Penei Sewell Tops ESPN's 2026 NFL Offensive Tackle Rankings
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- Penei Sewell took the No. 1 spot, up from No. 2 last year, with an NFC executive praising his "f--- you attitude plays," though his 89.6% pass block win rate ranked outside the top 40 — his lowest since 2021 — and he is switching from right tackle to left this season.
- Trent Williams, age 37, rose to No. 2 with a 92.2% pass block win rate and a tackle-leading 79.5% run block win rate (sixth overall), with one NFC defensive coach insisting there is "not a lot of drop-off" despite scouts' age concerns.
- Tristan Wirfs dropped to No. 3 from No. 1 after a knee injury cost him five games, though evaluators said he still posted the third-highest pass block win rate among tackles (95.5%) and has "another level" of untapped potential.
- Laremy Tunsil sits at No. 5 and tops the position in pay at $30.1 million per year with Washington — the closest any tackle gets to the $31 million-plus tier occupied by quarterbacks, wide receivers, edge rushers, cornerbacks, and defensive tackles.
- Darnell Wright (No. 6, age 24) and Garett Bolles (No. 10, age 34) both debuted on the list, with Wright anchoring Chicago's third-ranked rushing attack and Bolles earning first-team All-Pro honors at 34 with a 94% pass block win rate.
- Joe Alt (No. 9) is one of two top-10 tackles still on a rookie deal, and the Chargers saw Justin Herbert's QBR drop from 80 to 56 in the nine games Alt missed after ankle surgery.
- Andrew Thomas climbed to No. 8 (from No. 10) behind a 77.7% run block win rate that powered the Giants' fifth-ranked rushing attack, while Lane Johnson at No. 7 posted a 93.2% pass block win rate despite missing eight games with a Lisfranc injury.
Why it matters: Offensive tackle is widely considered a premium position, yet no player at the spot earns the $31 million-plus per year that quarterbacks, wide receivers, edge rushers, cornerbacks, and defensive tackles command — Washington's Laremy Tunsil tops the position at $30.1 million. With two of the top 10 (Joe Alt and Trent Williams... actually with multiple tackles 30 or older) still on or past veteran contracts, the next wave of young stars like Sewell, Wright, and Alt will likely reset that market.
