NFL
By Bill Carroll
Tiers and Scouting Profiles
Note: This is a preliminary ranking built from a 2026 tape study, with an emphasis on pass-protection tools, run-game value, technical readiness, positional projection, and risk.
Ranking Snapshot
| Rank | Prospect | School | Height | Weight | Projection |
| 1 | Trevor Goosby | Texas | 6’7″ | 312 lbs. | Early Round 1 |
| 2 | Jordan Seaton | LSU | 6’5″ | 310 lbs. | Early Round 1 |
| 3 | Cayden Green | Missouri | 6’5″ | 324 lbs. | Round 1-2 |
| 4 | Carter Smith | Indiana | 6’5″ | 308 lbs. | Late Round 1-Round 2 |
| 5 | Trevor Lauck | Iowa | 6’5″ | 310 lbs. | Round 2 |
| 6 | Austin Siereveld | Ohio State | 6’5″ | 325 lbs. | Round 2 |
| 7 | Andrew Sprague | Michigan | 6’8″ | 315 lbs. | Round 2 |
| 8 | PJ Williams | SMU | 6’5″ | 313 lbs. | Round 3 |
| 9 | Anthonie Knapp | Notre Dame | 6’4″ | 296 lbs. | Round 2-3 |
| 10 | Jacarrius Peak | South Carolina | 6’4″ | 298 lbs. | Round 3 |
| 11 | Melvin Siani | Texas | 6’6″ | 302 lbs. | Round 3 |
| 12 | Lance Heard | Kentucky | 6’6″ | 330 lbs. | Round 3 |
| 13 | Niki Prongos | Stanford | 6’7″ | 310 lbs. | Round 3 |
| 14 | Jacob Ponton | Texas Tech | 6’8″ | 305 lbs. | Round 3 |
| 15 | Drew Azzopardi | Washington | 6’7″ | 315 lbs. | Round 3-4 |
| 16 | Earnest Greene III | Georgia | 6’4″ | 320 lbs. | Round 3-4 |
| 17 | Blake Frazier | Michigan | 6’6″ | 295 lbs. | Day 3-UDFA |
| 18 | Xavier Chaplin | Florida State | 6’7″ | 348 lbs. | Day 3 |
| 19 | Howard Sampson | Texas Tech | 6’8″ | 324 lbs. | Day 3 |
| 20 | Phillip Daniels | Ohio State | 6’5″ | 315 lbs. | Day 3 |
| 21 | Desmeal Leigh | Youngstown State | 6’6½” | 329 lbs. | Day 3 |
| 22 | John Pastore | Kansas State | 6’6″ | 302 lbs. | Day 3-UDFA |
| 23 | Elijah Paige | USC | 6’7″ | 325 lbs. | Day 3 |
| 24 | Elijah Pritchett | Nebraska | 6’6″ | 325 lbs. | Day 3 |
| 25 | Tree Babalade | Nebraska | 6’5″ | 330 lbs. | Day 3-UDFA |
Tier 1: Premium Tackle Prospects (1-5)
1. Trevor Goosby – Texas
OT | 6’7″ | 312 lbs. | Projected: Early Round 1
Profile: Elite movement skills at rare tackle length. His feet, range, and recovery ability give him the tools to protect the blindside and reach difficult landmarks in the run game.
Best Traits: Athletic pass sets; lateral range; length; second-level blocking.
Concerns: Must continue adding functional power and prove he can consistently anchor against NFL-caliber bull rushers.
2. Jordan Seaton – LSU
OT | 6’5″ | 310 lbs. | Projected: Early Round 1
Profile: A gifted young left tackle with advanced balance and recovery talent. Seaton plays with the athletic profile of a premium pass protector and has the movement skills to fit any blocking system.
Best Traits: Foot quickness; body control; recovery athleticism; scheme versatility.
Concerns: Still developing hand timing, leverage, and play-to-play technical consistency.
3. Cayden Green – Missouri
OT | 6’5″ | 324 lbs. | Projected: Round 1-2
Profile: A broad, powerful tackle with the mass and lower-body strength to create displacement. Green offers a compelling blend of starting experience, positional flexibility, and NFL-ready size.
Best Traits: Power; anchor; heavy hands; inside-outside versatility.
Concerns: Can over-set, allow rushers into his chest; needs cleaner balance against speed counters.
4. Carter Smith – Indiana
OT | 6’5″ | 308 lbs. | Projected: Late Round 1- Round 2
Profile: A polished, battle-tested blocker whose resume and temperament fit an early NFL role. Smith wins with positioning, patience, and competitive toughness more than rare physical traits.
Best Traits: Technique; awareness; toughness; dependable pass protection.
Concerns: Average recovery burst and only adequate length may narrow his margin for error and pigeonhole him at RT.
