Missouri offensive lineman Cayden Green will return to Columbia for the 2026 season.
A 6-foot-5 junior, Green could have entered the 2026 NFL Draft class and heard his name called. He also would have presumably generated a bidding war had he entered the transfer portal. Instead, Mizzou has its left tackle back for a final year.
Green is just the latest to decide to run it back with the Tigers. He joins key players like linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, running back Ahmad Hardy, and Hardy’s backup, Jamal Roberts.
The former Oklahoma transfer moved to left tackle in fall camp and started 11 games at the position this season. He missed games against South Carolina and UMass with an injury, but when he was healthy, he was immovable in the lineup.
Green was Mizzou’s second-highest-graded lineman this season (81.8) and its best pass-blocker (89.1 grade), according to PFF. He allowed only 2 sacks in 347 opportunities and finished out the season as the SEC’s third-highest-graded pass-blocker.
New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey already needs to replace center Connor Tollison and right tackle Keagen Trost this offseason, so the decision from Green is huge for the offense.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
