Another fantastically deep position group this year, defensive tackles are up next. As many as seven of these guys could go in the first round, and while it’s unlikely all seven do, it goes to show just how strong this position is at the top. There are a bunch of great options on Day 2 as well, and the developmental prospects show nice upside in the later rounds.
Many evaluators have started calling this category “interior defenders” to better encapsulate the grouping of nose tackles, 3-tech defensive tackles, and 3-4 defensive ends. Those are the positions included in today’s ranking, and the line between 3-4 defensive ends and true edge rushers can be a little blurry at times, particularly with players who can do both. Therefore, if you don’t see a name you expected, that player is probably on my edge rusher rankings which come out next week.
This list includes my top 20 defensive tackles for the 2025 draft. The top 10 have full scouting reports, while the rest have shorter writeups that still explain their strengths, weaknesses, and why I have them ranked where I do. Stay tuned for more draft content and position rankings as I continue the series, and check out the other final position rankings below:
Final Position Rankings:
1: Mason Graham, Michigan
Having undergone a remarkable rise from a three-star recruit to a consensus All-American as a junior, Graham enters the draft as the top interior defender on most evaluators’ boards. Originally from Anaheim, California, Graham played significant snaps as a true freshman before flashing his NFL Draft potential as a sophomore. His junior season was his best yet, with 46 tackles, 34 pressures, and four sacks. He leaves Michigan as one of the more decorated defenders in school history and a shoo-in for a top-10 pick in April.
At 6-3 and a half, 296, Graham is a little undersized for the middle of an NFL defensive line. He excels as a run defender, with an elite 92.6 PFF run defense grade in 2024, highlighted by having a positive grade on a staggering 32.4 percent of run defense snaps. The power he commands at the point of attack is enough to shut down plays to his side of the line. He can redirect blockers off the snap, resetting the line and disrupting the flow of the blocking scheme. Strong hands let him lock on to blockers and he has the leg drive to plow through and make plays in the backfield.
It’s not just strength with Graham, either, as he has the quick feet and lateral agility to get underneath pullers or chase down ball carriers backside. That flexibility translates to his pass rush, where his 13.3 pass rush win percentage is very good for a defensive tackle. He’s a masterful handfighter, using a variety of moves to keep his chest clean and work around the guards he faces. That said, he primarily wants to go through the chest of the opposing lineman and does so effectively — his bullrushes are devastating.
Graham isn’t the longest defensive lineman, which isn’t as big an issue on the interior as it is on the edge. However, this does show up occasionally, as he can be out-leveraged in some pass rush situations. As I mentioned, Graham has his go-to bull rush move, but he’s still working on others, including counters. In run defense, he does a good job keeping linemen from controlling the point of attack, but he’s still learning to do that as a pass rusher.
It’s not often you get the chance to draft a player with Graham’s combination of floor and ceiling outcomes. There’s so little bust potential with him and there might not be a safer pick in the draft. The only red flag on his profile is measuring in at the Combine 20 pounds lighter than his listed weight at Michigan, but even that’s a small asterisk. He will be a weekly starter in the NFL, an immediately impactful run defender with plenty of pass rush production. If Graham develops a more consistent pass rush plan, he has All-Pro upside.
2: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
A transfer from Texas A&M, Nolen is a 6-4, 296-pound interior defender from Tennessee. A five-star recruit, he made his presence felt for the Aggies, breaking out as a sophomore with 37 tackles and four sacks, becoming one of the top transfers on the market after the season. With the Rebels, Nolen took another step, logging 48 tackles, 26 run stops, 41 pressures, and six sacks, becoming a consensus All-American in the process.
Quickness at size is the best way to describe Nolen’s game. He has an explosive first step that sets the tone of a rep, often forcing the interior line to scramble in response to his movement. With that step, he can get into the backfield in a flash, disrupting plays at the point of attack. Plus hip flexibility and foot speed for the position let him beat his matchup to the spot. Guards feel him on contact, with an initial punch that shocks even veteran linemen with his strength.
For a slightly undersized defensive tackle, there are no concerns about Nolen’s play strength. He can handle double teams consistently, holding the line and even resetting it back with his speed and ability to anchor on contact. Disruptive hands keep offensive linemen on their toes throughout the entire rep. Nolen will never be guilty of taking a play off or easing up before the whistle. He’s a relentless pursuer and will run full speed through the whistle.
