Explosive traits matter for offensive linemen.
We’ve spent a considerable amount of time talking about this on the blog and a year ago, even John Schneider made reference to a 30/30/30 ideal where a player achieves a 30-inch vertical, 30 reps on the bench press and a +30 score on the Wonderlic test.
For years we’ve been calculating explosive power by taking the vertical jump, broad jump and bench press and creating a formula called ‘TEF’. We use ideal scores, as revealed by Tom Cable a decade ago, to measure traits. The ideals are a 31-inch vertical, 9-0 in the broad jump and at least 27 reps on the bench press.
Here’s a quick explainer as to what the TEF formula is:
1. Vertical ÷ 31
2. Broad ÷ 9, then cube the result
3. Bench ÷ 27
4. Results added together = TEF
Here’s what the ideal (31 — 9 — 27) would look like using this formula:
1. Vertical: 31 ÷ 31 = 1
2. Broad: 9 ÷ 9 = 1, cubed = 1
3. Bench: 27 ÷ 27 = 1
4. Overall score = 3.00
So a prospect achieving the exact ideal (31 — 9 — 27) will score a 3.00 in TEF.
Here are the top explosive testers from last year’s draft:
Armand Membou — 3.45
Luke Newman — 3.26
Bryce Cabeldue — 3.25
Grey Zabel — 3.23
Jalen Travis — 3.21
Garrett Dellinger — 3.20
Donovan Jackson — 3.19
Tate Ratledge — 3.10
This at least suggests it’s something the Seahawks are conscious of. Both Bryce Cabeldue and Grey Zabel performed very well in terms of explosive testing.
As we wait for players to do the bench press at their pro-days and the results trickle in, I have 15 confirmed TEF scores for 2026. One player doesn’t just stand out, he’s among the best testers ever.
His name is Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon.
With a 35-inch vertical, a 9-3 broad jump and 32 reps on the bench press — his TEF score is a 3.40. This is how his score compares historically:
Beaux Limmer — 3.68
Braden Smith — 3.52
Trey Smith — 3.49
Tristan Wirfs — 3.47
Armand Membou — 3.45
Sebastien Vollmer — 3.45
Lane Johnson — 3.44
Cole Strange — 3.42
Emmanuel Pregon — 3.40
Rashawn Slater — 3.40
Terron Armstead — 3.38
Peter Skoronski — 3.37
Bernhard Raimann — 3.37
Quinn Meinerz — 3.34
Cam Jurgens — 3.34
Zach Tom — 3.33
Drew Dalman — 3.31
Kolton Miller — 3.31
Frank Ragnow — 3.29
Creed Humphrey — 3.25
Cesar Ruiz — 3.25
Bryce Cabeldue — 3.25
Grey Zabel — 3.23
Donovan Jackson — 3.19
Chris Lindstrom — 3.18
Joe Thomas — 3.16
Alijah Vera-Tucker — 3.16
Trent Williams — 3.11
Will Fries — 3.10
Quenton Nelson — 3.07
Tyler Linderbaum — 3.05
Erik McCoy — 3.05
Penei Sewell — 3.04
Joe Thuney — 3.04
Joe Alt — 3.02
Elgton Jenkins — 3.01
Cody Mauch — 3.01
Garrett Bolles — 3.00
There are 38 names on the list above including Pregnon. Of the 37 already in the league (or retired), 20 of them were taken in the first round. A further seven were taken in round two, with four more in round three.
Included among the six players not taken in the first two days of the draft are Trey Smith, who fell due to health concerns, Zach Tom, a big blog favourite who had no business lasting to round four, Drew Dalman, another blog favourite, plus Bryce Cabeldue and Will Fries.
The point here is that typically the players on this list go early in the draft.
Only six players were more explosive than Pregnon. The four directly above him on the list were all first round picks, with Braden Smith going 37th overall.
The two players just below Pregnon were also first round picks.
So what does this mean? There’s a reasonable chance Pregnon will be taken earlier than many are projecting. These kind of traits, typically, are not ignored by the NFL.
