Just one college football game remains this season, and the NFL playoffs are in full swing. Most prospects have finished putting out tape in their college careers, so it’s time to officially unveil my updated position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Today I’m ranking my top 10 defensive tackles, or interior defensive linemen. Last year’s class is shaping up to be an all-timer in terms of depth (and it’s one I was very excited about at the time). This one isn’t quite to that level, but it is a deep group with some first-round prospects and plenty of options on Day 2. Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington would’ve been my DT1 in this class, but he returned to school for his senior season.

If you’d like to check out my other updated position rankings, you can do so below:

• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Offensive Tackles
• Interior Offensive Linemen
• Edge Rushers
• Linebackers
• Cornerbacks

1: Peter Woods, Clemson

A five-star recruit from Alabama, Woods hit the ground running as a true freshman in 2023, racking up 26 tackles and a forced fumble and earning some freshman All-America accolades. As a sophomore, he had 26 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors despite playing out of position as an edge rusher. In 2025, Woods moved back to the interior, posting 30 tackles, two sacks, and a pass defensed, garnering first-team All-ACC recognition.

Standing at 6-3, 315 pounds, Woods is such an explosive athlete for his size. He has uncanny quickness and fluidity to his movements, earning a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for his combination of power, speed, and agility. That athleticism shows up on the field, as Woods can make offensive linemen look silly trying to block them. He fires off the snap with a suddenness that catches blockers by surprise, thundering into them or dancing around them before they can react. His hands are strong and he has the length to dictate contact on the interior, stunning linemen with his initial punch before getting into his moves.

Woods has incredible lower-body strength, anchoring against double teams and producing a powerful bull rush. He makes some incredible plays against the run, with consistent backfield production throughout his college career and solid fundamentals in that phase. When rushing the passer, he utilizes advanced hand fighting techniques and his plus short-area quickness to execute moves and combos that leave offensive linemen grasping air — if he doesn’t just shove right through them.

Though he got a lot better in this area in his junior season, Woods is still developing his pass-rush bag. Right now, he has a few go-to moves, but he isn’t terribly creative beyond his basic work. If he can add more refinement in this area, he has the type of athleticism that will make him that much more devastating. Additionally, his production in general isn’t yet to the level of physical tools. The hope is that as he continues to develop, that production catches up.

An undeniably first-round caliber player, Woods, won’t be for everyone. But you can’t teach his athleticism and he took another jump forward this year. I had him as a top-five player on my board over the summer and while he isn’t ranked that high for me anymore, he’s still a rare athlete with an ascending growth trajectory. His draft range is anywhere from the top 10 to the back half of the first round, but his ceiling is as high as anyone in this draft.

2: Christen Miller, Georgia

A four-star recruit who stayed in his home state of Georgia, Miller redshirted as a freshman in 2022 before taking on a rotational role as a redshirt freshman, racking up 14 tackles and a sack. As a redshirt sophomore, he began a key piece on the Bulldogs’ defensive line, with 27 tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed. Miller continued his upward trajectory as a redshirt junior in 2025, posting 23 tackles and two sacks, earning first-team All-SEC recognition.

Measuring 6-4, 305 pounds, Miller has elite foot speed and explosive quickness for an interior defensive lineman. With plus lateral agility as well, he has the fluid movement skills and speed to destroy many interior offensive linemen, shredding their pass sets off the snap. His ability to penetrate the backfield quickly is incredibly disruptive and he did it consistently, whether he made the play himself or caused enough havoc for someone else to. Miller is equally effective against the run or in his pass rush, making him a versatile addition to any line.

With pro-ready anchor strength against drive blocks and double teams, Miller isn’t getting moved against his will. He plays strong against the run, sticking to his assignments and making the plays that are there. Powerful hands shock blockers on contact and he uses them well, moving people around and aggressively taking on blocks to free up other tacklers or quickly shedding them for added disruption. Miller can play nose tackle or 3-tech and can even moonlight on the edge a little, making him a defensive coordinator’s dream.

The backfield production hasn’t quite caught up to Miller’s tools and backfield presence, which is something to monitor. He can get out of position against misdirection on occasion. Mainly, he needs to play with better leverage, as he comes too high out of his stance and nullifies some of his own advantages with the way he engages with offensive linemen.