While Nolen’s pass-rushing production has been great, the tape tells a slightly different story. He’s mostly a power rusher, looking to get into his bull rushes and displace the guard in front of him, or at least work around them in one move. That often works for him, even in the SEC, but he’ll need a bigger bag in the NFL. Especially at his size, he won’t simply drive through defenders consistently at the next level. He’s not a bad pass rusher by any means; he just needs to be more multiple in his attack. Additionally, he can get caught chasing big plays, getting out of position and allowing running backs or scrambling quarterbacks to find cutback lanes and open space.
Nolen has a great case to be a first-rounder come April. He owned the Senior Bowl, putting on a show and demonstrating his talent. Teams are always looking for pass-rushing three-techs who can penetrate and hold the point of attack. Nolen can do all that and more. Although he’s a little undersized for the NFL, that was never an issue in the SEC, which projects favorably for his chances in the league. I have a first-round grade on Nolen, and I think he comes into play for teams in the mid-to-late teens.
3: Kenneth Grant, Michigan
A 6-4, 331-pound true junior from Indiana, Grant was a four-star recruit and immediate contributor on Michigan’s defensive line. He played behind Graham and current Bengals DT Kris Jenkins Jr. during his first two seasons in Ann Arbor, but that didn’t stop him from being productive. His breakout sophomore campaign saw him earn second-team All-Big 10 honors behind 29 tackles and four sacks, but he had an even better season as a junior. In his first season as a full-time starter, Grant once again made the second-team All-Big 10 and had 32 tackles, 27 pressures, three sacks and 56 positively graded plays against the run.
Grant is one of the best run-stuffers in this class. With the versatility to line up across the line and in multiple fronts, he’s strong against double-teams and is tough to move off his spot. Unlike some strong run defenders, Grant isn’t simply stout against blocks. He actively creates havoc, getting into the backfield and running down ball-carriers. Heavy hands and a powerful upper body let him dictate reps at the point of attack, redirecting blockers and forcing his way into the play.
While Grant’s bread-and-butter is his work in the run game, he flashes considerable upside as a pass rusher. Bruce Feldman named Grant to his “Freaks List,” highlighting his athletic gifts. He displays eye-popping quickness off the snap, with the first-step burst to gain an immediate advantage on the play. In spurts, he’s incredibly disruptive, showcasing the ability to single-handedly change a game with his backfield penetration and the speed at which he can break through the line.
For all his potential, Grant is a work in progress as a pass rusher. His flashes are exciting, but he has yet to put together a consistent stretch of production. Right now, he relies primarily on his natural athleticism to win without many moves at his disposal to defeat blockers. Additionally, he sacrifices his leverage too often, playing high out of stance and allowing blockers to control his chest, particularly when he’s pass-rushing. This inhibits his ability to get into his moves and he gets shut down.
A fairly young player, Grant has the kinds of tools you just can’t teach. Many coaches would love to get their hands on him, to get a chance to “mold this ball of clay.” He’ll likely be a first-round pick because of it, and he’s ready to contribute to an NFL team right now. The pass rushing isn’t all the way there yet, but he’ll hold up in run defense. If he can develop into a consistent pass rusher, he has the kind of upside that doesn’t escape Round 1.
4: T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
A three-star recruit who initially redshirted with the Gamecocks, Sanders has steadily improved every year of his college career. After seeing some rotational snaps as a redshirt freshman, Sanders began turning heads as a sophomore, racking up 43 tackles and five sacks. As a junior, he made the All-SEC second team, with 51 tackles, 33 pressures and four sacks on South Carolina’s monster defensive line.
At 6-4, 297, Sanders is a little light for an interior defender in the NFL, but he makes up for that with incredible length. His long arms dictate contact on every rep, establishing initial contact on his terms and letting him disrupt off the snap. He pairs that with a quick first step and bursty hips, letting him get upfield quickly and into the backfield. As a pass rusher, he uses his length to get guards off-balance, hitting them with a counter move and racing past them to create pressure. Sanders has a variety of pass-rush moves he uses throughout a game, adjusting his play as needed to beat his matchups.
