Bird's Eye View - OT Position Report

John B. Everett
1 day ago
7 min read

The top of the OT class offers several potential plug and play starters as rookies, although there are more quality ORT prospects than the more coveted blind side protectors. Francis Mauigoa / Miami, Fl and Spencer Fano / Utah, both ORTs in college, are the best prospects in this year's draft class. Other top OT prospects in this year's class includes, Caleb Lomu / Utah, Kadyn Proctor / Alabama, Blake Miller / Clemson, Max Iheanachor / Arizona State, and Monroe Freeling / Georgia. All seven prospects grade out as potential first-round picks. Although there are several other potential starting NFL OTs in this class, the majority of other draft-worthy OT prospects are likely to slide inside and compete for a job at OG or OC, or grade out as backup OTs as pros.

Position Grade – B

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

Seven prospects – Francis Mauigoa / Miami, Fl, Spencer Fano / Utah, Caleb Lomu / Utah, Kadyn Proctor / Alabama, Blake Miller / Clemson, Max Iheanachor / Arizona State, Monroe Freeling / Georgia

Mauigoa – The best and safest pick amongst OTs in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mauigoa does not appear to have the feet or lateral agility to play OLT but is a physical mauler in the mode of Penei Sewell (Lions). Strong, technically sound, and plays with an ideal mean streak desired in OL. Looks like a lock as a top ten pick later this month.

Fano – Fano played ORT at Utah but appears to have the athleticism and lateral agility to play OLT in the NFL. Lacks ideal arm length for OT (32 & 1/8”) and may slide inside to OG in the NFL. Fano’s combination of leverage, strength, and technique makes him a potential ten-year starter in the NFL.

Lomu – The Utes starting OLT for the last two seasons, Lomu possesses the size and length (33 & 3/8” arms / 82 & ¾” wingspan) desired protecting the QB’s blind side. Lomu possesses excellent lateral agility and a strong punch and looks like a plug and play starter as a rookie.

Proctor – Proctor has freakish size and athleticism (6’6 & 5/8” / 352 lbs / 33 & 3/8” arms) and projects as a starting OLT as a rookie in the NFL. Proctor needs to refine his technique but has the strength and quickness to be developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber OLT.

Miller – The most experienced OT in the 2026 NFL Draft, Miller has started for four years and has over 50 career starts for the Tigers and looks like an immediate starter as a rookie in the NFL. Possesses excellent length (34 & ¼” arms / 83 & 7/8” wingspan) and has experience on both the left and right sides of the line. Miller is a well-coached technician who looks like a long-term NFL starting OT.

Iheanachor – One of the best run blocking OL in this draft, Iheanachor has desired size (6’5 & 7/8” / 321 lbs) and length (33 & 7/8” arms / 83 & ¼” wingspan) to start at ORT for the next decade. Iheanachor has the strength and run blocking chops to start immediately at ORT in the NFL.

Freeling – A freak athlete, Freeling’s combination of size (6’ 7 & ¾” / 315 lbs) and length (34 & ¾” arms / 84 & ½” wingspan), combined with his natural athleticism, give him the highest ceiling of any OL in this draft. Freeling’s lack of experience and raw technique need development but his size and athleticism make him a project worth developing.

Tier II

Nine prospects – Austin Barber / Florida, Caleb Tiernan / Northwestern, Gennings Dunker / Iowa, Keagan Trost / Missouri, Alan Herron / Maryland, Aamil Wagner / Notre Dame, Isaiah World / Oregon, Gunnar Hansen / Florida State, Nolan Rucci / Penn State

Barber – A multiyear starter at OLT with more than two dozen career starts, Barber has the combination of size, length, and athletic ability to be a starting caliber OLT early in his NFL career. Barber looks like a top 75 pick later this month.

Tiernan – Another experienced prospect, Tiernan has started at OLT for more than 30 games in Evanston and has the agility and athleticism to start on a QB’s blind side in the NFL. Tiernan has shorter than desired arms (32 & ¼”) and that may necessitate a move inside to OG in the NFL. Regardless, Tiernan is a future starter who should be a top 100 selection the last weekend in April.

