All articles tagged with #offensive tackle
Rookie Max Iheanachor has stood out in Steelers training camp, showing rapid development once pads are on and drawing praise for his athleticism against speed rushers like Nick Herbig, signaling a potential opening-day start at right tackle amid competition with Dylan Cook and the injured Broderick Jones.
The Chicago Bears signed offensive tackle Darnell Wright to a four-year, $116 million contract with $93 million guaranteed, anchoring their offensive line through the 2029 season and making Wright one of the league’s highest-paid linemen; Wright, a 2023 first-round pick and 2025 AP Second-Team All-Pro, had been under a fifth-year option through 2027.
The Minnesota Vikings signed right tackle Brian O’Neill to a four-year extension through 2030, reportedly worth $96 million per Adam Schefter, cementing the team’s left-right tackle duo after O’Neill’s 120 starts in 124 games since being drafted in 2018, with Christian Darrisaw under contract through 2029.
Kansas City heads into 2026 with unsettled tackle play after a long string of moving parts. The starter duo is expected to be Josh Simmons and Jaylon Moore, but health and consistency are major questions: Simmons has shown potential but has battled injuries and personal absences, while Moore has never started more than six games and struggles in pass protection. Behind them, swing-tackle depth is uncertain with Esa Pole, Chu Godrick, and rookie Kahlil Benson in the mix, and the Chiefs did not add a clear veteran anchor this offseason, leaving swing-tackle roles as a potential season-dependent variable.
The Kansas City Chiefs traded offensive tackle Wanya Morris to the Atlanta Falcons, in exchange for a 2027 sixth‑round pick while Atlanta receives a 2027 seventh‑round pick in a draft‑pick swap. Morris, a 2023 third‑rounder who started 16 of 43 games for KC, could compete for Atlanta’s right tackle with Jawaan Taylor after Kaleb McGary’s retirement, and the deal appears to lock in 2025 first‑rounder Josh Simmons and veteran Jaylon Moore as likely RT options.
With a declined fifth-year option and a crowded tackle room, former Steelers lineman Trai Essex says Broderick Jones should consider requesting a trade to protect his value, noting his youth and athleticism could fetch a mid-round return if he clears medically after neck surgery; Pittsburgh could move him for depth, potentially to a team like Buffalo, though co-host Charlie Batch remains skeptical about a move.
Pride of Detroit staff roundtable debates the Lions' 2026 picks and converges on Blake Miller as their favorite, praising his fit, cost-effective selection at 17, and potential to start at right tackle after Taylor Decker. While Miller is the clear pick for most, Jeremy Reisman notes Keith Abney as a potential late-round starter, underscoring the value of late-round steals in a thinner class.
San Francisco used its final 2026 draft pick to select Kansas offensive tackle Enrique Cruz Jr. in the fifth round (No. 179), adding a developmental projection behind starters Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz. Cruz is a 6'6", 313-pound lineman who ran 4.94 in the 40 at the combine, started at left tackle for Syracuse before moving to right tackle at Kansas and earned honorable mention All-Big 12. He projects as depth with the potential to develop on the bench or practice squad, while Vederian Lowe remains the swing tackle and Carver Willis was picked earlier in the draft; the 49ers also balanced the class with eight total selections after trading up from six.
With the 179th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Enrique Cruz Jr., an offensive tackle from Kansas who previously played at Syracuse. Cruz started 18 games at Syracuse (15 at left tackle, 3 at right tackle) before transferring to Kansas in 2025, where he started all 12 games at right tackle and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. At the NFL Combine he showcased length and athleticism (6-foot-5, 313 pounds; third among OTs with an athleticism score of 91), pairing explosive power with solid footwork and balance that projects to the pro game.
On Day 2 the Eagles added tight end Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt) at 54 and tackle Markel Bell (Miami) at 68, then traded two 2026 third-round picks and a 2027 seventh for edge defender Jonathan Greenard, who signed a four-year, $98 million deal. Stowers offers elite athleticism but needs blocker development; Bell provides rare size and versatility, potentially starting later if development goes well; Greenard could be a meaningful rush contributor if he returns to form. Grades given in the piece: Stowers B+, Bell B, Trade B.
Philadelphia selected Markel Bell, a 6'9", 346-pound Miami offensive tackle, with the No. 68 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bell is a raw, highly lengthened developmental prospect whose athletic testing wasn’t strong; he figures as a long-term swing tackle behind Jordan Mailata and a potential future starter if coaching unlocks his frame and technique.
With the 68th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Miami offensive tackle Markel Bell. Bell stands 6'9" tall and weighs 346 pounds, presenting a massive blocking presence with surprisingly good movement for his size; he played left tackle at Miami and is expected to be developed at right tackle behind Lane Johnson, as the Eagles maintain a preference for massive linemen even amid a new offensive scheme and the departure of longtime OL coach Jeff Stoutland.
Cleveland Browns’ first‑round tackle Spencer Fano says he’s glad he won’t have to block Myles Garrett on Sundays, noting that daily practice against Garrett should accelerate his development as a rookie.
The Miami Dolphins drafted Kadyn Proctor despite Nick Saban's warning about his weight discipline, passing on Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr. after trading down for extra picks; the plan is for Proctor, paired with Patrick Paul, to form a strong tackle duo, with his Krispy nickname rooted in his Krispy Kreme donuts habit.
New England traded up to select Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round, a developmental blocker for Drake Maye; Lomu is one of two Utah tackles taken in the round, continuing the Patriots’ recent focus on strengthening the offensive line.