An obvious first-round pick, Miller is an exciting player to watch. He’s both disruptive and a space-eater, comfortably filling either role and making him a good scheme fit across the league. His combination of quick-twitch athleticism (for his size) and plus strength makes him a devastating interior force. It wouldn’t surprise me if Miller was the first defensive tackle taken in this draft.

3: Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

A four-star recruit from Mobile, Alabama, Hunter originally committed to Auburn, where he redshirted in 2021. After the season, he followed his head coach to Central Florida, playing a rotational role as a redshirt freshman before breaking out in 2023. As a redshirt sophomore, Hunter had 69 tackles, three sacks, and a pass defensed, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition. As a redshirt junior, his production dipped slightly, but he was still named second-team All-Big 12 with 44 tackles and a sack. For his fifth season, Hunter transferred to the Red Raiders, posting 41 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble, earning consensus first-team All-Big 12 marks.

Standing at 6-4, 325 pounds, Hunter is a load to deal with down low. He’s a tremendous run defender, manning multiple gaps and blowing up rushing plays with his presence alone. He demolishes offensive linemen on contact, with overwhelming strength at the point of attack and the anchor to hold his ground against dedicated drive blocks. When he establishes contact, he moves people, with strong hands that get the linemen out of their rhythm. Hunter can track the ball carrier well through traffic and has solid backfield production, playing with impressive agility for his size to squeeze through gaps and make plays.

As a pass rusher, Hunter has the foot quickness to execute complex pass rush packages and the strength to just bulldoze interior linemen. His hand fighting skills are near the top of the class and he consistently leaves blockers guessing, faking them out with advanced feints and counters to gain advantages throughout the rep. When he wants to go through someone, he does, with a thunderous bull rush that decimates the blocking scheme.

I wouldn’t describe Hunter as a quick-twitch athlete, and he is more of a power player than a finesse one. That’s fine, but it does mean that he can’t always overcome blockers who can hold up against his power. Not many can, and he’s an advanced pass rusher who can win with technique as well, but Hunter won’t be bursting past guards off the snap very often. Additionally, his leverage can be an issue at times, especially when he’s trying to win quickly off the snap.

I have a second-round grade on Hunter and he’s the type of versatile defensive tackle who can be a starter in this league for a long time. He won’t be played off the field against the run or the pass, and he can change the game singlehandedly with his physicality. Once he sees he has an advantage, he cranks up the intensity, crushing the life out of his opponents. That kind of mentality will make him a popular prospect, and he could go pretty early on Day 2.

4: Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

A four-star recruit from Georgia, McDonald played a small role on the Buckeyes’ defensive front as a true freshman in 2023. He had 19 tackles as a sophomore, stepping into a larger rotational role and playing in every game. McDonald’s breakout came as a junior in 2025, when he had 65 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass defensed, earning consensus first-team All-Big Ten recognition and first-team All-America honors.

Measuring at 6-3, 326 pounds, McDonald is a game-changing run defender. He regularly takes on double teams, easily holding his ground and often resetting the line of scrimmage back. His play strength is elite, occupying space and funneling the action towards his linebackers to come up and make tackles. He’s not passive, though — he’s more than capable of making plays himself, as evidenced by his absurd 65-tackle junior season as a defensive tackle. McDonald has devastating backfield production, working through blocks to make plays on the ball carrier most players simply can’t make.

With quick feet for his size and the ability to get skinny, McDonald can knife into the backfield effectively, blowing up plays when he wants to penetrate and contribute to the action directly. Combo blocks and double teams just don’t move him, as he holds his ground with impunity and plugs up gaps. A smart player, McDonald reads the offense well and is rarely fooled by misdirection or trickery, staying fundamentally sound and sticking to his assignments.

For as impactful a run defender as he is, McDonald has a long way to go as a pass rusher. He doesn’t have great length for the position, limiting the types of pass rush moves he can perform. On the whole, his pass rush skills are pretty rudimentary, as he currently tries to win mostly through sheer strength and athleticism, usually to middling results. He’s not a complete zero as a pass rusher, but McDonald doesn’t offer much in that department.

