In any NFL Draft class, predicting which sleeper prospects could take the league by storm is always fun. And with a promising crop of prospects in the pipeline, the 2026 NFL Draft is no exception.
In recent years, players like Puka Nacua, Brock Purdy, Kyren Williams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown have risen from Day 3 draft picks to Pro Bowlers. On the offensive line, late-round selections such as Trey Smith, Wyatt Teller, and Tyler Biadasz have also earned Pro Bowl honors.
As the 2025 college football season approaches, several offensive linemen have cemented their elite status. But who are the underrated blockers quietly rising on NFL draft boards? Here’s a look at five sleeper offensive line prospects to watch ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Aamil Wagner, OT, Notre Dame
It’s hard to consider a Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman as a sleeper, but that feels like the case with Aamil Wagner. Amidst the 2026 NFL Draft hype for players like Jeremiyah Love and Christian Gray, he is an impressive talent who belongs in those same early-round conversations.
Wagner is a lengthy offensive tackle with a large wingspan that helps keep edge rushers at bay from within his frame. He’s a fantastic athlete at right tackle, exploding into his kickslide off the snap and showing off excellent agility and lateral quickness in pass protection.
Aamil Wagner dropped this elite highlight reel on his IG account today.. pic.twitter.com/t5BE5WxhQD
— Bruce Straughan (@bruce_straughan) April 17, 2025
As a run blocker, Wagner offers zone-gap versatility from Notre Dame’s diverse running scheme. He’s a coordinated move blocker with excellent body control, footwork, and possesses precise angles on the go. He also demonstrates solid spatial awareness, enabling him to understand his assignments and pick up work as needed.
Wagner is a bit skinny for his position at 6’6″ and 293 pounds. That is evident in his average play strength and his inability to push run defenders off the ball consistently. If he can pack on 10 to 15 pounds of muscle without sacrificing his athleticism, you’re looking at a future early-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
Playing alongside 2025 Chicago Bears’ second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo last year, Jude Bowry had much to live up to as the Boston College Eagles’ left tackle. Luckily for him, he did that and then some last season.
Bowry shows impressive length and a well-built frame on film. His explosiveness into his kickslide and lateral quickness give him standout range in pass protection. He plays with a broad base and holds a strong anchor at the point of attack, making him challenging to move.
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When reaching the second level, Bowry is fast enough to get his hands on linebackers but coordinated enough to break down and take proper angles to seal them off in the run game. He uses his hands well, blocking on the move as well.
As was an issue for Trapilo, Bowry can struggle with the pad level. He doesn’t generate an ideal knee bend and often plays with a high center of gravity. He’s also shorter than Trapilo, which makes an inability to get low a concern. If he works on his weight distribution, Bowry is athletic and poised enough for early-round consideration in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Davion Carter, OG, Texas Tech
Texas Tech dominated the transfer portal in 2025, bringing in future NFL players such as David Bailey, Lee Hunter, Cole Wisniewski, and Hunter Zambrano. However, one of my favorite 2026 NFL Draft prospects on their team is incumbent starting right guard Davion Carter.
Highest Graded Pass Blockers This Season💪 pic.twitter.com/0kDqY2Vghi
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 6, 2024
Carter will be a four-year collegiate starter by the end of 2025, having started two years at Memphis and entering his second year as a starter at Texas Tech. He’s an explosive guard prospect who climbs to the second level with impressive quickness and body control. His coordination on down and reach blocks is very encouraging.
With his experienced resume, it’s no surprise that Carter is an intelligent zone-run blocker with good spatial awareness in pass protection. The big problem with him is size, as he’s listed at just 6’0″ and 295 pounds. Willie Lampkin went through similar frame concerns and went undrafted in 2025. However, Carter had great tape last year and deserves recognition.
Tellek Lockette, OG, Texas State
Texas State had an offensive lineman reach the NFL this year when Nash Jones signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. I think they get another lineman into the league in 2026 with Tellek Lockette.
Lockette is a powerful, stout guard prospect who keeps his pads low and his knees bent to maximize his strength and stand his ground. He has a strong anchor and packs a mean punch at the point of attack. His experience is evident in his hand usage, as he’s active in obtaining inside placement and accurate in his strikes.
Going into 2025, I’d like to see Lockette improve his athleticism a bit. He takes good angles as a pull blocker, but is a little slow out of his stance. His control climbing to the second level could improve, too.
I see him as a draftable talent for the 2026 NFL Draft already, but his stock could rise even further with a breakout year.
Titan Fleischmann, OT/OG, Montana State
The top returning offensive tackle in the FCS per PFF, Titan Flesichmann, finished last year with an 83.1 offensive grade. There were only four total FCS tackles ahead of him in 2024, and two of them (Charles Grant and Grey Zabel) were selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Fleischmann is a right tackle in college, but projects better inside due to a lack of NFL-caliber length at tackle.
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Nonetheless, he has a strong anchor with active hands that allow him to generate significant movement as a run blocker. He takes precise angles blocking on the move, and his motor turns hot every time he steps on the field.
Only a one-year FCS starter going into 2025, Fleischmann will need another strong season at Montana State to solidify himself as a strong 2026 NFL Draft prospect. If he can build off his breakout year last season, though, keep an eye on him as a potential Day 3 guard convert selection.
