Great teams that want to stay great don't wait for legends to leave before they start planning the future. The Philadelphia Eagles have built their identity in the trenches for a long time. That philosophy has been proven by legends like Jason Peters and Jason Kelce, and now by a Hall of Fame–caliber cornerstone like Lane Johnson.
He may have another season. That's what LeSean McCoy has said on record. Maybe he'll play more, but the reality is unavoidable.
A legendary career is closer to its end than it is to its beginning. The jury is still out on Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams. Philadelphia could be aggressive about reinforcing the position in the 2026 NFL Draft. That seems to be a top priority, along with several others, so here are several names that make sense for the draft board.
Spencer Fano, Utah Utes
Ranking these guys can sometimes be subjective. Here's where we plant the flag. Spencer Fano earns our vote as the top offensive tackle in this class. Here's where we play it safe. We reserve the right to change our minds later.
Fano has started at both tackle spots. He won the Outland Trophy and was named a Unanimous All-American. He was also the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Worth noting: Pay attention to his teammate Caleb Lomu as well. He deserves a spot on this list as well, but we're spreading the love around to some other players who played for other programs.
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama Crimson Tide
What a surprise! The Alabama Crimson Tide hands the NFL a microwavable star. Kadyn Proctor isn't just an offensive tackle. He's a mountain. He stands at six feet seven. He weighs in at 360 pounds. His final NCAA season ended with him winning the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, a First-Team All-SEC nod, and a Consensus All-American mention.
Francis Mauigoa, Miami Hurricanes
The ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy ended up with Francis Mauigoa, a name well known now after the most recent College Football Playoff (if you didn't know it already). This Consensus All-American also claimed a First-Team All-ACC mention after being named to the 2024 All-ACC Second Team.
Blake Miller, Clemson Tigers
How about another from the Atlantic Coast Conference? Here's one with plenty of starting experience after joining Clemson's first team as a freshman in 2022. For his efforts, he was named Third-Team All-ACC in 2023, then earned two First-Team All-ACC nods in 2024 and 2025.
Monroe Freeling, Georgia Bulldogs
It wouldn't be right unless we mentioned Georgia, right? How about an offensive lineman this time? Monroe Freeling is a good one, a Second-Team All-SEC member in 2025.
Food for thought:
The Eagles don't draft offensive linemen to satisfy short-term needs. They draft them for two years down the road, and two years after that, and so on and so on.
Urgency seems to be necessary rather than negotiable. Whether this is Johnson's swan song or not, the next franchise tackle is out there somewhere, and if nothing else, we expect Philadelphia to find one. Learning from a future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee would be a bonus.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Top offensive tackle prospects for the Eagles to watch