5. Trevor Lauck – Iowa
OT | 6’5″ | 310 lbs. | Projected: Round 2
Profile: A technically sound Iowa tackle with calm feet and a veteran approach to pass protection. Lauck rarely panics, is balanced, and understands how to use angles to stay engaged.
Best Traits: Pass-set discipline; balance; hand placement; football intelligence.
Concerns: Needs more knock-back power and can be stressed by elite edge speed.
Tier 2: Early Starter Candidates (6-10)
6. Austin Siereveld – Ohio State
OT | 6’5″ | 325 lbs. | Projection: Round 2
Profile: A forceful run blocker with the frame and demeanor to set a hard edge. Siereveld brings guard-like power to the tackle and can move defenders when his pads and hands meet.
Best Traits: Run-game power; grip strength; mass; finishing temperament.
Concerns: Lateral quickness and recovery range require close evaluation against speed rushers.
7. Andrew Sprague*- Michigan
OT | 6’8″ | 315 lbs. | Projected: Round 2
Profile: A mammoth right tackle with impressive developmental upside. Sprague uses his reach to widen the pocket and has enough movement skill to climb or execute Michigan-style gap concepts.
Best Traits: Length, frame, reach, developmental ceiling.
Concerns: Pad level naturally rises; must improve leverage, hand reset placement, and speed.
8. PJ Williams – SMU
OT | 6’5″ | 313 lbs. | Projected: Round 3
Profile: An experienced right tackle who is now on the left side, with the size, toughness, and steady temperament to compete early. Williams is comfortable in vertical sets and plays with enough power to hold his ground.
Best Traits: Experience; anchor; competitive toughness; assignment reliability and versatility.
Concerns: Athletic ceiling appears more solid than special; counters can expose late hands.
9. Anthonie Knapp*- Notre Dame
OT | 6’4″ | 296 lbs. | Projected: Round 2-3
Profile: A mobile, technically advanced blocker who handles demanding left-tackle responsibilities despite a lighter frame. Knapp wins with feet, angles, and competitive recovery.
Best Traits: Movement skills; pass-set efficiency; awareness; toughness.
Concerns: Below-average mass and length; may struggle to generate power; NFL projection questions.
10. Jacarrius Peak – South Carolina
OT | 6’4″ | 298 lbs. | Projected: Round 3
Profile: A nimble athlete whose movement ability immediately stands out. Peak can mirror in space, redirect smoothly, and reach defenders many tackles cannot touch.
Best Traits: Athleticism; mirror quickness; range; upside in zone schemes.
Concerns: Needs more core and upper-back muscle, hand strength, and technical refinement to handle NFL power.
Tier 3: Day 2 Traits and Development (11-15)
11. Melvin Siani – Texas
OT | 6’6″ | 302 lbs. | Projected: Round 3
Profile: A long-framed developmental tackle with the foot speed and natural reach to remain outside. Siani projects best in a system that emphasizes space blocking and patient pass sets.
Best Traits: Length; movement skills; frame; developmental upside.
Concerns: Lower-body girth and power, anchor consistency, and starting experience remain key questions.
12. Lance Heard – Kentucky
OT | 6’6″ | 330 lbs. | Projected: Round 3
Profile: A massive edge blocker with rare violence and natural power. Heard erases movement at the point of attack and collapses the edge when his technique is coordinated.
Best Traits: Mass; raw power; anchor; displacement ability.
Concerns: Weight distribution, foot quickness, and conditioning can lead to uneven reps and a possible OG projection.
13. Niki Prongos – Stanford
OT | 6’7″ | 310 lbs. | Projected: Round 3
Profile: A long, ascending prospect with an unusual developmental path and intriguing movement ability. Prongos has the frame to engulf rushers and flashes patience in protection.
Best Traits: Length; trajectory; competitiveness; pass-protection upside.
Concerns: Limited experience shows in hand usage, leverage, and recognition against games.
14. Jacob Ponton – Texas Tech
OT | 6’8″ | 305 lbs. | Projected: Round 3
Profile: A true skyscraper with reach that changes the geometry of the pocket. Ponton can force rushers to take long paths and has enough athletic ability to develop as a swing tackle.
Best Traits: Elite height and reach; pocket width; experience; upside.
Concerns: High pad level and a narrow base can compromise leverage and anchor.
15. Drew Azzopardi – Washington
OT | 6’7″ | 315 lbs. | Projected: Round 3-4
Profile: A large-framed tackle with flashes of starter-level length and power. At his best, Azzopardi stays square, lands first, and controls the pass-rusher with his reach.
Best Traits: Frame length; initial punch; run-game potential.
Concerns: Consistency declined across difficult stretches; can overextend; balance, base fundamentals, and recovery techniques need refinement.
Tier 4: Developmental Contributors (16-20)
16. Earnest Greene III – Georgia
OT | 6’4″ | 320 lbs. | Projected: Round 3-4
Profile: A powerful, experienced SEC blocker with tackle-guard flexibility. Greene plays with natural mass and can create movement, particularly when working downhill or on double teams.
