Will Missouri Tigers Offensive Lineman Cayden Green Be First OL Selected in 2026 NFL Draft?

Pundits in the game, as well as Missouri Tigers fans, feel he could well be the first OL selected in next year’s NFL Draft.

Green spent his freshman year at Oklahoma before moving to Faurot Field for 2024, and he played a key role as the Tigers completed a 10-3 season. He has seen teammates move into the NFL and will be itching to push on this coming campaign.

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There is a sense of the Tigers having to start again, following the departure of key personnel leaving for the NFL, and head coach Eliah Drinkwitz will need players like Green to step up their game accordingly.

On seeing his teammate Armand Membou moving into the big time, completing an NFL Draft switch to the New York Jets, Cayden Green responded very warmly indeed, which one would expect.

“It’s dope man.”

“You know, growing up with, not quite growing up with him, but we played high school ball together, and we were friends all through high school. And he is just, night and day different, he looks night and day different from when he was 180 pounds sophomore year (of high school).” Green added.

Offensive tackle Membou was the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and one imagines Cayden Green has every chance of also being a first-round pick.

On how Green feels he can build on last season’s exploits, he put in a very mature response, one that illustrates his positive mindset.

“My confidence is very high right now,”

“I’m just trying to, you know, continue to get my football IQ up. But you know, I can play outside, too. It don’t matter.”

“Really, using my hands in pass pro has been a big point of emphasis for me.”

"You know, that’s something I struggled with last year. My first steps, I can be in better positions when I’m getting on blocks. Those have been my two biggest points of emphasis and I think I improved on that.” Green added.

When it comes to where Green could end up in the 2026 NFL Draft, some have suggested a move to the Kansas City Chiefs is a distinct possibility. That would represent a homecoming, and NFL draft analyst Josh Edwards commented on this possible eventuality, stating.

"Green, a one-time Oklahoma transfer, has prototypical size and power for an offensive guard."

"The Chiefs identify their replacement for Joe Thuney a year after making the move."