2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Tackle Overview

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Estimated Reading Time: 20 minutes

The 2025 college football season has just begun, but it’s never too early to break down prospects for next spring’s draft class.

PFF Lead NFL Draft Analyst Trevor Sikkema offers his breakdowns for 20 offensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Spencer Fano, Kadyn Proctor and Caleb Tiernan.

Zone Tackles

Spencer Fano, Utah

Strengths

• Plays with great pad level; consistently wins with leverage as the low man
• Consistent leverage helps yield an impactful leg drive as a run blocker
• Light on his feet in pass protection
• Vice grip hands
• Great core strength and body control to mirror rushers’ lateral moves
• Arm length is adequate to play tackle in the NFL
• Patient pass-blocking style; doesn’t fall for decoy hand and shoulder movements

Weaknesses

• Can overset with his kick slides; has the agility to usually recover
• Light on the scale for an NFL offensive lineman

Scouting Summary

Fano is a bit light on the scale for an NFL offensive lineman, but you won’t find many other drawbacks in his scouting report. He plays with great pad level and flexibility for excellent leg drive and impactful run-blocking results in any blocking scheme. His arm length appears adequate to play tackle with vice-grip hand strength and a patient pass-blocking style. He’s a scheme-versatile, starting-caliber offensive lineman with All-Pro potential.

Caleb Lomu, Utah

Strengths

• Looks like an NFL offensive tackle on every snap
• Adequate frame and arm length
• Good mover for zone-blocking schemes
• Finisher’s mentality
• Very good core strength and posture to hand-fight and remain in front of rushers
• Very good eyes for where the pressure is coming from
• Shows an understanding of when to snatch bull rushers

Weaknesses

• Hands can be a tad late to fire in and make initial contact
• Can miss on aiming points when flashing his hands
• Could stand to gain about 10 more pounds for strength and density

Scouting Summary

Lomu is green in experience but shows a very promising future in college and the NFL. He has the requisite size, though he is on the lighter side with average arm length. He is a flexible player, enabling him to get low in his stance with good power and low pad level. He has a strong leg drive and a finisher’s mentality in the run game. His kick slides cover good ground, and he showcases excellent balance and anticipation of where pressure is coming from. Lomu’s punch timing and aim need to be more consistent, but that is a trait he can learn. He shows the potential to be a starting offensive tackle with impact success as a zone blocker.

Blake Miller, Clemson

Strengths

• Really impressive movement skills; explosive, quick and balanced
• Hands are up and active but also patient
• Precise with his movements; constantly square to his defender
• High-intelligence player who is conscious of technique and angles
• Impressive core strength to maintain blocks
• Three straight seasons of starting experience

Weaknesses

• Lower weight does make him easier to move
• Lighter frame makes him susceptible to push-pull moves, even from lighter edge players

Scouting Summary

Miller is a smart, experienced offensive tackle prospect with an ideal baseline of flexibility and quickness. He is very quick off the ball with great posture and balance in pass protection. His hands are up, active and even patient, highlighting a very high football intelligence. He appears and plays light for the position, lacking the sand in his pants to anchor and strength in the lower half to displace defenders when run blocking. If he can gain weight and strength while maintaining his plus movement ability, he can start at the next level.

Austin Barber, Florida

Strengths

• Wide pre-snap stance gives him a powerful first step and good initial leverage
• Good hand technique to consistently get inside and gain control
• Consistent leg drive with good technique in the run game
• Very good all-around athlete

Weaknesses

• Could stand to get a bit stronger all around
• Must be able to maintain blocks for longer
• Nine total penalties (seven accepted, five were holding penalties) in 2024

Scouting Summary

Barber is a well-built offensive tackle prospect who is a smooth mover in all facets. He fits best in a zone-blocking scheme. His low, wide pre-snap stance shows off his natural flexibility, and his technique gives him consistent pad-level advantages. He shows effective technique as a run blocker with hand placement and leg drive, but he could stand to get stronger in that and other areas. On a similar note, he must be able to maintain his blocks longer.

Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern

Strengths

• Massive frame with plus length
• Good posture and balance for contact, especially at his size
• Smooth mover for a player of his size; successful on outside zone runs
• Confident in pass protection

Weaknesses

• Will naturally lose a lot of leverage battles
• Lacks displacement strength due to lost leverage

Scouting Summary

Tiernan brings alluring size to the offensive tackle position. At over 6-foot-7, he has an imposing build with plus length to smother pass-rushers. He is also patient and confident in pass protection with good posture and balance. He will naturally lose the leverage battle most of the time, and because of this, he can sometimes get overpowered, and his displacement push can lack impact. His value in pass protection is enough to garner top-100 talk.

