The 2024 NFL Draft is approaching. With the NFL Combine, Senior Bowl, and other major pre-draft events over, it’s time for final rankings and grades for prospects. We assembled a panel of top draft experts from across SB Nation’s network and released consensus rankings for each position group.
This time we will focus on the inside defensive line. A defensive tackle is unlikely to be a top-10 pick, but there are two clear first-round picks and a number of very interesting players on day two. This is a more specialized and polarized group than edge rushers, but there should be some talent here, especially for a team willing to take some risks on a developing player.
Read SB Nation’s consensus ranking of the top 10 defensive tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft.
10. Luke Oluhorolo, Clemson
Clemson’s Luke Oluholo, one of the most polarizing interior defenders in the class, comes in at No. 10 on the ranking list. One expert voted him his 5th place and another voted him his 18th place.Frankly, after Oluhorohoro’s impressive combine workout where he finished in the elite, I’m surprised he’s not higher overall 9.92RAS. Oluhorohoro’s strength is his versatility, with his experience and ability to play in many alignments along the defensive line. At 6’4,294 and with 34-inch arms, Oluhorohoro has the size and length to be an impact player, but in the NFL he’s more of a 1T or 3T man.
That being said, Oruhorohoro’s strength when attacking is one of his best traits. He is a very good technically advanced run defender who is great at holding the line and causing havoc. As a pass rusher, Oluhorohoro has natural athleticism but needs to hone his pass rush repertoire and plans. He gets caught on blocks too often to be able to influence the play. Oluhorolo can contribute as a base package defender early in his career, but he needs work as a pass rusher to become a 3-down player.
9. McKinley Jackson Texas A&M
Another polarizing player in interior design is Texas A&MMcKinley Jackson. (His spread in our poll was 6-14.) Going into the season, I thought 2023 was going to be a potential breakout year for the talented defensive tackle. He has an attractive size profile at 6’1.5,326 with arms around 34 inches and moves well relative to his size on tape. However, the season was relatively quiet and the athletic tests were disappointing (3.08 RAS) Jackson is more of a player with potential for development than an immediate player.
Despite his size and challenges, Jackson has been an effective penetrator and pass rusher inside. He had 4.0 sacks in 2023, but only 14 total pressures. Given his size, Jackson is expected to be strong against the run, but he has struggled in that area. Jackson’s biggest issue seems to be balance, as he falls to the ground and is taken out of play too often. He can’t stand double teams and will struggle at NFL strength. That leaves him in a strange position. He has the size to play 0T/1T, but he doesn’t have the strength or technique. I think he’s a better athlete than he tested and Jackson could develop into a potential starter, but it will take patience and determination from the coaching staff.
8. Leonard Taylor III, Miami
Miami’s Leonard Taylor III has been down quite a bit since the summer, starting the college football season as a prospect and consistently showing off as a first-round pick. Taylor’s 2022 season was outstanding, with Taylor looking like an elite athlete on the interior and having a productive and destructive season as a pass rusher. The next step in 2023 never came, as Taylor regressed in terms of both tape and production. Taylor has good size (6’3.5, 303) and length (33 7/8-inch arms) but didn’t test his athleticism as much as expected (7.34 RAS).
Taylor is a frustrating watch, especially if he pops tape in 2022. Taylor has explosive characteristics and plenty of strength, but the total package rarely matches up. If that’s the case, Taylor looks like a potential Pro Bowler. However, Taylor too often finds himself out of plays with poor technique, leverage, and gap discipline. His 2022 tape shows flashes of upside and he could probably still be drafted on Day 2, but Taylor is a much more high-risk, high-reward player than initially expected. be.
7. Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Coming in at No. 7 on this list is Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland. He continued his high level of play with a dominant performance in high-level games, an impressive week at the Senior Bowl, and a great test at the NFL Combine.9.08 RAS). That said, I rate Kneeland as an edge rusher who also has the flexibility to kick inside. I think his playing weight is too low to remain in the NFL full-time. At 6’3,267 with excellent length (34.5-inch arms), Kneeland looks like an all-around player from a physical standpoint.
Kneeland has great explosiveness and better change of direction than expected, and will likely improve if he maintains his combine weight. He was now a bullish beast, a merchant of speed and power, who completely dominated the level of competition with his characteristics and red-hot motor. Nyland is a high-level player with offensive strength and I think he has the potential to be a three-down contributor at the NFL level. I think he’s much better suited as a full-time EDGE than interior.
6. Tevondre Sweat, Texas
In case you haven’t noticed, the theme of this Interior Defensive Line ranking is “polarization of players.” Ranked No. 3 on one list and No. 9 on another, Sweat is the absolute best defensive tackle at 6’4.5.366. Sweat was an absolutely dominant player for Texas in 2023, posting 31 total pressures and posting a pass rush win percentage of 15.3%. Along with great play against the run (per PFF). Although his athletic tests may look a little lackluster on paper (4.28 RAS), many of those numbers are very impressive considering his size.
