Best NFL Draft 2026 OTs: 1 stud, 1 sleeper and 1 'who's that guy?' pick

He's got solid, but not eye-opening size at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, which could push Francis Mauigoa ahead of him in the pecking order. But he's also arguably the most athletic tackle in his class outside of Monroe Freeling -- and unlike Freeling, he's got three years of sparkling game tape to back him up. That includes freshman All-American honors at left tackle in his first season with Utah.

Fano has started at both tackle positions. He was an All-American in 2024 and the Big 12 offensive lineman of the year in 2025. He's a Marx Brothers gag in pass protection, mirroring edge rushers perfectly with quick feet and an explosive get-off. He redirects quickly and smoothly, using fluid hips to counter pass rushing moves and keep his defender in front of him. He can bait guys into dead ends, giving him the stickiness of a pitcher plant when it comes to luring defensive ends to their (temporary doom).

He still needs to improve his strength and size, adding a bit of bulk to the 311-pound frame. If he can do that without sacrificing his quickness, he's going to be a problem. He could provide Pro Bowl blocking in both phases of the game even if he doesn't grow from here on out.

The sleeper (well, kinda but not really): Gennings Dunker, Iowa

I'll be honest; I've been on the Dunker train for years now. I had him as a first round pick in early iterations of my mock draft. I still think he'll perform like a first-round talent.

He may not do so at a position that demands a first-round price tag. With shorter-than-ideal arms, the three-year starter at right tackle for the Hawkeyes may be forced to kick inside to guard. He should still be a Day 2 selection, which makes his selection here tenuous. But this is my column, so I'm gonna bend the rules to talk about a guy who merits conversation.

Dunker looks like the platonic idea of an interior lineman, from the midwestern roots to the mustache/mullet combination to the 300 pounds of stacked beef topped off with tattoos of varying scrutability. He looks like a henchman in an 80s movie and plays like that henchman's boss on the field, introducing violence as a possible solution to any and all problems he may face.

Once Dunker is locked onto you in the run game, you're done for. He's stupidly strong and can be a wrecking ball, especially in a duo situation where he's chipping in to crush a defender before moving up for his next assignment. But that move up will come with average speed and quickness (5.18 second 40 at the combine), which raises a few questions about his ability to be a consistent road grader in the pros.

Still, even with short arms and average speed, Dunker looks and plays like something Godzilla should be fighting. He's got a low, solid anchor that makes him a rampart in pass protection. He's got the demeanor every offensive line and strength coach loves. He'll be an asset for whomever dials him up on Day 2.

The deep star: Caden Barnett, Wyoming

The transfer portal has made it difficult for under-the-radar stars at smaller programs to stay under-the-radar -- not a complaint, get paid, young men. Barnett is an exception after spending five seasons with the Cowboys, starting the bulk of three of them as a tackle and guard. With 33 and 3/8th inch arms, he's right at the borderline to stick on the edge in the pros, and good-not-great athleticism could slide him inside much like Dunker.

Barnett relishes contact, engaging aggressively with a powerful frame and the leg drive to open holes on the interior. He gets low and explodes upward, using that core strength to upend defensive tackles and dispatch them away from the ball.

The lateral quickness that allowed him to be a mirror at right tackle shows up on the interior as well.

He's a bit shaky in pulling situations where he has to size up smaller, faster linebackers. That's going to sting against an NFL lineup of big, athletic ones. But he's got a steady floor to contribute in a depth position as a rookie and the potential to be a useful starter on Sundays.

And hey, if Barnett isn't your cup of tea and you want someone with more interior experience, Southern Illinois' Noah Fenske is an undersized center with some of the best testing numbers in his class.

Fenske transferred down from Iowa to Colorado to the FCS in his college career. As a Saluki, he earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. He's very much an unfinished product, but the materials are there to build something greater.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Best NFL Draft 2026 offensive tackles with 3 OTs to watch