DRAFT TRACKER 2025

Nolen has NFL-starting size but won’t blow you away with his physical traits. However, he gains quick advantages with his explosiveness into contact and ability to beat up blockers when singled up. He has the athletic talent to play into gaps but needs to play with better hands to keep himself clean at the point of attack. He wins as a rusher with his athleticism and play strength, and doesn’t need to be schemed for. The pass rush still requires refinement, but he already flashes quick-win moves that foreshadow good pressure and sack production as a pro. Nolen’s blend of explosiveness and playmaking talent create high upside as a three-down interior lineman.

Three-technique who provides activity, effort, strength and quickness. Graham’s first-step quickness makes interior disruption inevitable. He has the instant read and response to regularly beat lateral blocks. He’s stout at the point of attack with great leverage and body control but will lose some ground against double teams. Graham’s lack of length makes it tougher for him to find quick wins as a rusher, but he more than makes up for it with his activity level and foot quickness. Harmonious hands and feet are the catalyst for his edge-to-edge counters, while his extended effort and closing burst help him get home. He may not dominate as a pro but his strength, body control and quickness should allow him to play his brand of ball and become a good starter in an upfield defensive front.

Position-versatile building block that makes moving the football a much tougher task. Harmon is wide, long and naturally powerful at the point of attack. He can create traffic jams inside as a two-gapper or stunt and power his way into the backfield. He’s unlikely to be a primary sack man, but he can be part of a swarm unit that batters the pocket. He’s high-cut and tight-hipped, which limits his agility and reactive athleticism to finish. Harmon can play up and down the line in both odd and even fronts. He will bring an instant dose of stinginess and toughness to any defense he joins.

Drain-clogging run defender with violent first contact and nimble feet for impressive tackle production. Williams flashes an ability to play through or around the block. He physically dominates man-on-man matchups but inconsistent pad level and shorter arms hinder his double-team take-ons. He needs to focus on developing his hands to keep longer NFL guards from getting into him and neutralizing his power. Williams should pressure the pocket from time to time but might not win on his own enough to see many third-down reps. The knock-back pop and ability to eat up runners in his general vicinity could help him become an impactful, run-stuffing three-technique.

Grant is a broad-bodied nose tackle whose tape can run hot and cold depending on the game and the types of blocks he’s facing. He struggles to anchor when hit with down blocks due to his narrow base and tall pads, but he uses his power and length to beat single blocks and split double teams when he finds the crease. He had some sack production in college, and we could see him improve in that area once he learns to create more rush space with his hands. Grant’s game will finally come together in full when he’s able to take his impressive physical attributes and impose his will on opponents.

Three-year starter with “tweener” measurables but excellent musculation and lean mass. Turner plays with unlimited activity and a heavy dose of violence. He has a quick first step and an explosive punch. He’s capable of holding the point against single blocks or working the gaps with foot quickness. His pressure rate is hurt by a lack of length but he’s a restless rusher who hunts blockers’ edges and will eventually leak through if the play extends. His athleticism and chase quickness will see him in or near the pile with some frequency as a future starter.

Sanders is a powerful road block with heavy hands and a strong core. He rarely touches the ground. Despite a lack of knee bend, he usually gives better than he gets and blockers have a hard time keeping him sealed. He punches and locks out quickly with a twitchy shed to tackle a gap over. His rush features average first-step quickness, but sudden hand swipes and play-through power in his lower half open pathways to the pocket. Sanders' blend of power and pressure should put him on the board for both odd- and even-front defenses as a potential three-down solution.

Broad-shouldered interior defender worth consideration as a 3-4 end or a 4-3 interior lineman. Farmer needs to play as a two-gapper who muddies the pocket. He’s powerful, with long arms and strong hands. His anchor is average but should improve if he’s allowed to use that length to gain early control at the point of attack. There is nothing tricky about his rush, but he can jar blockers backward with a single punch. His traits will be coveted but his upside might be as a rotational defender with average starting potential.

Collins isn’t going to stand out in one particular area, but he plays hard and has outstanding physical traits to blend right into an NFL defensive rotation. He’s quick laterally to spoil landmarks for zone blockers and has the stride length to disrupt upfield if asked. He added mass in 2024 and was harder to move when his pad level was right, but he can be tardy to shed and tackle a gap over. He has the traits to become a more consistent NFL rusher but the production is still untapped. He’s not a premier playmaker but he has the size, talent and alignment versatility to help fortify a defensive front as an early contributor and future starter.

