Summary

Ben Cleveland was selected in Round 3 (#94 Overall) in the 2021 Draft out of University of Georgia. Cleveland is a massive interior offensive lineman, standing around 6′6″ and weighing in excess of 340 lbs, who made his mark at Georgia as a powerful run-blocker and anchor in pass protection. His physical tools are evident — he possesses exceptional strength, size, and a filled-out frame built for the trenches. However, Cleveland’s athleticism, lateral agility, and ability to operate in space or outside traditional power-run schemes were flagged as limitations in his draft evaluation. He projects most naturally as a guard in an offense that emphasizes inside-zone or gap-power blocking rather than spread-scheme agility or heavy pull/exterior movement.

Strengths

• Exceptional play-strength and anchor ability: Cleveland consistently showed the ability to stall defenders at the point of attack, stand his ground in pass protection, and generate movement in the run game. PFSN

• Big-time size and power-profile: 6′6″ / ~340-350 lbs with lower-body strength and mass to dominate inside. His physical presence is a clear plus. SI

• Good processing of stunts and twists: Exhibits strong recognition of defensive line games, stunts, loops and his ability to adjust inside block-schemes accordingly.

• Fit for man-gap/power-run schemes: For offenses that emphasize downhill runs, inside zone, or heavy front-side movement, Cleveland is well-suited thanks to his physicality and competence in straight-ahead blocking. SI

• Competitive toughness and experience: Having played significant games at a top program (Georgia), he brings maturity, experience and a competitive mindset into the NFL transition.

Weaknesses

• Athleticism and lateral agility limitations: While strong in the vertical plane, Cleveland’s movement side-to-side, mirror ability in space, and recovery when beaten were noted as below elite. Bleacher Report

• Limited range as a blocker in space / outside scenarios: Cleveland is less effective when asked to pull, reach-block in space, or operate on the move rather than in tight-spaces at the line. SI

• Height/pad-level dependency and occasional leverage issues: His 6′6″ frame sometimes led to playing too high or losing leverage; his hand-placement and fit can be inconsistent when he isn’t able to get low immediately.

• Scheme dependency / narrower ceiling: Best fit is in a power-scheme guard spot and that his ceiling is somewhat capped relative to more athletic interior linemen. PFSN

• Footwork and pass-pro consistency: Against elite quickness, Cleveland occasionally struggled to reset his feet, adjust, or sustain blocks deep into a pass-rush. Bleacher Report

Fit & Outlook

Ben Cleveland projects best in offenses that lean on a heavy run game, gap-blocking concepts, and require a powerful guard who can set a tone inside. He is a strong candidate to start at guard in such schemes, particularly one that values the downhill push and physical dominance at the point of attack over finesse or wide-zone movement. Offenses that use inside-zone or power-gap schemes will likely derive the most value from his skill-set. Looking ahead, his floor is solid: once healthy, Cleveland should earn a role as a starter on the interior with the potential to be a dependable, long-term piece in a power-oriented offense. His ceiling is meaningful but perhaps not elite: if he improves his lateral mobility, hand technique, and shows more agility in space, he could elevate beyond “good starter” to “very good starter.” The primary risk is that if movement limitations or scheme restrictions persist, he may remain a one-dimensional guard rather than evolve into a versatile multi-spot interior lineman. Overall, Cleveland offers a low-risk, high-floor profile with meaningful starting potential in the right system.