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Florida Gators offensive tackle Austin Barber and defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp are already drawing first-round NFL draft attention.
In The Athletic's early 2026 NFL mock draft by Dane Brugler, Barber is projected to go No. 9 overall to the Cleveland Browns, while Sapp is slotted at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both players are poised to anchor a Florida team that looks ready to take a major leap in 2025.
Barber, a 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle, earned high praise for his athleticism and ability to finish blocks at the second level. Brugler noted Barber's quickness in space and technical strength, making him a prime candidate to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board next April.
Meanwhile, Sapp–already a veteran leader of Florida's defense–stood out on tape during key games late last season, especially against the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida State Seminoles. With his explosive first step and ability to win matchups inside and off the edge, Sapp is expected to lead the Gators' defensive front in 2025.
Here is everything The Athletic wrote about Florida football's Barber and Sapp.
"A good-looking athlete at 6-6, 315, Barber shows off his range on pulls and climbs, and he is able to torque defenders off balance once he latches. He could interest a team such as the Browns, who have long-term question marks at left and right tackle."
"While studying the Florida defense late last season, I routinely came across Sapp standing out on the Ole Miss and Florida State tapes. At 6-2, 275, he should be the leader of the Gators’ defense in 2025."
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida's Austin Barber, Tyreak Sapp projected first-round NFL picks
Continue reading...
In The Athletic's early 2026 NFL mock draft by Dane Brugler, Barber is projected to go No. 9 overall to the Cleveland Browns, while Sapp is slotted at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both players are poised to anchor a Florida team that looks ready to take a major leap in 2025.
Barber, a 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle, earned high praise for his athleticism and ability to finish blocks at the second level. Brugler noted Barber's quickness in space and technical strength, making him a prime candidate to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board next April.
Meanwhile, Sapp–already a veteran leader of Florida's defense–stood out on tape during key games late last season, especially against the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida State Seminoles. With his explosive first step and ability to win matchups inside and off the edge, Sapp is expected to lead the Gators' defensive front in 2025.
Here is everything The Athletic wrote about Florida football's Barber and Sapp.
What The Athletic said about Barber and Sapp
9. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Austin Barber, OT, Florida
"A good-looking athlete at 6-6, 315, Barber shows off his range on pulls and climbs, and he is able to torque defenders off balance once he latches. He could interest a team such as the Browns, who have long-term question marks at left and right tackle."
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Tyreak Sapp, Edge, Florida
"While studying the Florida defense late last season, I routinely came across Sapp standing out on the Ole Miss and Florida State tapes. At 6-2, 275, he should be the leader of the Gators’ defense in 2025."
The Athletic's 2026 NFL mock draft top 10
- Matayo Uiagalelei (Edge, Oregon Ducks): New England Patriots
- Austin Barber (OT, Florida Gators): Cleveland Browns
- Kadyn Proctor (OT, Alabama Crimson Tide): Indianapolis Colts
- Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State Buckeyes): Las Vegas Raiders
- Keldric Faulk (DT, Auburn Tigers): Carolina Panthers
- Drew Allar (QB, Penn State Nittany Lions): Cleveland Browns
- T.J. Parker (Edge, Clemson Tigers): Tennessee Titans
- Spencer Fano (OT, Utah Utes): New York Giants
- LaNorris Sellers (QB, South Carolina Gamecocks): New York Jets
- Arch Manning (QB, Texas Longhorns): New Orleans Saints
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida's Austin Barber, Tyreak Sapp projected first-round NFL picks
Continue reading...
