The '26 NFL Draft Class: Offensive Line

Apr 16, 2026 at 01:20 PM

JACKSONVILLE – The group is good. The unknown is how good.

Many analysts see offensive line as one of the 2026 NFL Draft's deepest positions – with many starting-level players. And there may be a lot of really good players among those starters.

Whether the class is historically good is another question.

"It's elite in terms of first-round elite – not elite in terms of the Top 5, Top 10," Jaguars Media/NFL Media Draft Analyst Bucky Brooks said.

Francis Mauigoa of Miami is considered by some the top tackle in the '26 class, with as many as seven possible first-round players at the position. At least four tackles have been selected in Round 1 every year since 2022.

"The starting tackle market outside the first round is slim – not just in this draft, but in any draft; those guys all go," NFL Media Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah said, adding that most Round 1 tackles this year likely will be selected after Selection No. 20.

"There's a big clump of [offensive linemen] there," Jeremiah said, with Brooks adding, "The run is going to be in the twenties."

"That kind of speaks to who they are," Brooks said. "They're good, but there's something that prevents you from saying, 'Yeah, he's a Top 10 player.' That's what makes this class challenging in terms of trying to say, 'Hey, they're a really elite class.' It's really good. You don't know if they're special.''

Mauigoa and Spencer Fano of Utah, considered by many the top two tackles in the '26 class, are what Brooks called "natural right tackles."

"What's different about offensive line today is we're seeing more right tackles at the top of the board than left tackles," Brooks said.

Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano blocks during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (AP Photo/Jeffrey D. Allred)

Caleb Lomu of Utah and Monroe Freeling of Georgia – also projected by many analysts as Round 1 selections – are more traditional left-tackle prospects.

"Those guys are athletic," Brooks said. "They're a little light, but athletic and different because they don't check off all the boxes. They're worthy of being first-rounders because of the tools and the talent, but not quite that special prospect.

"There are some really good players that can be some Pro Bowl-caliber early. "

Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane is widely regarded as a mid-first-round selection, with no other center or guard considered sure to be selected in Round 1.

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Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (71) prepares to block BYU defensive end Anisi Purcell (94) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/George Frey)

Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis and Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon have been projected as second-round selections, with Auburn center Connor Lew – often projected as the top player at the position – projected as a second-round selection or later.

"We don't have that highly-ranked, marquee center in this year's draft class," ESPN Draft Analyst Jordan Reid said, with Jeremiah adding of the center class, "There are some good guys, some third-round-type players."

"There's a decent group of centers there," Jeremiah said. "I don't know that there's one that I would jump on the table for to take in the second round. That's maybe a little bit of a reach there."

Texas A&M offensive lineman Chase Bisontis (71) sets to block during an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

HANDICAPPING THE JAGUARS

This is a tricky position to analyze for the Jaguars in the '26 draft. While they return all significant contributors from an offensive line that improved dramatically last season, the franchise's approach is to constantly address the position – with the idea to build the group into the league's best line and a defining position of the franchise. The projected starting line for '26 could be some combination of tackles Cole Van Lanen and Anton Harrison, guards Ezra Cleveland and Patrick Mekari and center Robert Hainsey, with second-year veteran Wyatt Milum pushing at one of the guard positions. The team also likes second-year center Jonah Monheim. The Jaguars selected Milum and Monheim in Rounds 3 and 7, respectively, last offseason. It would be surprising if the Jaguars don't have close to that level of draft investment in this area each offseason moving forward.

CHANCE JAGUARS TAKE AN OFFENSIVE LINE ON DAYS 1-2 (ROUNDS 1-3)

Possible.

OL ON THE JAGUARS ROSTER

Left tackle Walker Little (12 starts in 2026), left tackle Cole Van Lanen (five), guard Ezra Cleveland (16), left guard Van Lanen (one), center Robert Hainsey (15), center Jonah Monheim (two), right guard Patrick Mekari (14), right guard Van Lanen (one), right guard Little (two), right tackle Anton Harrison (15), right guard Van Lanen (two), extra tackle Van Lanen (one), tackle Chuma Edoga (two), Sal Wormley, Kilian Zierer, Wyatt Milum, Ricky Lee, Cooper Hodges.