Caldwell carries the broad hips and girth of a classic nose tackle, but he is athletic enough to take snaps at either tackle spot in an even front. He can eat blocks against double teams or hog gaps as a read-and-react two-gapper. He gets bounced around some when he plays too straight-legged or ends up on the ground when he loses control, but he plays with heart and has a strong win rate at the point. He’s a hustle rusher with the potential to dent the pocket when singled up. Caldwell has middle-round value but could find starter’s reps in the future.

Massive nose tackle whose lack of productivity belies his potential to imprint on NFL games as a run defender. Jackson is a complete non-factor as a rusher, so his spot on a draft board will be relative to a team’s willingness to take a two-down player in need of polish. He’s long and plays with extremely heavy hands and an ability to overwhelm single blockers at times. When he’s allowed to swap paint and focus on smaller areas of containment, he’s a tough out. He gets knocked off his spot more than he should, but better block take-on and technique should create better consistency. Jackson has freakish size and is a more enticing prospect when tape flashes are prioritized in the evaluation process.

Compact, thick-hipped defensive lineman with versatility to play multiple positions -- including short-yardage running back! Pegues can be hell on wheels when he’s motivated and has it cranked up. He’s quick off the ball but not explosive into first contact as consistently as he could be. He’ll beat reach blocks and double teams if he gets his technique ironed out. He has quicker hands and feet than most opponents he’ll face and has the talent to get to the other side of the line in both phases. He has rush talent and can finish using rare change-of-direction quickness, allowing him to capture pocket-mobile quarterbacks. Ole Miss leaned on Pegues as a short-yardage runner on offense, using his power and athleticism to convert at a high rate. He has the potential to become a very productive interior defender but his ceiling and floor will be determined by the consistency of his motor.

A defensive lineman with rare traits, Walker might require a heavier lean on projection over tape. He’s tight-hipped and too upright to really sink in and command the gaps as an even-front defensive tackle. His success rate rises once he’s able to kick out wider in the alignment and engage in more man-to-man battles. Consistent pocket pressure could come if he starts playing with better aggression to overwhelm protection with physical gifts. The tape was better in 2023 and there were times in 2024 that his conditioning showed up as an issue. Walker’s traits and upside could make him a more consistent NFL talent if he improves his technique and ramps up his motor.

Twitchy interior defender built with good lean mass who plays bigger than his measurables. Hamilton is first off the snap and first into contact with sudden hands and feet. He plays with excellent leverage and a solid anchor at the point. He lacks ideal mass and length for the NFL game but it shouldn’t sink him. He can play in gaps and has above-average range as a tackler down the line. Despite his foot quickness, Hamilton rushes with an unimaginative, down-the-middle approach that fails to consistently threaten the pocket. He’s a consistent run defender capable of disruption and playmaking who could outplay his grade if he improves as a pass rusher.

He’s ready to do it, with the tools to do it, but is still learning how to do it. Ingram-Dawkins’ relative lack of experience shows up with inconsistent instincts in the run game and a lack of development as a rusher. However, he possesses an impressive blend of size and suddenness that allows him to attack blocks or shoot gaps. He’s a bender with excellent range and change of direction. He offers more flash than finish as a pass rusher, but has all of the tools to get after pockets when his hands and approach get trained up. He’s also scheme- and position-versatile with loads of upside, but he’s still developing and has a wider gap between his ceiling and floor relative to his fellow D-line prospects.

Brinson is the best version of himself when he’s allowed to get up the field and make things happen. He gets upfield with purpose and pad level. He can get skinny, swim and rip his way into gaps to disturb the run design and compromise the quarterback’s pocket. He has adequate strength at the point but won’t control blockers or beat back double teams at a high enough rate when runs come downhill at him. Brinson’s rush talent and disruptive qualities should fit one-gapping defenses looking for a rotational piece to create chaos inside.

Interior lineman with the size, length and physicality for consideration in odd or even fronts. Alexander is capable of destroying blocks, but he needs to do a better job of balancing his force to control the action at the point of attack. He can hold his ground when he’s staying low, but the pad level is inconsistent and causes his gap constriction to be hit-or-miss. Alexander has above-average rush acumen. He does a nice job of utilizing his traits and crafting a plan of attack. His best football could be ahead of him, but for now, he projects as an average rotational player or backup.

