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2026 NFL Draft Preview: Finding Depth on the Offensive Line in a Deep Class

Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar07/04/2026 - 10:12 am
2026 NFL Draft - Offensive Line (Francis Mauigoa)

We’re moving onto the trenches this week in our 2026 NFL Draft previews. We’ve already covered the skill positions, including the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends,  and wide receivers. Fortunately, the offensive line is considered one of the deepest position groups in this draft class, especially the depth in the interior line.

We know the offensive line is important, but it may be more important to not have a glaring weakness than to have five good players, which costs a lot of resources in a league where the college game has not sent many great linemen to the pros in the last decade.

But we’ve seen in the last two Super Bowls how the Chiefs and Patriots having a weakness up front was exploited by the Eagles and Seahawks, who didn’t even need to blitz to get pressure, which is killer for any NFL game.

The consensus believes this 2026 draft class lacks elite offensive tackle prospects but could have some adequate starters. That’s sometimes all you need really. We’ve seen teams use first-round picks on the offensive line and still produce poor offensive results as this chart going back to 2020 shows with the Jets, Saints, Giants, and Titans among the teams getting the worst results despite their efforts to improve the line:

Using the prospect rankings from NFL Mock Draft Database, we are going to look at the top 7 offensive tackles and top 3 interior linemen. That’s 10 offensive linemen ranked in the top 43 prospects this year (though no other OL is ranked 44th-60th). We’ll look at how their skills might translate to the NFL, and which team would be the best landing spot for them.

2026 NFL Draft - Offensive Line (Francis Mauigoa)

1. OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami FL) – No. 5 Overall Prospect

Just to play devil’s advocate, the top-ranked offensive tackle prospect isn’t always a sure thing. Even in the 2025 class, LSU’s Will Campbell was considered the top offensive tackle, but he did have detractors who were concerned with his short arms. Sure enough, he ended up being a liability in the playoffs for a New England team that gave up a record number of sacks in a single postseason.

Some thought right tackle Armand Membou (Jets) was the better pick, and some thought Josh Simmons (Georgia) was the best tackle if his health was fine. The Chiefs ended up with him, and he looks like he could be a good one if he just stays on the field every week.

But for this year’s class, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa is well liked as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect. The only issue there is he’s a 3-year starter at right tackle, and teams will usually want to spend that top pick on a left tackle. However, we’ve seen precedent for right tackles going high like Joe Alt with the Chargers in 2024.

But Mauigoa is a veteran and team captain. If you want to know why Carson Beck enjoyed good protection at Miami and the running game was cooking throughout the playoff run for the Hurricanes, or why Cam Ward had such a great season there in 2024 with the nation’s top scoring offense, Mauigoa had a hand in that success.

Mauigoa is not considered a can’t-miss prospect. He is getting the short arms tag that Will Campbell had a year ago as he measured 33 ¼ inches and has a below-average wingspan for the position. There’s also talk of moving him to guard, which could actually help him overcome his flaws and be an even better prospect.

But teams likely aren’t going to draft a guard in the top five picks.

Best Fit – Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10 Pick)

You could see a bit of a wait for the first offensive linemen off the board, which Mauigoa is favored to be. But we know he’s not going No. 1 (Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders), and the Jets already drafted their right tackle last year (Membou). The Titans drafted their RT in 2024 (JC Latham) as did the Saints (Taliese Fuaga). Last year, the Commanders used a first-round pick on Josh Conerly Jr.

The Chiefs are a possibility but it’s unlikely at No. 9. They’re paying Jaylon Moore for this reason to replace Jawaan Taylor. The Browns (No. 6) acquired Tytus Howard from Houston. The Giants (No. 5) are a possibility.

The Bengals (No. 10) are a real possibility, especially if they want to move Mauigoa to right guard to put him next to tackle Amarius Mims, their 2024 first-round pick.

I’m struggling to find a spot I love for Mauigoa, but he shouldn’t go any later than No. 13 to the Rams where he could be a long-term starter for Sean McVay and crew.

2. OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia) – No. 11 Overall Prospect

Georgia has been a fairly reliable school to draft big men from in recent years. In fact, Broderick Jones (Steelers) is a former Bulldog who Monroe Freeling has been compared to. Freeling spent three years at Georgia after Jones left, and while he only has one year as a full-time starter, he has an elite combo of size (6’7”) and athleticism that will lead to a high draft pick.

He lacks experience, but with the right coaching, he can quickly become a good starter in the NFL.

Best Fit – Cleveland Browns (No. 6)

Just because Francis Mauigoa is favored to be the first lineman drafted doesn’t mean he will be. Freeling’s ability to play left tackle and athletic profile could make him a top 10 pick, and the Browns are a team that has had to reload its entire offensive line this offseason.

Their projected starter at left tackle is Dawand Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2023, so they can do better there. Freeling might end up being the best value on the board at No. 6 in this class.

3. OT Spencer Fano (Utah) – No. 12 Overall Prospect

You’re going to see that scouts think highly of the Utah offensive tackles, but the top-rated prospect is right tackle Spencer Fano, who also had plenty of snaps at left tackle too, succeeding at both. His athletic profile is as strong as any prospect in this class.

Between the versatility to play either side and his quickness, he’s right up there with Mauigoa and Freeling.

Best Fit – Los Angeles Rams (No. 13 Pick)

The Rams rarely pick this high or in the first round period, and they certainly haven’t been drafting linemen that high in the Sean McVay era. But when an opportunity presents itself, why not take it? Fano’s speed would make him ideal for a zone-heavy run game for McVay’s offense. This is the first fit I feel really good about for the offensive linemen.