As a run defender, Sanders’ length comes into play once again, as he can ward off linemen trying to get into his chest and displace him. He’s not the type to own double teams by himself, but he works hard to avoid getting caught up on contact and can shed blockers with ease at times. Sanders is best described as a disruptive run defender, more likely to create a tackle for a loss than to stonewall a blocking scheme on his own.
Being undersized does have its downsides, and in Sanders’ case, he struggles against double teams and can be moved at the point of attack. Ideally, he’d be paired with a bigger, run-stuffing defensive tackle in the NFL who can make up for this deficiency and let Sanders pin his ears back. I’d also like to see him improve his pass rush plan, as while he does have a lot of moves he can go to, he’s still learning how to counter mid-rep to what the opposing lineman is doing.
Sanders has NFL traits through and through; it’s easy to project his pass-rushing skills to translate at the next level. While he won’t single-handedly alter an opponent’s rushing attack, he’s not a liability in run defense as some others in his archetype are. I like Sanders as a late-Day 1 or early-Day 2 guy who can be a starter in the NFL and contribute immediately as an interior pass rusher.
5: Darius Alexander, Toledo
A sixth-year senior from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Alexander spent his entire college career at Toledo. After redshirting initially and playing minimally in the COVID season, he began seeing steady playing time in 2021. By 2023, he had truly broken out, earning third-team All-MAC honors behind a 36-tackle, four-sack season. Alexander’s 2024 season was even better, with 40 tackles, another four sacks, and four passes defended, making the All-MAC second team. He began getting some draft attention towards the end of the season and really turned heads at the Senior Bowl, putting himself in the first-round conversation.
The 6-4, 305-pound Alexander made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” for his strength. He’s built to play on the interior in the NFL, with long arms and a rock-solid lower half. When he establishes initial contact, he can prevent the offensive line from locking him up, driving them back into the pocket and single-handedly sabotaging plays. Alexander has surprising explosiveness at his size, able to fire out of his stance and beat the opposing linemen to the punch.
Alexander has some nice wiggle to his game, able to slip blocks and knife into the backfield to make tackles. The agility and lateral quickness he displays lets him keep up against outside zone schemes, able to beat blockers to the point of attack. With a solid bag of pass rush moves, Alexander is able to consistently beat his blocker one-on-one, and he uses some of that same creativity in run defense. There were plenty of examples on tape of him using a swim or spin move to make a tackle on a running back.
One of the main things Alexander needs to improve on is his pad level. Far too often, he’s playing upright in his stance, negating many of his length advantages and allowing the blocker to dictate contact. Always chasing the sacks and big backfield stops, he gets beat backdoor a little too frequently, abandoning his gap to try and make a play. Though he possesses a nice variety of pass-rush moves on tape, he doesn’t chain them together well, sometimes stalling out if his initial move doesn’t work.
A borderline first-round pick, Alexander’s game is an easy one to love. Athletic, pass-rushing defensive tackles with production in run defense are in high demand. It should speak to the strength of this class that Alexander might not crack the first round. Regardless of where he’s taken, he should start right away in the league, and could develop into one of the gems out of this entire class.
6: Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Originally a three-star recruit for Michigan State, Harmon transferred to Oregon for his final collegiate season and enjoyed the best year of his young career. A Detroit native, Harmon had four career sacks before recording five as a senior, adding 45 tackles and 60 pressures to earn second-team All-Big 10 honors. His performance in 2024 put him squarely on the NFL Draft radar, as his production and tape both turned heads.
With a 6-4 and a half, 313-pound frame, Harmon is well-built to hold up on the interior in the NFL. He’s a deadly interior pass rusher, with the athleticism and burst to penetrate into the backfield quickly. Solid hand usage lets him maximize his length, and he has a few go-to moves, including a long arm and a bull rush. His powerful leg drive lets him work through blockers, but Harmon also has the agility to work around them when given the opportunity. Harmon’s 17.9 pass-rush win percentage is elite on the interior.
Harmon shows flashes as a run defender, too. His two best run defense grades, per PFF, came in the two games Oregon played against Ohio State and their elite offensive line and rushing attack. Harmon scored 95.0 in the first matchup and 90.0 in the second, truly elite marks. He holds his ground well at the point of attack, able to effectively disengage from blockers to make tackles near the line of scrimmage.