Bully with a roughshod playing style that forces blockers to match his physicality. Robinson is built for the trenches with the versatility to play in odd or even fronts. He’s first into contact with his hands and mitigates average knee-bend with brute force in his upper half. He’s powerful to set edges but lacks length to control and quickly shed NFL blockers. He’s an effort rusher with active hands who can exploit a weak edge and thrive in gaming fronts but possesses average creativity. Robinson might not be a star, but his effort, strength and demeanor could make him a productive pro for years to come.

Norman-Lott is an undersized interior defender who will need to specialize in penetration and havoc creation in a one-gapping scheme. He has plus snap quickness and is talented at reading and beating move blocks. He’s a rangy run defender with a full tank of gas but will struggle against downhill rushing attacks aimed at him. Norman-Lott is an energetic pass rusher with a high pressure rate. He plays with harmonious hands and feet that work to and around edges, but he won’t offer much as a power rusher. His lack of size could hurt his draft slotting, but he has the potential to become a rotational defender and sub-package rusher.

Even-front defensive tackle who lacks measurables but makes up for it with an off-the-charts work rate. Peebles plays like a boxer who constantly comes forward and keeps the pressure on his opponent. He doesn’t have the length to stack and secure gaps as a read-and-react defender, but he can play in the gaps and up the field. He’ll fight hard, but he has no real chance against NFL double teams. However, he consistently battles his way off single blocks and toward the ball. He has an eclectic rush package fueled by motor, power and elusiveness that could translate. He has a decent chance of outplaying his draft slotting if teams get too hung up on his measurables and fail to trust their eyes.

Mills has the size, strength and demeanor of a 3-4 defensive end. He’s aggressive and physical in phone booth fist-fights but plays off blocks and tackles the gaps around him. He’s not much of a knee-bender, so anchoring firm will get a lot tougher as a pro. He lacks explosive, twitchy movements as a rusher but makes good use of heavy hands to carve open edges and get into the pocket. He’s a better picker than twister and can bull-rush unsuspecting guards. Mills could become a three-down rotational piece provided there are no lingering issues from the knee injury he suffered during the College Football Playoff.

Broughton has first-step quickness to penetrate and above-average range as a tackler. He has an adequate anchor but needs to improve his upper-body strength to press and shed downhill blocks. He’s an instinctive rusher with a diverse plan and is outstanding at causing havoc with his length and footwork. His rush alone creates rotational value as a three-technique or odd-front defensive end.

Simmons has the build of a huge tree stump and is highly explosive off the snap. Despite seeing a limited snap count, there’s plenty of evidence of centers and guards straining to survive the unique carnage he can create. He unleashes knock-back power at the point of attack and can disrupt move-blocking schemes. For all of the trouble he can cause early in the snap, the overall production is somewhat light. Simmons likely won’t play on passing downs but should offer Day 3 value for a defense seeking a rotational one-technique who can muddy run lanes.

Two-down rotational defensive tackle with good strength but limited production. Stackhouse is a block-eater with tight hips that limit his ability at the point of attack, but he’s still hard to move out of the hole. He’s more powerful than twitchy and is slow getting off the ball and into his action upfield or laterally. His lack of quickness, production and pass-rush ability could cap his draft value but there is always a market for big, strong guys who can play the run.

Hard hat defensive tackle who is much more of a plugger than a playmaker. Smith has average size and traits, but he thumps blockers with accurate strikes and anchors down to clog lanes. He can set a firm edge or control the block as a two-gapper but a lack of length could catch up with him as a pro. He has enough power to get into the pocket on occasion, but he might need scheme help to get home as a rusher. Smith plays with pretty good power and sound technique. He could become a rotational defender in the NFL.

Fifth-year senior with three seasons as a full-time starter at Kent State and one at Indiana. West benefited from an extremely active, gaming front that created playmaking opportunities, but he also did the dirty work inside that scheme. He plays with adequate hand and foot quickness and is quick to diagnose the play. A lack of length and leverage at the point of attack might tie him to a one-gapping scheme as a pro. The sack totals are light, but he has enough athletic ability to compete as a rusher on single blocks. West has Day 3 value as a likely three-technique backup.

Horsley offers the power and the athleticism to play either tackle spot in an even front. He has adequate first-step quickness and gets into blocks with a consistent base and solid anchor. He plays with better control and consistency as a press-and-read defender than he does as a one-gapping penetrator. He needs to improve his technique against move-blocking schemes to maintain gap integrity. He’s active and productive as a tackler but is below average as a rush option. Horsley could become a solid backup as a Day 3 selection.

