Bird's Eye View - IOL Position Report
- John B. Everett
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
The 2026 IOL class is not loaded with a ton of future starters but the top of the class offers about a dozen potential starters at the top of the board. The best IOL in this class is Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane, perhaps the most complete OL prospect in this draft. Other top prospects include guards Emmanuel Pregnon / Oregon, Keylan Rutledge / Georgia Tech, Chase Bisontis / Texas A&M, Beau Stephens / Iowa, and Jalen Farmer / Kentucky. The center class is loaded with potential starters including Jake Slaughter / Florida, Sam Hecht / Kansas State, Logan Jones / Iowa, and Connor Lew / Auburn. Although none of these centers grade out as first-round picks, all of these centers are likely to hear the name called in the second and third rounds on April 24th. |
Position Grade – C+ |
SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.
*Measurements are taken by 1/8ths. Example: 6004 is 6 feet and ½”
Tier I
One prospect – Olaivavega Ioane / OG / Penn State
Possibly the most complete OL in the 2026 NFL Draft, Ioane combines desired size with power and a rare blend of athleticism and agility for an IOL. He projects as an instant impact starter and a potential top ten pick later this month. Ioane should become a perennial Pro Bowler who can handle both power and quickness well. Ioane is the definition of “high floor-high ceiling” NFL prospect that is unlikely to be a bust in the NFL.
Tier II
Eleven prospects – Emmanuel Pregnon / OG / Oregon, Keylan Rutledge / OG / Georgia Tech, Jake Slaughter / OC / Florida, Chase Bisontis / OG / Texas A&M, Beau Stephens / OG / Iowa, Sam Hecht / OC / Kansas State, Jalen Farmer / OG / Kentucky, Logan Jones / OC / Iowa, Parker Brailsford / OC / Alabama, Ar’maj Reed-Adams / OG / Texas A&M, Connor Lew / OC / Auburn
Pregnon – The most powerful IOL in the 2026 NFL Draft, Pregnon has some balance issues and is on the ground too much but throws a powerful punch and consistently creates movement in the run game. Pregnon is a top 50 pick with immediate starting potential in the NFL.
Rutledge – Normally, the hardest thing to assess in an OL prospect is whether or not he has the desired tenacity and nasty demeanor needed in a starter. But when it comes to Rutledge, that mean streak is ever present and obvious – OL coaches will love him. Rutledge is an immediate starter and likely top 50 pick later this month.
Slaughter – Slaughter profiles as an immediate starter in the NFL due to his size (6044 / 305 lbs), length (32 & ¾” arms) and technical proficiency. Slaughter lacks a little desired strength and power but plays with leverage, quickness, and great hand use to be develop into a Pro Bowler within the next few seasons.
Bisontis – Despite lacking desired arm length and wingspan (31 & ¾” arms / 78 & 7/8” wingspan), Bisontis is a rock-solid technician who plays with a wide base and very good bend and handles both speed and power well. Bisontis could become an immediate starter and should be a top 75 selection in Pittsburgh later this month.
Stephens – Stephens is a classic, old-school Iowa OL who is physical and tough and works until the echo of the whistle. Stephens has some balance issues but plays with a nasty edge and loves engaging with the DL in hand-to-hand combat. Stephens should be a top 100 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hecht – Hecht is a smart and experienced center with the size, strength, and lateral agility to become a plug and play starter as a rookie. Hecht’s combination of strength and agility fits the prototype for an NFL center. Hecht is a likely top 100 pick in the upcoming draft.
Farmer – Farmer has a great build for an NFL IOL – 6047 / 322 lbs / 34 & ¼” arms – and plays with outstanding bend and balance. Farmer has great movement skills with the agility to clean up out wide or at the second level. Farmer should be an immediate contributor and a starter in the NFL in the next season or two. Farmer should be a third or fourth round pick later this month.
Jones – Jones displayed the athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine that he showed on the field in Iowa City over the last two seasons – ran a blazing 4.90 40 / 1.75 10-yard split in Indianapolis in February – and looks like an eventual starting center in the NFL. Jones will not fit every NFL system but he is a smart and experienced technician whose traits make him a likely starting center in the NFL. Jones looks like a fourth or fifth round pick in the upcoming draft.
