Wildcats Star Lineman's NFL Draft stock is rising after a dominant run at Northwestern, with projections now pointing to a potential fit with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Indianapolis Colts may not have a first-round ticket to the Spencer Fano or Caleb Lomu sweepstakes, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the O-line upgrade business. If Indy wants a plug-and-play trench piece, Northwestern tackle Caleb Tiernan could be very much in play on Day 2.
Tiernan isn’t the freaky athlete that jumps off the measurables sheet, but he wins the old-school way — with technique, leverage, and a polished feel for the position. As B/R scout Brandon Thorn put it, Tiernan is “rarely off-balance or out of sync,” and that steadiness shows up snap after snap. Translation: this is a guy who looks ready to take NFL reps early, whether at tackle or sliding inside to guard.
The résumé checks out. Tiernan wrapped up a five-year run at Northwestern with 42 career starts, logging serious time on both sides of the line. That experience pops on tape — he’s calm in pass pro, uses his length well, and consistently walls off rushers without panicking. He may not be a bendy, highlight-reel mover, but his hands, footwork, and leverage do a lot of the heavy lifting.
At 6-foot-7, 325 pounds, Tiernan brings legit size to the trenches. While he doesn’t have the elite agility of some top-tier tackles in this class, his high floor is what makes him appealing. You’re drafting reliability, not a project — a lineman who can start early and not wreck your protection schemes.
CBS Sports also pegged New England as a potential landing spot, with Tiernan currently projected anywhere from the second to fourth round. His skill set mirrors that steady, technically sound mold teams love — similar to Matthew Bergeron — offering dependable pass protection and enough pop in the run game to hold his own inside.
Bottom line: Tiernan might not be a blue-chip ceiling play, but if the Colts want a lineman who can step in, hold his ground, and keep the quarterback clean, he’s a smart Day 2 swing.
Tiernan brings that Bergeron-style profile — big frame, elite balance, and clean technique — the kind that translates to mauler in the run game and steady bodyguard in pass pro, especially when he kicks inside.
Before they were preparing for the AboveGame Sports Bowl, Northwestern came up just short in a 20–13 snow-game slugfest against Illinois at Memorial Stadium, letting the Land of Lincoln Trophy slip away in the regular-season finale. The Wildcats had a late shot to knot it up, but the Illini held firm when it mattered most.
Even in the loss, Tiernan stood out. Named team captain for the first time this season, he capped a rare five-year run at Northwestern — a unicorn résumé in today’s transfer-portal era. That longevity has paid off. Tiernan has grown from steady starter into full-blown trench anchor.
His tape has been climbing draft boards, too. Tiernan earned national PFF Team of the Week honors after stonewalling an Oregon front that featured NFL-bound edge Matayo Uiagalelei. Scouts have taken notice, with some projecting him as a Round 1–2 caliber lineman thanks to his polish and plug-and-play readiness.
But it’s not just the on-field reps that pop. Tiernan has become the tone-setter in the room.
“He leads by example and with his voice,” O-line coach Bill O’Boyle told The Daily. “He’s especially good with the young guys — that’s an area where he’s really taken a jump.”
That’s the kind of high-floor, NFL-ready lineman teams love to bet on.