Bucs Draft 2026 Preview + Bucs Best Bets: OT

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2026 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds starts this offensive tackle preview by offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at tackle.

Bailey Adams then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top offensive tackle prospects, while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely offensive tackle for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3 and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Offensive Tackle

The Bucs have one of the best duos at offensive tackle in the NFL with All-Pro Tristan Wirfs at left tackle and Luke Goedeke, who has Pro Bowl potential, at right tackle. General manager Jason Licht excels at drafting offensive linemen and Wirfs, a first-round pick in 2020, and Goedeke, a second-round pick in 2022, were two of the best draft selections he’s made in Tampa Bay. Both Wirfs, who is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and Goedeke, make in excess of $22 million per year – and are worth every penny.

Tampa Bay also has one of the best backup situations in the league at offensive tackle. The team found an absolute gem in undrafted free agent Ben Chukwuma out of Georgia State. Chukwuma, who is a native of Nigeria, is new to football with just a few years worth of playing experience under his belt. He’s a great athlete with enough size and potential to be an NFL starter down the road. Chukwuma, who can play both left and right tackle, started two games last year against New Orleans and Miami and held his own for the most part, given his lack of experience.

The Bucs also re-signed veteran Justin Skule this offseason after he spent one season in Minnesota. Skule, like Chukwuma, can play both left and right tackle for Tampa Bay and brings more experience to the table than Chukwuma, although he’s not as gifted of an athlete. Skule is a great locker room fit and is close friends with a lot of the offensive linemen in Tampa Bay. He’s an upgrade over last year’s veteran swing tackle Charlie Heck.

What The Bucs Need At Offensive Tackle

The Bucs simply don’t need an offensive tackle in this year’s draft. They have two elite starters and two very capable backup swing tackles. If the team is going to draft a player who played offensive tackle in college they would probably try to move them inside to play guard in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs have done that in the past with players like Alex Cappa, Cody Mauch and even Luke Goedeke, although his move from college right tackle to NFL left guard quickly failed. Even center Graham Barton, a first-round pick in 2024, was a left tackle in college.

Top Offensive Tackles In 2026 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Miami OT Francis Mauigoa – Junior – 6-6, 327, 5.13

The younger brother of 2025 fifth-round pick and Jets linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, Francis Mauigoa was a three-year starter at Miami at right tackle. He played in and started 42 games for the Hurricanes, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors as a freshman, making Second Team All-ACC as a sophomore and getting named a Consensus All-American and First Team All-ACC selection this past season.

Mauigoa has a thick, dense frame that he draws a whole lot of power from. He distributes that power well, staying in control as a pass blocker and remaining patient with his hands. But while he was on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” and showed plenty on tape at Miami to suggest that he can play right tackle in the NFL, his average arm length as well as foot speed that is good for the interior but just OK for the tackle position could mean his best fit in the pros is at guard.

2. Utah OT Spencer Fano – Junior – 6-6, 311, 4.91

Spencer Fano is the younger brother of fellow 2026 NFL Draft prospect and former BYU defensive end Logan Fano, the nephew of four former pros (Gabe Reid, Spencer Reid, Tenny Palepoi and Anton Palepoi) and the cousin of Broncos linebacker Karene Reid, who was an undrafted free agent a year ago. The 6-foot-6, 311-pounder played in 37 games over three seasons at Utah with 36 starts (25 at right tackle, 11 at left tackle). He was a unanimous All-American and the Outland Trophy winner last year.

Fano is a fluid athlete who can cover a lot of ground beyond the line of scrimmage, displaying good vision to find linebackers and erase them with a high level of aggression. He has good short-area quickness, too, with fast feet allowing him to create the proper depth and giving him space to strike well in his pass sets. His narrow frame could mean a move to guard in the NFL, but if not, his best fit is at right tackle despite the fact that he has experience on the left side, too.

3. Georgia OT Monroe Freeling – Junior – 6-7, 315, 4.93

Freeling is a monster of a man at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, but he was a bit of a late bloomer with the Bulldogs. He played in nine games with zero starts in 2023 and didn’t become a starter until the final five games of the 2024 season. He went on to play 14 games and start 13 at left tackle in 2025 on his way to Second Team All-SEC honors.