I have a second-round grade on McDonald. He’s an elite run-stuffing two-gap defensive tackle, and while that type of player has limited value in the league, he’s a level beyond most college prospects in that area. Some teams will love what he brings and his development arrow is pointing up. It wouldn’t shock me to see him go as high as the top 15 as a result.

5: Caleb Banks, Florida

A three-star recruit from Detroit, Banks started his collegiate career at Louisville, redshirting initially and playing minimally as a freshman before transferring to the Gators in 2023. He had 19 tackles and a sack as a redshirt sophomore, upping that production to 21 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed as a redshirt junior. Unfortunately, Banks sustained multiple foot injuries in 2025 and only played in three games, though he should be healthy enough to participate in the pre-draft circuit.

Standing at 6–6, 330 pounds, Banks moves with a level of twitchiness and fluidity that sets him apart from other prospects. The way he moves just shouldn’t be possible at his size, and he shoots gaps like a man 50 pounds lighter. He can penetrate in an instant, forcing the issue off the snap with a quick first step and powerful hands that initiate contact and give him the space he needs to operate. Banks has impressive lateral agility and it lets him execute moves few defensive tackles can. He can line up as an edge rusher at times, as well, adding to his versatility.

With plus strength at the point of attack, Banks can stack and shed effectively to make tackles in the backfield. Throughout his career, he’s showcased improved hand usage, fighting for positioning and leverage and working to keep his chest clean. When he gets into the backfield, Banks surprises people with his speed, routinely running down ball carries and chasing quarterbacks with tenacity and quickness.

Leverage can be an issue for Banks. His height puts him at a natural disadvantage, but it’s something he still needs to work on. Double teams were able to move him last year, and he’s too big and strong to allow that to continue. Banks’ pass rush arsenal needs work, as he’s still freelancing out there more than playing with a developed set of moves, and he relies on his athleticism over technique too often.

Right now, Banks is a high-ceiling, lower-floor prospect. His athleticism and quickness is eye-popping and his potential is as high as anyone’s. But there’s a long way to go before he’s able to be a consistent disruptor down to down. Losing most of his 2025 season meant he couldn’t showcase growth this season. I have a second-round grade on Banks just given his potential, but there are other prospects I like more in this class.

6: Domonique Orange, Iowa State

A three-star recruit from Kansas City, Orange played rotationally as a true freshman in 2022, becoming a part-time starter as a sophomore with 16 tackles. His breakout season came as a junior in 2024, totaling 24 tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. As a senior with the Cyclones, Orange had 18 tackles and a pass defensed, earning third-team All-Big 12 recognition.

Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange is a massive 6-4, 325-pound nose tackle. The power in his upper half is tremendous, with unbreakable grip strength and an eye-popping power profile. A member of Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Orange combines devastating power with surprisingly light feet for a nose tackle. This class’ “dancing bear,” Orange can penetrate quickly off the snap, getting vertical with speed and forcing the offensive line to reset to account for him. He had a deep move of pass rush bags to go with that explosive first step, winning with technique consistently.

But power is what makes Orange special, and he has it in spades. He moves people off the line of scrimmage, bulldozing blockers and completely destroying plays. Dedicated double teams and drive blocks are mere annoyances to him, as he has a strong anchor and isn’t moved off his spot. He can man multiple gaps and crushes the offensive line when pass rushing, creating massive dents that other players can take advantage of. When hand fighting, he uses his strength to his advantage, stunning blockers on contact and closing distance quickly.

With limited length and poor leverage, Orange makes his own job a lot harder than it needs to be. Without long arms, he already has a hard time keeping blockers away from his chest, and he compounds that issue by playing too high and making it even easier for linemen to end his rush. Double teams don’t often move him, but they can effectively take him out of the play, as he doesn’t shed blocks well and struggles with the lateral agility necessary to split double teams and get into the backfield.

A strong Day 2 selection, Orange is a run-stuffing nose tackle with some untapped pass rushing upside. He doesn’t have a ton of backfield production yet, but he flashes the traits he needs to improve in that area, in addition to being a plus athlete. At worst, you’re getting a veteran lineman who will immediately upgrade your run defense and make life easier for your other pass rushers — and at best, you could have a game-changing interior force on your hands. Plus, he has the best nickname in this entire class.

