The San Francisco 49ers hosted a pre-draft visit with guard/center Billy Price of Ohio State, according to the Sacramento Bee. Pre-draft visits ended this week and Price is among the 21 known draft prospects to meet with the 49ers in Santa Clara.
"The 49ers have been taking close looks at centers and guards and Price is one of the best at those positions," writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. "He suffered a partial pectoral tear at the scouting combine but was ahead of schedule on his recovery when he returned to Indianapolis recently for a medical re-check. Price was a two-time team captain at Ohio State who started 55 consecutive games there and the 49ers likely would prize his leadership skills."
As a freshman, Price took over as the Buckeye's starting left guard during their national championship season. In 2016, he was named first-team All-American. Price moved to center in 2017 and repeated as a first-team All-American and won the Rimington Award as the best center in college football.
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NFL.com projects Price to be a second-round draft pick.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, who compares Price to LeCharles Bentley, wrote the following about Price within his scouting report:
"Plays like a Wildling at times with tremendous explosiveness, strength and, almost excessive initial charge. Price's power and leverage give him a huge advantage over most centers in this draft. He should be able to come into the league and deal with NFL power right away. However, his impatience as a blocker and tendency to charge in head-first will be used against him by savvy NFL opponents if he doesn't get it cleaned up. Price should be a good, early starter."
Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst wrote the following the following about Price within his scouting report:
"Price possesses the size, smarts and mentality to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL. He has the potential to get better over his career, and in time he could be a multi-time Pro Bowler."
Measurables
Height: 6-4
Weight: 312 lbs.
