2026 Pre-Combine OL Overview: Top Prospects, Mid-Tier Value, Late Sleepers (with Dane Brugler)
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Show Notes
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler joined me to break down the 2026 OL class — from top-ranked prospects to mid-tier value and late-round sleepers — with specific player-by-player takes throughout.
Key Takeaways
Why this class creates wide variance team-to-team (position drop-offs + similar grades).
The top OT/OG group: who has the safest floor vs the biggest ceiling bets.
Day 3/late-round OL profiles worth gambling on (traits, development arcs, role fits).
Timestamps
0:00 Intro + why now (Combine list week)0:46 Big-picture class feel: your OL grades vs Dane’s board (top 50/top 100)2:09 Why this draft is tough to rank (drop-offs, tight clusters, team need variance)4:46 “True 1st-round” OL: your 3 vs Dane’s 14 total 1st-round grades6:10 How the top OL order could vary (scheme/value context)
Top OL: early-round targets
7:13 Spencer Fano: movement, balance through contact, run game weaponization10:31 Utah context: heavy run scheme + projection/scheme fit questions11:43 Francis Mauigoa: clean tape early, exposed late; tackle vs guard projection14:31 “Maximized at guard” vs “survive at tackle” (Zack Martin-type framework)16:37 High-variance tackles with upside: Proctor / Lomu / Freeling18:57 Proctor: elite traits vs technique/discipline; positional leverage theme21:06 Why his current pass-pro style may not translate at 350+ (must dictate reps)22:39 Lomu + Freeling: youth, development runway, projection outcomes
Next tier + developmental tackle bets
23:12 Markel Bell (Miami): size/length profile + path to starting25:39 Dane’s view on Bell: just outside top 100 + Senior Bowl context29:25 Arm-length discussion + historical comps (Dawand/long-arm database)31:33 Late bloomer theme (Aamil Wagner example)32:02 Max Iheanachor (Arizona State): late-to-football profile, upside vs readiness33:12 How high is too high to draft a developmental tackle?36:45 Day 3 darts: Isaiah World / Diego Pounds / Crownover38:34 Crownover: Senior Bowl helped; why he rose for you39:10 Aamil Wagner (Notre Dame): swing tackle path; traits/length/“lose slowly” profile41:48 Penn State OL disappointment; Drew Shelton note; Bowery’s Senior Bowl struggles
Interior OL: guards/centers with payoff
42:41 Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M): strength profile + movement/processing upside43:12 “Strongest player he’s ever coached” quote + what shows/doesn’t on film46:13 Bisontis: leverage/technique vs recovery skills; why his ceiling is intriguing48:24 Two upside guards: Keylan Rutledge (GT) + Billy Schrauth (ND)49:06 Schrauth: leverage/power/athletic traits; health is the swing factor50:47 Rutledge: brawler temperament; Senior Bowl versatility reps (incl. center)52:16 Rutledge medical backstory + why Combine checks matter
Popular name vs film reality
54:01 Gennings Dunker: personality buzz vs stiffness/limitations; likely guard projection56:21 Why NFL teams will still like him (mentality, hands, communication)
Late-round interior favorite + Combine list reactions
57:47 Oklahoma IOL (Febechi Nwaiwu): walk-on story, processing, center projection59:45 Combine invite list: surprises + notable omissions (Rucci, others)1:02:05 Wrap + value of the Combine for finishing evals1:03:06 End + tease upcoming draft player interview