For someone with his pass-rush pedigree, I was a little surprised I didn’t see a wider variety of moves on Harmon’s tape. He has two or three that he loves to use but hasn’t developed a solid counter yet. Additionally, he often struggles as a run defender, lacking the strength to hold his ground against double-teams and occasionally losing gap integrity as well. He’ll need to clean that up at the next level to be an every-down player.
A fan-favorite his senior year, Harmon has a lot of traits I like to bet on. His success as a pass rusher in the Big 10 is eye-catching, as is his athletic profile. He struggles too much in run defense right now to be higher on this list, but he’s flashed upside there in some of the biggest games of the season. What he brings as a pass rusher on the interior is incredibly valuable and he’s yet another defensive tackle who could hear his name called in Round 1.
7: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
A four-star recruit from Manassas, Virginia, Williams arrived at Ohio State as a four-star recruit and quickly made his presence felt. He was a freshman All-American, racking up five sacks in 2021. As a junior, he was named second-team All-Big 10, following that up with a third-team selection as a senior. In 2024, Williams had 46 tackles, 21 pressures, and three sacks, to go with 71 positively graded run defense snaps and 20 run stops.
At 6-3, 334 pounds, Williams made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” with his combination of strength and agility at that size. He’s consistently capable of collapsing the pocket when rushing the passer, using his quick first step to establish immediate leverage and driving offensive linemen back into their quarterback’s lap. With surprisingly good hands, Williams knows how to keep his chest clean and disengage from blockers, both to pursue plays downfield and work his way into the backfield. He gets moving in a hurry at his size, which often gives him an advantage on the interior.
But Williams is a run defender first and foremost, and that’s why teams will be drafting him. His frame lets him effectively control two gaps, giving him an enormous amount of scheme versatility in his deployment. His powerful upper body lets him control blockers at the point of attack, refusing to be pushed back and resetting the line of scrimmage back in many cases. When faced with pulling guards and down blocks, Williams displays the agility to work off them and make tackles, with a high number of individual stops on his tape. He holds up against double teams, as well, a good sign for his ability to be a run-stuffer at the next level.
Short-area quickness just isn’t Williams’ game, despite his best efforts. Combined with his shorter arms, it likely means he’ll never be an amazing pass rusher. That said, he could be more productive, and many of his struggles come from his lack of a pass-rush bag. He has a great bull rush, but not much else to his game. If he can add a few tricks such as a rip, arm over, or pin and pull, it’ll let him work more effectively and maximize his potential as a pass rusher.
Putting Williams this low feels disrespectful, but that’s how strong this class is. He’s an elite, elite run defender with minimal impact on a team’s pass rush from an individual standpoint. Typically, you don’t notice these players on the field that often, but you definitely notice when they aren’t there. He frees up the defensive coordinator’s scheme by his mere presence, amplifying a team’s run defense and allowing the rest of the line to play more freely. He’s in play on Day 1 and is a plug-and-play NFL starter.
8: Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
A former four-star recruit who spent three seasons at Arizona State, Norman-Lott didn’t see the field a whole lot in Tempe. He had four sacks in his Sun Devils’ career before transferring to Knoxville, where he immediately made his presence felt. Though his first season at Tennessee was cut short due to injury, he still racked up 26 tackles and six sacks in 10 games. As a senior, he added 18 tackles and four sacks to his total, playing a key role on the Volunteers’ defensive front. Though Tennessee rotates their defensive linemen a ton and Norman-Lott didn’t rack up gaudy counting stats as a result, his work still caught the attention of NFL scouts and he backed up the tape at the Senior Bowl and Combine.
Checking it at 6-2, 291, Norman-Lott is a pass-rush specialist. He has the length to get into the pads of the blockers in front of him, keeping them on their heels and working around them. Speed-to-power is his go-to and he’s effective with it, using his strong lower half to drive through blockers and leaving them in the dust if they overcommit. An explosive lower half helps him make first contact and dictate the rep, blowing past blockers at times by timing the snap and reacting before the offensive line could recover.
It’s not just physical ability with Norman-Lott, as he has a fairly refined package of pass rush moves to win the day. He can set up blockers over the course of the game, employing counters, spins and ghost moves to catch unwary linemen who aren’t prepared. With the upper-body strength of a larger player, Norman-Lott can rip and power through blockers who don’t set strongly enough out of the gate.