Freeling worked hard to add 75 pounds to his frame over the last five years, which helped to maximize his build. He has good play strength, bringing a lot of power as he drives downhill in the run game and using that power to control rushers in pass protection. He was only a starter for one full season, though, which means there are areas in which he still needs to develop. With his frame and athleticism, though, he’s a safe bet to develop with more time and experience.

4. Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor – Junior – 6-7, 352, 5.21

Proctor took an interesting path throughout his college career, first going down to Alabama from just outside of Des Moines, Iowa, where he grew up. He started all 14 games at left tackle as a freshman for the Crimson Tide in 2023, then transferred to Iowa in the spring of 2024… for three months. He wound up returning to Alabama for his sophomore season after all, starting 11 games and earning Second Team All-SEC honors. He then started all 15 games in 2025 on his way to All-American, All-SEC and Jacobs Blocking Trophy honors.

Proctor has a rare explosiveness about him that helps him control defenders and finish blocks, especially in the run game. He sometimes struggles as a pass blocker and can get caught playing too upright in his pass sets, which may contribute to inconsistency in his hand usage. If he can get his feet and hands on the same page and play with better timing, he could round into a dominant player. Even as it stands, his explosiveness, durability (40 games over three seasons) and discipline (zero holding penalties over his last 18 starts) make him a tantalizing prospect with a high ceiling.

5. Clemson OT Blake Miller – Senior – 6-6, 317, 5.04

Miller is someone who seemingly got lost in this class up until recently, when more and more draft analysts have begun to tout him as one of the more underrated players in this class. He’s still young at just 22 years old, yet he started 54 games over the last four years. That’s right, he went wire-to-wire as a starter at Clemson, with 52 starts at right tackle and two starts at left tackle. After a Freshman All-American season in 2022, he was Third Team All-ACC in 2023 and earned First Team selections in both 2024 and 2025.

Miller has prototypical size for an NFL tackle and tested exceptionally well athletically during the pre-draft process, earning a RAS score of 9.94 out of 10. He possesses good play strength, impressive quickness that serves him well as a puller and a strong sense of control in what he’s doing. His toughness is off the charts, too. If he can correct a few small technique issues, he very well could be an instant-impact starter in the NFL this year.

6. Utah OT Caleb Lomu – Redshirt Sophomore – 6-6, 313, 4.99

After redshirting at Utah in 2023, Lomu became a Freshman All-American in 2024 after starting at left tackle in all 12 of the Utes’ games. He once again started all 12 games in 2025, going on to become a First Team All-Big 12 selection. Over his 27 games in college, Lomu displayed very good lateral quickness, good balance and great patience in pass protection. He has the mental side of the position down, too, as he processes what he’s seeing in-game so quickly.

Where Lomu struggles is in the play strength department. Power rushers can knock him back too often and disrupt his timing in pass protection, and he can be too slow off the ball in the run game, which will lose him reps. The fact that he moves so well will catch the attention of NFL scouts, but there’s some improvement needed in terms of both his technique and power before he can reach that next level as an all-around player.

7. Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor – Redshirt Senior – 6-5, 321, 4.91

Iheanachor is a fascinating story. He was born and raised in Nigeria before immigrating to the U.S. at 13 years old. He was a soccer player as a kid and then a basketball player before football became his sport – after high school. He enrolled at East Los Angeles College at 240 pounds, looking to play tight end. Only coaches saw potential for him to play offensive line, and soon enough, he got the attention of Division I coaches. He enrolled at Arizona State in 2023, where he played in 32 games and started 31 at right tackle for the Sun Devils over the last three years.

The build is absolutely there for Iheanachor, and he has some fluidity to him. He plays with an edge, too, which pairs well with his play strength, especially as a run blocker. But understandably given his lack of overall football experience, he’s still a relatively raw prospect who will need to work on his processing and technique to unlock his full potential.

8. Iowa OT Gennings Dunker – Redshirt Senior – 6-5, 319, 5.18

The quintessential Midwesterner with impressive size and a red mullet, Dunker is hard to miss. He redshirted at Iowa in 2021 and only started one game – the Hawkeyes’ bowl game – in 2022, but he became a regular presence at right tackle over the last three years with 37 starts. He dealt with some injury issues over his time in college, with injuries costing him time each year between 2021-2024 until he was able to play the full 13 games this past season.

