Nugent has a better résumé than most developmental centers. He started all 15 games for Michigan's 2023 national-title team and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, so the communication and football intelligence should be there. The problem is that he still has not played a regular-season NFL snap after spending last year on the practice squad. At 6-foot-1, he can lose the leverage battle if his technique is late against bigger interior defenders. I have him at a four: a smart, experienced college center worth developing, but not someone I can confidently grade as NFL-ready until he handles real snaps.
Strengths: Nugent has extensive starting experience, understands protection calls and played the position at a championship level in college. His compact frame can help him win leverage, and his Stanford-to-Michigan background suggests he can absorb a complicated offense.
Weaknesses: He has no regular-season NFL tape and lacks ideal length and mass for dealing with powerful nose tackles. Until he proves he can anchor against professional strength, his value remains that of a developmental reserve rather than a trusted replacement.