For as fantastic a pass rusher as Norman-Lott is, his run defense lags behind. He gets undisciplined in his gap control, giving up backside cuts and counters when he tries to jump the play instead of playing his assignment. He loses a lot of leverage battles due to setting too high out of his stance, lacking the footwork and commitment to take full advantage of his physical gifts. As you might expect at his size, Norman-Lott isn’t a two-gapper and can get washed out of the play by drive and combo blocks.
Norman-Lott has some work to do to clean up his game, but the pass-rush upside is tantalizing. A Day 2 prospect, it all comes down to fit with him. But interior pass rush is a valuable asset and one that should see him taken highly. He moved well at the Combine and held his own at the Senior Bowl, and when you watch him it’s easy to see the vision.
9: Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
The less-heralded Shemar on the Aggies’ defensive front, Turner is a three-year starter and made waves as a freshman off the bench, too. The high-water mark of his college career was in 2023 when he made second-team All-SEC, racking up 33 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles. All told, he had 115 tackles, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles at A&M, leaving the school as a productive, well-loved senior. Though he’s been overshadowed by some bigger names on that front, Turner is a high-floor player with some untapped upside and has his fans in NFL draft rooms.
The 6-3, 290-pound Turner played all over the Aggies’ defensive front and could comfortably play either 3-tech or as a big end in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL. His movement skills are his best attribute, firing off the line at the snap and possessing quick change-of-direction abilities to relocate and attack from multiple angles. Advanced hand-fighting techniques allow him to play through blocks and still affect the play, keeping his chest clean and disengaging from blockers to make tackles.
Against double-teams, Turner can hold his own despite being on the smaller side for a defensive tackle. He doesn’t reset the line of scrimmage usually, but he stands his ground and avoids being washed out of the play by combo blocks. Long arms let him dictate contact off the snap and at the point of attack, controlling blocking angles and redirecting the runner. As a pass rusher, Turner most effectively employs a bull rush, able to collapse the pocket and impact the passer.
Though he has the frame and explosiveness for it, Turner isn’t the most effective pass rusher. He often stalls after his initial rush, lacking a series of counters or go-to moves to win one-on-one. To succeed in the NFL at his size, he’ll need to develop more pass rush moves and learn to affect the quarterback more consistently. Additionally, he doesn’t play with proper leverage against the rush, standing too tall off the snap and limiting his impact down-to-down.
Turner is a player who’s slowly risen in my rankings over the course of this process. At every turn, I’ve been impressed with how he’s responded and every time I go back to watch his tape I come away more impressed. He’s a solid Day 2 player with enough role versatility to fit into any scheme. Teams looking for specific fits may prefer other prospects in this range, but Turner can make an impact from day one.
10: Alfred Collins, Texas
A fifth-year senior and local Texas product, Collins was buried on the depth chart most of his career behind Seahawks DT Byron Murphy Jr. and Titans DT T’Vondre Sweat. Despite this, Collins was a consistent contributor during his first four seasons in Austin, with six sacks during that span. Stepping into a full-time starting role in 2024, he became one of the best run-stuffers in the SEC, with 55 tackles, 21 run stops and 22 pressures, earning first-team All-SEC recognition.
At 6-6, 332, Collins has the size to man multiple gaps in the NFL. With a quick first step and the ability to shed blockers, he can create havoc in the backfield and make plays. His best work, though, is done at the point of attack, where he can reset the line of scrimmage consistently. Collins is ideally suited to taking on double teams, with strong hands and the core to lock up and anchor on contact.
The power Collins possesses in his arms his impressive, as he can move and displace NFL-caliber guards on initial contact. Long arms let him dictate each rep and he knows how to win leverage battles against different types of blockers. Collins has an ideal anchor for handling double-teams and manning two gaps, freeing up the rest of the defense to attack elsewhere.
Now, Collins is a fifth-year player, and his pass rush development has lagged somewhat. His hands aren’t disciplined when attempting to rush upfield, as he gets caught on contact too often and stalls out. Most of his pass rush plan right now involves bull rushing and freelancing afterward to find something that works. He didn’t test well at the Combine, bringing his long-term upside as a rusher into question.
