As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, we’re breaking down position rankings individually based on the big boards of Yahoo Sports NFL Draft experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald.
More position rankings: QB | WR | DL | Edge | DB | LB
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1. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
A left tackle with excellent size and a frame who could add even more weight, Freeling is an easy mover who can get up to the second level in a hurry, with the agility and balance to adjust to a moving target in space or in pass protection against defensive twists. Freeling improved his hand usage and his strength in 2025, which is what has him rocketing up draft boards (including mine) even before the combine happened. His long limbs make him susceptible to defenders getting into his chest, but his improved anchor helped him adjust. Overall, Freeling is a very good athlete with length whose arrow as a player is pointing firmly up. His play over the final two months of the 2025 season can make you excited about what he can become at the next level. If he can keep getting stronger and continue to fill out his frame, while continuing to round out his technique, he projects as a very good blindside protector. — Nate Tice
2. Caleb Lomu, Utah
Lomu hasn’t gotten as much fame and praise as his teammate Spencer Fano, but he might have a more NFL-ready body and game than Fano. Lomu is a big, powerful explosive run blocker with a nasty mean streak. He has upside to continue improving as a pass blocker. — Charles McDonald
3. Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Mauigoa is one of the most highly-touted offensive linemen in this year’s draft class, with an outrageous size at nearly 6-foot-6, 330 pounds. He may have to kick inside to guard in the NFL. He’s a little slow on the edge at times and doesn’t have the greatest technique, but he’s so strong and powerful that he can make up for it in other ways. — CM
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4. Blake Miller, Clemson
Clemson’s offense struggled at times this past season, but it wasn’t due to its offensive line play. For the first time in his entire tenure, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has an offensive tackle prospect who is drawing the attention of NFL scouts in the first round of the draft. Miller has primarily played on the right side of the line, but he has the athleticism to cleanly make a move over to the left side if his future team wants that. — CM
5. Spencer Fano, Utah
Yes, both of Utah’s tackles made the big board. Fano played left tackle before moving to right tackle in 2024 but I think he would be best kicking inside at the next level. He has a long and lean build, which he can look to add weight to, but already shows off the consistent ability to get tangible movement in the run game. Fano is a springy athlete (and tested like one in Indianapolis) who can constantly stay on his feet and with pass rushers and any post-snap movement, and he is also a strong finisher in the run game. Fano’s short arms (32 ⅛ inches) has me concerned about how he projects as a tackle at the next level and he would have a unique build for a guard or center, but the pop and drive he can get will help him out on the inside and his easy athleticism and movement ability would make him a weapon out in space as a puller or on screens. — NT
6. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
A big, long right tackle who came to football late and went to JUCO before joining Arizona State, Iheanachor can easily be labeled as a “project,” but his film indicates more polish and refinement than you’d expect. He has ideal size and is an excellent athlete who can stay balanced and latched onto his blocks. His hand usage got much cleaner and more patient throughout his final season, an indication of the way Iheanachor can adjust and refine his game quickly. I’m bullish on Iheanachor. He has the strength to move defenders in the run game and is comfortable taking on the better athletes in pass protection. He can stay on the right side but has the movement skills to bump over to the left side down the road for a team that continues to develop him. He’s an exciting combination of tools with enough real film that playing right away won’t be too much for him. — NT
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7. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Ioane is one of the few high-end interior offensive line prospects in this draft. Even though he struggles at times with consistency, there aren’t many players who project as a Day 1 starting NFL offensive lineman. That alone should get the physical, athletic guard locked in as a top-40 selection. — CM
8. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
A mountain of a man, Proctor can completely wipe out defenders as soon as he gets his hands on them in the run game. Despite being so large, Proctor has above-average balance and footwork. Like most large players, he can play high at times and can get caught getting slow out of his stance against speedier edge rushers. He can also lack sustainability in pass protection and fall off his blocks in the run game against players he’s unable to fully latch onto. It’s something that might get harder at the next level. Proctor still has to work on his consistency, but he’s young, and his weight was encouraging at the scouting combine. His tools probably have NFL offensive line coaches excited to try and take Proctor’s game to the next level. — NT
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9. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
A guard-only prospect with good length and big hands (11 inches at the combine). Pregnon has good upper body strength to latch onto defenders and use his length, but can get caught playing high and would preferably add to his lower body mass to help him sustain his blocks once he hits the NFL. His length is an asset in pass protection, but he can still work on bringing his feet with him as late moves can get him to fall off blocks. Overall, he looks like a player who can start at guard early in his career, but there’s a few technique things to refine so he can use his strength and length more consistently. — NT
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10. Connor Lew, Auburn
Lew was a tough player for Auburn’s offense and he has a chance to be a high-floor interior starter on an NFL team that needs offensive line help. Lew unfortunately tore his ACL in October, but he did put up enough solid tape beforehand to possibly end up as a Day 2 pick in April. — CM