Dunker is incredibly strong, as evidenced by his back-to-back hay bale toss titles in 2022 and 2023. He set the event record, too, tossing a hay bale (60 pounds) over a bar that was 14-feet-6-inches high. That strength shows up on the field, especially in the run game. He has a lot of pop in his hands and uses his intelligence to his advantage, and that intelligence will help as he likely transitions from tackle to guard at the next level.

9. Northwestern OT Caleb Tiernan – Redshirt Senior – 6-7, 323, N/A

Tiernan is another tackle who has a ton of playing experience. He played in three games for the Wildcats in 2021 before redshirting, then played 11 games (six starts) at right tackle in 2022 before making 38 straight starts at left tackle from 2023-2025. He was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2025 and became a team captain, thanks in large part to his work ethic.

Tiernan is broad-shouldered and has a good frame overall, though his arms are shorter than you would expect given his length. He has good range as a pass blocker, which makes it difficult for defenders to bend around him. His smarts show up all the time as well, especially in the way he identifies and deals with stunts. His technique is largely what helps him win, and while he may be better off as a guard long-term, he could have a chance to develop into a swing tackle in the NFL, too.

10. Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover – Redshirt Senior – 6-7, 319, 5.14

A former tight end, Crownover has a massive wingspan, which helps him cover a lot of area as a blocker. Not to mention, you can see that tight end background in the way he moves. And given his relative inexperience as a tackle, he shows an ability to clear space in the run game and has improved his awareness as a pass protector.

There is still a ways to go for Crownover as he continues to round into form as an offensive tackle. He has very little versatility in that he played 96.1% of his snaps at right tackle, plus he struggled with penalties a whole lot in 2025. He was flagged 11 times, with four holding flags and seven false starts, five of which came on the road. The size and functional strength are there, though, so he makes for an intriguing developmental prospect.

11. Miami OT Markel Bell – Senior – 6-9, 346, 5.36

Bell went from no-star recruit to a likely mid-round draft pick. That takes some grit. He saw junior college as a chance to develop as a prospect out of high school, and he wound up starting for two seasons at left tackle for Holes Community College in Mississippi. From there, he transferred to Miami ahead of the 2024 season and ended up playing 13 games with five starts at left tackle in 2024 before starting all 16 of the Hurricanes’ games in 2025.

Bell has great size and arm length, and he was impressively durable for the Hurricanes this past season, tying Francis Mauigoa for the team lead in snaps on the year. He plays with good power and anchors well, keeping defenders from bending around him. If he can stay consistent and find the right body composition to pair with his length and improving awareness, he could develop into a solid player at the NFL level.

12. Florida OT Austin Barber – Redshirt Senior – 6-6, 318, 5.12

Barber was at Florida for five seasons, redshirting in 2021 before playing in 13 games with five starts at right tackle in 2022. He started all nine games he played in at left tackle in 2023 and finished his career with 25 more starts at left tackle over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The former Florida Gator looks the part of an NFL tackle with his long frame and thickness in both his arms and legs. It’s that frame that helps him play with a physical demeanor, and while his hands are inconsistent and his technique needs some cleaning up, he has the tools to make it at the next level either as a swing tackle or a guard.

Best Of The Rest

13. Boston College OT Jude Bowry – Redshirt Junior – 6-5, 314, 5.08

Bowry has functional size and thickness, and he moves well in space. He had experience at both left and right tackle during his time at Boston College, but he is still raw and will need to develop some areas of his technique. He’s another prospect who could see a move to guard at some point.

14. Boise State OT Kage Casey – Redshirt Junior – 6-5, 310, 5.20

Casey played in 46 games with 41 starts for Boise State between 2022-2025. His smooth movements and good feel for the game show up on tape, but his arm length is less than ideal for an NFL tackle. He projects better as an interior lineman in the NFL, as that will give him a chance to better play to his strengths.

