Name: Grey Zabel
Position: Offensive line
School: North Dakota State
Ht/Wt: 6-6, 312
40-yard dash: Did not run
Bench: 26 reps
Vertical: 36.5 inches
Broad: 9-foot-3
3-cone: Did not run
20-yard shuttle: Did not run
View photos of 2025 NFL Draft offensive line prospect Grey Zabel.
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) and South Dakota Mi"Quise Grace (90) engage each other during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel of North Dakota State (77) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) backs into pass protection against a South Dakota defender during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) lines up against a South Dakota defender during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel (77), of North Dakota State, during the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Dakota State linemen Grey Zabel (74) sits back waiting for South Dakota defenders to rush during the PAT attempt during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Vermillion, S.D. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)
National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel of North Dakota State (77) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
How he fits: Zabel is a versatile offensive line prospect with explosive traits who played four of the five offensive line positions in college. He's got a big frame with room to add muscle and he plays with a nasty tenacity teams will love on film.
The Lions return Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany at guard but could look to add competition and depth to the position in the second wave of free agency or in the NFL Draft. The Lions love players with position versatility along both of their fronts because of roster restrictions on gameday. The more a player can do the better, and Zabel exemplifies that.
Key observations: Zabel's vertical jump was No. 1 among all offensive line prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine, his broad jump was top six and he was also top seven in the bench press. Zabel allowed just one sack and four pressures with a 90.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season. He's made 16 starts at left tackle, 17 at right tackle and four at left guard the last three seasons.
What they had to say about him: "Be it out in space or in confined areas, Zabel shines as a run blocker with his athletic range and grip strength to connect, strain and seal lanes. In pass protection, he can be walked back and will surrender depth versus power, but he mirrors well and stays balanced through contact as he refits his hands to grind bull rushes to a halt.
"Zabel is a college left tackle who fits best inside and is the draft's top prospect at center." – Dane Brugler, The Athletic
How he stacks up: Brugler lists Zabel as his No. 38 overall prospect in this class in his first list of the Top 100 players in the draft.
NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks Zabel is best suited to play guard at the NFL level and lists him as his No. 24 overall prospect in his latest 3.0 version of his Top 50 players in the class.
NFL.com lead writer Eric Edholm puts Campbell at No. 32 on his list of the 100 Top Players in the class.
"A clear Senior Bowl winner who can crash the first-round party," Edholm wrote of Zabel. "He was mainly a college tackle but has played all across the offensive line and could start inside as a rookie."
Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Lions during 2025 free agency.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) and Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed with his wife as signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed celebrates after he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell meets with Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed and his wife meet with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (41) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp meets with Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell meets with Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard meets with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with Detroit Lions Equipment Manager Tim O'Neill during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez meets with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions run game coordinator/defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers meets with Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Marcus Davenport (92) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) signing his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes poses for a photo with Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his contract signing the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) with his family as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) with his son as he signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 9, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) visits Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 10, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
ESPN's Jordan Reid updated his list of the Top 50 players in the NFL this week and Zabel comes in at No. 29.
"I thought he was the best performer at the Senior Bowl regardless of position, showcasing his physicality and strong anchor," Reid said of Zabel.
Zabel comes in at No. 23 on ESPN draft analyst Field Yates' list of the Top 32 prospects in the draft.
What he had to say: "The feedback has been really good," Zabel said of his conversations with teams at the Combine. "I can't say there's been one specific position that teams see me at because every team views me differently. But the biggest takeaway is that versatility is an asset, and being able to play multiple spots gives me value in this process."
