Interior offensive line rarely gets the spotlight on draft night. No one throws a party when a guard gets called. But ask any offensive coordinator - or any quarterback who's ever been hurried on third-and-seven - and they'll tell you: the trenches win games.
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, Sweet Science Sports has gone deep on the IOL class, cross-referencing our evaluations against what scouts are saying around the league. Here's the full breakdown.
TIER 1 - ELITE
1. Olaivavega Ioane
Scout consensus: First-round talent. Plug-and-play starter.
There's a clear gap at the top of this class, and Ioane is standing alone at the head of it. Elite in pass protection, dominant in the run game, and remarkably clean on tape - the kind of film that makes evaluators exhale. He gave up almost nothing in pass blocking across his college career, which is the kind of résumé that makes NFL front offices move fast. He's not a project. He's the answer.
S³ Simple Take: The best IOL in this class. Period.
TIER 2 - FIRST/SECOND ROUND PICKS
2. Connor Lew
Scout consensus: Smart, technical center with legitimate starter potential.
Lew doesn't blow up highlight reels, but he doesn't need to. He's the guy who makes the pre-snap protection call that keeps the quarterback clean before the ball is even snapped. Exceptional communication, elite awareness, and a reliable anchor make him a franchise center in the making - if his body holds up. He's coming off an ACL, and the physical limitations are real. But the football IQ? That's generational.
S³ Simple Take: The safest pick in the class. High-IQ, low-drama.
3. Trey Zuhn III
Scout consensus: Athletic, versatile - capable of playing multiple positions along the interior.
Zuhn is tailor-made for a zone-blocking scheme. He moves exceptionally well for his size, can get to the second level, and has the athleticism that modern offenses covet. The concern is structural - short arms and occasional leverage issues could expose him against power rushers at the next level. But in the right system, he's a multi-year starter.
S³ Simple Take: Developmental starter with real upside in the right scheme.
4. Chase Bisontis
Scout consensus: Top-40 talent. Size, balance, and pass-blocking ability that checks every box.
The boom-or-bust guy of this class. When Bisontis is locked in, he looks like a franchise cornerstone - balanced, physical, technically sound in pass protection. When he's not? The run-blocking inconsistencies stand out. Every team that drafts him is betting on the ceiling. Some will be right.
S³ Simple Take: Highest upside in the class. Boom or bust - and we're betting on boom.
TIER 3 - SOLID MID-TIER (STARTER POTENTIAL)
5. Emmanuel Pregnon
Scout consensus: Strong, physical guard who brings power and toughness every snap.
Pregnon isn't winning any technique awards, but he makes up for it with physicality. Pad level and hand placement need refinement, but when he gets his hands on a defender, it usually ends one way. He's a run-game bully, and every team needs one.
S³ Simple Take: The guy your running back loves.
6. Kage Casey
Scout consensus: Big, athletic with legitimate upside.
This is a traits-over-polish evaluation, and that's not necessarily a criticism. Casey has the physical tools. Whether the technique catches up to the athleticism will determine if he becomes a starter or a backup.
7. Carver Willis
Scout consensus: Reliable depth piece with starting upside.
No flash, no drama. Willis shows up, does his job, and doesn't make plays that end up on the wrong highlight reel. That's a feature, not a bug.
8. Gennings Dunker
Scout consensus: Fundamentally sound - the Iowa mold of lineman.
Dunker is the high-floor guy in this class. Won't wow you on draft night, but he'll still be starting in Year 5 while more athletically gifted players cycle through rosters.
S³ Simple Take: The coach's definition of dependable.
9. Billy Schrauth
Scout consensus: Smart, technically clean lineman who wins with fundamentals.
Schrauth knows what he is and executes accordingly. Coaching staffs love him. That counts for more than most people realize.
TIER 4 - ROLE / SCHEME PLAYERS
10. Parker Brailsford
Scout consensus: Undersized but quick.
Brailsford's value is scheme-specific. In a zone-blocking system, he's a starter. In a power/gap scheme, he's a liability. Front offices need to answer one question before drafting him: what are we running?
11. Keylan Rutledge
Scout consensus: Strong, aggressive, and physical.
S³ Simple Take: The sleeper of this class. Day 3 steal potential.
12. Jake Slaughter
Scout consensus: Experienced player with a clearly defined ceiling.
What you see is what you get - and that's still useful depth.
13. Brian Parker II
Scout consensus: Interior move likely coming.
Parker's best football may be at a different position than where he's been playing. Position-switch upside is real.
14. Logan Jones
Scout consensus: Athletic center, moves well in space.
The concern is pure strength. Jones can do everything except dominate at the point of attack, which matters at the NFL level.
TIER 5 - LATE ROUND / DEPTH
| Pick | Player | S³ Note |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Jager Burton | Tough, gritty SEC product |
| 16 | Matt Gulbin | Experienced, developmental ceiling |
| 17 | Chris Adams | Raw traits worth a flier |
| 18 | Keagen Trost | Depth piece |
| 19 | Ar'maj Reed-Adams | Physical - could outperform his ranking |
S³ FINAL WORD
This IOL class doesn't have the depth of recent years, but the top end is legitimate. Ioane is a true first-round talent with a gap between him and everyone else. Lew and Bisontis represent two very different kinds of value - safety vs. upside - and both have a case depending on what your team needs.
For teams in win-now mode: take Lew. For teams building a line around an identity: swing on Bisontis. And if Rutledge falls to Day 3, don't let him slip past you.
The trenches don't get the cameras. But they get the rings.
- Sweet Science Sports Draft Desk
