As the 2026 NFL Draft concluded, the Washington Commanders emphasized shoring up their offensive front, utilizing their 209th overall pick in the sixth round to select Michigan State center Matt Gulbin. Throughout our comprehensive Day 3 coverage, the necessity for a resilient, high-IQ offensive lineman was a recurring theme, and Gulbin possesses the fundamental traits required to stabilize the trenches for Washington’s evolving offense.
The Looming Uncertainty at Center
Heading into draft weekend, the interior offensive line was the elephant in the room for the Commanders’ front office. The organization took a massive, head-scratching gamble back in February when they released Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz. After starting 31 games over the past two seasons and acting as an anchor for the offense, Biadasz was cut to clear a relatively meager $2.85 million in cap space—only for fans to painfully watch him sign a lucrative three-year, $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers just days later.
Following the release, the team uncharacteristically sat on its hands during free agency. Aside from trusting veteran Nick Allegretti, who stepped up admirably late last season, and floating Brandon Coleman as a depth option, Washington completely bypassed the veteran center market. That glaring void left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the offense. Fans and analysts alike wondered if general manager Adam Peters had a master plan to protect Jayden Daniels up the middle. By waiting until the 209th pick to address it, the front office made it clear they see something special in Gulbin to fill that void.
Who is Matt Gulbin?
Gulbin is a 6-foot-4, 305-pound powerhouse who brings five years of battle-tested collegiate experience to the table. He spent his first four seasons grinding at Wake Forest, primarily logging snaps at guard, before transferring to Michigan State for his final year in 2025.
In East Lansing, Gulbin truly anchored the line and took his game to the next level. He started 11 games at center, earned the respect of the locker room as a team captain, and posted some elite metrics. We’re talking about an 87.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus last season. He is a brick wall in pass protection, allowing a mere five pressures over 426 pass-blocking snaps with the Spartans. He brings heavy, relentless leg drive in the run game and thrives at washing away defensive tackles on inside-zone plays.
The Fit in Washington
Gulbin is the exact type of player you want competing in training camp to push Allegretti for the starting job.
He isn’t strictly tethered to the center position, either. His extensive collegiate starts at guard give him the positional flexibility that NFL coaching staffs crave. While scouts note he doesn’t have the longest arms or elite lateral quickness for zone-blocking schemes, his raw power, collegiate maturity, and stout anchor make him an instant asset in the offensive line room. He’s a dense, firm blocker who stays tight to his assignments to neutralize any length disadvantages.
Final Thoughts
Late-round picks are all about finding high-floor players who can contribute immediately on special teams or as rotational depth, and Washington absolutely nailed the value here. Gulbin has the makeup and the leadership skills of a guy who is going to stick around in this league for a long time, potentially turning into the Day 3 steal this franchise desperately needed.
