One of the best tackle prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft went down with an injury this past weekend: Texas offensive tackle Trevor Goosby. Goosby was regarded as a first-round pick and the best offensive lineman for the Longhorns. He’ll miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
It’s unclear if Goosby will return to Texas, enter the draft or return to school. With a big question mark next to his name, it’s a good time to check in on the rest of the offensive tackle class and figure out who can go in the first couple of rounds.
Every year, NFL teams desperately need offensive line help or depth. We see multiple teams reach on tackles, hoping they can develop them into a quality starter for a decade. Here’s how the offensive tackle class shapes up after the injury to Goosby.
First Round Talents
Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
LSU has been up and down this year, and so has Seaton. He’s a rare athlete for an offensive lineman with his explosive lower half and elite balance. The tape, though, has been mixed on pass pro throughout the season.
Seaton’s main areas for improvement coming into the year were handling power and consistency in his pass sets. There have been some instances this year where he gets completely knocked off his set, losing through the chest, which isn’t something you want to see from a first-round tackle.
Still, the size mixed with athleticism will have an NFL team ready to spend a top 15 pick on him.
Zereoue Williams, OT, Utah
The story of Williams is interesting. He’s been on the Utah depth chart for years, but in his final year of eligibility, he has gotten the chance to start. Throughout this season for the Utes, he’s played himself into first-round conversations.
Williams has struggled in the run game at times, but his pass protection is the cleanest in this class. The balance to stay on the balls of his feet and keep his chest up is rare stuff. He can match rushers on the outside or inside and it looks effortless every time.
There have been questionable reps in the run game in space, but when he’s asked to work on down blocks, Williams moves people.
Lance Heard, OT, Kentucky
Size alone will get Heard drafted in the first round. He’s 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds with a thick lower half that’s hard to ignore. Heard is a nasty run-game player who will drive people out of the way when asked to pull. The arm length pops on tape, and he’ll no doubt have the arm length to survive in the NFL.
Coming into the year, pass protection was a major concern within his game, but he hasn’t given up a sack yet. Heard has gone against some of the top names in this next draft, like Alabama edge Yhonzae Pierre and LSU’s duo of Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross. He shut them all out, giving up just four pressures during those contests.
He has risen to the occasion this season and is playing like one of the best tackles in this country.
Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
There’s a debate on whether Lauck should kick inside at the next level, but he’s a tackle at Iowa, so we’ll regard him as a tackle. He’s a smart player who gives good effort and uses his hands well. Watching Lauck, it feels like he never strikes in the same spots or at the same time. His punch timing seems to confuse pass rushes when they attack him, showing how smart he can be on the outside.
The footwork stands out as well. Whether it’s in pass pro or working in the run game, Lauck is precise. While the punches are creative, the arm length is a concern for the next level, which is why some have Lauck moving to the inside. Reality is, Lauck hasn’t given up a sack in his college career, so he’s a reliable guy on the outside – just a matter of whether the NFL views him the same way.
Day 2 options
Samson Okunlola, OT, Miami
Okunlola rotated in at left guard last season for Miami, but shifted out to tackle for the 2026 season. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, he shows elite athleticism for his size. His feet are quick and balanced throughout his pass pro, matching wherever a rusher tries to go.
He’ll be a popular option on Day 2, or late Day 1, but the main concern with his game is getting rushed through the chest. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles true power the rest of the way.
Elijah Paige, OT, USC
When it comes to playing tackle, size matters. Paige has that size at 6-foot-7 and 316 pounds. That size shows in his pass pro, with his wide base engulfing rushers when they try to collapse on him. With the longer arms, he can engage first most of the time, and from there he’s won the rep.
The issue with being that big on the frame is that speed rushers can beat you, and naturally the lower man wins in football. There are some reps where his pads are too high, which lets him get beat through the chest or to the outside if he can’t get his hands on. He can fix these with proper coaching at the next level and as he matures as a football player.
Jacarrius Peak, OT, South Carolina
It’s never easy to come into the season with an injury, but Peak did. He returned in Week 3 and had to knock some rust off, but he’s looking like the top 50 tackle many expected coming into the season.
Many guys on this list are here for their size, but for Peak, it’s athleticism. He’s a little undersized at the position, weighing around 290 pounds and having a lanky frame, but he moves for his size. He can get out and make duo blocks with ease, climbing up to the second level and working in zone schemes. Pads always seem low when you watch him, and his hands are fast and can reset when needed. Size is the only real question for Peak.
PJ Williams, OT, SMU
If you erase the five-pressure performance Williams had against Louisville, then he’s been pretty solid this season. Louisville edge rusher Clev Lubin absolutely worked him throughout their matchup, consistently winning through the chest, inside or outside. The main reason for that? Balance. It’s something Williams struggles with on the outside, but the length and athleticism are intriguing.
It’ll be interesting to see how Williams closes out this season, because NFL personnel will rewatch that performance against Lubin plenty. If he finishes clean, he could land in this Day 2 range or early Day 3 because of his frame and arm length.
Melvin Siani, OT, Texas
Siani came into the year as a major stock-up candidate coming from Wake Forest to Texas. He started the season cleanly, with strong performances against Ohio State, but has recently started to slip. He has had multiple misses in the run game, and he has been struggling against power on that right side of the Texas offensive line.
At 6-foot-6 and 316 pounds, his size, yet again, will intrigue NFL teams. At the end of the day, you can’t teach size, and despite the struggles, Siani still has a light, explosive lower half that an NFL team can mold. His arm length is promising, and he pops in pass pro. He needs to get more efficient with his movement and overall punch timing.
Niki Prongos, OT, Stanford
Stanford has been rough to watch this season, but Prongos hasn’t. He started the year missing games with an injury, but has been consistent ever since. Prongos has given up zero sacks and three pressures in five games started this season for the Cardinal.
Prongos’ natural athleticism stands out, backed by his multi-sport background. His ability to get low and explode in the run game is a treat to watch on tape. His hands are surprisingly reactive in his pass sets, which has helped him win in the pass game easily. Balance, wide base and quickness all pop as well.
If there were one candidate to rise the ranks into Day 1, it’d be Prongos. A lot of people don’t have their eyes on Stanford because, well, it’s Stanford, but once springtime hits, Prongos will get love.
Sports360AZ
