2026 OL Thread

[JoeyFlex5]

Can someone who loves Ioane tell me what they love so much about him without using our 2025 OL as an example? By “love” I mean that he’s someone you see worthy of and are pounding the table for at 14

Stonewall pass protector, genuinely impressive at mirroring rushers laterally and hand usage.

And I will absolutely admit I love the idea of ioane at 14 just because our Gs were so bad and protecting Lamar is A1 priority, and as a guy who looks like an elite pass protector he obviously would fit that bill.

Don’t like him as a 2nd level run blocker though. I can live with it.

 

[Grim]

i dont love him but ill make the argument anyway:

1) he's going to solidify your pass protection - great core strength, anchor, grip strength, easy power - his physical tools allow him to control reps when he locks on

2) jarring power in his hands, creates displacement on drive blocks as a point of attack blocker especially in power/gap type run designs

3) clearly a film junkie

those would be the reasons you take him at 14 for me

i've got concerns around his play in space and his ability to work laterally to be effective in zone concepts - also some questions about his reaction quickness and recovery ability working on his edges

Stonewall pass protector, genuinely impressive at mirroring rushers laterally and hand usage.

And I will absolutely admit I love the idea of ioane at 14 just because our Gs were so bad and protecting Lamar is A1 priority, and as a guy who looks like an elite pass protector he obviously would fit that bill.

Don’t like him as a 2nd level run blocker though. I can live with it.

Well, my next question is do you feel that what he does is that far ahead of those behind him in the class? I’m trying to understand the infatuation. I really like him but I don’t see a massive drop off from him to some other guys I really like that I think can be there in the 2nd so I’m trying to understand the other perspective better

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Well, my next question is do you feel that what he does is that far ahead of those behind him in the class? I’m trying to understand the infatuation. I really like him but I don’t see a massive drop off from him to some other guys I really like that I think can be there in the 2nd so I’m trying to understand the other perspective better

Because “I think can be there in the second” is still a massive long shot if years past are any indication. We are always behind the OL run and I feel Vega is clearly a first round caliber prospect, so I can justify it.

I’d love Emmanuel pregnon at 45 but I don’t have faith he’ll be there

 

[Grim]

Because “I think can be there in the second” is still a massive long shot if years past are any indication. We are always behind the OL run and I feel Vega is clearly a first round caliber prospect, so I can justify it.

I’d love Emmanuel pregnon at 45 but I don’t have faith he’ll be there

pulled the historical numbers to sanity check the “early OL run” narrative.

Through pick 45 the past five drafts:

2021: 7T, 1G, 1C
2022: 5T, 3G, 1C
2023: 5T, 2G, 1C
2024: 7T, 1G, 1C
2025: 5T, 4G, 0C

That’s very consistent year to year.

Now picks 46 through the end of Round 2:

2021: 3T, 1G, 2C
2022: 1T, 1G, 1C
2023: 0T, 2G, 2C
2024: 4T, 0G, 1C
2025: 3T, 1G, 0C

Again, fairly stable. Tackles go early, then a smaller second wave of G/C.

I don’t see evidence of an accelerating OL run. If anything, the numbers suggest we typically have a viable G option at 45. The real question is whether this class has enough depth at guard to survive 5–7 OT and a few G coming off the board before the 45th pick.

 

[JoeyFlex5]

pulled the historical numbers to sanity check the “early OL run” narrative.

Through pick 45 the past five drafts:

2021: 7T, 1G, 1C
2022: 5T, 3G, 1C
2023: 5T, 2G, 1C
2024: 7T, 1G, 1C
2025: 5T, 4G, 0C

That’s very consistent year to year.

Now picks 46 through the end of Round 2:

2021: 3T, 1G, 2C
2022: 1T, 1G, 1C
2023: 0T, 2G, 2C
2024: 4T, 0G, 1C
2025: 3T, 1G, 0C

Again, fairly stable. Tackles go early, then a smaller second wave of G/C.

I don’t see evidence of an accelerating OL run. If anything, the numbers suggest we typically have a viable G option at 45. The real question is whether this class has enough depth at guard to survive 5–7 OT and a few G coming off the board before the 45th pick.