“Tweener” type with good athletic ability but limitations on how he can be played. The former defensive end displayed enough quickness and lateral movement to flash for the South Carolina defense. Hemingway will need to align as a 4i (inside shoulder of OT) or five-technique as he simply doesn’t have the strength to leverage his gaps as a run defender inside. His best bet might be to drop weight and rebrand as a 4-3 base defensive end with sub-package rush potential inside.

With a mature rush approach, Harrison-Hunte is a sixth-year senior who needs a scheme-specific fit. He has average snap quickness and limited knock-back pop but rarely gets pushed around badly despite a lack of mass. He shines as a pass rusher, where he can be a constant menace for guards in pass pro. He plays with basketball feet and a boxer’s hand flurries to access edges and gain early advantages. He rushes with an unpredictable tempo and a relentless motor. Harrison-Hunte doesn’t have the size or length to stand out on early downs, but he might be dynamic enough to earn a spot as a rotational rusher.

A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

Evans, who spent the first three seasons of his career at LSU, is a legitimate load capable of popping blockers and rattling pads in tight quarters. He can occupy space and eat blocks. However, he will have to become more proficient at controlling the gaps with extension and shed. He has pro size and pro power but needs to become more dominant for the entirety of the rep.

Powerful nose tackle known for his work ethic and leadership. Phillips is compact and explosive at the point but is inconsistent at controlling blocks quickly enough as a read-and-react defender. He can be quick off the snap but lacks fluidity and tends to get sealed by move blocks. In general, he’s gap-sound and can be hard for blockers to finish. He has yet to display he can provide pass-rush production, so he will need to prove he can at least be a run plugger in the pros.

Defensive tackle with imposing size and intriguing flashes but a relative lack of snap experience for a sixth-year player. His anchor can sink fairly deep against double-teams and he has the length and power to control and shed single blocks. He’s very average athletically but moves with some quickness to tackle inside. Jules holds his own against blockers but struggles with play recognition and consistency. He also offers little success as a rusher. His traits and flashes necessitate a “developmental” label.

Watson can gather and occupy double-teams without losing his gap and is strong enough to shed single blocks fairly quickly. However, he lacks consistency in attacking blocking schemes and controlling blockers with hand quickness as a two-gapper. Watson has the size and strength to play for an odd-front unit as a nose tackle but managing his weight will have to be a priority for the team that adds him.

Sixth-year senior with adequate length and solid point-of-attack anchor but a lack of playmaking potential. Gregory is known as a doer and not a talker, with his work easy to find on tape. He combines block-eating, two-gapping power and the ability to discard single blocks with upper-body twitch. He lacks lateral quickness to make plays on the move. There is not much to his pass rush, which hinders his draft value. Still, Gregory can play either interior tackle spot and has a chance to become a two-down backup.

Three-year starter with the build and mentality to play nose tackle in odd or even fronts. Toia carries a girthy base and is heavy into first contact. He has the power to give good resistance against all forms of blocks that come his way but a lack of length makes him more of a space eater than a block beater. He pummels single-block protection with violent club moves for sporadic pressures but is unlikely to get home. He’ll need to improve his block recognition and fine-tune his take-on to be his best version of a two-down run defender.

Tafuna lacks the traits and production teams look for from interior defenders, but his athletic flashes might be enough to create intrigue. He’s gritty at the point of attack, fighting to neutralize double-teams and down blocks but has a smaller margin for error. He gets around with fluidity and good change of direction when he’s twisting and stunting. He can chase plays down the line. Tafuna is an early-down-only player with some rush qualities that could be developed, but his ceiling is limited.

Thomas brings six years of college football experience, with four seasons as a starter, to the league. Possessing adequate size and above-average bend, Thomas is consistent in attacking blockers with excellent pad level and forceful hand strikes, jarring the pads of opponents. He’s fairly predictable and monotonous as a rusher, though. Thomas has the potential to become a rotational, even-front nose tackle with good play strength to challenge run blockers.

Undersized even-front nose tackle whose 2023 tape is so disruptive that it could draw the focus for teams creating his projection. He’s small but plays with leverage and a twitchy discard when playing fast. He’s a nuisance when allowed to stunt or slant but gets rolled out of the gap by power if the opposition catches him flush. He’s a problem as a rusher with loose limbs and sudden feet to work both edges. He is talented in getting by blockers at the junction point and heating up the interior. Some of the production dropped in 2024, but he might be a fun sub-rush piece as a late or undrafted backup nose tackle in a one-gapping scheme.