Jude Bowry, Boston College

Strengths

• Very light on his feet in pass protection
• Natural flexibility to really sit down pre-snap
• Good anchor technique versus power
• Good enough athlete for mid and outside zone-blocking schemes

Weaknesses

• Arm length appears to be well below average for the NFL level
• Lack of arm length causes him to lean and get off balance when maintaining blocks
• Lighter-weight profile shows up when finishing blocks

Scouting Summary

Bowry is a good enough athlete to project to a zone-blocking scheme in the NFL. Whether it’s reach blocks on outside zone or pulling, he can generally get to where he needs to go. He shows good anchoring technique to get his hips through, hop his feet and neutralize speed-to-power bull rushes while at a lower weight. He does lack the standard arm length to play tackle at the NFL level, which could invite some talk of him kicking inside. His kick slides in pass protection are quick and balanced, but the lack of length and weight does show up.

Monroe Mills, Virginia

Strengths

• Big frame with long arms
• Decent first-step explosiveness for zone-blocking schemes
• Dictates contact with ease with his length

Weaknesses

• Narrow hips/base make it easier to cross his face
• Hands tend to aim high, which could cause some holding penalties due to his long arms

Scouting Summary

Entering his sixth season with his fourth different school, Mills is a true college football veteran. He remains a notable NFL prospect due to his size, specifically his length. His reach is a big plus, as his long arms allow him to push pass-rushers away from the quarterback, even if he’s a step behind. He has a decent first step for zone-blocking schemes. His hips and base are narrow, which does make it easier for defenders to cross his face and have success with redirection. That can also hinder his balance. If he can widen that base, he’ll have more consistent success against speed.

Isaiah World, Oregon

Strengths

• Aggressive and assertive style of tackle play
• Long arms to match the 6-foot-8 frame
• Good hand-fighting skills

Weaknesses

• Accrued 29 penalties from 2022-2024 (11 holding, four unnecessary roughness)
• Carries a good amount of weight in his midsection
• Tends to let up early before the whistle
• Doesn’t always play with his feet underneath him

Scouting Summary

World has the height and length combination that NFL teams would like to see on an offensive tackle scouting report. He has a lot of starting experience from his time at Nevada and will get one more year to prove his talent against better competition at Oregon. While he has the frame, his game needs refinement. He moves well and has quick hands, but he seems a bit out of control at times. His feet aren’t always underneath him for balance and power, and he was called for 29 penalties from 2022-2023. He has the traits but needs more consistency.

Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame

Strengths

• Very long arms match his 6-foot-6 frame
• Good first step forward for reach and zone blocks
• Has gained more than 30 pounds since arriving on campus (could gain even more)

Weaknesses

• Still doesn’t look comfortable at his bigger weight
• High-waisted build makes it tough for him to get his butt down in a three-point stance
• Feet can look heavy in pass protection

Scouting Summary

Wagner has an ideal physical baseline at 6-foot-6 with a massive wingspan and a basketball background. He can dictate contact with his long arms and has a good first step forward when run-blocking on zone-blocking concepts. He’s gained more than 30 pounds since his days as a recruit, and he still doesn’t look quite comfortable around 300 pounds. His feet are heavy in pass protection at that weight, yet it feels like he still needs to put on some more muscle for strength and balance.

Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Strengths

• Big frame that looks NFL-ready
• Light on his feet with fast lower-body movements, especially for his size
• Thrives on the move as a puller and in zone-blocking schemes
• Wide base with dancer’s feet in pass protection to mirror cross-body moves
• Good effort player

Weaknesses

• High-waisted build can get his weight a little top-heavy/on his toes for imbalance
• Dips his head when he really wants to push someone; he has some whiffs lining up in space due to this
• Three false starts in 2024 (afraid he’ll get beaten by speed on the outside)
• Fails to anchor due to a lack of leverage and pad level in his technique

Scouting Summary

Iheanachor came from the JUCO route and has worked his way into a starting tackle role for Arizona State. The 2025 campaign will be his second season as a full-time starter at right tackle. He has an adequate NFL frame to play tackle in the NFL. He possesses fast feet and is a good athlete, which lends itself to success as an outside zone blocker. In pass protection, his feet are quick to mirror cross-body moves, but he must translate that into protecting his outside shoulder better. He also seems to struggle with power, specifically due to a lack of natural leverage and an imbalance where his weight can be too much on his toes. Playing lower and more balanced will also help him become a more well-balanced run blocker.