Collins is yet another Day 2 guy in this class with a really high floor. Limited starting experience explains some of his lack of refinement, and I have confidence he can improve with more live reps. Right now, he’s primarily a run defender, but he has a little pass rush upside at least if he continues to develop. He’ll likely go somewhere in the third round with a chance to start right away.
The Next Ten
11 — Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech:
A 6-0 and a half, 282-pound prospect with elite short-area and first-step quickness, Peebles might be the most refined pass rusher in this entire defensive tackle class. His ability to win off the snap is impressive, and it grants him a large advantage in his pass rushes. He pairs that twitch with excellent lateral agility and hand usage. Peebles displays good ability to stack and shed blockers, capable of disengaging at the point of attack and making tackles.
Peebles is really small for the NFL and he didn’t test particularly well, either. His best position might be as a 3-4 defensive end, but he can absolutely hold up as a pass rusher as a traditional 3-tech. The issue comes in with his run defense, as Peebles is moved by double teams and lacks the sand in his pants to hold or reset the line of scrimmage. Still, in the third or fourth round, he’ll add value as a rotational pass-rush specialist.
12 — Vernon Broughton, Texas:
A 6-5, 311-pound Houston native, Broughton is a phenomenal athlete. Explosiveness defines his game, whether he’s jumping off the snap to create easy penetration or plowing through a blocker’s chest. Strong hands let him control the point of contact and he has the short-area quickness and speed to win one-on-one battles regularly. Lateral agility is a major plus with Broughton, and it lets him win pass-rushing battles and beat blockers to their spots in outside running schemes.
Broughton needs to continue refining his game. He’s only been playing football since his sophomore year of high school. Double-teams move him in the run game, and he needs to play with better leverage against them. His pass-rush arsenal needs improving, as he currently wins more off athleticism than skill. But don’t get me wrong, Broughton is a high-ceiling pick in the third or fourth round given his pedigree and production.
13 — CJ West, Indiana:
A 6-1, 316-pound defensive tackle from Chicago, West locks down the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball. He can anchor against double-teams despite his smaller frame, and he’s adept at knifing into the backfield to make plays. He knows how to use his leverage to get under blockers and create advantages, with powerful hands to shock on impact and give himself space to operate. Strong explosiveness testing numbers speak to his powerful lower half and quick-twitch motor, capable of redirecting in space and smoothly navigating in a phone booth.
West has some length concerns that prevent him from reliably creating first contact. As a result, he gets caught up on blocks a lot and can struggle to break free. Pass rush moves aren’t his strong suit, and his repertoire is limited. Additionally, he has a concerningly high missed-tackle rate for a defensive lineman, which is worth monitoring. As a mid-round pick, West projects well as a key part of a defensive tackle rotation.
14 — Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon:
The opposite archetype of his teammate Harmon, Caldwell measures at 6-2, 332 pounds, bringing the beef on the interior. A surprisingly disruptive player, he’s often the first to move off the snap and can create havoc in the backfield by blowing through the line. Best used as a run-stuffer, Caldwell plays with superb leverage and disciplined assignments, clogging up the middle and holding his gaps. One-on-one, he’s shown the ability to demolish individual blockers, shredding through them to make a tackle in the backfield.
Outside of his bull rush, Caldwell won’t do a whole lot as a pass rusher. Shorter arms limit his ability to hand-fight against smart guards in pass pro, and he doesn’t have many moves to his name. Limited athletic testing raises questions about his ability to repeat his college performance in the pros. But for what he’s asked to do, Caldwell is excellent at it and should have a role in the league right away.
15 — Jordan Phillips, Maryland:
A weight-room warrior, Phillips checks in at 6-2, 312 pounds. He is a master of defensive leverage, always sitting lower than the man across from him and refusing to move backwards. Anchoring ability is a plus-plus with Phillips and he’s agile enough to keep up on the move, maintaining gap integrity even against outside zone schemes. Strong hands and a powerful lower half let him reset the line of scrimmage at times, winning up top and down low to move people off the line.