And I’m not sure this draft has that. Fano is a G or T, then you got Vega and pregnon, really the only 2 pure Gs I’d take top 45, I feel Vega goes in the first, and someone between 32 and 45 is gonna want the top remaining G in pregnon

If we could trade back and take Vega that would be awesome, but I don’t ever count on that

 

[Grim]

And I’m not sure this draft has that. Fano is a G or T, then you got Vega and pregnon, really the only 2 pure Gs I’d take top 45, I feel Vega goes in the first, and someone between 32 and 45 is gonna want the top remaining G in pregnon

If we could trade back and take Vega that would be awesome, but I don’t ever count on that

Oh I am with you in that if you pass on Vega no way he makes it anywhere near 45. It’s an interesting question though: is the draft deep enough at OL where we could wait to 45. I have to see, I haven’t gotten that far yet. Been too busy with work

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Oh I am with you in that if you pass on Vega no way he makes it anywhere near 45. It’s an interesting question though: is the draft deep enough at OL where we could wait to 45. I have to see, I haven’t gotten that far yet. Been too busy with work

There’s only one other G I’d like at 45 and I don’t expect him to be available there either.

That said, there could be others that I’m not sold on that are much better in the pros than I expect, that could go at any point, and I realize that, but from my perspective right now that’s how I see it, might have 2 chances to land a starting G and that’s Vega at 14 or pregnon at 45 and I doubt pregnon is available at 45

 

[Argentina Raven]

I like Bisontis more than Pregnon; he's younger (21 vs. 25) and I think he has a higher ceiling. His arms might be a bit short for a guard, but I still think he's better
I think Bisontis, Rutledge, and Logan Jones would be the three options I'd like to see drafted

 

[Simba]

Can someone who loves Ioane tell me what they love so much about him without using our 2025 OL as an example? By “love” I mean that he’s someone you see worthy of and are pounding the table for at 14

I'm a little late to the convo, but for me...

I absolutely love that he's pretty technically sound and plays with such a strong base. He packs a heavy punch when hitting guys. I feel like I'd never have to worry about him losing a sheer physical battle out there. I've also seen him get better as the game goes on - someone that doesn't wilt under pressure. He's playing every snap to dominate and I feel like it's been a long time since we've had someone on the OL that has that mindset snap to snap.

With that being said, I do see some of the movement concerns, but I think there's plenty enough there for me to consider him a top half of round 1 guy. It's not a hell or high water situation by any means, because if someone with a higher grade is there, I'm taking them. But I think 14 is well within his range and I think he's going to be a very good player.

 

[rossihunter2]

Well, my next question is do you feel that what he does is that far ahead of those behind him in the class? I’m trying to understand the infatuation. I really like him but I don’t see a massive drop off from him to some other guys I really like that I think can be there in the 2nd so I’m trying to understand the other perspective better

i think the "fall-off" to Pregnon, Bisontis is marginal (for me Pregnon's actually ahead)
but i also think there's some other good prospects on day 2 at OG

a few draft guys talking about the likelihood that 7 OTs go in R1 and if you add Ioane to that list you're looking at these 8 OL off the board potentially in R1:
Fano, Mauigoa, Freeling, Iheanachor, Lomu, Miller, Proctor, Ioane

For me there's still some interior guys who i'd be interested in on day 2 assuming given those 8 names going R1:
Pregnon, Bisontis, Schrauth, Parker II, Rutledge, Hecht

Pregnon, Bisontis are definitely worthy of 45, and to me Schrauth and Parker II are too

 

[Grim]

i think the "fall-off" to Pregnon, Bisontis is marginal (for me Pregnon's actually ahead)
but i also think there's some other good prospects on day 2 at OG

a few draft guys talking about the likelihood that 7 OTs go in R1 and if you add Ioane to that list you're looking at these 8 OL off the board potentially in R1:
Fano, Mauigoa, Freeling, Iheanachor, Lomu, Miller, Proctor, Ioane

For me there's still some interior guys who i'd be interested in on day 2 assuming given those 8 names going R1:
Pregnon, Bisontis, Schrauth, Parker II, Rutledge, Hecht

Pregnon, Bisontis are definitely worthy of 45, and to me Schrauth and Parker II are too

Your analysis speaks to my perception. Thanks for this. I really like Ioane and he’s not a reach at 14 but he’s a status quo pick. Those can be good but he’s the guy if a priority one target like Bain (in my view) falls. He wouldn’t be a bad pick. I just feel like one of those truly elite guys will be there for us at 14.

I also am bullish on this OG class on the second day. I feel supremely confident we’ll get an animal there or be in trade distance.

 

[rossihunter2]

Because “I think can be there in the second” is still a massive long shot if years past are any indication. We are always behind the OL run and I feel Vega is clearly a first round caliber prospect, so I can justify it.

