Florida Gators land two first-round players in The Athletic’s 2026 NFL mock draft
Portrait of Aidan GallardoAidan Gallardo
Gators Wire
Florida Gators offensive tackle Austin Barber and defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp are already drawing first-round NFL draft attention.
In The Athletic’s early 2026 NFL mock draft by Dane Brugler, Barber is projected to go No. 9 overall to the Cleveland Browns, while Sapp is slotted at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both players are poised to anchor a Florida team that looks ready to take a major leap in 2025.
Barber, a 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle, earned high praise for his athleticism and ability to finish blocks at the second level. Brugler noted Barber’s quickness in space and technical strength, making him a prime candidate to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board next April.
Meanwhile, Sapp–already a veteran leader of Florida’s defense–stood out on tape during key games late last season, especially against the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida State Seminoles. With his explosive first step and ability to win matchups inside and off the edge, Sapp is expected to lead the Gators’ defensive front in 2025.
Here is everything The Athletic wrote about Florida football’s
Florida Gators land two first-round players in The Athletic’s 2026 NFL mock draft
Portrait of Aidan GallardoAidan Gallardo
Gators Wire
Florida Gators offensive tackle Austin Barber and defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp are already drawing first-round NFL draft attention.
In The Athletic’s early 2026 NFL mock draft by Dane Brugler, Barber is projected to go No. 9 overall to the Cleveland Browns, while Sapp is slotted at No. 22 to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both players are poised to anchor a Florida team that looks ready to take a major leap in 2025.
Barber, a 6-foot-6-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle, earned high praise for his athleticism and ability to finish blocks at the second level. Brugler noted Barber’s quickness in space and technical strength, making him a prime candidate to be one of the first offensive linemen off the board next April.
Meanwhile, Sapp–already a veteran leader of Florida’s defense–stood out on tape during key games late last season, especially against the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida State Seminoles. With his explosive first step and ability to win matchups inside and off the edge, Sapp is expected to lead the Gators’ defensive front in 2025.
Here is everything The Athletic wrote about Florida football’s Barber and Sapp.Barber and Sapp.
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