Brailsford – Brailsford is an undersized center (6017 / 289 lbs) whose lack of size will have him removed from some team’s draft boards. But Brailsford is a technician who plays with excellent leverage and has the mobility that will interest every zone blocking team. Brailsford could become an eventual starter and looks like a fourth or fifth round pick in April’s draft.
Reed-Adams – Reed-Adams has rare size for an IOL (6060 / 314 lbs / 34 & ¾” arms) and the experience and durability to project as a long-term NFL player. Reed-Adams strength and agility will make him a versatile backup with starting potential in the next few seasons. Reed-Adams is a likely fifth or sixth round draft pick this month.
Lew – Lew tore his ACL against Missouri on October 18th and missed the rest of the season and was unable to participate in the postseason all-star games, NFL Scouting Combine, and pro days and may not be available until mid-season next fall. But Lew displayed the balance, agility, and intelligence to become a starter in the NFL within the next few seasons. Lew looks like a fifth or sixth round pick the last weekend of April.
Tier III
Ten prospects – Evan Beernsten / OG / Northwestern, Jager Burton / OC / Kentucky, Billy Schrauth / Notre Dame, Fernando Carmona / OG / Arkansas, Brian Parker / OC / Duke, Anez Cooper / OG / Miami, Fl, Trey Zuhn / OC / Texas A&M, DJ Campbell / OG / Texas, Caden Barnett / OG / Wyoming, Micah Morris / OG / Georgia
Beernsten – Beernsten is a technician who plays with good bend and balance who is a smart and savvy player. Although not the most physically impressive prospect in this draft, Beernsten is durable and profiles as a quality NFL reserve OL. Beernsten is a likely sixth or seventh round selection later this month.
Burton – Coming off a break through season in Lexington, Burton is an ascending OC prospect with a combination of size (6037 / 311 lbs / 32 & ¾” arms) and athleticism (4.94 40 / 1.76 10-yard split / 28” vertical jump) to project to starting within the next few years. Burton is a likely fourth round pick in the coming draft.
Schrauth – Schrauth is an incredibly tough player with a tremendous pain threshold - left USC game with a knee injury but returned at the start of the second half but then left the game after re-aggravating his injury in the 4th quarter. Schrauth’s medical evaluation will be key in determining his NFL future since he missed the end of the season due to that knee injury. Schrauth is likely to get drafted but if he falls through the draft, he will be a high priority UDFA.
Carmona – Carmona has experience at OLT and OG and has the size (6044 / 316 lbs / 32 & 1/8” arms) and experience to be a reserve OL in the NFL. Carmona’s versatility should earn him a late round draft pick on April 25th.
Parker – A former OT at Duke, Parker returns to his high school position of center as an NFL prospect due to shorter than desired arm length (32 & 1/8”) for playing outside at OT. Parker has great lateral agility for an IOL and looks like an eventual starter, after an adjustment period, in the NFL. Parker looks like a fourth-round pick later this month.
Cooper – Cooper possesses ideal size and length (6060 / 334 lbs / 34” arms) and is coming off the best season of his career last season in Coral Gables. Cooper is a physical mauler with natural power but has some difficulty dealing with quickness and agility. Cooper profiles as a reserve IOL with upside to be developed into a starter in a man blocking scheme. Cooper should be a late round pick.
Zuhn – A former starting OLT in College Station, Zuhn lacks the desired arm length (32 & ½”) to project as an OT and is likely to slide inside and play OC in the NFL. Zuhn took significant reps at center last year as an Aggie and displayed enough skill to project there in the NFL. Zuhn looks like a fourth or fifth round pick on April 25th.
Campbell – Campbell has great length (34 & ¼” arms) and has flashed some dominating games in his career in Austin but has disappeared at other times and consistency has been an issue. If Campbell responds well to NFL coaching, he has starting potential. Campbell is a likely a fifth-round pick on the last Saturday in April.
Barnett – Although Barnett needs technique development, his raw skills are intriguing. Barnett has enough length (32 & 1/8” arms) to man a spot on the inside with the strength, toughness, and temperament to become an eventual starter in the NFL. Barnett is a likely late day three pick later this month in Pittsburgh.
Morris – Morris has fantastic size and length (6052 / 334 lbs / 33 & 3/8” arms / 83 & 1/8” wingspan) and may be moved to ORT to take advantage of his size. Morris is very strong and when he plays with good pad level, a tremendous run blocker. Morris could go as high as the third-round on the last weekend of April in Pittsburgh.
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