I’d love Emmanuel pregnon at 45 but I don’t have faith he’ll be there

being at 45 puts you much more likely to be in the run than the normal late 50s-early 60s spot we typically find ourselves in
2025: the run ended at 57
2024: there was so much OL talent that the runs never really stopped until the 80s, but realistically the end of the run was probably 63
2023: the run ended at 65
2022: the run started at 51 and ended at 77
2021: the run ended at 70
2020: the run started at 58 and ended at 83
2019: the run ended at 55
2018: the run ended at 39

based off that there's basically 3 years where you miss out on those R2 OL prospects:
2018 where the tank was emptied in a weak class early
2020 and 2022 where the 2nd tier of talent run only started towards the end of R2

but 5/8 years, there were players available at 45 from that 2nd tier of talent

 

[rossihunter2]

And I’m not sure this draft has that. Fano is a G or T, then you got Vega and pregnon, really the only 2 pure Gs I’d take top 45, I feel Vega goes in the first, and someone between 32 and 45 is gonna want the top remaining G in pregnon

If we could trade back and take Vega that would be awesome, but I don’t ever count on that

for me Bisontis is clearly that calibre of prospect too

 

[rossihunter2]

I'm a little late to the convo, but for me...

I absolutely love that he's pretty technically sound and plays with such a strong base. He packs a heavy punch when hitting guys. I feel like I'd never have to worry about him losing a sheer physical battle out there. I've also seen him get better as the game goes on - someone that doesn't wilt under pressure. He's playing every snap to dominate and I feel like it's been a long time since we've had someone on the OL that has that mindset snap to snap.

With that being said, I do see some of the movement concerns, but I think there's plenty enough there for me to consider him a top half of round 1 guy. It's not a hell or high water situation by any means, because if someone with a higher grade is there, I'm taking them. But I think 14 is well within his range and I think he's going to be a very good player.

on my board, he's currently stacked at 18
not a crazy reach but definitely going to be talents i rate higher at 14 than Ioane - and likely talents i have a whole grade tier above too which is my hesitancy about picking him there (not the idea of a G in general)

 

[rossihunter2]

Your analysis speaks to my perception. Thanks for this. I really like Ioane and he’s not a reach at 14 but he’s a status quo pick. Those can be good but he’s the guy if a priority one target like Bain (in my view) falls. He wouldn’t be a bad pick. I just feel like one of those truly elite guys will be there for us at 14.

I also am bullish on this OG class on the second day. I feel supremely confident we’ll get an animal there or be in trade distance.

for me there's definitely a thinning out of OL towards the end of day 2 after the top 15 or so guys
and if the top 10-12 guys are gone before 45 then we could definitely miss out on an OL at 45
i'm just not convinced that all 10 guys are going to be gone

my guess is after the top 4 OL - those other 4 OL projected to go in the 1st round aren't going until late 1 and some might slip into the early day 2 picks (Miller, Lomu) which obviously pushes Pregnon and Bisontis down - and then it's just about how you feel about the next guys

got to get to the rewatches to properly nail down the grades on these day 2 guys but right now I'm bullish on Billy Schrauth and Brian Parker II, and I'm also a fan of Jude Bowry (OT), Keylan Rutledge and Sam Hecht - 45 might be a bit rich for a couple of those guys depending on how i fall ultimately on rewatch but i'm a big fan of at least 2 of those guys right now

 

[JoeyFlex5]

for me there's definitely a thinning out of OL towards the end of day 2 after the top 15 or so guys
and if the top 10-12 guys are gone before 45 then we could definitely miss out on an OL at 45
i'm just not convinced that all 10 guys are going to be gone

my guess is after the top 4 OL - those other 4 OL projected to go in the 1st round aren't going until late 1 and some might slip into the early day 2 picks (Miller, Lomu) which obviously pushes Pregnon and Bisontis down - and then it's just about how you feel about the next guys

got to get to the rewatches to properly nail down the grades on these day 2 guys but right now I'm bullish on Billy Schrauth and Brian Parker II, and I'm also a fan of Jude Bowry (OT), Keylan Rutledge and Sam Hecht - 45 might be a bit rich for a couple of those guys depending on how i fall ultimately on rewatch but i'm a big fan of at least 2 of those guys right now

Haven’t watched a schrauth but I know you’ve been on him for a while now. Also really like Parker and Rutledge

 

[rossihunter2]

Haven’t watched a schrauth but I know you’ve been on him for a while now. Also really like Parker and Rutledge

literally stumbled upon schrauth by accident really early in the process
and he feels almost like aaron banks (also from Notre Dame) in 2021 - a guy who most fans didnt watch because he was down all the media lists deep on day 3 and then went in the 2nd round because that's where his tape said he should go

im sort of expecting schrauth to go day 2 minimum and wouldnt be surprised if he keeps rising all the way up into the 2nd round which is where he is for me

 

[RaineV1]

I kinda want Gennings Dunker just for that amazing mullet.

 

[Argentina Raven]

Tony Pauline says we showed great interest in Kentucky's center, Jager Burton, at his pro day.
He has mobility, good athleticism, and seems to play very upright, with little grounding, but I'll leave that to the experts

 

[All_black_everything]