Best Traits: Power, experience, versatility, sturdy base.
Concerns: Medical durability and change of direction may project more cleanly inside.
17. Blake Frazier – Michigan
OT | 6’6″ | 295 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: A young, athletic tackle with the lineage, frame, and foot quickness to develop. Frazier flashes the ability to stay in phase but remains early in his physical maturation.
Best Traits: Feet; length; upside; scheme versatility.
Concerns: Needs more strength, mass, snap-to-snap consistency, and pass-set polish.
18. Xavier Chaplin – Florida State
OT | 6’7″ | 348 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: The largest blocker in the group, Chaplin offers outstanding mass and starting experience. When balanced, he creates a difficult path through or around his frame.
Best Traits: Exceptional size; anchor; experience; edge mass.
Concerns: Pad-level, range, conditioning, and recovery speed are limiting factors against wide alignments.
19. Howard Sampson – Texas Tech
OT | 6’8″ | 324 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: A developmental tackle with the mass and length to disrupt rush plans at contact. Sampson has the physical profile teams bet on and can generate movement once engaged.
Best Traits: Length; mass; upside; power potential.
Concerns: Technique, pad level, and change-of-direction quickness require substantial sharpening.
20. Phillip Daniels – Ohio State
OT | 6’5″ | 315 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: A sturdy, competitive tackle with enough power and size to compete for a swing role. Daniels works best when he can set up vertically, stay square, and use his mass.
Best Traits: Size; anchor; competitiveness; developmental versatility.
Concerns: Consistency in foot speed, independent hand use, and recovery balance.
Tier 5: Late-Round and Priority-Free-Agent Targets (21-25)
21. Desmeal Leigh – Youngstown State
OT | 6’6½” | 329 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: An imposing small school tackle with NFL dimensions and developmental traits. Leigh can overwhelm lower-level opponents and offers a long runway for coaching.
Best Traits: Size; length; power; developmental ceiling.
Concerns: Competition level, technique, and pass-set consistency require careful projection.
22. John Pastore – Kansas State
OT | 6’6″ | 302 lbs. | Projected: Day 3-UDFA
Profile: A lean, functional tackle whose game is built on positioning and effort. Pastore profiles as a developmental swing blocker with room to add strength.
Best Traits: Length; effort; movement; positional value.
Concerns: Must improve anchor, power, and ability to finish against strong defenders.
23. Elijah Paige – USC
OT | 6’7″ | 325 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: A long, well-proportioned left tackle with clean flashes in pass protection. Paige has starter-caliber dimensions and can stay attached as long as his base remains controlled.
Best Traits: Length; frame; pass-protection flashes; upside.
Concerns: Availability and consistency are central concerns; the recovery technique needs strengthening.
24. Elijah Pritchett – Nebraska
OT | 6’6″ | 325 lbs. | Projected: Day 3
Profile: A former high-end recruit with premium dimensions and natural tools. Pritchett generates force on contact, and his athletic ability warrants continued development at tackle.
Best Traits: Frame; pedigree; power; physical upside.
Concerns: Technique, consistency, and reaction to counters have not yet matched the traits.
25. Tree Babalade – Nebraska
OT | 6’5″ | 330 lbs. | Projected: Day 3-UDFA
Profile: A thick, powerful right-tackle prospect who brings real mass to the edge. Babalade can absorb contact and displace defenders when his feet and hands stay synchronized.
Best Traits: Mass; power; anchor; run-blocking potential.
Concerns: Limited film, lateral recovery, and conditioning create projection risk.
Scouting Priorities for the 2026 OT Class
- Track true pressure responsibility rather than relying only on sacks allowed.
- Find ways to separate independent recovery skills from protection help provided by tight ends, backs, and slide schemes.
- Chart performance against speed-to-power, inside counters, stunts, and late movement.
- Evaluate hand timing, anchor efficiency, penalties, and finishing balance.
Scouting Summation
Premium athleticism at the top: Goosby and Seaton headline the group because their movement talent equals pure blind-side potential. Green and Smith offer different paths to early playing time through power and polish.
Size is abundant; leverage is not: Several prospects are 6’7″ or taller. Reach is valuable, but evaluators must separate usable length from height that produces high pad level, late recovery, and a weak anchor.
Inside projection matters: Greene, Siereveld and Heard may increase their value by proving they can handle guard responsibilities while remaining options at tackle.
Testing will reshape the middle: From Peak through Azzopardi, minor differences in foot speed, arm length, short-area change of direction, and play strength could alter the order.
Medical and availability checks: Paige, Greene and other prospects with interrupted stretches require careful medical and durability review before firm draft grades are assigned.
Verifiable Data: Many dismiss the Scouting Combine