7: Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech

An unranked, zero-star high school recruit who had to walk on to Division II’s Upper Iowa in 2021, Gill-Howard hails from Milwaukee and got the attention of Northern Illinois’ coaching staff, transferring there after one season. He redshirted at first for the Huskies, packing on weight and making the rare change from off-ball linebacker to defensive tackle. As a redshirt sophomore, he had a rotational role at NIU before breaking out in a big way as a redshirt junior in 2024, putting up 50 tackles and five sacks, being named third-team All-MAC. Gill-Howard transferred to the Red Raiders in 2025 but played just five games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, totaling 13 tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed in that time.

Standing at 6-1, 290 pounds, Gill-Howard is an undersized defensive tackle who uses that to his advantage. He can threaten either shoulder of the guard blocking him on every snap, with an elite first step and the quickness to knife into the backfield in an instant. Off the snap, he applies immediate pressure, threatening to penetrate the backfield and forcing the offensive line to react. The suddenness to his movements and the explosive fluidity he plays will be a problem for NFL linemen to handle.

With the versatility to line up on the edge as well, Gill-Howard is an advanced pass rusher. He plays with strong hands and has the core strength to hold up at the point of attack, with a crafty pass-rush plan and the hand fighting skills to pay it off. He plays with outstanding leverage, staying low and maximizing every ounce of his frame. For someone so new to the position, Gill-Howard is a bully in the trenches, putting his wrestling background to good use in how he combats offensive linemen’s hands to win off the snap.

With limited length and an undersized frame, Gill-Howard has a few limitations when projecting to the next level. Bigger guards will be able to engage before he can, and he’ll need to compensate. He already doesn’t fare well against double teams, getting moved off the ball consistently and he isn’t a plus run defender for this reason. His bull rushes don’t always move guards or centers and Gill-Howard wins more regularly with quickness than with strength.

I have a third-round grade on Gill-Howard. He has NFL starter potential in the right front and his pass rush juice is legitimately impressive. He could play the 3-tech next to a bigger nose tackle in an even front, but his best fit may be as a big defensive end in an odd front. That would let him penetrate off the snap without needing to handle double teams as much. Either way, he’s an exciting pass rusher with a fantastic journey to the league that will immediately endear him to fans of his new team.

8: Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati

The Godfather himself, Corleone was a three-star high school recruit hailing from Cincinnati, choosing to stay home and play for the Wildcats. After taking a redshirt season in 2021, he made a big impact in 2022, totaling 44 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles, earning first-team All-AAC recognition. As a redshirt sophomore, he kept his momentum, posting 39 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed, being named second-team All-Big 12. Unfortunately, Corleone dealt with blood clot issues in 2024, and even though he was cleared from those for 2025, he suffered an ankle injury early in the year that meant he only played limited snaps as a redshirt senior.

Standing at 6-1, 335 pounds, Corleone is a ridiculous athlete. He explodes off the ball with incredible quickness at 330-plus pounds, shattering blocking schemes when he gets moving. He plays low in his stance, maximizing his leverage and showcasing his immense strength. When he gets going, he can really dent the blocking scheme, crushing linemen in his path and breaking up entire plays. Fundamentally sound in how he plays, he’s a proven, reliable run defender who will be in the right spots and can eat double teams.

As a pass rusher, Corleone plays with violent hands, stunning blockers on contact and pushing through them for big plays. His bull rush is effective, and he goes to it often. Few blockers he faced could handle his full strength one on one. He got better as a senior, with more consistent pass rush production and a determination when pursuing ball carries that will endear him to coaches. All in all, Corleone’s quickness and strength make him a handful for offensive linemen to handle.

Corleone’s backfield production significantly lags behind his traits right now. He’s still developing as a pass rusher — right now, he mostly just bull rushes on every snap and needs to learn different moves to vary his skillset — but even as a run defender, he’s mostly just there clogging up space. That’s a valuable skill, to be sure, but he has a low run stop percentage compared to other prospects, and that’s a bit of a red flag for me.

