Paglia: Preseason 2027 Top 10 OT Prospects

Now that we’ve covered the offensive skill positions, it’s time to turn to the trenches. This past draft saw seven offensive tackles come off the board in the first round, including Steelers selection Max Iheanachor. There’s a clear leaguewide demand for high-end talent at the bookend spots, and this upcoming class should once again provide an infusion of talent at the top.

As with every ranking in this series, these are very early evaluations and are subject to change. Thanks to NIL and extra eligibility, it’s unlikely every player mentioned here ultimately declares for next year’s draft. Even so, the pool of draft-eligible tackles suggests it should be another strong group. With that in mind, welcome to the fifth edition of the summer scouting series!

His most exciting and translatable trait is that size-and-athleticism package. At nearly 6-7, he has the prototypical frame for a left tackle. For a player his size, he’s a rare athlete, showing outstanding lateral quickness and hip flexibility. Goosby understands his strengths and consistently leverages them to provide plus protection on the edge and reach the second level in the run game.

Despite his production in the SEC, Goosby is still relatively raw from a technical standpoint, which only raises his long-term ceiling. In pass protection, he leans too heavily on his measurables to win the corner. His punch timing can be highly inconsistent and often passive; he’ll opt to catch and ride rushers rather than deliver the first strike.

Goosby is more finesse than pure power, but that’s not inherently a negative. In the right scheme that accentuates his movement skills and space blocking, he offers the upside of a true franchise left tackle.

Unlike many younger tackles, Seaton’s calling card is his pass-pro technique. Where most of his peers lean on sheer physicality, he flashes top-tier footwork and mirroring ability. His athleticism is no weakness, either. There’s a natural lateral agility and an effortless glide in his pass sets that make him extremely difficult to beat around the edge.

Run blocking is the area where he needs to make the biggest leap in Baton Rouge. While he shows good initial burst out of his stance, he struggles to finish blocks. Like Goosby, he’s more finesse than power at this stage, but in his case the concern is the lack of functional strength despite his mass. Right now, he tends to catch and steer defenders rather than overwhelming and displacing them.

Because of his pass-protection chops, Seaton projects as a highly regarded plug-and-play tackle at the next level. To truly hit his ceiling, though, he’ll need to prove there’s more pop and violence in his game.

Smith’s tape is remarkably clean. He shows a vise grip on the edge and a sturdy base that allows him to absorb power without giving ground, yet he’s athletic enough to handle speed rushers. A former volleyball player, he brings noticeable lateral quickness and light feet to the position.

In the run game, he’s not a classic road grader, but he does play with more tenacity than the tackles ranked above him. In Indiana’s system, he’s highly technical and executes positional blocks with ease, rarely getting out of position.

Smith does come with length concerns that could ultimately push him inside at the next level. While his polished technique helps him survive on the edge, elite athletes can still stress his range.

This fall is all about reinforcing what he’s already put on tape. With 41 consecutive starts and a Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award to his name, Smith has already shown he can dominate top competition.

Unlike the tackles ranked ahead of him, Green’s calling card is pure play strength and physicality. He features overwhelming power. In pass protection, once he sinks his hips and drops his anchor, he can completely erase bull-rush attempts. He carries heavy, violent hands that deliver a jarring strike and routinely stun pass rushers.

As a run blocker, he’s the definition of a road grader. Green thrives on displacing defenders at the point of attack. His best work shows up in gap and power concepts that let him fire off on down blocks, climb on double-teams, and use his strength to drive defenders off their spots.

This upcoming season will be a critical audition for Green to prove he can consistently win on the edge. From Day 1, he projects as an immediate difference maker in the run game and a sky-high-upside prospect for NFL teams.

Like Green, Siereveld’s game is built on physicality. He owns a strong, sturdy lower half that lets him absorb power from both the edge and the interior, and his hands can deliver a real jolt. Unlike Green, though, Siereveld is still more technically raw.

He’s not the lightest on his feet, which can cause him to reach and overextend to compensate. That opens the door for savvy edge rushers to manipulate his leverage and work around him. His hands may be heavy, but his strike timing is often off, allowing defenders to win first contact.

From Day 1, Siereveld brings a physical, no-nonsense presence. He’s sturdy, battle-tested, and has experience at both guard and tackle. Another year at Ohio State should allow him to refine the technical side of his game. If he can marry that polish with his power, he projects as a dependable, plug-and-play starter at the next level.