Why do I bring the Seahawks up specifically for Pregnon? Well, they run an outside zone system. The draft-eligible player with the highest zone blocking grade in college football last season was Emmanuel Pregon:
Emmanuel Pregnon — 93.0
Keagen Trost — 91.6
Beau Stephens — 89.5
Brian Parker — 89.4
Travis Burke — 88.7
Austin Barber — 87.1
Gennings Dunker — 86.6
Evan Beerntsen — 85.3
JC Davis — 83.9
Kadyn Proctor — 83.6
Carver Willis — 81.8
Jake Slaughter — 81.7
DJ Campbell — 81.2
Sam Hecht — 79.8
Spencer Fano — 79.4
Matt Gulbin — 79.2
Keylan Rutledge — 77.4
Garrett DiGiorgio — 77.3
Fernando Carmona — 76.8
Blake Miller — 76.6
Ar’maj Reed-Adams — 75.8
Dametrious Crownover — 74.9
Francis Mauigoa — 74.3
Logan Jones — 74.0
Pat Coogan — 72.8
Billy Schrauth — 72.3
Olaivavega Ioane — 72.2
Logan Taylor — 71.3
Markel Bell — 71.3
Jude Bowry 70.6
Chris Adams — 70.6
These are PFF’s grades. I’m not sure, having studied Pregnon, that I’d suggest he’s the ideal zone blocker. He’s a big human and while he moves well for his size, he’s far from the quickest. He ran a 5.21 forty at the combine and his 10-yard split of 1.82 was one of the slower times. He only managed a 4.84 short shuttle at his pro-day which is nothing to write home about.
For comparison, Gennings Dunker ran a slower split (1.83) but a faster shuttle (4.63).
He feels more suited to a power gap scheme just to look at him — but the grade is the grade and he’s a 93.0 and the rest of the group isn’t. If that translates in any way to the next level — plus you throw elite explosive traits into the mix — you’ve got a heck of a combination.
He played mostly left guard for Oregon but did fill in at right guard for one game against Minnesota so he at least has some experience there.
Pregnon gave up one sack in 2025 (vs Texas Tech) and only five pressures. He had the sixth fewest pressures among guards who played 50% of snaps in 2025.
He has massive 11-inch hands and nearly 34-inch arms. He has a very attractive physical profile. He will be a 25-year-old rookie though — he’s an older player who previously played at Wyoming and USC before moving to Oregon.
Would the Seahawks take another interior lineman at #32? It’s questionable. This off-season does feel very similar to the one in 2014 after they last won a Super Bowl. They lost Golden Tate and Breno Giacomini in free agency and used their first two picks on replacements (Paul Richardson and Justin Britt). The chances are the Seahawks will focus their draft resources on replacing Ken Walker and Riq Woolen (and possibly Boye Mafe — but that might be something they sort out after the draft with a veteran addition like Von Miller).
You can’t force picks though. What if they don’t think Jadarian Price is worth #32 — or what if he’s taken before they pick? What if the cornerbacks they value at #32 are gone and they think the depth at the position is good enough to wait until #64 or even #96?
In that instance it might be time to look at the board, assess the options and perhaps a big explosive, nicely graded zone-blocker could be the decision? Finishing off the O-line rebuild and investing, once again, in the trenches.
There’s a least been a little bit of buzz around Seattle and the right guard spot. For example, in ESPN’s free agency predictions two weeks ago, Brady Henderson brought up the possibility of an O-liner being signed:
“They could be looking to upgrade right guard after Anthony Bradford’s up-and-down season. But they won’t break precedent and overspend on a guard to replace a player who was good enough to help them win a Super Bowl.”
Brady didn’t have to mention the O-line, when there were other areas he could’ve looked at. Maybe it’s something, maybe it’s nothing — it seems as if they were keeping their options open if a decent opportunity emerged to sign a guard.
Also, Lance Zierlein did say during an exchange we had on X that he was hearing interior O-line was a target for Seattle in the draft.
Maybe they think they can committee their way to a running attack, or like a running back in the middle rounds, and perhaps they believe in their ability to develop a cornerback (there are definitely attractive day two options here) allowing them the opportunity to go O-line early?
In John Schneider’s 16 drafts as GM in Seattle, on nine occasions they’ve taken an offensive or defensive lineman with their top pick. With their second pick, they’ve also taken a lineman nine times. There’s been a very consistent theme to focus on the trenches, despite what some fans might assume. It’s not a surprise given Schneider worked for Ron Wolf, whose mantra was to build up the lines.
Pregnon’s a player to keep in mind over the next few weeks. He might not be the only one. I don’t know if they think Blake Miller can kick inside from right tackle — but the way he moves around would suggest he’d be an excellent zone-fit. His TEF score was also a highly impressive 3.36.
Confirmed TEF results so far for the 2026 draft class:
Emmanuel Pregnon — 3.40
Blake Miller — 3.36
Parker Brailsford — 3.35
Jager Burton — 3.23
Josh Gesky — 3.20
Micah Morris — 3.14
Max Iheanachor — 3.12
Chase Bisontis — 3.03
Kayden Proctor — 3.00
Keylan Rutledge — 2.98
Garrett DiGiorgio — 2.79
Febechi Nwaiwu — 2.78
Fernando Carmona — 2.77
Aamil Wagner — 2.73
JC Davis — 2.53
Sam Hecht — 2.46
You can read my scouting profile on Emmanuel Pregnon by clicking here.