Size is where the discussion begins and ends with sweatshirts. That’s what makes him unique. His presence basically requires double teams, even at the NFL level. It could also hinder his ability to contribute. How many 360-plus snaps can he actually play? Sweat moves very well and has the potential to be the NFL’s next elite nose tackle…but he probably needs to drop his weight into the 340-350 range. We have to find a way to keep it that way.
5. Michael Hall Jr. Ohio
If you’re looking for a pass rush specialist to strengthen your inside rotation, OhioMichael Hall Jr. is one of the best players in this class. Hall is a bit small at 6’3,300 with 33.5-inch arms, but he is an elite athlete for his position with excellent explosiveness and movement skills (9.57RAS).
Hall has a winning combination of athleticism and technique that makes him a rare addition to most inside defenders. He is quick, elusive, and has the ability to knife into the backfield and create havoc against the run and pass. Hall’s weakness is his strength, as he cannot hold the point of attack against the run. He is a gap shooter and penetrator who would work best with that defensive style, which could make him a valuable pass rush specialist.
4. Kris Jenkins, Michigan
I’m happy to see Michigan’s Kris Jenkins in the top five. Because I think he’s earned it. Jenkins is one of the most consistent and productive run defenders in the class, boasting an outstanding run stop percentage (per PFF) of 12.6%. He is 6’3,300 tall, his true 4-3 NT, and his actual arm length was longer than expected at 34 inches. Jenkins is a bull offensively and wins with his combination of strength and technique. He’s good at eating double teams and has pretty good explosiveness.
Jenkins isn’t a very flashy player. He wins with consistency, strength, and technique, but he doesn’t produce a ton of splash plays. His ceiling as a pass rusher is limited and he doesn’t have much of a repertoire of plans or moves. He’s a valuable and reliable early-down starter, but how much do NFL teams value that in this day and age?
3. Braden Fisk florida
Perhaps the biggest overall winner of this draft cycle is florida‘s Braden Fisk has shown tremendous improvement throughout the offseason, finishing in the top four in every poll. Fisk flashed during the 2023 season, posting an impressive 6.0 sacks and 28 total pressures, but he wasn’t consistently dominant. Things started to change at the Senior Bowl, where Fisk was virtually unblockable throughout the week of practice. With an elite day at the NFL Combine (9.89 RAS), Fisk solidified himself as a draft favorite and one of the most interesting developing players in the class.
Fisk lacks ideal size, standing at 6’3.5,292 with arms measuring just 31 inches. The lack of length limits his run, but Fisk has clearly learned how to alleviate that with his explosive characteristics and use of his hands. Simply put, Fisk is incredibly slippery and overwhelms blockers with his first step speed. It’s hard for an offensive lineman to get ready and get his hands on him because he’s right there with him. Fisk has great lateral mobility inside, which gives him rare decision-making ability. I don’t know if he’ll be an impact run defender (apart from his flashy play as a penetrator in the TFL), but Fisk has a very high ceiling as an inside pass rush specialist.
2. Johnny Newton, Illinois
The top two defensive tackles in this class are incredibly close, and both have standout talents who should be impactful starters right away. In second place is Illinois’ Jazan “Johnny” Newton, who has dominated college football over the past two seasons and has consistently been near the top of prospect rankings. He’s been incredibly consistent, having just put together an eight-sack, 43-pressure season in 2023.
Newton lacks ideal size at 6’2, 304 with 32 3/8-inch arms, but that’s the only flaw in his game. He’s explosive, knows how to use leverage, and has the most advanced hand usage in the class. Newton has experience with different alignments and can win in different ways against both the run and pass. He is an instant NFL starter who can add to any team’s pass rush and contribute to early downs with his penetration style defense.
1. Byron Murphy II, Texas
The near-unanimous choice at the top of the defensive tackle rankings is Texas’ Byron Murphy II. Murphy is small at 6’0,300 and has arms of 32 3/8 inches, but he is without a doubt one of the best athletes in his class. Murphy ran a 4.87.40 weighing about 300 pounds, which is truly incredible. He completed the short shuttle in 4.5 seconds and the three-cone in 7.5 seconds. He put in elite training at the NFL Combine (RAS 9.23) and solidified his status as a first-round prospect.
Murphy and No. 2 DT Johnny Newton share similar size limitations, but Murphy wins more with a combination of athleticism and strength, while Newton relies more on advanced technique. dependent. This leads to more upside room for Murphy, especially against the run, but I think his floor is a little low. Murphy’s lack of technical polish and pass rush movement may slow him down to his start in the NFL, but his natural talent makes him a more imposing run defender. . Either way, I think Murphy has the potential to be an impact starter, but it may take some time.
