DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk NFL Draft 2026 Pick #86 Florida OT Austin Barber

Someone just mentioned the possibility of using all of these picks to trade up ...... I wish I could remember who it was .........

Well, hell, he had cornered the market on 5th round picks. We actually had 5 picks in a span of 7 near the top of the round. I've never seen anything like that before!

Round 4: Pick #105 (via Giants)
Round 5: Pick #145 (via Giants)
Round 5: Pick #146
Round 5: Pick #148 (via Chiefs)
Round 5: Pick #149 (via Bengals)
Round 5: Pick #152 (via 49ers)
Round 6: Pick #206 (via Bears)
Round 7: Pick #248 (via Seahawks)


Edit: And now I see you had already said that in the other thread. 👊

39 career starts. Has played both LT and RT in his career at Florida. Could be the swing tackle in 2026. Possible starter in the future.

CBS loves our draft. Barber gor an A-, our lowest grade so far.

It would’ve been funny watching Haden coming out saying the pick then leave over and over

I know nothing about him.

Here is Dane Brugler's draft write-up...


BACKGROUND
Austin Barber was raised in Jacksonville, Fla., by his parents. Growing up with two older stepbrothers and an older half-brother, he
developed his athleticism and competitiveness throughout childhood. One of his older brothers (Zane Cruz), whom Barber refers to as
his “role model,” played linebacker at Charleston Southern (2014-17) before getting into coaching. Barber was a multi-sport athlete as a
kid and played quarterback and linebacker throughout youth football before moving to the offensive line in high school. His family —
especially his father (Mark) — is full of diehard Florida Gators fans. His long-term girlfriend (Reagan Walsh) was an All-SEC softball
player at Florida (2022-25).

Barber originally attended Yulee High School, alma mater of NFL running back Derrick Henry. Barber moved up to varsity as a
freshman and played on the offensive line for two seasons (Yulee won just three games in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons). Prior to his
junior season, he transferred to Trinity Christian Academy, a private Christian school in Jacksonville, for better recruiting exposure. As
a junior, Barber started both ways as a left tackle and defensive lineman. As a senior, he was named Class 3A offensive player of the year
and helped lead Trinity Christian to a 12-1 record and the 2020 Class 3A state championship. Barber also lettered in basketball at
Trinity Christian.

A three-star recruit, Barber was the 47th-ranked offensive tackle in the 2021 class and the No. 79 recruit in Florida. After transferring to
Trinity Christian as a junior, he picked up his first scholarship offer, from Coastal Carolina (September 2019). Later in his junior season,
Barber added his first offer from a major conference (North Carolina). Between his junior and senior seasons, he picked up offers from
Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh and Utah. Barber meshed well with the Minnesota coaches and committed to the
Gophers the summer before his senior year. However, he reopened his recruitment in November 2020 after hearing from several
programs closer to home. Having grown up a Gators fan, Barber took multiple visits to Gainesville, Fla., but an offer never arrived. He
was planning to sign with Miami midway through December 2020, until Florida surprised him with an offer on December 17 (one day
after he’d won a state title). Barber committed on the spot and was the ninth-ranked recruit in Dan Mullen’s final Gators class.
He was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient and graduated with a degree in education sciences (December 2024). Barber
accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

STRENGTHS
● Looks the part — long, mid-cut frame and natural thickness in arms and thighs
● Rangy on backside pulls in run game, turning the corner and flipping his hips (has basketball background)
● Competes with a physical demeanor, especially on downhill duo blocks
● Displays grip strength to latch and redirect defenders away from lanes
● Comfortable using different depth points in pass sets
● Uses firm stab techniques to reach, snatch and bury his man
● Gritty competitor and plays through pain (NFL scout: “Showed better maturity in 2025. … [He] actually took less NIL [money] to
stay put.”)
● Quality starting resume — 39 career starts, including time at both tackle spots

WEAKNESSES
● Taller posture and average lateral range as a pass blocker
● Too many “all-or-nothing” punch attempts that often backfire, leaving him susceptible to inside moves
● Shaky anchor and loses balance when attempting to sit down vs. power
● Doesn’t always roll his hips into contact to fully unlock body strength in run game
● Flag magnet over career, committing 29 penalties over past four seasons (seven in 2025)
● Ankle and left shoulder injuries as sophomore, which sidelined him for three games (and parts of others); shoulder injury required
offseason surgery (Jan. 2024) and made him a non-contact participant for spring practices

SUMMARY
A starter for three-and-a-half years at Florida, Barber lined up at left tackle in former offensive coordinator Russ Callaway’s balanced
scheme. After battling injuries as a sophomore in 2023, he started all 25 games across his junior and senior seasons, earning All-SEC
honors in 2025. He was inconsistent over his career, with high highs and low lows — and NFL teams are just as inconsistent in their
evaluations of him.

