Mauigoa and Fano headline a strong OT class. The arm length debate is just the beginning.
Updated March 26, 2026
Class overview: The 2026 offensive tackle class is deep and diverse. Francis Mauigoa is the clear OT1 with top-5 upside, but Spencer Fano, Kadyn Proctor, Caleb Lomu, and Monroe Freeling all project as first-round talents. This class has zone-scheme technicians, power-scheme maulers, and athletic freaks who can play in any system. The arm length discussion around Fano dominated the combine, but on tape this is a class where technique and movement skills matter more than measurables. Big Board Lab's scheme fit scores show just how differently teams value these tackles depending on their blocking system — check Team Insights to see which teams are most likely to target the position early.
Mauigoa is the best offensive lineman in this class and it's not particularly close. He's a three-year starter at left tackle who has protected quarterbacks against the best pass rushers in the ACC — including the current EDGE class he'll share a draft with. His movement skills are exceptional for 320 pounds. He mirrors speed rushers with ease, anchors against power, and gets to the second level in the run game with the kind of athleticism you usually see from tight ends.
The complete package is rare at offensive tackle. Mauigoa has the feet, the hands, the anchor, the experience, and the football IQ. He allowed just 2 sacks all season against a brutal ACC pass rush gauntlet. He's the kind of prospect that offensive line coaches build their entire scheme around.
Key traits: Pass protection (elite), athleticism (elite), anchor (above average), run blocking (above average), experience (elite). Explore Mauigoa's full scouting report and spider chart on Big Board Lab — position-specific trait grades across every dimension of tackle play.
Fano would be the OT1 in most draft classes. He's technically polished, plays with outstanding leverage, and has the nastiness in the run game that offensive line coaches crave. He dominated the Big 12 for three years and was the anchor of a Utah offense that consistently overperformed its talent level because the line was that good.
Then came the combine: 32 1/8 inch arms. The number sent shockwaves through draft circles. Some teams immediately dropped him out of their top 10. Others pointed to his tape — where he consistently wins against longer-armed rushers — and kept him right where he was. The arm length debate is legitimate: shorter arms mean less ability to keep rushers away from the quarterback's chest. But Fano compensates with hand placement, timing, and lateral agility. The teams that value tape over tape measures will get a franchise tackle. Use Big Board Lab's Combine Explorer to see how Fano's measurements compare against 26 years of NFL Combine history for offensive tackles.
Key traits: Technique (elite), run blocking (elite), lateral agility (above average), anchor (above average), arm length (below average).
Proctor has the most imposing physical profile of any tackle in this class. At 6-7, 330 with 35-inch arms, he has the measurables that NFL teams dream about. He was the #1 overall recruit in his high school class for a reason — the tools are absurd. When he's locked in, he ragdolls defenders in the run game and stone-walls rushers in pass protection.
The inconsistency is what keeps Proctor from being OT1. He had stretches at Alabama where he looked like the best tackle in college football and stretches where he looked disengaged. The motor fluctuates. The technique lapses under pressure. The team that drafts him is betting on coaching him up — and the upside is a perennial All-Pro left tackle if they get through to him.
Key traits: Size (elite), arm length (elite), power (elite), athleticism (above average), consistency (developing), technique (developing).
Lomu is the second Utah tackle projected in Round 1 — a testament to how well that program develops offensive linemen. He's more of a technician than Fano, winning with hand placement and positioning rather than raw power. His pass sets are clean and efficient, and he rarely gets beat with speed because his kick-slide is textbook.
The concern is whether Lomu has the anchor to handle NFL power rushers. At 310 pounds he's lighter than most starting NFL tackles, and he can get walked back into the pocket by stronger rushers. He'll need to add functional strength at the next level. But his technique gives him a high floor — he's going to be a starter in the NFL because he's too smart and too technically sound to fail. His college stats on Big Board Lab show dominant production ranked against 10 years of FBS offensive linemen.
Key traits: Technique (elite), pass protection (above average), lateral agility (above average), run blocking (above average), anchor (average).
Freeling was a three-year starter at Georgia who protected against the best pass rushers in the SEC — a conference that produces more NFL edge talent than any other. His experience against elite competition is a separator. He's a balanced tackle who does everything well without one standout trait, which means he'll test well, interview well, and show well on tape against NFL-caliber opponents.
The ceiling question is what pushes Freeling to the back of Round 1 rather than the middle. He's not going to wow anyone with his athleticism or his power. But he's the kind of player who starts 15 games as a rookie and you barely notice him — which, for an offensive tackle, is the highest compliment.
Key traits: Experience (elite), pass protection (above average), run blocking (above average), athleticism (above average), anchor (above average).
Blake Miller (Clemson) is a powerful right tackle who anchors well and could sneak into the late first round with a strong pro day. Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) is an athletic tackle with upside who started every game in a competitive Pac-12 schedule. Gennings Dunker (Iowa) is a mauler in the run game who brings Big Ten toughness and NFL-ready size. And Caleb Tiernan (Northwestern) is a technician who compensates for average athleticism with outstanding hand placement and football IQ.
Big Board Lab covers all of these prospects — and 458 total — with full scouting reports, spider charts, and head-to-head comparison via Scout Vision. Compare up to four tackles side-by-side with combo charts to see where one prospect separates from another.
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