Top IOL - 2026 NFL Draft Preseason Watch List

John B. Everett
Aug 13
6 min read

Updated: Aug 15

The 2025 NFL Draft provided a deep and talented class of prospects that should provide several long-term NFL starters including Grey Zabel (Seattle), Donovan Jackson (Minnesota), Tyler Booker (Dallas), and Tate Ratledge (Detroit). The potential top center (OC) and guard (OG) prospects available next April may not be quite up to the level of the 2025 class but there are still several quality starting candidates and at least a dozen of prospects who figure to contribute in the NFL early in their careers. The 2026 NFL Draft looks to be especially loaded at the center position with several future starters at guard likely to declare for April’s draft.

Top of the Class

1. Ar’maj Reed-Adams (OG) / Texas A&M

Reed-Adams (6’5” / 330 lbs) enters the 2025 season as the top ranked IOL in the nation, per SNS, and he is a near unanimous pick as a preseason All-American. Reed-Adams is a dominating run blocker who fires out of his stance and gets consistent movement in the run game and displays enough athleticism to stay balanced and handle stunts, games, and blitzes like a pro. Reed-Adams looks likely to be a first round pick next spring.

2. Jaeden Roberts (OG) / Alabama

While watching film of Tyler Booker (Dallas’ first round pick) in preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft, the play of Roberts stood out nearly as much as Booker’s did. Roberts has ideal size (6’5” / 327 lbs), plays with excellent bend and moves exceedingly well for a man his size. Roberts is very strong and is dangerous pulling on running plays. Roberts still needs improvement in pass blocking technique but his talent is obvious and he is positioned for a long NFL career.

3. Olaivavega Ioane (OG) / Penn State

Ioane is a young player and is starting his second consecutive year at OLG for the Nittany Lions. Ioane possesses excellent size and length (6’4” / 330 lbs) for IOL play and he has light feet and excellent mobility. Ioane is a well-rounded OG who can get movement at the line of scrimmage (LOS) and is adept at picking up blitzers up the middle. Ioane could ascend to the top of this list and become a first-round pick next April with continued development in Happy Valley.

4. Cayden Green (OG) / Missouri

Green is entering his third year as the starter in Columbia. Green has locked down OLG and could gain first round consideration with another quality season, Green has the desired size and mass (6’5” / 324 lbs) for interior line play and is well-coached and intelligent. Green is very strong, plays with good awareness, and picks up stunts, games, and blitzes well. Green looks like an eventual NFL starter.

5. Logan Jones (OC) / Iowa

A prospect flying under the radar as we enter the 2025 season, Jones may not be the second coming of Tyler Linderbaum (Baltimore All Pro OC and former Iowa All-American) but he shares several qualities in common with him. Possesses adequate height (6’3”), frame, and length while lacking some desired size (295 lbs). Plays with natural leverage and a wide base. Very good balance. Very good athlete. Extremely twitched up at the snap. Technically proficient. Lack of strength can be exposed by a strong NT but his competitiveness and tenacity are consistent strengths. Works to the echo of the whistle and has a nasty mean streak.

6. Parker Brailsford (OC) / Alabama

Brailsford enters his second year as the starting center for the Crimson Tide and third overall after starting one year at Washington before following coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama when Nick Saban retired. Brailsford has an average frame (6’2”) and mass (290 lbs) with average length. Plays balanced with a wide base. Quick at the snap and typically initiates contact. Solid punch with good placement. Naturally athletic with light feet. Sinks hips well and anchors against the bull rush effectively despite lacking some desired girth for interior line work.

7. Jake Slaughter (OC) / Florida

Slaughter is coming off a breakout season in 2024 in Gainesville and could carry that momentum going forward into the 2025 season. Slaughter looks the part of an NFL center with the size (6’5”) and mass (303 lbs) desired in the middle of the LOS. Slaughter has the strength to handle a defensive tackle on his nose and has the feet and agility to slide, redirect, and handle quickness as well as power. Slaughter could be the first center drafted next spring.

Other Names to Monitor:

· Emmanuel Pregnon (OG) / Oregon. Pregnon transfers to Oregon from USC where he started at guard the previous two seasons. Pregnon has great size (6’5” / 318 lbs) and possesses natural strength and power. However, his balance is an issue since he spends too much time on the ground.

· Carson Hinzman (OC) / Ohio State. Hinzman has been in and out of the starting lineup, having started at center in 2023, benched in favor of transfer Seth McLaughlin for the 2024 season but started the last half of the year after McLaughlin suffered a season ending injury. Hinzman enters the 2025 season as the starter after elevating his level of play in OSU’s run to a national championship. Hinzman possesses good size (6’5” / 300 lbs) and plenty of experience to be a solid midround selection next April.

· Fernando Carmona (OG) / Arkansas. Carmona slides inside to guard after three seasons of starting outside at OLT (two seasons at San Jose State and last year in Fayetteville) and he gets a head start on the position shift he would likely be required to make in the NFL. Carmona possesses good size (6’5” / 325 lbs) and plays with a wide base, excellent balance, and natural leverage. Good punch placement although more shock is needed. Does not generate a lot of movement in the run game and needs to improve strength. Sometimes fails to move his feet and sustain blocks.

· Rocco Spindler (OG) / Nebraska. Son of former NFL defensive lineman Marc (Lions), Spindler started the last two seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to the Cornhuskers this year. Prototypical size – tall (6’5”), big frame, excellent mass (320 lbs), and good length. Plays with good bend and leverage and a wide base. Fundamentally solid and well-schooled – understands positioning and using the opponent’s momentum against him. Spindler looks like a solid mid to late round selection next spring.

· Nick Dawkins (OC) / Penn State. Dawkins has acceptable size (6’4” / 295 lbs) and brings years of experience to the center of Penn State’s offensive line this season. Dawkins, the son of NBA great Darryl (76ers), plays with a wide base and very good balance. Gets good fits at the second level on LBs and safeties. Punch placement and power needs development and he needs to improve his core strength to better withstand size lined up on his nose.

· Sterling Porcher / Vanderbilt. A former starter at Middle Tennessee State and Texas Tech, Porcher is being brought into Nashville to improve the protection around QB Diego Pavia. Porcher brings NFL size (6’4” / 315 lbs) and athleticism for an IOL. He possesses light feet and adjusts to movement easily. Needs to develop improved hand use to sustain blocks better – throws a punch but needs to replace quicker and keep fighting and not get too passive. Needs to improve his strength – more of a wall-off blocker than a people mover. Has a tendency to stop moving his feet and falls off some blocks as a result.

· Chase Bisontis (OG) / Texas A&M. Bisontis is entering his third season starting at guard for the Aggies after entering College Station as a blue-chip recruit. Bisontis has the size and frame desired inside (6’5” / 315 lbs) and makes up one of the potentially best offensive lines in the country. Bisontis needs to generate better movement at the LOS before he enters the NFL Draft.

· Josh Kreutz (OC) / Illinois. Kreutz is undersized lacking the desired height (6’2”), length, or mass (290 lbs). Son of former All-Pro center Ollin (Bears). Kreutz is technically proficient – sets low, engages hands, and drives legs. Works to sustain – battles and competes – plays with a nasty temperament. Can defeat superior size and power due to technique and proficiency but improving his core strength would increase his chances of making an NFL team next season.