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The 2025 NFL draft features one of the deepest interior defensive line groups we’ve seen in recent memory. While edge rushers typically dominate draft boards, this class is rich with versatile, powerful defensive tackles and hybrid 5-techs who can line up across a front and make an impact.
For the Patriots, who extended Christian Barmore and signed Milton Williams, the position may not be the top need, but depth and run-stopping support could still be valuable on Day 3. This list includes players who can two-gap, penetrate, stack blocks and collapse pockets, with some ready to contribute early and others offering long-term upside.
Let’s break down the top 10 interior defensive linemen in this draft class.
A former tight end turned defensive tackle, Pegues is one of the most versatile players in this draft. He still has some offensive chops — Ole Miss used him in short-yardage situations as a fullback and goal-line runner — and he’s not just a gimmick. Pegues has great contact balance and vision as a ball carrier, and that toughness translates on defense.
As a defensive lineman, he’s scheme-versatile with the ability to align across the front. He’s a hard-nosed run defender with great size and a thick lower body, but his pass-rushing tools remain limited. He’ll need time to develop there. Still, for a Day 3 pick, Pegues offers rare value as a developmental lineman and two-way chess piece.
Standing 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds, Walker brings a rare blend of mass and movement skills. His bull rush is powerful, and he’s a space-eater in the run game. When locked in, he flashes dominant traits and has held his own against SEC competition for three years.
Consistency is his challenge. His burst and effort can be hot and cold depending on game flow, and his technique, particularly hand placement, needs polish. With the right coaching and conditioning program, Walker could become a disruptive force up front.
Alexander checks the box for explosiveness and power. At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, he has a strong base, long arms and can play anywhere from 0 to 5-tech. He flashes good leverage, quickness off the snap and a knack for beating blockers with effort.
But he’s raw. His pass rush is more chaos than craft, and he can lose his gap discipline by overcommitting. His punch timing needs refinement, and there will be questions about his level of competition. Still, his traits and motor will attract plenty of Day 3 attention.
Collins is a true nose tackle at 6-foot-6 and 332 pounds with outstanding arm length and anchor strength. He reads offensive schemes like a veteran, diagnosing down blocks and pulls with ease. His leverage, timing and ability to two-gap make him a perfect early-down run stuffer.
What limits Collins is his pass-rushing ceiling and lateral movement. He’s not going to win with finesse or explosiveness and is purely a plug-and-play run defender. Still, every defense needs an anchor, and Collins is a plug-and-play option for teams needing size in the middle.
Williams is a disruptive, high-energy defensive tackle who thrives with leverage, quickness and balance. At 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds, he has the body type to hold up inside and the motor to keep pushing plays past the whistle.
His main issues are discipline and conditioning. He can get too aggressive and play out of control, and his pad level occasionally drifts too high. Still, he has the raw strength and temperament to be molded into a key contributor on an NFL front.
A natural 3-tech, Sanders is violent off the ball with his hand usage and leverage to cause interior disruption. He’s a reliable third-down interior rusher with an advanced feel for getting into backfields.
However, Sanders lacks ideal mass and can be overwhelmed in the run game, especially when double-teamed. He’ll need to add strength and technique to round out his game, but the pass-rush upside is real, especially in sub-packages early in his career.
Harmon brings brute power and twitch to the position. His rip move is devastating, and he combines that with a solid bull rush and quick feet. At 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds, he plays with strong hands and hustle, routinely walking back interior linemen into the pocket.
Harmon does need to refine his tackling consistency and learn to throttle down at times. Overaggression has led to mistakes. But with some coaching and time, he projects as a high-upside rotational defensive tackle or future starter.
One of the most explosive big men in the class, Grant weighed in at 331 pounds but moves like someone 30 pounds lighter. He was a multi-year starter for Michigan and even blocked kicks on special teams. He’s quick off the ball, strong at the point and capable of creating havoc on the interior.
His consistency and weight fluctuation (he’s ranged from 339 to 360 pounds) are red flags. He can disappear for stretches, especially when gassed. That said, his raw tools are rare, and if kept in shape, Grant can be a disruptive force for years.
Graham is one of the most polished interior linemen in the class. He’s fundamentally sound, quick off the snap and extremely smart. His ability to read blocks, disengage and finish plays stands out. He’s not flashy, just consistent and effective.
He does lack ideal size and length, which might limit his ceiling, and he can struggle to disengage from longer, stronger guards. Still, his floor is high. He’ll be a contributor immediately, and his ability to play all over the front makes him a valuable asset in any scheme.
The top interior defensive lineman in this class, Nolen has the best blend of traits, tape and versatility. At 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, he explodes off the line, uses his hands violently and can win from any alignment between 0 and 5-tech. His ability to shed blocks and finish plays, even when double-teamed, makes him a tone-setter.
He’s not without flaws. Nolen plays high at times and lacks elite arm length, but the tools and tenacity are undeniable. His pass-rush toolbox continues to grow, and his motor and competitiveness will endear him to coaches and teammates alike.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking and evaluating the top-10 defensive tackles
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For the Patriots, who extended Christian Barmore and signed Milton Williams, the position may not be the top need, but depth and run-stopping support could still be valuable on Day 3. This list includes players who can two-gap, penetrate, stack blocks and collapse pockets, with some ready to contribute early and others offering long-term upside.