His upside is built around his dominance in the run game. He’s an unquestioned force and a key piece of the line that was recognized as the top unit in the nation last season. In true Iowa fashion, Lauck embodies a finishing mindset, constantly looking to dump defenders in the dirt. While he isn’t the best pure athlete on this list, he’s more than fluid enough to function in zone schemes that demand lateral movement.

In pass protection, Lauck is defined by his discipline. He wastes little motion, using an efficient kick-slide to maintain leverage throughout the rep. His hands are another standout trait, with consistent timing and placement. The concern is how he’ll handle twitchier edge rushers at the next level, as his lack of top-end foot speed can be stressed on an island.

Lauck may not boast the overwhelming athletic profile of some of his peers, but his physicality and discipline will be more than enough to attract NFL teams. The 2026 season is about stacking on top of his breakout redshirt sophomore campaign. If he delivers another year at that level, he could push his way into legitimate Day 1 conversation.

Despite being lower on this list, Peak has a real chance to break out on the national stage this season. He’s one of the more complete players mentioned so far, blending polished pass protection with a nasty streak that’s always hunting for contact. His athleticism is exceptional. And it shows up most clearly in pass pro where his lightning-quick kick-slide allows him to effortlessly mirror speed rushers on the perimeter.

In the run game, Peak uses those same movement skills to excel in space. His ability to climb to the second level and seal scraping linebackers is among the best in this class. While his weight is a concern, it hasn’t stopped him from de-cleating defenders. It’s a testament to his motor, but matching up with bigger, stronger fronts in the SEC will likely require him to add mass to maintain that level of dominance.

If Peak can prove his frame won’t be a liability against SEC competition, he’ll climb this list in a hurry. Any pass-pro specialist with his athleticism and mean streak is going to draw plenty of interest from NFL teams.

While many will associate his natural aggressiveness with his work in the run game, it absolutely shows up in pass protection as well. He excels at the “snatch-and-trap” technique, which, when executed correctly, can completely stall a bull rush. His hands are violent, and his strike timing has taken a big step forward since his freshman year. The flip side of that aggressiveness is a tendency to overset and chase outside speed, leaving his inside shoulder vulnerable to counters.

On the ground, Knapp’s best work comes when he’s mauling defenders. He’s put strong reps on tape in both zone and gap schemes, and his blend of athleticism and strength should translate to any system at the next level. As in pass protection, his primary hurdle is balance. In short-yardage situations, he’ll occasionally lunge with his head down, leading to costly whiffs.

Knapp has the makings of a long-term, stalwart tackle. If he can add a bit more patience and control to pair with his natural edge, his upside is sky-high.

Even after reshaping his body to hold up in the trenches, Frazier has retained the foot speed of a tight end. He can effortlessly mirror speed rushers up the arc and redirect with excellent body control. Paired with his length, he’s able to initiate contact early and keep defenders from getting into his frame.

When rushers do manage to get into his chest, he will give up ground. He’s still filling out his frame, and the lack of mass can show up against more seasoned power rushers. Frazier will struggle at times to sink his hips, drop his weight, and re-establish a firm base.

Much like in pass protection, his run-blocking impact is driven more by athleticism than pure power. He’s at his best on outside zone concepts and when he’s asked to operate in space, winning reps through leverage and positioning rather than sheer displacement.

Of everyone mentioned here, Frazier might be the most likely to return to school after this upcoming season. Unless he strings together a dominant campaign that vaults his stock, he’ll benefit from more time to add mass and functional strength to round out his profile.

Like several other tackles here, he has more than enough athleticism to handle speed off the edge. His movement skills are not a concern; the questions show up in his hand placement. He has a tendency to grab wide, which exposes his chest plate to defenders. When he does get out of phase, his twitch and hip mobility allow him to recover without much issue.

On the ground, Williams fits best in zone-based concepts. His initial get-off is explosive, consistently making him one of the first linemen to the second level. When asked to pull across the formation, he shows the fluidity to do so with ease. While he doesn’t possess overwhelming strength for the position, there’s been steady growth in his ability to finish blocks as a starter.

Williams is another prospect with immense upside if he can sharpen the technical side of his game. Though he’s played most of his career at right tackle, his measurables indicate he can transition to left tackle if needed. In a loaded class, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him climb into the upper tier of prospects.