
  • Run Down: A 7th-round developmental tackle moved inside to left guard, Paul has been solid in his appearances, committing 2 penalties in 8 career starts. Much like his scouting report mentions, Paul still needs work on sustaining his blocks, and his footwork can still be erratic. Paul is an interesting piece at the guard position entering this offseason. As he may still be best suited as a reliable spot starter at times, Paul carries plenty of upside to rise up the team’s depth chart as one of the primary backup guards and as a future starter.

G Timothy McKay, 6′ 3” / 321lbs, age 23

  • Experience: Rookie year
  • Scouting Report: Has position versatility playing both guard and tackle at NC State, but profiles as an NFL guard. Maintains a good, strong base in run blocking and has very effective foot technique. He does not possess great lateral movement and will struggle against outside athletic edge rushers. His body frame and core strength match him up very well against power rushers. A true developmental lineman who most likely will end up on the practice squad.
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