Let’s break down the top 10 interior defensive linemen in this draft class.
10. J.J. Pegues, Ole Miss (DT)
A former tight end turned defensive tackle, Pegues is one of the most versatile players in this draft. He still has some offensive chops — Ole Miss used him in short-yardage situations as a fullback and goal-line runner — and he’s not just a gimmick. Pegues has great contact balance and vision as a ball carrier, and that toughness translates on defense.
As a defensive lineman, he’s scheme-versatile with the ability to align across the front. He’s a hard-nosed run defender with great size and a thick lower body, but his pass-rushing tools remain limited. He’ll need time to develop there. Still, for a Day 3 pick, Pegues offers rare value as a developmental lineman and two-way chess piece.
9. Deone Walker, Kentucky (DT)
Standing 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds, Walker brings a rare blend of mass and movement skills. His bull rush is powerful, and he’s a space-eater in the run game. When locked in, he flashes dominant traits and has held his own against SEC competition for three years.
Consistency is his challenge. His burst and effort can be hot and cold depending on game flow, and his technique, particularly hand placement, needs polish. With the right coaching and conditioning program, Walker could become a disruptive force up front.
8. Darius Alexander, Toledo (DT)
Alexander checks the box for explosiveness and power. At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, he has a strong base, long arms and can play anywhere from 0 to 5-tech. He flashes good leverage, quickness off the snap and a knack for beating blockers with effort.
But he’s raw. His pass rush is more chaos than craft, and he can lose his gap discipline by overcommitting. His punch timing needs refinement, and there will be questions about his level of competition. Still, his traits and motor will attract plenty of Day 3 attention.
7. Alfred Collins, Texas (DT)
Collins is a true nose tackle at 6-foot-6 and 332 pounds with outstanding arm length and anchor strength. He reads offensive schemes like a veteran, diagnosing down blocks and pulls with ease. His leverage, timing and ability to two-gap make him a perfect early-down run stuffer.
What limits Collins is his pass-rushing ceiling and lateral movement. He’s not going to win with finesse or explosiveness and is purely a plug-and-play run defender. Still, every defense needs an anchor, and Collins is a plug-and-play option for teams needing size in the middle.
6. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (DT)
Williams is a disruptive, high-energy defensive tackle who thrives with leverage, quickness and balance. At 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds, he has the body type to hold up inside and the motor to keep pushing plays past the whistle.
His main issues are discipline and conditioning. He can get too aggressive and play out of control, and his pad level occasionally drifts too high. Still, he has the raw strength and temperament to be molded into a key contributor on an NFL front.
5. T.J. Sanders, South Carolina (DT)
A natural 3-tech, Sanders is violent off the ball with his hand usage and leverage to cause interior disruption. He’s a reliable third-down interior rusher with an advanced feel for getting into backfields.
However, Sanders lacks ideal mass and can be overwhelmed in the run game, especially when double-teamed. He’ll need to add strength and technique to round out his game, but the pass-rush upside is real, especially in sub-packages early in his career.
4. Derrick Harmon, Oregon (DT)
Harmon brings brute power and twitch to the position. His rip move is devastating, and he combines that with a solid bull rush and quick feet. At 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds, he plays with strong hands and hustle, routinely walking back interior linemen into the pocket.
Harmon does need to refine his tackling consistency and learn to throttle down at times. Overaggression has led to mistakes. But with some coaching and time, he projects as a high-upside rotational defensive tackle or future starter.
3. Kenneth Grant, Michigan (DT)
One of the most explosive big men in the class, Grant weighed in at 331 pounds but moves like someone 30 pounds lighter. He was a multi-year starter for Michigan and even blocked kicks on special teams. He’s quick off the ball, strong at the point and capable of creating havoc on the interior.
His consistency and weight fluctuation (he’s ranged from 339 to 360 pounds) are red flags. He can disappear for stretches, especially when gassed. That said, his raw tools are rare, and if kept in shape, Grant can be a disruptive force for years.
2. Mason Graham, Michigan (DT)
Graham is one of the most polished interior linemen in the class. He’s fundamentally sound, quick off the snap and extremely smart. His ability to read blocks, disengage and finish plays stands out. He’s not flashy, just consistent and effective.
He does lack ideal size and length, which might limit his ceiling, and he can struggle to disengage from longer, stronger guards. Still, his floor is high. He’ll be a contributor immediately, and his ability to play all over the front makes him a valuable asset in any scheme.
1. Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (DT)
The top interior defensive lineman in this class, Nolen has the best blend of traits, tape and versatility. At 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, he explodes off the line, uses his hands violently and can win from any alignment between 0 and 5-tech. His ability to shed blocks and finish plays, even when double-teamed, makes him a tone-setter.
He’s not without flaws. Nolen plays high at times and lacks elite arm length, but the tools and tenacity are undeniable. His pass-rush toolbox continues to grow, and his motor and competitiveness will endear him to coaches and teammates alike.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Ranking and evaluating the top-10 defensive tackles
Continue reading...
