A four-year starter at left tackle who anchored Northwestern's offensive line, Caleb Tiernan was Minnesota's third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Caleb Tiernan built a reputation as one of the steadiest pass protectors in the Big Ten during four seasons as a Northwestern starter. The Vikings selected him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, betting on his polished technique to develop into a long-term answer on the offensive line.
Path to the league
Tiernan, born January 23, 2003, was a four-star recruit at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan, who drew interest from programs like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State before committing to Northwestern. He redshirted in 2021, then started at left tackle in 2023, 2024 and 2025, closing his career with 42 consecutive starts. Minnesota selected him with the 97th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Tiernan appeared in 52 games with 43 starts across his Northwestern career, earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention as a junior in 2024 and Second-team All-Big Ten as a graduate senior in 2025. Scouts consistently praised his pass protection, pointing to his hand placement and punch timing as advanced traits for the position.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Northwestern, Tiernan started every game at left tackle and was named Second-team All-Big Ten, capping a run of 42 straight starts to end his college career. The Vikings drafted him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding him to the offensive line as a rookie.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Caleb Tiernan
- Vikings.com: Caleb Tiernan draft profile
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Northwestern
- Hometown
- Livonia, MI, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
