Kage Casey is a 6’6, 310-pound offensive tackle from Boise State University. He was recruited as a 3-star offensive lineman after playing offensive tackle and defensive end in high school. He led Clackamas to a 10-2 record and 2nd round appearance in the 6A State playoffs. During his freshman season with Boise State, he tore his right labrum and left shoulder. He redshirted in 2022 to preserve eligibility, get surgery, and rehab. From 2023 – 2025, Kage played in every regular season game for the Broncos and was 1st Team All-Mountain West in two consecutive seasons. In 2023, he played 947 snaps, the most on the team. He didn’t allow a sack in 440 snaps. In 2024, he was voted a 2nd Team All-American by The Athletic and Walter Camp. His competitive toughness, work ethic, and leadership post-injury can’t go unnoticed.
The 2026 NFL Combine results are in. Kage has 32 ¾ inch arms and 10 ¼ inch hands. He ran an 8.01 three-cone drill, 1.85 ten-yard split, and 5.2 forty-yard dash (NFL.com). He has good height, hand size, and a proportional frame for an offensive tackle with shorter arms. After watching his performance against UNLV in the 2025 Mountain West championship game, Kage needs to strengthen his lower half and potentially gain weight. But he still has enough prowess to combat against power. During his game against Oregon in 2024 and Notre Dame in 2025, I saw his ability to burst up the field and lead block on screens.
While Kage is athletic, he can struggle against quicker defensive linemen. This is how he gave up a sack against Boubacar Traore, the defensive end from Notre Dame. If the defender gets into his frame first, Kage struggles to have both hands extended. He can panic and reach with one arm to try to maintain leverage. A defensive lineman with a quick twitch and chop-down technique can limit his movement and balance. When Kage has time with proper hand placement, he can maintain his leverage for several seconds without committing penalties. If he opens his gate too early, he can’t sink his hips quickly enough, and he’ll give up penetration.
Kage recognizes pressure pre snap and when to change set points between the run and pass. This makes him unpredictable. Defenders may decide to change their look, or get confused whether to defend against the run or pass. Boise State’s West Coast offense uses a lot of 11-12 man personnel in their quick game and outside runs. Their lineman need to be versatile with their techniques, whether they’re under center or in the gun.
After watching his tape, Kage can be better at cutting and redirecting his angle blocks. While he understands the body positioning required to execute the blocks, he needs a good get-off to win the rep. There are some whiffs on the tape from him that he needs to clean up. Kage is capable of combo blocking with a tight end or guard, but his punch isn’t as strong on the second block. As he maneuvers in space, he struggles to change direction and engage in physical contact on the move. He is more consistent moving laterally and mirroring against defensive linemen. While his leg drive needs improvement, he has reliable cutoff and power-hop techniques. This allows Kage to win against opponents with greater power, despite having shorter arms.
Scheme Fit and Team Fits
There are plenty of teams that implement West Coast offensive schemes in the NFL. Kage thrived under center in short-yardage and play-action pass situations. He needs to go to a team that wants to max-protect the quarterback with tight-end help. As he develops, I will feel more comfortable leaving him on an island against a speedy edge rusher. Every team in the NFL is looking for consistent offensive line play. But I think the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers would be the best fits for him. While they don’t have an immediate need for a starter at tackle, Kage could sit and learn behind young talent.
Player Comparison: Ben Bartch, San Francisco 49ers
Bartch was a 6’0, 315-pound guard prospect who got drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While their measurables and positions aren’t identical, they have similar play styles. I also could see Kage transitioning into a zone guard in the near future if he can’t earn playing time at tackle.
Projection:
While I don’t see Kage as an immediate NFL starter, I project him as a starter within 3 years of his development.
Grade and Round Projection: 4.8, Late Day 2 – Early Day 3 Pick
I gave Kage a 4.8 grade, projecting him as a late-day 2 or early-day 3 selection in the NFL Draft.
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