If the Rams don’t take Fano, then the Ravens (No. 14) absolutely should consider it a pick later, especially with Ronnie Stanley’s durability issues. He’d be a nice fit in a run-heavy offense built around speed.

4. OG Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) – No. 16 Overall Prospect

Teams may be hesitant to go early on the interior linemen as they usually do to begin with, and this class is considered to have so much depth at guard and center that you could even find starters on Day 3 of the draft.

But the only top 40 prospect in the interior line this year is Penn State guard Olaivavega (“Vega”) Ioane. He played 44 games in four years where the run game was usually featured more than the pass. He’s considered to have prototypical build for a guard and a Day 1 starter.

Best Fit – Detroit Lions (No. 17 Pick)

Part of why the Detroit Lions fell off in 2025 was the offensive line got worse, especially the interior. With David Montgomery going to Houston and the running game losing their power back, they’re going to need even more push up front to make sure Jahmyr Gibbs has holes to hit with his speed.

I like the value at No. 17 for Detroit to go guard and take the best one in the class.

5. OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) – No. 21 Overall Prospect

What a massive human being as Kadyn Proctor is 6’7” and over 350 pounds. He’s a 3-year player from Alabama, which usually knows what it’s doing in developing NFL talent. But Proctor does need to up his technique and consistency to go with that size.

It’s also likely that he’ll need to play the right side or move to guard as he doesn’t have the quickness to handle the left tackle position. But there is (literally) a lot to work with here. He even took some Wildcat snaps:

Best Fit – San Francisco 49ers (No. 27 Pick)

Some reports say the Lions are in love with Proctor, and there has been talk of moving Penei Sewell to left tackle, which would free up a spot at right tackle. But I’m going to let him stay on the board a bit longer and go to the 49ers at No. 27.

San Francisco is dealing with Trent Williams’ age and contract, and they could use a new leader to build around the future of the offensive line. Proctor could be that guy.

6. OT Caleb Lomu (Utah) – No. 23 Overall Prospect

Yep, it’s possible Utah gets two tackles in the first round this year. They were a dominant rushing team, but left tackle Caleb Lomu has been praised more for his pass protection after starting the last two seasons:

Spencer Fano is the better Utah prospect because of his athleticism and versatility, but Lomu could be a nice pickup for a playoff-caliber team in the late first round who could use an upgrade at left tackle.

Best Fit – Chicago Bears (No. 25 Pick)

The Bears went with skill players in the first draft of the Ben Johnson era last season. I think at No. 25, Lomu would be great value, especially with second-year left tackle Ozzy Trapilo coming off a patellar tendon injury in the playoffs. Give Caleb Williams one of the best pass protectors in the draft.

7. OT Blake Miller (Clemson) – No. 28 Overall Prospect

Do you want a lot of game tape? Right tackle Blake Miller made 54 starts at Clemson in four years, so he’s a proven vet with good size (6’7”) and athletic stats for right tackle. He has some technique issues to clean up, but he’s going to put in that work and loves the game.

Best Fit – New England Patriots (No. 31 Pick)

We know the Patriots aren’t up to par on the offensive line yet, and Morgan Moses isn’t getting any younger at right tackle. Miller is someone they can slide in there like Campbell last year and hope he improves as the season goes on.

8. OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) – No. 36 Overall Prospect

We’re likely getting into high second-round picks now, but Max Iheanachor is freakishly athletic at 6’6” and over 320 pounds, and he wowed people at the Senior Bowl:

He was a latecomer to football, so there are some technique issues that will need to be cleaned up quickly. But with 32 games at Arizona State, he’s not a one-year wonder, and he could have one of the highest ceilings in this class.

Best Fit – Las Vegas Raiders (No. 36 Pick)

I think if you’re the Raiders and your plan is to go forward with Fernando Mendoza in a Kubiak offense, then you’ll want as many great athletes at offensive line as possible. Kolton Miller isn’t getting any younger, and they can upgrade at right tackle and guard. I’d give Iheanachor a shot high in the second round.

9. OG Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon) – No. 40 Overall Prospect

Emmanuel Pregnon is a bit longer in the tooth having spent five seasons in college with Wyoming (2021-22), USC (2023-24), and a part of that elite Oregon offense last season He has tackle experience but at 6’4”, he’s best suited for left guard in the NFL.

He’s also best suited for a run-heavy offense where he can start right away.

Best Fit – Houston Texans (No. 38 Pick)

The Houston Texans are a team in flux that needs to reconsider what exactly C.J. Stroud provides them at quarterback after another year of regression from his stellar rookie performance. But with reshuffling the line and bringing in David Montgomery from the Lions, this could be a spot to switch things up to a more run-based approach.

Pregnon would be a good fit with Montgomery in the backfield to accomplish that.

10. OG Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M) – No. 43 Overall Prospect

If you were hoping to see a top-ranked center, you’re out of luck. For what it’s worth, the consensus No. 1 center is Kansas State’s Sam Hecht, the No. 73 prospect who will likely go on Night 2.

But our 10th and final prospect is Texas A&M guard Chase Bisonits, who played 36 games in three years. He’s undersized but considered tough and an asset in the running game. But he’ll need to work on his pass pro technique to become an above-average NFL guard.

Best Fit – Detroit Lions (No. 50 Pick)

Some of the teams we mentioned above could be interested in Bisontis in the second round, including the Texans (No. 38), Browns (No. 39), and Bengals (No. 41).

But I’m also going back to an aforementioned team and giving Bisontis to the Lions. A tough guard for the running game. Exactly what they could use to get their edge back on offense.

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Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar07/04/2026 - 10:12 am