Caleb Tiernan
Caleb Tiernan  OT  Northwestern | NFL Draft 2026 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Caleb Tiernan
Height
6-7
Weight
329
College
Northwestern
Position
OT
Class
Junior
Home town
Livonia, MI
84.6/100
Player Rating
15
PositionRank (OL)
5.3
FortyYD Time

Caleb Tiernan OT Northwestern | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Caleb Tiernan OT Northwestern
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

SUB-POSITION: Left/Right Tackle
Last Updated: 05/28/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*)
Age: 22.4 DOB: 01/23/2003
Measurables:
Height: 6-7 (76%*) Weight: 329 (84%*)
Forty: 5.30 (O) (42%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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SUB-POSITION: Left/Right Tackle
Last Updated: 05/28/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 5.30 seconds (42%*)
Age: 22.4 DOB: 01/23/2003
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-7 (76%*) Weight: 329 (84%*)
Forty: 5.30 (O) (42%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 84.6 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
75%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Pass Blocking:
91%
Run Blocking:
77%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 3rd
Overall Rank: #84 Position rank: #15
College Games: 34 College Snaps: 2125
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 78/100
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 90 Stars 247 RATING: 90/100
Grade: 4 Stars 4 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Jaxson Kirkland - Washington
88%
Matthew Bergeron - Syracuse
86%
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson - Florida
86%
Draft Profile: Bio
Growing up at Detroit Country Day School, Caleb Tiernan wasn't just another big body - he was a dual-sport athlete who captained both the football and basketball teams his senior year. That athleticism caught the attention of the Big Ten's elite programs, with Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State all vying for his services before he pledged to Northwestern in March 2020.

Tiernan's college journey began with patience and development. After redshirting in 2021 with just three game appearances, he burst onto the scene in 2022, starting five games at right tackle as a redshirt freshman. His breakout performance against Ohio State that season, where he stonewalled the Buckeyes' pass rush without allowing a single pressure, signaled bigger things ahead. The following year brought a position switch to left tackle and iron man status - starting all 13 games while logging 846 snaps, second-most on the team. He surrendered just one sack the entire 2023 campaign and went eight straight games without allowing a quarterback hit.

His 2024 season cemented his status as one of college football's premier blindside protectors. Through 34 career games with 30 consecutive starts, Tiernan has become Northwestern's anchor while earning Academic All-Big Ten honors along the way. The former four-star recruit who ranked as the 14th highest-rated signee in Northwestern history has transformed from raw potential into polished production. His high school credentials - 59 tackles, 22 for loss, and 8.5 sacks as a senior defensive end - seem like ancient history now, but they hint at the competitive fire that drives this mountain of a man who's been protecting quarterbacks at an elite level for the Wildcats.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Foot quickness belies his massive frame - mirrors speed rushers with ballet-like agility in his kick slide
  • Anchor strength shows up when bull rushers try to walk him back - plants those size 17s and stonewalls power
  • Hand technique looks like a boxing instructor's dream with precise timing and violent punch delivery
  • Basketball background evident in his body control - rarely gets caught leaning or off-balance in space
  • Pass arc patience resembles a veteran waiting for the perfect moment to engage rather than lunging
  • Counter move recognition improved dramatically - sniffs out inside spins and clubs like he's got ESP
  • Nasty finisher in the run game when he gets his hands on linebackers - drives them into the turf
  • Mental processing speed allows him to handle complex protection schemes and late-arriving blitzers with ease
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Tall frame creates leverage issues against low-pad-level defenders who can get under his chest
  • Run blocking consistency wavers - looks dominant one snap then gets stalemated by smaller defenders
  • Weight distribution sometimes shifts forward when climbing to second level causing whiffed blocks
  • Play strength against true power rushers remains questionable despite his anchor improvement
  • Needs to develop more violence at the point of attack - too often settles for position blocks
Scouting Report: Summary
The tape shows a fascinating dichotomy - Tiernan dances through pass sets like he's been doing it for a decade, yet sometimes looks like he's learning the run game on the fly. Watch him mirror elite edge rushers and you'll see a tackle who understands angles, timing, and hand placement at a veteran level. His ability to absorb power rushes without giving ground makes you forget he's still developing physically. But then the next series starts and he'll get walked back by a 270-pound defensive end on a power run, leaving you scratching your head about his functional strength.

His basketball background jumps off the screen in space - the lateral agility and body control allow him to handle stunts and late blitzers with ease. Northwestern asked him to handle an island role against the Big Ten's best, and he rarely needed help. Yet that same movement skill hasn't translated to consistent displacement in the run game. He'll seal the edge beautifully on outside zone one play, then fail to generate any push on a simple down block the next. The technique is there, but the violence and leg drive remain inconsistent. His frame suggests more bad weight could be added, though his current mobility might suffer.

Sunday readiness depends on scheme and expectations. The pass protection translates immediately - he'll handle NFL speed rushers from day one with his patient sets and active hands. Run game development becomes the swing factor for his ceiling. He won't embarrass himself between the tackles, but opposing defenses won't fear his run blocking either. The modern NFL values blindside protection above all else at tackle, and Tiernan delivers that in spades. Whether he evolves into a complete player or remains a passing-down specialist will determine if he becomes a perennial Pro Bowler or just a solid starter. Either way, somebody's getting a tackle who keeps their quarterback upright.

How other scouting services rate Caleb Tiernan (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
85.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
16.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.