TribLive is highlighting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The three-day event is April 23-25.
Olaivavega Ioane
Position: Guard
Height/weight: 6-foot-4/320 pounds
College: Penn State
Ioane, who goes by “Vega,” is the top interior offensive lineman in this year’s draft class. Some of the top offensive tackles could eventually move inside, but Ioane is viewed by analysts as an NFL-ready guard.
The lineman started 32 times at guard for Penn State, including five games as a redshirt freshman.
Draft analyst Lance Zierlein described Ioane in his NFL.com bio as a “prototypical guard for physical run schemes with thick limbs, a broad frame and plus core strength.” Zierlein said he has “excellent contact balance and technique,” but added that Ioane “lacks athleticism and foot quickness” to make blocks on the move.
Ioane has gone 28 starts without allowing a sack, according to PFF statistics. He allowed no sacks or hits on the quarterback in 311 pass blocking snaps last season. PFF rated him 99.3% efficient after giving up only four quarterback hurries in 2025.
As a redshirt junior, Ioane was voted second-team All-Big Ten for the second year in a row. In 613 total snaps last year, he was penalized once.
Key stat
348 – Ioane’s listed playing weight before the 2024 season. He slimmed down by around 20 pounds last fall to improve his mobility. He weighed 320 at the NFL Combine in early March.
Did you know?
Ioane is one of nine siblings, according to his Penn State bio. He has five brothers (Joe, Chico, Avei, David and Tausisi Jr.) and three sisters (Hana, Mata and Lili).
On draft
Here is a look at where the top NFL Draft analysts rank Ioane among players at his position and prospects overall:
Draft expert — Gs/Overall
Mel Kiper Jr. — first/18th
Daniel Jeremiah — first/11th
Todd McShay — first/seventh
Field Yates — first/14th
Quotable
“He does a good job ‘playing in a phone booth’ in tight spaces. That’s really where he likes to win.”
— NFL Network analyst Jordan Reid
