Here are five offensive linemen who have stood out at Shrine Bowl practice.
The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl is set to kick off Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Arrowhead time, broadcast on NFL Network. Both the East and West squads have been busy practicing this past week in preparation, and showcased their abilities in front of scouts and the media.
The Kansas City Chiefs will need offensive line depth in the later rounds of the draft, and the Shrine Bowl serves as a good spot to identify talent.
The Arrowhead Pride staff had boots on the ground in Frisco, Texas, last week, and a few of the offensive linemen stood out.
1. Brian Parker, Duke
Parker played at both right and left tackle during his time at Duke, but after talking with him, he revealed that he would be playing center exclusively at the Shrine Bowl.
Measuring 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 306 pounds, Parker is slightly undersized to play along the offensive interior. Still, his movement abilities can be maximized by a team that utilizes a zone blocking scheme as well as blocking in space.
The Chiefs do not need a starter at any spot along the interior offensive line, but Parker has proven to be a versatile player and quick learner, and would have good value as a backup when first entering the league.
For not taking snaps at center since high school, Parker appeared to be gaining comfort, and having positional versatility will boost his draft stock.
2. Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame
One of the standouts from the early practice sessions was Notre Dame tackle Aamil Wagner. A two-year starter in college, Wagner wasted no time showing off his game.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 306 pounds with longer than 34-inch arms, Wagner is a little bit on the lighter side for an offensive lineman, but he makes up for it with solid athletic ability and long arms.
Wagner projects to be a swing tackle early on in his career, and through the course of practice, he seamlessly transitioned from left to right tackle.
A smooth mover, Wagner fires out of his stance comfortably, locks on, and fights to anchor himself to finish the play. He will need to work on his striking ability, but his build and movement skills should have the Chiefs interested in pursuing him later on in the draft.
3. Caden Barnett, Wyoming
One of the risers of the week has been the Wyoming standout. Barnett played tackle during his time at Wyoming, but will look to slide to the interior in the NFL. This week at Shrine Bowl practices, he lined up primarily at right guard.
A heavy-handed brawler, Barnett has advanced hand-fighting skills, and with a strong base, he was able to anchor himself down and win pass protection snaps.
Barnett had a fist fight in a phone booth style, and he was not shy when I asked him about the mentality an offensive lineman has to have in the NFL.
At just a hair under 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 316 pounds with 32-inch arms, Barnett is a hair undersized and will likely be a reserve early on in his career. However, if he can continue to string together more solid performances, he will have a chance to be drafted and develop into an interior swing player. The Chiefs need depth along the interior, so he will be a player to keep an eye on for Day 3 of the draft.
4. James Neal III, Iowa State
Starting his college career at Independence Community College in Kansas, Neal eventually found his way to Iowa State, where he lined up all over the line of scrimmage during his college career. As a Senior, he started every game at left tackle, and this is where he found himself at for Shrine Bowl practices.
Neal is a good athlete, along with a stature of 6 feet 4 inches tall and 322 pounds with nearly 34” long arms; he profiles to play tackle or guard in the NFL.
He carries his weight well, and quick feet and a strong core help him to win pass-blocking snaps, while good bend and power transfer help him to root out defenders in the run game.
Neal comes from a downhill rushing offense at Iowa State, and he shared with me what his favorite play to run in college was.
Given his athletic profile, any play where Neal could pull to get into space would be a benefit for him. Athletic, moldable talent like Neal is what the Chiefs will be seeking in the late rounds of the draft and undrafted free agency.
5. Faialili Fa’amoe, Wake Forest
The All-ACC performer has looked solid in practice this week and is making a case to be drafted. At 6 feet 4 inches tall and 311 pounds with 33.68” arms, Fa’amoe projects more as a guard in the NFL, but his performance against other top competition at the Shrine Bowl should leave the door open for him to play right tackle at the next level.
Fa’amoe has been solid in pass protection and shown a nasty streak as well. His fundamentals in pass protection have showcased an agile and quick tackle, with a good understanding of momentum and the angles needed to take away the defender’s ability to bend the arc.
His footwork and core are good for a tackle, but his hands are good as well. This combination should help him to climb up draft boards.
Category: General Sports
