Cowboys 2026 draft: Top early-round inside offensive linemen in the draft
We continue looking at the who the key prospects are in the first round the Dallas Cowboys could take with either of their Day 1 picks. In this edition we look at the inside offensive linemen.
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Strengths
Ioane is a big, powerful guard who’s best when he can anchor against bull rushers and keep the pocket clean. He plays with a strong base, heavy hands, and good awareness against stunts and twists, so he doesn’t look lost when defenses try to create confusion inside. His pass protection is the calling card with PFF grading him with an 87.0 pass-block grade (top tier nationally for guards), with zero penalties on passing downs.
Weaknesses
His issues are all about range and movement, not toughness. He’s more a power guard than space athlete, meaning the quickest interior penetrators can stress him if he has to redirect late, and his best run-blocking comes on gap concepts more than reach blocks. That’s why he’s seen as a guard-only projection.
Summary
Ioane projects as an early NFL starter because he consistently keeps the inside of the pocket clean which is exactly what teams want to protect, those expensive quarterbacks. He’s quite easily the top guard in this class, and Penn State’s own coaching staff have commented on his elite pass-pro skills in 2025.
(Top-20 prospect)
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Strengths
Pregnon is a huge guard who plays with grown-man strength. He latches on with vice grips, creates movement in the run game, and he’s hard to walk back in pass protection when his base is set. He’s an absolute people-mover with a nasty edge, and his broad build and huge hands allow him to create space on short pulls.
Weaknesses
His big issues are technique-based. Because he’s so large and tall for a guard, pad level leverage often rises, and when he reaches or gets out over his toes, quicker interior defenders can slip by him. He also has occasional lapses in block finishing and hand placement on the move, so he can be a tick loose getting attached when pulling or climbing.
Summary
Pregnon projects cleanly as an NFL starting guard because he’s strong, experienced (starts at Wyoming/USC/Oregon), and his 2025 tape shows consistent, high-level play in both the run game and pass protection. Bleacher Report frames him as a long-term starter type, WalterFootball calls him a quick-competition, Day-2 caliber guard, and the statistical/grading profile supports that “ready sooner than later” projection.
(Top-30 prospect)
Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Strengths
Bisontis has the perfect size and build for the position and plays with a nasty edge. He’s elite at getting his hands inside early, anchoring on power rushers, and keeping the pocket very clean. For his size he’s very light-footed with good balance and recovery. He also brings useful versatility and enough movement skills to pull and climb to linebackers when the scheme asks.
Weaknesses
The main issue is with consistency, especially in the run game. He often opens his hips too early or leans into blocks, which can cost him inside control and create a holding risk. He’s a good athlete, but he’s not always a clean finisher, he’ll win the first contact, then lose the rep when his pad level rises or his hands drift outside.
Summary
Bisontis is a ready-sooner-than-later NFL guard because the size, strength, and pass-protection baseline are there, plus he has multi-position experience which gives teams options. He needs to work on playing with better leverage, cleaner hands, and more consistent drive in the run game, so for that he looks more like a Day 2 guard who can start.
(Top-40 prospect)
Connor Lew, Auburn
Strengths
Lew is a smart, steady center who keeps the offense organized and makes very few bust mistakes than most young centers. He comes from a wrestling background and early playing time at the position, and thanks to that he plays with very good leverage and stays balanced, and has a good ability to get his hands inside to control the rep.
Weaknesses
The best way to describe Lew is a jack of all trades at the position but master of none. He doesn’t have that one single elite trait that scares defenders. When defensive tackles get him on the move or force late recoveries, he can lose leverage and give up a softer edge in the run game. He’s also still building out his frame and strength for the NFL trenches, which shows up when bigger interior power tries to collapse the middle.
Summary
Lew projects as an NFL center who wins with technique and awareness. He’s the kind of player coaches trust because he’s usually in the right place and keeps protections clean. He already has a strong college career résumé with only three sacks and 19 pressures allowed over 914 passing sets, which suggests he’s a dependable starter, but he needs work on his lower-body strength and run-game blocking to keep improving.
(Top-70 prospect)
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