Last week was part four of my 'Build A Prospect' series for the 2026 NFL Draft, which centered on tight ends. This week, we’re moving to the big boys up front, starting with offensive tackles.
Some ground rules: there are eight offensive tackle attributes I’ve selected (athleticism, hands, footwork, play strength, tenacity, length, football IQ, leverage). The goal is to build the best possible offensive tackle using one prospect for each of these attributes.
Once we use a prospect, he cannot be used again throughout the rest of the attributes, so I must choose wisely. Let’s get started!
Athleticism
Spencer Fano - Utah
Offensive tackles these days simply have to be athletic with how athletic edge rushers have become. The ability to cover ground quickly in pass pro, pull quickly on power runs, and work up to the second level of the defense is key. Nobody in this tackle class can move quite like Utah Utes offensive tackle Spencer Fano can.
At 6’6” and 308 pounds, Fano legitimately moves like a tight end. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone get into their pass set as quickly as him or climb to the second level quite like he can. He’ll need to add some weight for the next level, and I wouldn’t expect his athleticism to decline much if he did.
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Hands
Francis Mauigoa - Miami FL
Hand technique has become more important than ever with the variety of pass rush moves that edge rushers deploy now. Playing with proper timing and placement with your hand strikes can be the difference between a clean pocket and a sack. The most technically refined tackle I’ve seen in this category is Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.
Mauigoa has been a starter for the Hurricanes since he was a true freshman, and his hand placement has always been a calling card for him. The way we talk about a pass rusher having a pass rush bag is how I would describe Mauigoa’s hand technique; one hand stabs, snatch traps, flash-bait moves, he can do it all. Hopefully, he can stick at the tackle position at the next level instead of having to kick inside.
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Footwork
Caleb Tiernan - Northwestern
Footwork, ideally, flows with hand technique; rhythmic might be the best term. Again, it all comes down to timing as hand strikes and footwork work in tandem. From the offensive tackles I’ve watched, I continue to think Northwestern Wildcats offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan is the most proficient in this category.
Tiernan is a technician all around, but I truly think his footwork is his calling card. With his lack of length, he has to be mindful of how he can mitigate that disadvantage, and getting to his landmarks with proper timing and effectiveness certainly helps.
Play Strength
Kadyn Proctor - Alabama
As is true for any line of scrimmage player, you have got to be strong. Anchoring in pass protection, displacing defenders in the run game, and latching on with the grip strength in your hands, all of it is important. I haven’t watched a stronger offensive tackle in this class than Alabama Crimson Tide offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
At 6’7” and 366 pounds, it makes sense that Proctor would be as strong as he is, but it still impresses me every time I turn his tape on. If a defensive lineman gives him their chest to strike at, the rep is over. He’ll even comically launch defenders a few yards seemingly once a game.
Tenacity
Lance Heard - Tennessee
Kind of hand in hand with play strength, tenacity is important, specifically in the run game. I want my offensive tackles to play with an edge to them, having a passionate desire to plant a defender in the turf on every snap. A player that embodies this is Tennessee Volunteers offensive tackle Lance Heard.
Heard had a rough 2024 for Tennessee as he battled through injury and some off-the-field tragedies, but this season, he is locked in and out for blood. He loves nothing more than moving a defender a few yards and then planting him. Even in pass protection, he just plays with a different level of aggression when launching his hands.
Arm Length
Xavier Chaplin - Auburn
Arm length is very important for determining who can stick at the offensive tackle position in the NFL. Beyond just the raw arm length measurements, how a player uses his arm length is important to consider as well. The offensive tackle with the best arm length I’ve seen in the 2026 class is Auburn Tigers offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin.
There are certainly some other aspects of Chaplin’s that concern me, but his arm length isn’t one. If his hands latch onto a defender and he’s fully extended, the rusher basically has no chance of winning the rep.
Football IQ
Austin Barber - Florida
While football IQ is probably more important for interior offensive linemen, offensive tackles still have to be smart football players, whether it’s picking up stunts, understanding blocking assignments, or just being savvy. Someone who I always come away from the film impressed with his understanding of the position is Florida Gators offensive tackle Austin Barber.
Barber just understands how to play the position. His technique is polished, he understands blocking schemes to a high degree, and he has no problem passing off stunts. If you’re a fan of the mental side of football, Barber is your guy.
Leverage
PJ Williams - SMU
An underrated part of an offensive tackle’s skillset is leverage. We all know the saying, “low man wins,” and it’s true 99% of the time. A prospect who wins the leverage battle fairly often is SMU Mustangs offensive tackle PJ Williams.
Even at 6’5” and 313 pounds, Williams is consistently able to be lower than whoever he is blocking, getting under their pads and neutralizing them. He possesses great flexibility, which helps him stay low throughout the rep pretty much every snap.
Final Thoughts
I love offensive tackles, so this iteration of my Build A Prospect series was a blast, and I’m excited to keep it rolling as the college football season continues, leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, hitting on every single position group. I hope you enjoyed the offensive tackle iteration of this article series, and make sure to keep an eye out for the interior offensive line iteration soon.