A powerhouse interior defensive lineman, Griffith’s low-cut frame and powerful base allow for good balance through contact. He has the ability to get under the blocker’s pads and reestablish the line of scrimmage when he gets into the blocker first. He lacks the mass of a run-plugging nose tackle and he’s a linear mover with below average short-area change of direction. He’s more of a pocket pusher than an edge finder as a pass rusher but his ability to create disruptive snaps will be appealing to even-front teams looking for competition inside.

On paper, Biggers has the measurables that teams search for along the defensive front, but he lacks the build of an NFL interior defender. He’ll flash with a big punch to drive a guard off his spot, but he logs too many reps where he’s slow into contact and jostled around at the point. He’s slow getting off the blocks and misses too many tries. Biggers offers no rush help. He needs to get stronger to take advantage of his length and will have to prove himself as a 3-4 defensive end in the pros.

Ritzie put together solid production in his first season as a full-time starter. He plays with adequate early hands and good base width to take on blocks but sets shallow anchors against add-on blockers that prevent him from effectively defending his turf. Ritzie isn’t quick enough or explosive enough for me to project disruption from him in either phase. He might be fighting for a back-end roster spot in camp.

Recruited as a wrestler initially, Hamilton has become a steady, durable defensive lineman. He plays with a nice blend of quickness and athleticism to circumvent blocks on the move. However, he’s not a forceful upfield penetrator and has issues playing with consistent technical savvy to anchor his gap against force. Hamilton’s rush production has been modest but he flashed more in 2024. He’s a good athlete with room for more development but might not find the reps needed in camp to take that next step.

With broad hips, a barrel chest and short arms, Hutmacher is built for combat in tight spaces. He’s a leverage-based nose tackle who can play under the pads of single blocks and slow down double-teams, but his lack of length makes him more of a block fighter than block controller. He can bully his way into the backfield if he finds an edge but does not have enough rush talent by NFL standards. Hutmacher’s toughness and power could give him a chance of making a roster as a backup nose tackle.

Three-technique with good quickness and play strength but a lack of production. Page is a one-year starter but spent time playing behind NFL-caliber defensive tackles while at Clemson. He needs to do more with his penetration quickness, while his short arms make him more of a slow-power grappler than a twitchy shed player. Despite his foot quickness, he had very little sack production. Page’s lack of production will be frowned upon, but there are enough flashes on tape to give him a chance to compete for a backup role.

Three-technique with impressive power and core strength to play heavier than his measured weight. Valdez made the jump from Montana State to Washington and fit right in as a read-and-react defender, using his leverage and strength to neutralize the block. He has shorter arms, which limit his success shedding or playing around blocks in both phases. He needs to play with better first-step explosiveness and play recognition at the outset but his power at the point is worth monitoring.

Fifth-year senior who is heavy on starting experience but light on measurables. Barrow lacks the size and length of an NFL interior defender but flashes good upper-body power to shed and tackle when he’s singled up. His lack of mass creates too many rep losses, so he might need to find a home with a gap-oriented defense that allows him to utilize his quickness and athletic ability to make some noise. He has enough rush potential for consideration as a three-down backup but will need to add more functional mass to his frame to have a chance.

Akingbesote possesses the size, length and athleticism for consideration as an even-front three-technique or an odd-front defensive end. He gets off the ball with adequate quickness and has the length to punch, separate and create opportunities. When he’s not first in, stronger guards tend to keep him under control. The sack production is lower, but tape flashes show there is meat on that bone. Akingbesote isn’t ready for the pro game right now, but he has traits and developmental potential if a team is willing to invest the time.

While Blidi is light in the production categories, there is no doubt that his impressive arm length (34 1/8 inches) and pro-day testing will create some interest. However, despite his burst potential, he doesn’t get into his action quickly enough or with enough explosiveness into contact. His lack of size will be a concern, but he can stack and shed with some effectiveness. Also, he has the athletic ability to get better as a gap shooter. He lacks instincts and consistency as a rusher, which could be a problem since he’s not a natural drain-clogger in the middle.

Highly experienced SEC defensive tackle with good measurables but a lack of consistency in important areas. Thomas isn’t a natural bender, which hinders his ability to stand his ground and clog gaps as a run defender. He’s not a threatening pass rusher by league standards. Teams will like the experience and length, but Thomas might not offer enough against the run to earn a spot as a pro.