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

Offensive line help is an expensive proposition on Sundays -- especially in an offseason where Tyler Linderbaum reset the market for interior linemen with a $27 million annual salary. Fortunately, the 2026 NFL Draft is dense with talent who can be immediate contributors on inexpensive rookie contracts. The biggest bargains can be found at tackle.

This spring doesn't boast a banner crop of blocking help, but we're sure to see a handful of first round selections and more than a dozen linemen snapped off the board before the third round wraps up Friday night. That includes blindside protectors who'll be able to take on starring roles in the pros as well as some college tackles likely to kick inside due to potential limitations. Who's this year's top lineman prospect?

Which players could be found money in the later days of the draft? Let's dig in. The stud: Spencer Fano, Utah Francis Mauigoa is the favorite to be the first offensive lineman off the draft board.

Monroe Freeling has rocketed up the rankings after a dazzling combine performance. But Fano looks like the safest bet as a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who could be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade. 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.