15. Memphis OT Travis Burke – Redshirt Senior – 6-8, 325, 5.17

Over two years at Gardner-Webb, two at Florida International and one at Memphis, Burke played with a lot of power and intensity. He has a mean streak, and while he isn’t the most fluid, his size and overall mass help him put defenders in the dirt. He has tools and could potentially be a swing tackle at the next level given his right/left side versatility. Burke’s stock could be on the rise.

16. Oregon OT Isaiah World – Redshirt Senior – 6-5, 323, N/A

World began his college career with four years at Nevada before he transferred to Oregon and played 15 games for the Ducks in 2025 (14 starts). He made 40 career starts at left tackle and nine at right tackle, and while he is a big dude with good mobility, he is surprisingly raw for a player with as much experience as he had in college.

17. Ole Miss OT Diego Pounds – Redshirt Senior – 6-6, 325, 5.15

Pounds split his five-year collegiate career between North Carolina and Ole Miss, eventually becoming a 32-game starter at left tackle between 2023 (UNC), 2024 and 2025 (Ole Miss). He has the right height, arm length and density to hold up against NFL defenders, especially in pass protection. But improvement as a run blocker is needed for him to maximize his potential.

18. Penn State OT Drew Shelton – Senior – 6-5, 313, 5.16

Shelton played in 48 games over four seasons with 34 starts. He has adequate size and is a natural athlete, but his play strength is a big concern and will need to see significant strides for him to win as a blocker in the NFL. Still, there’s swing tackle potential here despite his inexperience anywhere outside of the left tackle spot.

19. Illinois OT J.C. Davis – Redshirt Senior – 6-4, 322, 5.16

Davis grinded his way from Contra Costa College to New Mexico to Illinois, where he wound up starting 25 games over the last two seasons. He has a sturdy build and above-average arm length, but there are some bad habits he’ll have to break before he can be relied upon as quality depth at tackle or guard, where he saw reps during Senior Bowl week.

20. Notre Dame OT Aamil Wagner – Redshirt Junior – 6-5, 306, 5.01

Wagner has the right size and arm length to succeed, and he was impressively durable at Notre Dame. But he’ll need to fix his balance and be more consistent with his hands to overcome his below-average knee bend and an overall lack of base strength. He was a team captain in 2025 for the Fighting Irish.

Bucs Best Bets – By Scott Reynolds

Rounds 1-3: Iowa RT Gennings Dunker

Let me get this straight. There is a big, strong, tough offensive lineman from Iowa, and he’s a ginger with red hair? Sounds like a Jason Licht-type of offensive lineman, doesn’t it? Well that’s Dunker, who spent his Iowa career playing right tackle, but will likely move inside to guard at the next level because of a lack of elite athleticism. Unless he can prove to be another Luke Goedeke and not just survive, but thrive, at right tackle. Goedeke was initially moved inside because he didn’t have ideal arm length, but overcame that in his second season in Tampa Bay.

Dunker has great size at 6-foot-5, 319 pounds and plays football with a nasty, old school edge. He’d fit right in at guard in Tampa Bay in both on-field temperament and off-field personality. He has the same kind of Midwestern work ethic that has led to success for Goedeke and former Iowa standout Tristan Wirfs. Dunker, who is a mauler in the run game, would likely be a third-round pick and could compete with Ben Bredeson for the starting right guard position as a rookie.

Rounds 4-7: Boise State LT Kage Casey

Casey has been a three-year starter at left tackle for the Broncos where he started for former Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter, who was Boise State’s offensive coordinator from 2022-24. Casey has good size at 6-foot-5, 309 pounds, but probably not ideal size to play tackle in the NFL. He might have to kick inside to guard or center to truly thrive at the next level. Casey is a very smart football player who is very grounded – he’s married – and very business-oriented as he’s totally a student of the game.

Casey is the opposite of Gennings Dunker. He’s more of a technician than a mauler as a lineman. But he rarely makes mistakes and was only penalized three times in three years as a starter at Boise State. Casey is a perfect model of health, as he started the final 41 games of his career without missing a start due to injury. He lacks experience at guard outside of playing some snaps there at the Senior Bowl, so there may be a learning curve for him past college, especially given the fact that he doesn’t have elite quickness. Casey figures to get drafted on Day 3 somewhere between the fourth and fifth rounds.