​ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his ranking of the NFL’s top offensive tackles heading into the 2026 season and briefly noted the Indianapolis Colts’ Bernhard Raimann among those considered. What sets these yearly rankings apart is that they aren’t based solely on Fowler’s own assessment. Instead, NFL executives, coaches, and scouts participate as voters, lending their expertise to determine the league’s best blockers. Analyst Matt Bowen contributes through interviews, research, and film study, which all feed into the final evaluation.
Once the input from voters is tallied, Fowler crafts a structured top 10, includes honorable mentions, and ends with a category for players who received votes but didn’t crack the main list—Raimann’s name appeared in that final tier. Among the 70 voters who submitted top-10 ballots, at least one included Raimann, though the exact number of votes he received isn’t disclosed.
Raimann has continued to rise in the NFL, providing the Colts with a dependable anchor at a decision-making position that has a significant impact on the offense. In the 2023 season, Pro Football Focus rated him tied for 14th among 90 eligible tackles in pass-blocking grade. On the running game, ESPN’s run-block win rate metric placed him third within his position group, underscoring his effectiveness as a run blocker. Jonathan Taylor benefited from Raimann’s presence, averaging an impressive 5.8 yards per carry when rushing to Raimann’s right or left last season, highlighting the tangible impact of the rookie’s development.
Raimann’s contributions help sustain what’s expected to be another stout Colts offensive line in 2026. The Colts’ front line is central to their offensive identity, and Raimann’s role remains pivotal as the unit continues to offer protection for the quarterback and lanes for slotting in a productive rushing attack. The organization has shown its confidence in his trajectory; in July 2025, the Colts extended Raimann on a four-year contract worth $100 million, signaling a long-term commitment to his development and to the stability of the line.
This context comes from Colts Wire, which covered how NFL talent evaluators perceived Raimann’s standing relative to the top offensive tackles. The piece notes that Raimann’s presence on the voters’ radar—even if he did not land in the top tier of Fowler’s ranking—reflects the respect he has earned from those who study and evaluate players at the highest levels. The evolving assessment of Raimann’s abilities mirrors his ongoing progression and the Colts’ continued emphasis on building a formidable offensive line to support their offense for the 2026 season and beyond.