This is not an unusually strong pool of OTs. So why all the OT talk? The interest has 3 primary causes; need, free agency and injury. Several teams are like the Cards. They don’t have an established starter with whom they are wholly confident. Looking at the Cards, Wilkinson would be the starter if the season began today. He’s viewed as more of a placeholder than a quality starter. I believe he was acquired to play if the Cards ended up selecting a developmental RT who shouldn’t start immediately. Teams like the Pack lost a starter in free agency. Some teams have starters who are already damaged. Plus with 17 games now it’s almost a certainty at least one tackle will miss one or more games.
This class breaks down into 3 groups. The first group is likely immediate, secure starters. This is not to say they don’t have issues. Rather it means they have enough skills to start without hurting their team dramatically or ruining their confidence. I put only 2 players in this category.
Starters
Mauigoa is the top player on most lists. He’s aggressive and loves to hit people. He’s already a useful run blocker. He’s agile enough that by adding strength, he should become a dominant drive blocker. He’s decent at pass blocking, but figures to be challenged by speed rushers attacking him outside. He’s a solid fit for the Cards, but not a certain Pro Bowler. Additionally he’s an exceptional anchor. Bull rushers will not get passed him. He’ll remind old time Cards’ fans of the mean guys who once populated the line. He still needs work on mirroring and hand placement. Mauigoa is much more athletic than most think. He’s a very safe pick.
Fano is rated by some as the top tackle. He’s played LT and RT, but looks much better at RT. His admirers tout his balanced competency between run and pass blocking. At the moment he lacks the strength to fully control top power rushers and while agile is not the rushing force Mauigoa is. If you’re a combine fan he topped the tackles in the 3 cone drill. It’s believed by several scouts to be the best indicator of line skill. He displays great lateral movement due to superior footwork. It’s conceivable he is better than Mauigoa in the long run, but as they stand now Mauigoa would help the Cards more immediately. He’s another nasty guy but not as mean as Mauigoa. They’re different players but this guy should be a solid tackle for years.
Group Two could start in 2026 if a disaster occurred or if they were very fast learners. The group below is ordered by who could start the quickest.
Developmental Prospects
Proctor might be the physically most impressive player. His athleticism is top tier. He likely is the most ready to play if pressed into service at LT. He’s one of those players who’s gotten by on natural talent rather than technique development. For example, he is not a good second level blocker yet. He is a rock solid anchor. Proctor is also an exceptional first level, run blocker with a punch that has unbalanced numerous rushers. He takes pride in staying on targets until the whistle. He’s also in this group because he struggles to laterally redirect. He gets beat in the B gap sometimes because of this. Additionally he needs to get in better shape because he wears down. The other Cardinal concern is he’s only played LT and my understanding is that’s all he wants to play. So, he’s not a good fit. Even if he’d be happy at RT, his lack of experience there might present issues. I’d go with Lomu even though he’s also only a LT.
Lomu has the best lateral quickness in this group. His footwork is outstanding. He has great composure and is able to adjust to agile rushers and complex attack schemes. Like most of these guys he’s very smart. He’s the most agile puller in this group with a great first step. He’s also the best at executing cross blocks and traps. While he’s only played LT, he is so athletic he can master the transition. Only a 2 year player, he has tons of upside. Lomu does need to add weight and power. He could be ready to play regularly by midseason, potentially playing at a high level for a rookie.
Miller is easily the most experienced RT in the pool. He played 3,778 snaps, virtually all at RT. He’s seen most everything. Of this group he’d be the most able rookie starter by midseason. He wouldn’t star, but he wouldn’t embarrass himself. He’s tough and never quits on a play. Miller is the ultimate teammate. If uncovered he always moves to assist others. He’s a decent puller who can hit on the move. He needs to increase his power more than the others in this group. He can be overly aggressive and get himself off balance. The top defenders will school him, but he should adjust. He’s very sound as a pass blocker as he mirrors with precision despite schemes. He’s been astonishingly durable. The type of guy who could play solidly for 10 years.
Freeling has played both RT & LT. he’s the best athlete of this group. This guy had amazing holding avoidance in college being flagged for it only once when starting. His current strength is in pass protection. He’s has excellent balance and reach. This guy looks a little better statistically than he played, but he’s all upside due to inexperience. He should reflect better technique by now, but still should develop albeit perhaps slowly. It may take patience. Some have him rated second in this pool. I have him fourth. He doesn’t have the nastiness I like. I really wouldn’t start him immediately. He could be easily ruined and with limited college starts his durability is untested.
Longer Term Developmental Prospects
Iheanachor has a way to go before I’d start him. Virtually all of his experience is at RT. Many a player at his level has been broken by being forced to start regularly too soon. Give him time to develop and you should get a good player. If you start him early he’ll likely be a flag fest. He struggles sometimes with leverage and hand placement. He does have quick hands, so it’s technique and experience. He also has excellent footwork and is hard to just blow by. He’s best as a pass blocker but needs a lot of work on run blocking. He needs to pull smoother and be more effective hitting people on the move. He often gets contact but not impact. This is the kind of guy Wilkinson could allow to develop. He does have the mean gene.
Tiernan is a guard in my estimation, but could also be useful as a swing tackle for brief periods. He’s played LT & RT decently. Pass protection is his best skill and he anchors decently. Though short arms cause difficulty with speed rushers. He has leadership skills and was good at identifying stunts and blitzes. He has a super work ethic, but needs to get meaner. He lacks leg strength and too often gets tied up by defenders.