Barber passes the eye test with his long frame and adequate muscle mass, and he has a basketball background as an athlete. However,
he can be stressed by outside speed and gets walked backwards into the pocket by speed-to-power moves. His hands are erratic, in
terms of punch tempo and placement, but he can displace bodies when he connects. Overall, Barber has NFL size, tools and
demeanor but needs to polish his timing and technique to hold up against next-level competition. He is a
developmental swing tackle prospect, who might be better suited for a move to guard.

Sounds like a versatile depth piece. Which I’m not mad at, we need those. Don’t love that he’s a “flag magnet” but as a backup he’s probably valuable.

At 86 - this seems to be good value, adding depth at position(s) of importance if he can play multiple positions. And there is developmental upside. He's not a lock to go on and become a solid starter - but he's got a profile that says he definitely has that potential and hopefully he has a good amount of time either as a rotational player or backup and isn't going to be thrust into playing too soon.

Has some nasty and has some athleticism. We'll see if Warhop can clean up the technical stuff. I wonder if this puts Dawand on the trade block. "Attitude" does seem to be a theme so far. All appear to be willing to run through a brick wall type dudes.

I think Dawand is staying right here. He's busted his butt in the offseason and dropped about 25 lbs.

I agree and I hope he succeeds. But we should have better cover and maybe Berry has helped to keep the hunger strong

I have some concerns about him moving to the inside. It's not impossible but at 6'6" that's in the top range height wise for G's. There aren't many of them that tall and very few of those are starters.

I'm sure they have a plan in mind for him and my best guess would be as a RT and spot back-up as a LT.

I wonder where Dewand Jones fits into the larger scheme of things?

Starting LT if he stays healthy

I wonder, because they have written Fano's name in ink in the LT battle.

J/C Re: Dawand

I dunno. I think they want more as a run blocker ideally. I don't think they'll straight cut him, but I think they're willing to listen to offers.

True although they said Fano can play anywhere except C

Backup or RT. He has not made it through a season without winding up on IR.. I am encouraged that he is losing weight, but the reality is he is injury prone.

He has played fairly well when healthy but that and his weight has tended to slow him down.

He is healthy and dropped 25 pounds so that should help some. He's only commanding a 4th round pick salary so I think he's going to be here.

If Fano can start right away at LT I could see Jones playing at the RT position and being a spot starter at LT.

And "the larger scheme of things" as it pertains to the NFL is a very fluid situation. You have to see how draft picks actually pan out. At best going into that process I think all plans are tentative. When depending on draft picks to develop and transfer their talents to the NFL nothing about that is a given. So in reality I don't think there is a "grand scheme of things".

I see it more as having an intended goal and having several contingency plans in case things go awry. I do believe they have draft picks and players have penciled in at certain positions but also understand that throughout training camp and preseason, even extending into the season itself, many of those penciled in may be exchanged for a different name.

There are 2 things that concern me about Jones. He has been injury prone ... and his run blocking sucks.

Monken won't deal with mediocre run blocking. He is a great pass blocker when healthy though. If he can get through training camp and showcase him in pre-season, he is probably going to be a trade candidate. I like the kid. But his run blocking just won't stack up for Monken.

The concern with Jones for me is always health. LT is one of those positions that the goal is to make it so that you never have to think about it. It’s one of the 4 cornerstone, first domino positions on a football team and the one you want to notice least. It’s just taken care of. If your LT isn’t consistently there, a whole bunch of other things start to not work well. Yes, OLs are often a revolving cast of players from play to play, series to series and good teams know how to manage that well but I would contend the LT and center need to be fixtures. If they aren’t, the whole chemistry of the offense is thrown off. So, yeah, best ability is availability. Jones is pretty good but I feel like we’d be smart to not depend on his body staying healthy.