Phillips isn’t much of a pass rusher as it stands. He has little production and the tape shows a player who has no moves beyond a basic bull rush. If he can’t push through the blocker in front of him, he won’t impact the play. As a run defender, he has a high floor, but the concerning lack of pass-rush production limits his ceiling in the NFL. Still, in the middle rounds, you know exactly what you’re getting with Phillips. Reliable run stuffers are underappreciated these days.
16 — Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina:
A South Carolina native, Hemingway has been a mainstay on that defense for four years. At 6-3, 284, he’s undersized for the NFL. But he plays to his strengths, firing off the ball and creating instant disruption, using quick hands and a deep bag of pass rush moves to beat blockers one-on-one. He effectively disengages from blockers in run defense to make tackles and can even hold his own against double-teams and combo blocks.
To really take his game to the next level, Hemingway would be well-served to develop a more reliable set of counters. While his initial moves are varied and effective, he doesn’t chain them together well and his rushes tend to stall out if he doesn’t win quickly. Additionally, at his size, he may well be a liability in run defense against the guards he’ll be matched up against in the NFL. But still, I liked Hemingway’s tape a lot, and he tested well at the Combine. For a mid-round pick, he has considerable upside.
17 — Deone Walker, Kentucky:
The 6-7, 331-pound Walker is a polarizing player. He eats up space, handling double-teams with ease and often beating them directly into the backfield. The power this man possesses is remarkable, with one arm enough to shock most linemen on contact and let him dictate the rep. He has such nimble footwork, able to redirect around blockers with a suddenness that takes them by surprise. This makes him an incredibly effective pass rusher, as he can work the middle of the offensive line the way an edge rusher works the tackle.
Walker’s play can become sloppy and unrefined at times, not in a lazy way, more in an inexperienced kind of way. Often, he plays too high in his stance, losing leverage battles and letting the offensive lineman control the rep. Other times, he doesn’t use his pass-rush plan effectively, almost winging it instead, leading to poor results. Walker can do so many fun things on the football field, if he can get better at the nitty-gritty stuff he still has a high ceiling.
18 — JJ Pegues, Ole Miss:
A 6-2 and a half, 309-pound Oxford, Mississippi native, Pegues is a fascinating film study. He’s explosive in his movements, engaging quickly and getting into his pass rush. He can win fights in a phone booth, squeezing through small spaces and putting pressure on the offensive line to maintain tight gap integrity. As a run defender, he holds the point of attack well, anchoring down and using his leverage to avoid getting pushed around. Plus, he’s a legitimate goal-line weapon on offense, an effective short-yardage rusher and receiver for some added fun.
Pegues is new to the defensive side of the ball, so some of his limitations may disappear as he grows more accustomed to it. But he’s not a terribly effective pass rusher as it stands. Limited moves and undisciplined hands make his job harder than it needs to be. Pegues is a really fun, unique player, but until he develops more refinement in his game, his utility may be limited.
19 — Joshua Farmer, Florida State:
A powerfully built 6-3, 305-pound prospect, Farmer plays with quick feet and a couple of devastating pass-rush moves to win up front. He plays low in his stance to maximize his leverage and has powerful hands and win the contact battle and shock blockers on impact. Able to stack and shed effectively to make plays on the ball-carrier, he wins mostly as a pass rusher with some great combo moves.
Farmer is a middling athlete and really struggles to hold up against double-teams. He’s an inconsistent pass rusher, as well, flashing sophistication on one snap and offering little on the next. Overall, he fails to make an impact on too many of his reps, but the upside is there. He’ll need to add strength in the NFL to be a consistent, impactful player, but he has a chance to be a good depth piece as a rookie.
20 — Ty Robinson, Nebraska:
A true tweener in the NFL, Robinson stands at 6-5, 288 pounds. Speed and power are both evident on Robinson’s tape, with his quick-twitch movement giving way to bone-crushing hits on blockers to create space. Strong hands let him rip free from blocks and he rarely misses tackles once he gets his hands on the ball-carrier. As a run defender, he maintains gap integrity and fights through combo blocks to impact the play.
Being a taller player, winning the leverage battle is difficult for Robinson. He lacks a significant pass-rush plan, relying too heavily on his natural gifts. Without being the most fluid athlete, he can struggle in space and is best deployed in a phone booth. Robinson’s best fit is likely as a 3-4 defensive end, and if he plays in a system like that I have confidence he can make an impact.
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