2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalen Farmer (OL – Kentucky)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Kentucky offensive lineman Jalen Farmer.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jalen Farmer

Jalen Farmer (OL – Kentucky)

6-foot-5 | 318 Pounds

Background

Jalen Farmer was a three-star recruit who originally attended Florida, where he spent two seasons in a reserve capacity before transferring to Kentucky.

Stepped into the starting right guard role for the Wildcats in his first season on campus (2024), allowing two sacks, three hits and nine hurries (2-3-9). Followed that up with a 3-0-11 line in 2025 at the same position.

Positives

Big, well-built right guard with elite arm length for the position (measured at 34.5 inches at the Senior Bowl) and two years of SEC starting experience. Very physical, powerful interior lineman who shows some explosiveness out of his stance. Shows a good understanding of positioning to wall off opponents, with excellent, stable base strength.

Gets pretty good leg churn after contact to move interior linemen in a phone booth. Grip strength to sustain is solid. Has adequate short-area quickness and was asked to pull to either side of the formation in the Wildcats’ gap-based rushing attack. Destroys second-level opponents on contact when he successfully engages in space.

Farmer is nimbler than you’d expect when using his lateral quickness to mirror in pass protection, with good range to complement his excellent thickness/length. Drops an early anchor to absorb power in pass protection. Shows good inside hand placement and can reset effectively. Has a very powerful shove as a help blocker.

Negatives

The Kentucky prospect doesn’t play quite as fast in-game as his testing, appearing much more comfortable in a phone booth. Despite his excellent strength, he will occasionally play outside of his frame, lunging and/or lowering his head into contact. Struggles to sustain blocks when he’s on the move. Has some leaner tendencies as a puller, causing him to fall off to either side.

Can be a little bit late with his punch in pass protection, relying on his impressive lower-body strength more than you’d like. That often worked at the college level, but it should be cleaned up in the pros. Puts the occasional snap on tape where he doesn’t work through the whistle.

Summary

A massive two-year starter with outstanding bulk, length and power throughout his body, Farmer can move people in a phone booth, pull a little bit and mirror/anchor effectively in pass protection.

Snap-to-snap consistency has been a bit of an issue so far, as he has some occasional balance and technique issues, especially when working in space, but there’s starting-caliber upside to work with here. How teams feel about his ability to iron out the kinks in his game will determine whether they’re willing to take a shot on his upside on the second day of the draft, or whether he slips a bit further. Would be best in a gap-heavy scheme.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4