After taking a center on day three of the 2026 NFL Draft, could interior offensive lineman Matt Gulbin be a threat to Nick Allegretti?
The Washington Commanders added multiple draft picks who could make an immediate impact as they transition into their rookie seasons, but maybe one of the more underrated additions is former Michigan State center Matt Gulbin, who filled a lingering offseason need.
One of the four day three and two sixth round selections, Gulbin arrives as a key piece in the center competition where the rookie serves as the primary challenger to Nick Allegretti, who was among the several offensive linemen who re-signed this offseason. Can Gulbin prove to be a threat to Allegretti? Can he step in anywhere else along the line? We dive into the newest Commander lineman.
Who is He?
A former All-State player from Wilton High School in Connecticut, Gulbin signed with Wake Forest in 2021 as a three-star recruit. He was unable to play football in his senior year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
As a Demon Deacon, he would redshirt his first year, play in every game as a reserve in his second, before making his way to the starting lineup by year three. Gulbin entered the transfer portal following a junior season in which he was an Honorable Mention All-ACC selection. He would end up at Michigan State for his final season of college football, where he was again an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection. During his time in college, Gulbin only missed one game due to injury and started 34 games on the offensive line.
Versatility Along the OL
Washington let go of their starting center from last year, Tyler Biadasz, at the start of the offseason. Nick Allegretti will take over as the starting center in 2026, but who his backup will be is up for grabs. As of right now, Gulbin is the favorite to take that role, but will have to battle with Julian Good-Jones for that spot. Good-Jones has been with the Commanders since the team signed him off the Eagles’ practice squad in late 2023. One factor that puts Gulbin in a better position is his time spent at the other interior spots while in college.
Gulbin didn’t become a full-time starter at center until his only year at Michigan State. He had one start in the middle of the offensive line before 2025, with 11 starts at right guard in 2023 and 11 at left guard in 2024. While center will be his main position in Washington, Gulbin’s versatility is a quality NFL teams love in their offensive linemen. Washington has a player who can fit into any of the three interior line spots if someone goes down with an injury. Now, he won’t win the job outright because of this, but it will make his case better if it’s a close call coming out of training camp.
Elite in 2025
While Michigan State didn’t have much success in 2025, Gulbin’s season was a much different story. Pro Football Focus ranked him the second-best center in all of college football last year with a total grade of 82.6. He was also the second-highest rated center in run blocking, ending the season with a grade of 81.9, and fifth-best at pass blocking with an 87.8.
Being graded as the second-best center out of 307 qualified players is impressive. What makes it better is doing that while competing in the Big Ten against teams with destructive front sevens like Penn State and Michigan. PFF credited Gulbin with only giving up five pressures, two sacks, one quarterback hit, and was only called for four penalties. If Gulbin continues the strong performance from his senior year in the NFL, Washington may have one of the biggest steals of the 2026 Draft.
Expectations for Rookie Season & Beyond
If Gulbin does win the backup center spot for 2026, don’t expect him to see the field often as a rookie unless Allegretti is injured. However, Allegretti is a free agent after the 2027 season, and if he leaves, the starting spot becomes available. Depending on how Gulbin develops, it could be his spot to lose when that time comes.
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