Trevor Goosby, Texas

Strengths

• Long frame with adequate length to play tackle in the NFL
• Gained more than 30 pounds since his recruiting days
• Can tell he’s really working on being consistent with inside hands
• Good baseline for technique in his pass protection kick slides

Weaknesses

• Needs more weight in the lower half to anchor and just handle power better
• Movements can feel robotic (lack of snaps is likely the main reason why)
• Must play with more power
• Hands can land wide in pass protection
• Feet aren’t always underneath where his weight is going

Scouting Summary

Goosby is very green on experience, and because of this, his game lacks refinement and anticipation. The good news is he’s built like an NFL offensive tackle. He must gain more weight and power, especially in the lower half. The rest of his game can improve with snaps as a full-time starter.

Man/Gap Tackles

Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Strengths

• Big, thick body adequate for playing offensive line in the NFL
• Keeps weight on his inside foot to be ready for inside counters
• Doesn’t mind being the one to dictate contact with a strong long arm
• Arm length appears adequate for offensive tackle play
• Wide base and footwork with a strong anchor to neutralize bull rushes

Weaknesses

• Weight can be a little too on his toes with lunges and leg drives
• Just needs to improve his anticipation of where rushers are coming from and where his help is located

Scouting Summary

Mauigoa is a strong and sturdy offensive tackle prospect with a lot to like. He doesn’t shy away from taking the fight to pass-rushers and dictating contact to throw them off their timing. He keeps his weight on his inside foot when kick sliding to neutralize inside moves. He plays with a good motor through the whistle. He appears to have adequate arm length to stick at tackle. With his thick lower body, he can be a people mover in the run game. His weight can be a bit too heavily on his toes, and an imbalance moving forward seems to be the root of many of his negatively graded plays. Mauigoa presents the size and skills for a starting offensive tackle in a man- or gap-blocking scheme.

Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Strengths

• Behemoth frame naturally makes him tough to get around or through
• Well-distributed weight
• Light on his toes in pass protection despite his larger size
• Good balance and core strength to lift pass-rushers’ power and anchor
• Imposing upper-body power
• Good hand technique (up and at the ready) before and after initial punch

Weaknesses

• Naturally tougher to cover a lot of ground given his overall size
• Can struggle to shift his power and feet against stunts
• Arm length could be on the shorter side; some will want to move him to guard

Scouting Summary

Proctor is a super-sized offensive lineman, even for the NFL’s standards, with a skill set perfect for a man- or gap-blocking scheme. He tips the scale in total weight yet has good weight distribution in his upper and lower halves. He is lighter on his feet than expected, but changing direction to handle cross-face moves is a challenge. He has imposing strength and is very difficult to get through. His arm length appears shorter for the tackle position, which will naturally bring conversation of a move inside to guard.

Charles Jagusah, Notre Dame

Strengths

• Built the way you want a starting NFL offensive tackle to be built; large frame, filled out well and not much unnecessary weight
• Limited starting snaps but already shows good posture and flexibility to play low
• Anchors well against long arms and bull rushes
• Natural, fluid body control to mirror pass-rushers well
• Excellent core strength from his wrestling days
• Great body control presents good recovery ability

Weaknesses

• Arm length appears average or below average for the NFL
• Would love to see him play with a bit more of a mean streak

Scouting Summary

Despite subpar arm length, Jagusah looks the part of a starting NFL offensive lineman. He is limited in experience but is oozing with talent. His wrestling background (undefeated state champion) gives him elite body control and core strength. This benefits his posture, anchoring power and recovery ability if beaten by a rush move. He can mirror rushers with a wide base and plus footwork. He has an injury history (torn pectoral muscle, broken arm) that has kept him from getting valuable starter reps. If he plays more of those snaps, we could see him blossom into a top-50 type of player.

Kage Casey, Boise State

Strengths

• Solid all-around athlete for man or gap scheme
• Consistent inside hand placement for initial control
• Quick off the ball for reach blocks and inside zone runs
• Good leg drive for a high positively graded run play percentage
• Zero holding penalties in two years as a starter

Weaknesses

• Posture can be a bit hunched over, which makes it tougher to maintain blocks and stay balanced
• Can look uncomfortable in true pass protection situations; weight too far on his heels, and he doesn’t cover enough ground with his kick slides
• Must maintain blocks for longer
• Strong leg drive but can sometimes show a lack of weight when anchoring

Scouting Summary

Casey brings a good mentality, technique and success rate as a run blocker in a man- or gap run-blocking scheme. He has a good, consistent leg drive to displace defenders due to good pad level and consistent inside hand placement. He does lack top-level strength for the next level and fails to maintain blocks at times because of it. He is much less comfortable and confident in pass protection. His hunched-over posture creates imbalanced weight, and his kick slides don’t cover enough ground, which creates a bit of occasional panic. He must improve in that area to be dependable.

Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Strengths

• Adequate overall size and length to play tackle in the league
• Good posture to get leverage and power in run blocking
• Good baseline of strength and technique for downhill run blocking
• Natural enough of an athlete for pulling and blocking in space

Weaknesses

• Needs to anticipate moves to the inside shoulder better (bad misses)
• Strike timing and placement need refinement (can easily come with more snaps)
• Feet can be a bit narrow, making him top-heavy and imbalanced in pass protection

Scouting Summary

Freeling has the body type of a future NFL offensive tackle — the question is what degree of playing time he’ll get in the league. He’s still a young and ascending player, and even in limited time, he has shown a good baseline for run blocking with good posture and technique to take defenders for a ride, especially in a downhill man or gap run-blocking scheme. He has good length and has plus moments in pass protection, but ultimately he lacks anticipation and timing for consistent success in that area. More pass-protection refinement is needed for a potential starting role.

Elijah Pritchett, Nebraska

Strengths

• Built very well for an NFL offensive tackle; athletic frame at 310 pounds
• Low, flexible pre-snap stance converts into a good first step
• Covers a lot of ground with his kick slides in pass protection
• Coordinated as a puller

Weaknesses

• Too much reacting and not enough anticipating as an underclassman
• Plays on the ground far too much
• Plays too off-balance and on his toes
• Aiming points for strikes can be inconsistent and ineffective

Scouting Summary

Pritchett is an alluring prospect because you just can’t teach his type of athletic frame and build at 310 pounds. However, right now, he remains an “in theory” type of offensive tackle. He reacts far more than he anticipates, which exposes some imbalance issues and shows him playing on the ground too often. He is coordinated and a good blocker as a puller. He seems to do his best work in man or gap run-blocking schemes. His pass protection numbers were very low as an underclassman, and he must improve his pressure percentage at Nebraska to consider leaping to the NFL in 2026.

Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M

Strengths

• Checks all the size boxes to play tackle at the NFL level
• Length is a plus
• Shows some quick footwork for his size at times (basketball and tight end background)

Weaknesses

• High-waisted build; struggles to get his butt down in a three-point stance
• Hand placement can be late and off target, leading to penalties
• Lack of bend and flexibility lets rushers under his arms in pass protection
• Kick slide speed looks below-average for the NFL

Scouting Summary

Crownover is a former tight end who put on some weight after a redshirt season and made the move to offensive tackle. His overall size and length are adequate for the NFL level, and his long arms are what he builds his pass-protection success around. He does seem to have flexibility limitations, as getting in a three-point stance can look like a chore. He tends to let speed rushers get under his arms around the edge. He’ll need to find a good weight where he moves and bends a bit better to make the most of his NFL size.

Nolan Rucci, Penn State

Strengths

• Massive, NFL-caliber frame to play offensive tackle
• Wide, low base pre-snap
• Hand placement and strike timing are generally reliable

Weaknesses

• Appears to be a low-percentile athlete in lateral and linear movements
• Feet are slow and heavy when mirroring and staying in front of rushers
• Very tough for him to reach block and get to his landmarks on outside zone runs

Scouting Summary

Rucci has an NFL frame for an offensive tackle but appears to lack the overall athleticism to match. His feet look heavy and slow, which makes it tough for him to pivot and mirror rushers who move from inside to outside and vice versa. His pre-snap base is wide and low, which does give him somewhat of an advantage off the snap, as he is tough to get around. His lack of explosiveness likely limits him to downhill man or gap run-blocking offenses.

Riley Mahlman, Wisconsin

Strengths

• Massive frame that is tough to go around or through
• Decently light on his feet for his size
• Up and active hands
• Good awareness of pressure; doesn’t have to be looking directly at it to feel it

Weaknesses

• Very upright playing stance; imposing but negatively impacts power and balance
• Long first step but likely lacks the overall athleticism for consistent mid and outside zone success
• Slow-twitch mover, even for his size

Scouting Summary

Mahlman is a massive tackle prospect who checks the height, weight and length boxes for the NFL. He’s tough to get around and through, and his body type and skill set work best for a downhill man- or gap-blocking scheme. His first step is long, but overall, he seems to lack the athleticism needed for consistent zone-blocking success. His lack of suddenness also could spell trouble versus NFL speed rushers.

This news was originally published on this post .

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