The 2026 offensive line class is one of the weakest groups in the draft, with minimal depth and no one guy really standing out as the star of the class. Most of the conversation has revolved around guys like Francis Mauigoa, Kadyn Proctor, and Spencer Fano, who seemingly have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. Still, there is one more guy I would like to throw into the top 50: Alex Harkey.
Over the last couple of years, Oregon has been an NFL factory for quarterbacks and offensive linemen, and this year, they will likely send four of their starting five linemen to the NFL. In my opinion, Harkey is the most underrated player in the group and the second-best on their line, only behind the center, Iapani Laloulu. Many people have Harkey listed as a guard, but right now, he plays right tackle for Oregon, and I think he has the skills to stick there in the NFL.
Harkey is a big man, measuring in at 6’6/325, which is elite NFL correct tackle size, the same size as Lane Johnson for perspective. It is common for college schools to list players as bigger than they actually are, but on film, Harkey plays like he is every bit of that 325-pound frame. Simply dominant power on the right side of the line makes Harkey one of the best run blocking tackles in this year’s class, but I am equally impressed by his ability to keep up in pass protection.
Something to keep an eye on this offseason for many offensive tackles will be their length measurements. Harkey measured in at 32 1/4 inches, arms over the summer, which is below the 33-inch benchmark most scouts look for in tackle prospects. Athletically, Harkey moves well enough to stay at RT, but if scouts have concerns about how well he can hold up against bigger pass rushers in the NFL, that could cause him to slip.
The arm length and heavier frame have led most scouts to view Harkey as a guard, as they feel his incredible power and size will make him a dominant run blocker on the interior. I imagine Harkey’s camp will market him as a tackle this offseason, arguing that his athleticism will make up for his lack of length, similar to someone like Luke Goedeke or Alaric Jackson. But teams do not like to bet on the exception to the rule, and it may be a tough sell for Harkey to play tackle at the NFL level.
Just the fact that we are having this conversation shows why Harkey is an underrated talent on the offensive line. He is so athletic and strong that scouts are looking for the best way to translate his skills to the NFL, knowing his potential is through the roof. In a draft like this one, where it is hard to find a top tackle or offensive lineman in general, we will see a lot of teams gamble on traits, and outside of his arm length, Harkey may have some of the best in the draft.
On film, Harkey is best in the run game, where he’s an absolute mauler, using dominating power to push linemen back to the second level and create space for his backs past the line of scrimmage. He does well with reach blocks as well as clearouts to the interior, which can help in a zone gap run scheme, but he is much more effective simply overpowering the man in front of him. Everyone knows about Harkey’s dominance in the run game, but his draft stock will be heavily impacted by how teams view his pass protection skills.
I was impressed by Harkey’s pass-protection skills, and he does an exceptional job of squaring up pass rushers and keeping the game in front of him. As I mentioned above, the concern is that his lack of length will give him trouble against bigger pass rushers who can make initial contact or make heavy swipes to keep their his off them. So far at Oregon, Harkey has held strong at correct tackle, even against power rushers, but the truth is, the NFL is a different animal.
This season, Harkey has allowed just one sack in pass protection, an exceptional number, especially in the Big Ten, where some of the best pass rushers in the nation reside. I personally think that Harkey’s position in the NFL depends on where he ends up. Contenders may not want to experiment with him playing tackle, given how good he could be at guard. But so far in his college career, Harkey has proven he can keep up with the NCAA’s best speed and power rushers at right tackle, and I think his skills will translate very well to the NFL.
I have Harkey at 47 on my big board, and I think he can easily be a second or third-round pick, and no one would bat an eye. In a weak offensive line class, getting a player like Harkey who can play tackle, but has the athletic traits to move to guard as a backup plan, will be valuable to a lot of teams and could push him up a lot of boards. Regardless, I expect Harkey to be a starting offensive lineman for someone next season, and I would not be surprised if he had a long and fruitful NFL career at tackle or guard.
