Left tackle is one of the most important positions in sports. Let's rank the best in the league for the 2026 NFL Season. The entirety of this league revolves around the quarterback position, as no team is going to sustain success without high-end quarterback play, but getting to that level does require teams to field a competent offensive line.
And, unless a quarterback is left-handed, that left tackle position protects the blindside of the passer, so it's extremely important, but it does seem like offensive line play across the league has been down for a while now. This benefits the teams that consistently have top offensive lines, obviously.
Even with a shortage of quality offensive linemen in the NFL, there are a ton of quality left tackles. As the 2026 NFL Offseason continues, we power-ranked the best in the league. We've based our rankings on 2025 but have also taken a bigger-picture look, as many of the left tackles on this list have a ton of football under their belts.
Power-ranking the best left tackles in the NFL for the 2026 season
8. Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
Rashawn Slater, when on the field, is one of the very best tackles in the NFL, but that's the problem. Slater has already missed a ton of time in his young career, but that also does prove just how good he is, as the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive line has been a disaster with Slater not in the lineup.
Despite being on the fringe in terms of size for the position, Slater holds up well and is both solid in pass blocking and run blocking. Given his recent injury, a patellar tendon rupture, the odds that he returns to form might be a little lower, but he still deserves his flowers.
7. Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
Dion Dawkins is a better pass blocker than run blocker, but what has made him so good is how long he's sustained this high level of play. Dawkins is a five-time Pro Bowler who has started double-digit games in each year of his career. He's played nine years in the NFL and already has well over 150 total starts between the regular and postseason.
6. Jordan Mailata, Philadelphia Eagles
This may seem wild to you, but Jordan Mailata has never been named to the Pro Bowl and only has one second-team All-Pro to his name, but he's consistently been a top tackle in the NFL. Great in both pass blocking and run blocking, Mailata has anchored top-3 Philadelphia Eagles offensive lines for years now.
A former seventh-round pick back in 2018, Mailata's journey to this spot in the NFL is unlikely, but it just goes to show you how awesome of a player he is. Mailata has just under 5,600 regular season snaps under his belt in the NFL and only just turned 29 years old.
5. Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders
Laremy Tunsil has struggled with false start penalties for much of his career, but he's made up for it by being one of the best pass blockers of this generation. Coming in at No. 5 in our power rankings, Tunsil has played for Houston, Miami, and Washington during his career.
He's been named to five Pro Bowls, but he does have 57 career false start penalties, according to Pro Football Reference. Tunsil would be most teams' preference at left tackle if they had to choose between him and their own, though.
At 6-5 and 313 pounds, Tunsil is an ideal size for the position and is insanely athletic as well. The first-round pick back in 2016 is in the top-5.
4. Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
You could argue that Trent Williams is the best left tackle of all-time, and he's really not shown many signs of slowing down, either. Williams is No. 4 in our power rankings and just wrapped up his 15th season in the NFL. He has 204 regular season games of experience and was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in the 2026 NFL Season.
Turning 38 years old this summer, Williams may not have a ton of time left, but he's still churning out top seasons, and even if he were to regress in 2026, for example, he'd still be a top-10 player at his position, which speaks to just how good he has been in his prime years.
3. Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Through six seasons in the NFL, Tristan Wirfs has played both tackle spots, and he's amassed five Pro Bowls and two All-Pros with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wirfs felt like a player that was always going to be a great pro when he came into the league out of Iowa back in 2020.
He's made the Pro Bowl in five consecutive seasons and may actually be the most athletic tackle in the NFL. Still just 27 years old, Wirfs is the type of player who could still remain this good well into his 30s. He's helped anchor some of the more underrated offensive lines with the Buccaneers, and, according to PFF's data, graded out as the 2nd-best tackle in the NFL in 2025.
2. Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
One of my favorite players in the NFL, Penei Sewell comes in at No. 2 in our power rankings, and since the Detroit Lions took right tackle Blake Miller in the 2026 NFL Draft, it's very likely that Sewell's home is now going to be on the left side.
Through five seasons, Sewell has played in all but two games, racking up four Pro Bowls and three All-Pros, which he has accumulated over the past four seasons. Now likely staying at left tackle for the rest of his career, Sewell can continue to build up a future Hall of Fame legacy, as he doesn't even turn 26 years old until October of 2026.
1. Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
Garett Bolles is turning 34 years old soon but is coming off the best season of his career. Earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, Bolles has started in every game for the Denver Broncos the past three seasons despite playing in just five games back in 2022.
Bolles' career notably started off quite rocky, as he became synonymous with holding penalties, but he shrugged those off in a breakout season back in 2020, earning his first of two long-term extensions with the Broncos. He graded out as PFF's best pass-blocking tackle in the NFL this past season and is anchoring the league's best offensive line in Denver.
Despite approaching his mid-30s, Bolles has shown no signs of slowing down and his first in our left tackle power rankings for 2026.