Caleb Tiernan is an offensive tackle and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who spent his entire five-year collegiate career at Northwestern University without transferring, a rarity in the modern era of college football. A native of Beverly Hills, Michigan, Tiernan was a four-star recruit in the 2021 class who committed to the Wildcats over Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. He redshirted his first season before starting six games at right tackle in 2022, then transitioned to left tackle in 2023 and started every game at that position for the final three years of his career, accumulating nearly 3,000 career snaps and 38 consecutive starts. He earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a junior and second-team All-Big Ten in his graduate senior season in 2025, when Northwestern's offensive line was twice named to PFF's National Team of the Week. He served as a team captain and finished his career as one of the most highly respected blindside protectors in the Big Ten.
Standing 6 feet 8 inches and 323 pounds, Tiernan holds the distinction of being the tallest tackle at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and paired his frame with a 99th-percentile vertical jump result that quieted any concerns about his athletic limitations. His pass protection is the foundation of his evaluation, as his hand placement, punch timing, and feel for rush angles are considered polished enough to protect a quarterback from day one at the professional level. The concerns center on his arm length, which measures below the preferred threshold and has led some evaluators to project him inside to guard in the long term, similar to former Northwestern teammate Peter Skoronski's transition to the position. His run blocking is less consistent than his pass protection and he can struggle with pad level and power generation when asked to move defenders vertically. He projects as a mid-to-late Day 2 selection with starting upside and the positional versatility to provide value at multiple spots on an NFL offensive line.