Dunker – Dunker is a classic Iowa OL – big, strong, physical, and bruising OT with the nasty playing demeanor that OL coaches love. Dunker plays with an edge and is a fantastic run blocker. His NFL future may be inside at OG. Dunker looks like a top 100 selection in April’s draft.

Trost – Trost may lack the desired arm length to stay outside at OT (Missouri’s ORT last season), but his strength, effort, and playing style are NFL-ready. Trost looks like a future NFL starter and a potential top 120 selection in this month’s draft.

Herron – Herron’s combination of size, length, and power will play well in the NFL and his skill set and versatility make Herron a valuable back-up with the flexibility to play every position other than center on the OL. Herron looks like a top 120 pick in Pittsburgh later this month.

Wagner – Wagner should have returned to Notre Dame for another season to gain more valuable starting experience but chose to enter the draft. Wagner has ideal size and good enough athleticism to play OLT but is not quite ready to start in the NFL. Wagner is likely a top 100 selection in the draft.

World – World’s size and length are prototypical and he flashes moments where he looks like an NFL starting OT but needs to improve his consistency and iron out a few deficiencies. World is a likely fourth or fifth round pick on April 25^th.

Hansen – Hansen may not get drafted later this month but he has a few starter’s traits – solid twitch, natural leverage, and a mean streak – that should play well in the NFL. Hansen may sneak into the end of the seventh round but if he falls through the cracks, he will be a high priority UDFA.

Rucci – Rucci has extraordinary size and length (6081 / 310 lbs / 33 & 3/8” arms / 82 & ¼” wingspan) and is naturally powerful. His game is not fully developed but you can’t teach size, and Rucci looks like an NFL OT. Rucci should be a fourth-round pick in this month’s draft.

Tier III

Six prospects – Micah Pettus / Florida State, Jude Bowry / Boston College, Carver Willis / Washington, Drew Shelton / Penn State, Corey Robinson / Arkansas, Chris Adams / Memphis

Pettus – Pettus has premium size (6067 / 351 lbs) and has excellent length (34” arms / 83 & 7/8” wingspan). Pettus is powerful but does not bend well and may be an ORT candidate only in the NFL. Pettus looks like a possible late round draft pick due to his ideal size.

Bowry – Bowry has as much good film as bad but he has the size (6050 / 314 lbs) and length (33 & ¾”) to be developed by an NFL coaching staff. Bowry plays with excellent leverage but needs technical improvement. Bowry looks like a day three pick in Pittsburgh later this month.

Willis – A starter at Kansas State before transferring to Washington and starting at OLT, when healthy. Willis’ medical evaluation will influence his draft position but he has the athleticism to play in the NFL for years. Willis only has 32 & ½” arms and will likely slide inside in the NFL.

Shelton – Shelton has started more than two dozen games at OLT in State College and has the balance, technique, and lateral agility to play as a swing OT. Shelton is a late round draft possibility and will push for a roster spot this fall.

Robinson – The much-traveled senior (attended Kansas and Georgia Tech before Arkansas), has flashed NFL traits of balance, leverage, and lateral agility to be developed into an OLT or OG in the NFL. But Robinson has never been able to consistently employ his skills to the level of success he hinted at early in his career. Robinson is unlikely to get drafted but could be developed into a serviceable OL after a year or two on the practice squad.

Adams – Possesses the desired height, frame, and length with prototypical arm length and wingspan. Played last year at approximately 270 lbs but weighed in at 311 lbs at the combine. An open question remains on whether Adams can actually play at this weight while maintaining his agility and fluidity – his best NFL attributes. Adams is worth a mid-round pick, based on ability and upside and will likely be a late round pick in Pittsburgh later this month.

SNS

Stack ‘N Shed

YOUR Source for Everything NFL Draft

For football fans, fantasy pros, and bettors seeking the edge!

· Independent NFL Draft Insights

· Prospect Rankings & Mock Drafts

· Expert Analysis

· FREE Downloadable 2025 NFL Draft Results Spreadsheet included

· Exclusive ad-free content

NFL Draft Analysis Monthly Subscription

$2.99

Every Month