There are a few other guys being mentioned. Two are top heavy 6’9” guys who need tons of development and even then becoming a starter is highly questionable. The other guys are most likely going to end up being guards IMO. Coming attractions: 2027 QBs.
This class breaks down into 3 groups. The first group is likely immediate, secure starters. This is not to say they don’t have issues. Rather it means they have enough skills to start without hurting their team dramatically or ruining their confidence. I put only 2 players in this category.
Starters
Mauigoa is the top player on most lists. He’s aggressive and loves to hit people. He’s already a useful run blocker. He’s agile enough that by adding strength, he should become a dominant drive blocker. He’s decent at pass blocking, but figures to be challenged by speed rushers attacking him outside. He’s a solid fit for the Cards, but not a certain Pro Bowler. Additionally he’s an exceptional anchor. Bull rushers will not get passed him. He’ll remind old time Cards’ fans of the mean guys who once populated the line. He still needs work on mirroring and hand placement. Mauigoa is much more athletic than most think. He’s a very safe pick.
Fano is rated by some as the top tackle. He’s played LT and RT, but looks much better at RT. His admirers tout his balanced competency between run and pass blocking. At the moment he lacks the strength to fully control top power rushers and while agile is not the rushing force Mauigoa is. If you’re a combine fan he topped the tackles in the 3 cone drill. It’s believed by several scouts to be the best indicator of line skill. He displays great lateral movement due to superior footwork. It’s conceivable he is better than Mauigoa in the long run, but as they stand now Mauigoa would help the Cards more immediately. He’s another nasty guy but not as mean as Mauigoa. They’re different players but this guy should be a solid tackle for years.
Group Two could start in 2026 if a disaster occurred or if they were very fast learners. The group below is ordered by who could start the quickest.
Developmental Prospects
Proctor might be the physically most impressive player. His athleticism is top tier. He likely is the most ready to play if pressed into service at LT. He’s one of those players who’s gotten by on natural talent rather than technique development. For example, he is not a good second level blocker yet. He is a rock solid anchor. Proctor is also an exceptional first level, run blocker with a punch that has unbalanced numerous rushers. He takes pride in staying on targets until the whistle. He’s also in this group because he struggles to laterally redirect. He gets beat in the B gap sometimes because of this. Additionally he needs to get in better shape because he wears down. The other Cardinal concern is he’s only played LT and my understanding is that’s all he wants to play. So, he’s not a good fit. Even if he’d be happy at RT, his lack of experience there might present issues. I’d go with Lomu even though he’s also only a LT.
Lomu has the best lateral quickness in this group. His footwork is outstanding. He has great composure and is able to adjust to agile rushers and complex attack schemes. Like most of these guys he’s very smart. He’s the most agile puller in this group with a great first step. He’s also the best at executing cross blocks and traps. While he’s only played LT, he is so athletic he can master the transition. Only a 2 year player, he has tons of upside. Lomu does need to add weight and power. He could be ready to play regularly by midseason, potentially playing at a high level for a rookie.
Miller is easily the most experienced RT in the pool. He played 3,778 snaps, virtually all at RT. He’s seen most everything. Of this group he’d be the most able rookie starter by midseason. He wouldn’t star, but he wouldn’t embarrass himself. He’s tough and never quits on a play. Miller is the ultimate teammate. If uncovered he always moves to assist others. He’s a decent puller who can hit on the move. He needs to increase his power more than the others in this group. He can be overly aggressive and get himself off balance. The top defenders will school him, but he should adjust. He’s very sound as a pass blocker as he mirrors with precision despite schemes. He’s been astonishingly durable. The type of guy who could play solidly for 10 years.
Freeling has played both RT & LT. he’s the best athlete of this group. This guy had amazing holding avoidance in college being flagged for it only once when starting. His current strength is in pass protection. He’s has excellent balance and reach. This guy looks a little better statistically than he played, but he’s all upside due to inexperience. He should reflect better technique by now, but still should develop albeit perhaps slowly. It may take patience. Some have him rated second in this pool. I have him fourth. He doesn’t have the nastiness I like. I really wouldn’t start him immediately. He could be easily ruined and with limited college starts his durability is untested.
Longer Term Developmental Prospects
Iheanachor has a way to go before I’d start him. Virtually all of his experience is at RT. Many a player at his level has been broken by being forced to start regularly too soon. Give him time to develop and you should get a good player. If you start him early he’ll likely be a flag fest. He struggles sometimes with leverage and hand placement. He does have quick hands, so it’s technique and experience. He also has excellent footwork and is hard to just blow by. He’s best as a pass blocker but needs a lot of work on run blocking. He needs to pull smoother and be more effective hitting people on the move. He often gets contact but not impact. This is the kind of guy Wilkinson could allow to develop. He does have the mean gene.
Tiernan is a guard in my estimation, but could also be useful as a swing tackle for brief periods. He’s played LT & RT decently. Pass protection is his best skill and he anchors decently. Though short arms cause difficulty with speed rushers. He has leadership skills and was good at identifying stunts and blitzes. He has a super work ethic, but needs to get meaner. He lacks leg strength and too often gets tied up by defenders.
There are a few other guys being mentioned. Two are top heavy 6’9” guys who need tons of development and even then becoming a starter is highly questionable. The other guys are most likely going to end up being guards IMO. Coming attractions: 2027 QBs.