I like Corleone as a third-round pick despite his deficiencies. His ankle injury clouds his numbers this season, and the blood clot issues he was dealing with are very serious and put a real asterisk next to his profile. If teams feel comfortable with his medicals, there’s reason to believe he could rapidly improve given how little he’s played over the last two years. Corleone definitely has the raw talent to believe in.

9: Albert Regis, Texas A&M

A four-star recruit who stayed in his home state of Texas, Regis was a high school track athlete who also played defensive line. He redshirted in 2021 before playing a rotational role the next two seasons, being productive but not starting much. As a redshirt junior in 2024, he took a leap, recording 36 tackles and six passes defensed. Regis elevated his game even further as a fifth-year senior, with 49 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed.

Standing at 6-1, 317 pounds, Regis can play nose tackle or 3-tech. He has incredible anchor strength, shrugging off double teams with ease and holding his ground against even the most dedicated work from the offensive line. He knows what he’s out there to do, manning his gaps and maintaining leverage against the run to force the ball carrier where other defenders can make plays. When he needs to, however, he can stack and shed blocks as well as anyone, wrapping up the ball carrier with textbooking tackling form and eye-catch pursuit speed for a larger defender.

Regis racked up a lot of pass breakups from the defensive line throughout his college career, and he frequently leaps when the ball is thrown with genuinely great timing to disrupt passing lanes. His leverage is exceptional, both in pass rushing and against the run. He keeps his hands high and establishes contact immediately off the snap, letting his powerful hands to go work keeping blockers away from his body.

As a pass rusher, Regis doesn’t offer much at the moment. With limited length and explosiveness, he’s mostly a pocket pusher, but he does so consistently. Though he tries, his pass rush arsenal is pretty limited, and he doesn’t have the creativity or the agility to execute complex moves, at least not consistently.

Regis will be drafted to do one thing, but he does that thing extremely well. I have him with a third-round grade as a run-stuffing tackle who can play a lot on early downs. Teams need guys like that, and he does that job better than most of the other prospects in this class. His lack of elite athleticism and pass rush production does put a pretty hard cap on his draft season, but Regis is the sort of pick that elevates the floor of a draft class.

10: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State

A three-star recruit from Florida, Jackson originally committed to Maryland out of high school, racking up 22 tackles as a true freshman in the Big Ten before transferring to Miami as a sophomore. He had 27 tackles and three sacks as a full-time starter for the Hurricanes, transferring to the Seminoles after that season, only to miss most of the season when the NCAA denied his immediate eligibility waiver. Coming back with a vengeance in 2024, Jackson had 31 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass defensed. He continued his upward trajectory as a fifth-year senior in 2025, with 44 tackles and a sack, ending his college career with back-to-back honorable mention All-ACC honors.

At 6-5, 337 pounds, Jackson is a physical, hard-nosed presence on the defensive line. He eats double teams with impunity, stacking them up and holding his ground with proper leverage and great anchor strength. He’s a monster against interior runs, shedding blocks and making tackles at the line of scrimmage. Dedicated drive blocks struggle to move him — when he plants his feet, he isn’t moved off his spot.

With decent mobility at his size, Jackson can chase outside runs and make plays in the backfield. He plays with great leverage, holding the point of attack with outstretched arms. As a pass rusher, he’s a rapidly-improving pocket pusher, crushing interior linemen with his bull rushes and working back to the quarterback. Jackson won’t offer a ton of pass rush upside, but he can definitely collapse the pocket when he pins his ears back.

Jackson has a bad habit of playing with his hands too wide and letting blockers get into his chest. When they do, he loses all control of the rep, and can’t easily shed the block. He’s an underdeveloped hand fighter in general, and if he doesn’t establish an early edge in the rep, he’ll get blocked out. That extends to pass rushing, where Jackson is extremely limited. He pretty much only does bull rushes and won’t offer much else early in his NFL career.

A solid mid-round pick, Jackson is a two-gapping run stuffer who can play a very defined role as a rookie. He won’t be the most exciting or productive pick a team can make, but he’ll do exactly what you ask of him. Jackson can still improve in a lot of areas, and with some better hand usage he can really take a leap.