Caleb
Tiernan.
Caleb
Tiernan.
Northwestern· 6'7"· 323 lb
R3 · #97 · Minnesota Vikings"Technical five-year left tackle with elite pass-pro processing and functional length; wins on angles and hand timing more than pop, so the run-game power projects as average."Pre-draft read
Caleb Tiernan, a full-time left tackle, employs pre-snap processing, patient vertical sets, and precise hand accuracy. He consistently sets on time, mirrors twists and games without panic, and effectively finishes counter moves with an inside-hand reset, neutralizing spin-back attempts. His arm length effectively manages speed rushers around the arc, maintaining vertical posture even when challenged for width.
As a run blocker, he is primarily a positional finisher, driving effectively on down blocks and comfortably climbing to the second level in zone schemes. His grip strength is evident on hooks and reach blocks. However, his average lower-body power means he can be pushed back by heavy 4i alignments if leverage is lost, as he does not generate knock-off power through waist-bend torque.
The Minnesota Vikings run a diverse outside-zone run scheme that prioritizes athletic linemen who can reach and sustain blocks on the perimeter.
Tiernan projects as a Day 1 swing tackle who can step in at left tackle with scheme-specific run-game duties, possessing the ceiling of a long-term starting left tackle.
A run-heavy, gap/duo power scheme that demands consistent knock-back power and displacement from its offensive linemen would not maximize Tiernan's skill set.
His high-floor pass protection and zone-blocking acumen make him a solid scheme fit, despite average lower-body power limiting his effectiveness in pure power-blocking schemes.
Caleb Tiernan Highlights | Northwestern Offensive Tackle
Game film cut-up of Caleb Tiernan's Northwestern tape.
Caleb Tiernan College Highlights | Minnesota Vikings
Game film cut-up of Caleb Tiernan's Northwestern tape.
Tiernan On The Tape 🎞️ | Caleb Tiernan NFL Draft Report & Scouting Profile
Game film cut-up of Caleb Tiernan's Northwestern tape.
Caleb Tiernan projects as a Day 2 pass protector with a high floor due to consistent technique and extensive left tackle experience. Teams are buying a reliable presence against perimeter rushers; his average power in the run game suggests a more scheme-dependent role. His combine performance, including a 35.5-inch vertical jump, demonstrated above-average explosiveness, complementing his notable length and wingspan.
A redshirt-senior, he developed for five years at Northwestern, accumulating 52 games played and 41 starts at left tackle across multiple coaching changes. Tiernan’s consistency was highlighted by a senior stretch where he did not surrender a single pressure against three top-tier Big Ten opponents, including two future first-round rushers. He earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors in his final season, validating his on-field production and growth.
Evaluators considered him a floor-of-Day-2 prospect, valuing his pass-set floor and demonstrated durability against concerns regarding average power and recovery athleticism. The Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 97th overall pick, betting on his proven pass-protection skills and program-tested availability to provide reliable depth and potential as a long-term starter at the blindside.
- 01
Pass-set processing
Reads pre-snap pressure and stunt intent, handles twists without panic, and keeps his eyes off his own guard's block.
- 02
Functional length
His 32¼-inch arms play longer because his punch timing consistently lands on the rusher's chest, preventing hand-to-hand combat.
- 03
Vertical set patience
Kick-slides with consistent rhythm without oversetting, keeping rushers wide and forcing them into inside help.
- 04
Grip strength on reaches
Once his outside hand makes contact on hook and reach blocks, defenders struggle to disengage due to his core strength.
- 05
Program availability
Played 52 games in five years, missing only one game over his final three seasons, demonstrating significant durability.
- 01
Anchor vs. heavy 4i alignments
Loses ground when his initial leverage is compromised; power rushers can walk him back into the pocket.
- 02
Average lower-body torque
Lacks knock-off power on down blocks; his run-game finishes are positional rather than displacement-oriented.
- 03
Recovery athleticism after a false step
When he oversets a speed-to-power counter, he lacks the elite bend to sink and re-anchor mid-rep.
- 04
Age at pick
Turns 24 during his rookie season after five years on campus, providing a shorter developmental runway compared to his peers.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- —s
- Vertical
- 35.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 111inp50
- Three-cone
- —s
- Shuttle
- —s
- Bench
- —rep
| Yr | Team | G |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Northwestern | 3 |
| 2022 | Northwestern | 11 |
| 2023 | Northwestern | 13 |
| 2024 | Northwestern | 12 |
| 2025 | Northwestern | 13 |
| Career | — | 52 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Pass-set floor archetype at tackle without Slater's athleticism; multi-year swing/RT projection with real starter equity.
Technique-over-traits Northwestern OL who became a decade-long NFL starter by winning on angles and processing.
Refined technician who took a full year to add NFL play strength before the anchor caught up to the sets.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Pre-draft context
Tiernan came out of Livonia (MI) as a consensus 4-star tackle and, unusually for the modern era, played out all five years at Northwestern. He never moved off left tackle after winning the job midway through 2022. By his senior year the film had settled the argument: refined pass protector, average run blocker, program captain-tier availability (missed one game across his final three seasons). No 40-yard dash on record; the Combine confirmed length (32¼" arms) and above-average lower-body pop (35.5" vert, 111" broad), but he tested short of the elite athletic tier some scouts wanted to see for a Day-2 tackle.
NFL fit — Minnesota Vikings
Vikings took him at 97 as a developmental swing tackle and long-term right tackle competitor. The staff spent his rookie spring cross-training him at both tackle spots; Pete Bercich's public film breakdown flagged the pass-pro instincts as immediately usable and the power at the point of attack as the piece that needs an NFL S&C year. Expect a jumbo/6th-OL role early with a path to the RT job in 2027 if the anchor holds up.
Retrospective
Too early to grade in July 2026, but the evaluation was internally consistent: a proven pass-set operator whose ceiling is capped by average lower-body torque. If he wins the 2027 right tackle competition this is a Day-2 hit; if he stalls as a swing tackle the pick still returns positional value at a scarce position.