2026 Draft: Interior OL

[mayoclinic]

Vega Ioane to Houston at 17 is a popular mock choice right now. That's where Seattle took Grey Zabel last year.

Sam Teets has that in a recent mock, but also lists it as his "biggest reach", noting:

Ioane is having an impressive season for Penn State, but he doesn’t compare to recent first round guards like Tyler Booker and Grey Zabel. He’s a second round value, but the Texans desperately need help on both the offensive and defensive interiors.

Thanksgiving 2026 NFL Draft Mock: Carnell Tate rises, Rueben Bain drops

A little NFL Draft primer to upset you all before Thanksgiving dinner

sportstalk.substack.com

 

[mayoclinic]

This time last year Grey Zabel was not a consensus 1st round pick. Lots if time for things to change.

Zabel dominated at the Senior Bowl and in testing with a 9.48 RAS.

I'm hoping Austin Siereveld or Cayden Green could follow the Zabel path. But Ioane at 32 would be a very solid pick.

 

[manxman2601]

This time last year Grey Zabel was not a consensus 1st round pick. Lots if time for things to change.

Zabel dominated at the Senior Bowel and in testing with a 9.48 RAS.

I'm hoping Austin Siereveld or Cayden Green could follow the Zabel path. But Ioane at 32 would be a very solid pick.

Would that be a good bowel movement?

 

[mayoclinic]

My very crude IOL rankings. Order within a tier is approximate.

Tier 1: Immediate Starters:

These are all Day 2 prospects to me. Siereveld and Ioane could sneak into Day 1. Proctor may go Day 1 based on traits.

1. Austin Siereveld, Ohio St. (LG, RG)

2. Kade Pieper, Iowa (RG; OC in 2027). Most athletic IOL in CFB.

3. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn St. (LG, RG)

4. Cayden Green, Missouri (LG, RG)

5. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (RG)

6a. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon (LG, RG)

6b. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M (LG, RG)

8a. Gennings Dunker, Iowa (RG)

8b. Carter Smith, Indiana (LG, RG; OC in 2027)

I think Proctor and Dunker are RG only, but they could be beasts at RG.

Pieper, Ioane, Pregnon, and Bisontis are IOL only. Siereveld, Green, Carter, Proctor, and Dunker have some RT capability.


Tier 2: Starters in 2027

Conner Lew, Auburn (OC)

Brian Parker, Duke (RG, OC)

Logan Jones (OC)

Jake Slaughter (OC)

Iapani Loloulu, Oregon (OC)


Tier 3: Developmental Guys with Starting Potential

Kage Casey, Boise St.

Earnest Greene, Georgia

Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech

Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma

Logan Taylor, Boston College

JC Davis, Illinois

Charles Jagusah, Notre Dame

Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M


That's 22 prospects. Would like to come away with 2.

 

[mayoclinic]

Should probably add Matt Gulbin, Alex Harkey and Billy Schrauth to the Tier 3 group.

 

[mayoclinic]

Brandon Thorn scouting report on Carter Smith:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25263520-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-indiana-ot-carter-smith

 

[manxman2601]

Brandon Thorn scouting report on Carter Smith:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25263520-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-indiana-ot-carter-smith

With the 64th pick, the New England Patriots select Guard Carter Smith, Indiana. Maybe.

 

[manxman2601]

Vega Ioane highlights. Love!

 

[mayoclinic]

Brandon Thorn scouting report on Vega Ioane:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25258484-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-penn-state-iol-olaivavega-ioane

 

[mayoclinic]

Brandon Thorn scouting report on Emmanuel Pregnon:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25260525-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-oregon-iol-emmanuel-pregnon

 

[mayoclinic]

Brandon Thorn scouting report Chase Bisontis:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25293122-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-texas-am-iol-chase-bisontis

 

[mayoclinic]

Brandon Thorn scouting report Gennings Dunker:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25263436-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-iowa-iol-gennings-dunker

 

[manxman2601]

I'm less enamoured by Bisontis than I am Pregnon and Ioane because he's not as strong in the run game but he's an excellent pass protector. I think I'd rank the LG options as:

1. Ioane
2. Pregnon
3. Siereveld and Carter Smith
4. Bisontis and Cayden Green
5. Dunker.

I could see Siereveld and Cayden Green moving up one spot but need to see more.

Am I missing any day 1/2 options?

 

[mayoclinic]

Kade Pieper if he declares.

Maybe Kadyn Proctor as a RG like Dunker.

 

[manxman2601]

Kade Pieper if he declares.

Maybe Kadyn Proctor as a RG like Dunker.

Pieper is listed as 290lbs. I see him as a center in the NFL.

 

[mayoclinic]

Me too.

He is strong as an ox.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[mayoclinic]

Carter Smith scouting report:

Carter Smith 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Here is a Carter Smith 2026 NFL Draft Profile that outlines his strengths, weaknesses and how he projects at the next level.

lastwordonsports.com

 

[mayoclinic]

My dream OL:

Will Campbell - Austin Siereveld - Jared Wilson - Carter Smith - Monroe Freeling

 

[manxman2601]

Carter Smith scouting report:

Carter Smith 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Here is a Carter Smith 2026 NFL Draft Profile that outlines his strengths, weaknesses and how he projects at the next level.

lastwordonsports.com

Carter Smith is one of the toughest, strongest offensive tackle prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. He doesn’t have an overwhelming frame at 6-foot-5 and just under 315 pounds, but he plays bigger and stronger than that. Smith doesn’t leave a block unfinished. There are examples as both a pass blocker and run blocker where he runs while still engaged in a block and doesn’t finish until that whistle is blown.


His grip strength as a pass protector is on a different level. Once he strikes with his hands, he very rarely loses grip of his opponent, making him a matchup nightmare for finesse rushers. Smith takes away the ability for the pass rusher to perform a counter, swim or spin move unless they’re able to get to his outside shoulder and prevent him from latching on.

He sure sounds like someone you want right next to Will Campbell.