theScore's NFL draft prospect rankings series gives you everything you need to know about the top players available in this year's incoming rookie class.
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Freeling might have the highest ceiling of any offensive lineman in this year's draft. Landing with a good position coach could go a long way toward helping him reach his potential, as he needs to work on his technique to maximize his physical gifts. Most notably, Freeling has to improve his footwork for optimal positioning in pass protection and address his hand placement and leg drive to avoid falling off blocks in the run game. But teams will gladly bet on their ability to coach up a player with this kind of upside.
Freeling combines prototypical size and length with rare athleticism for the position. His explosiveness and fluidity were obvious enough on tape, but then he provided the ultimate confirmation with a combine performance that produced the second-best Relative Athletic Score among offensive tackles since 1987. With another year to get stronger and polish up his technique, Freeling could emerge as a franchise-caliber left tackle. Although other prospects may be more complete players at the moment, his trajectory should make him the first lineman off the board.
Ioane will be typecast as a powerhouse guard made for a gap scheme. The displacement ability he demonstrates as a drive blocker makes him an outstanding fit for any such system, but I'm not sure he needs to be pigeonholed like that. While athleticism isn't necessarily the name of his game, he moves quite well for a lineman with his kind of size and physicality.
Ioane plays with good lateral quickness in the run game, getting himself in position to execute on difficult reach and cut-off blocks. And Penn State clearly valued his versatility, moving him all around the formation and even having him run cheat motions as an offset tight end, a la Trent Williams. His power also really shows up in pass protection, as he didn't allow a single pressure in his 93 true pass sets in 2025, according to PFF. Ioane is the best interior offensive lineman in this draft.
A three-year starter at offensive tackle for Utah, Fano may get a chance to stick at that spot in the NFL. But while teams will love the athletic profile he offers on the edge, there's a case to be made for him to kick inside. He has below-average length for a tackle, and it's tough to project how he'd fare on an island in pass protection after he played in an offense that focused primarily on running the ball. It's also worth noting that Fano was seen going through center drills during the combine.
No matter where Fano ends up at the next level, one thing is clear: he'll be an instant-impact player in the run game. Possessing the footwork and lateral quickness to put himself in an optimal position to execute assignments, Fano's athletic ability makes him an outstanding fit for a zone system at any position. He's also smooth as can be when it comes to climbing to the second level, pulling around the edge, and working out in space. Though he could stand to get a little stronger for a more consistent power component, he's got more than enough grit to hold his own. Fano is an easy first-round pick.
Mauigoa is the most pro-ready tackle in this class. A three-year starter on the right side at Miami, he's got all the tools to be a long-term building block at that spot in the NFL. Mauigoa has good size for the position, and his play strength shows up both when moving players off the ball in the run game and anchoring down to stifle power in pass protection. He also demonstrates more fluid movement skills than you might expect for a player known for his physicality.
Some will prefer Mauigoa on the inside due to his relative lack of length, and there's a lot to like about that fit, too. I'd rather give him a shot to stick on the outside first. If NFL coaching can help him clean up his occasional tendency to overextend and fall off blocks, Mauigoa could be an impact player for the next decade.
Iheanachor is a special athlete who didn't find football until enrolling at a JUCO in 2021. Considering where his game is after just two years of FBS starting experience at Arizona State, NFL teams should be fascinated by what's possible with a little more coaching. Iheanachor has outstanding movement skills for the position, demonstrating great foot speed in pass protection and the ability to explode out of his stance and work in space in the run game.
It's no wonder he was one of the stars of the offensive line workouts at the combine. He's got plenty of natural strength, too. As with the rest of his physical gifts, though, further development is required to maximize his potential in that regard. A team that can help Iheanachor nail down his footwork and improve his hand placement and punch timing could end up getting quite the steal at one of the most valuable positions.
Proctor has the tools to be one of the most dominant offensive linemen in football. He flashes the exact power you'd expect from someone with his imposing frame, creating easy movement off the ball in the run game. And when he gets his hands on his opponent in pass protection, there's a good chance the rep is all but over. The fascinating thing about Proctor's profile is that he's also an exceptional athlete for a player of his size.
While it's only natural that he'll struggle to change directions, leaving him susceptible to getting beaten laterally, Proctor demonstrates impressive foot speed in his pass sets. The explosiveness required to post a 32.5-inch vertical jump (90th percentile among offensive linemen) at 352 pounds is absurd. But Proctor must play with better pad level to more consistently maximize his rare physical traits, and he could be headed for a position change. Though I think he can hold up on the outside with some continued refinement, it's also hard to ignore the fact that he offers Pro Bowl upside as a powerhouse guard. Still just 20 years old, Proctor could have a bright future either way.
Miller is one of the most experienced linemen in this class, having started at right tackle all four years at Clemson. However, he's still more of a developmental player than a finished product. Athleticism is the big selling point here, as Miller has the explosive movement skills to match his impressive combine workout. Those gifts, along with his prototypical frame and an ability to process the game at a high level, offer plenty of upside as a possible foundation piece up front.
Realizing that potential will likely involve adding strength, playing with a more consistent pad level, and improving his hand usage to avoid letting defenders into his chest. When that comes, Miller's tenacity and eagerness to finish blocks could really shine through consistently. He'll be a particularly strong fit for a zone run scheme that takes advantage of his rare athleticism.
Lomu might be the perfect example of an offensive lineman who could take off after a year or two in an NFL strength program. Adding a power element is easier said than done, so we can't necessarily bank on it. But that's really all that's keeping the Utah product from being right there with the top offensive tackles in this class.
As if it wasn't obvious enough by the way he moves on the field, Lomu confirmed his unique athletic traits with a sensational combine performance. He already plays with excellent technique in pass protection, and the Utes really took advantage of his ability to get on the move in the ground game. There's no reason Lomu can't be a long-term starter on the left side if he can find a way to generate more movement off the ball as a run blocker, which should be on the table with added play strength and an improved pad level.
Pregnon seems like one of the safest picks in this entire class. The Oregon product is a people-mover in the ground game, showcasing the power and technique to create easy displacement as a drive blocker. He also has the athleticism to get on the move, climb to the second level off combo blocks, and zero in on targets in space. Pregnon's ability to drop the anchor against bull-rushers, mirror lateral threats, and seamlessly pass off assignments against stunts and games makes him a steady force in pass protection, too.
Pregnon allowed just five pressures on 471 pass-block snaps in 2025, according to PFF. However, he can get caught leaning at times, and he turns 25 in October, so he probably won't be drafted as early as his talent warrants. Still, that doesn't change the fact he's a scheme-versatile, Day 1 starter who should have a major impact at the next level.
How can you not fall in love with the way Rutledge plays? His natural power is the basis for everything he accomplishes as a drive blocker in the run game. But the Georgia Tech standout gets the most out of those gifts through an ultra-aggressive play style - he wants to finish every single block he makes. While that may lead to him being evaluated almost exclusively as a mauler, it's important to note that he's also nimble. Georgia Tech took advantage of his athletic ability by getting him moving in the run game.
Rutledge demonstrates sound technique in pass protection, and the play strength really shows up with his ability to drop the anchor against bull-rushers. He can get caught off balance at times, and shiftier rushers might be a challenge for him laterally, but he allowed just six pressures and no sacks in 440 pass-block snaps last year. Rutledge is a starting-caliber guard in any scheme.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.
