DRAFT TRACKER 2026

A talented run defender, McDonald plays with natural leverage and rattles pads with his initial contact. He’s quick to locate ball-carriers, play off of blocks and rally to the action. His technique is a bit underdeveloped and he’s not a natural drain-clogger against double teams, but he still managed an unusually high tackle rate as an interior defender. Quicker hand strikes should allow for more efficient reps and earlier wins at the point. He offers limited rush value, so his money will be made by giving grief to centers and guards as an even-front nose tackle with starting potential.

Big-framed, long-limbed interior defender whose play needs more polish to consistently match his traits. Banks has a quick first step. He can stun/control single blocks when his hand strikes are timely and accurate, but he needs faster disengagement to increase his tackle count. His high center of gravity allows double teams to generate displacement, so a move to odd-front end could be in his best interest as a run defender. Like a grappler without submission knowledge, Banks is still learning to unlock his physical advantages so he can turn them into sacks. His traits and flashes at the Senior Bowl make him an enticing prospect, but injury concerns are a potential stumbling block for him.

Woods is a young interior defender with room to add play strength as he fills out his frame. He’s not a pure one- or two-gap fit, but he’s capable in both schemes. He plays with good lower-body explosiveness into initial contact, keeping his hands and feet synced to work around blocks when needed. He’s more of an active brawler than double-team eating tree stump. Shorter arms allow blockers to crowd his frame and force him to fight harder at the point. Yet, his ability to overtake and win as the rep progresses is impressive. He lacks quick-win talent as a solo rusher, but he’s fully functional as part of a pocket-collapsing collective. His 2024 tape might be a better representation of his upside, but Woods clearly has the potential to become a solid starter in an even front.

Miller is an even-front nose tackle who can rattle pads and gain early advantages at the point of attack. He has good stack-and-shed against single blocks but lacks the prototypical mass of a space-eater. He will lose his anchor to double teams and strong angle blocks at times. He’s average at matching lateral movement off the snap but is generally aware of play design and hustles across gaps to squeeze run lanes. He’ll continue to bulk up and should become a good starter who is more consistent than dominant along the interior.

Orange is a sturdy nose tackle capable of muddying the middle of the field with his first-step quickness and take-on power. His reaction time makes it hard to reach-block him in zone and he has the anchor to play landlord over the A-gaps against double-teams. He gets bounced around on contact but is excellent in recovery and winning the final phase of the rep. Orange is a non-factor as a pass rusher, but his value versus the run should attract teams.

Harris is a disruptive, alignment-versatile interior defender with mismatch traits and untapped potential. Though he lacks the contact balance/hand usage to cleanly control block engagements, he consistently recovers and often reemerges to help finish the play. He often overwhelms single blocks and disrupts run schemes from a gap away. He wasn't asked to two-gap at Ole Miss very often, but has the tools for the task. He’s a pocket-pushing rusher, but with better hand work he should see a boost in pressure production. While Harris can play 3-,4- and 5-techniques, his best NFL fit might be nose tackle. Harris has the potential to be picked as early as Day 2 of the draft, but teams will need to examine his arrests from 2023 and 2024 as part of the evaluation.

Hunter is a two-gapping nose tackle for odd or even fronts. He has the size, strength and length to do battle in the heart of the trenches but requires better block take-on technique to sit firmer in his grass. He won’t win in the gaps, but he can stack and shed single blocks or slide and stabilize his run fit against zone blocks. Hunter’s girth and length are advantages when aligning over the center as a run defender. He doesn’t have enough quickness or skill as a rusher to see many passing downs, but he can dent the pocket with his power. Hunter projects as an early down space-eater who can make interior offensive linemen work for their gaps.

Fifth-year senior who transferred to Texas A&M from Iowa State and made an immediate impact. Onyedim is an impressive athlete with an explosive first step and long arms. He beats blockers into gaps and uses active hands/feet to bypass them, making tackles in tight quarters or down the line. He competes at the point with a stiff punch and powerful upper half to stall blocks. He can set edges but lacks the lower-body mass to be a static defender inside. His pass rush is behind his run defense but the tools and flashes are promising. Onyedim is a future starter with the athleticism and scheme versatility to play as a 3-technique or odd-front end.

Capehart started just 12 games over six seasons (and 57 games played) but that’s not an indicator of the impact he can make against the run. He’s big, broad and long with heavy hands and impressive power in his upper half. He can play through lesser guards and adequately occupy his gap against double-teams. He’s light on his feet with good lateral movement but is unrefined as a pass rusher, relying on down-the-middle power. Capehart is not a young prospect, but his traits and run-plugging talent will appeal to teams looking for a solid rotational option on Day 3.

Fifth-year senior with two years as a starter, Regis is built low, with girthy lowers and shorter arms. He’s a leverage monster who can function as a tree stump in the middle of the defense when he’s first in with his hands. He can post and peek as a two-gapper or drop low to fight off double-teams. He plays with good balance and is technically sound in block take-ons/disengagements. His rush is unimpressive and his lack of length will cause issues at times, but he’s tough, strong and consistent. Regis should become a run-stopping factor as a nose tackle.

Stubby but stout, Cleveland fights hard to muddy the A-gaps. He has heavy hands that shock on impact and he’s capable of quickly controlling/shedding. His lack of length requires him to gain an early advantage or risk being neutralized by big, long guards. Limited range as a run defender and an inability to pressure the pocket cap his draft slotting and upside. Cleveland’s strength and anchor should help him clog interior lanes as a rotational nose tackle.

An undersized 3-technique with disruptive attributes, Halton is best suited for a rotational role in a movement-based front. He plays with synced hands and feet and good lateral agility. His initial quickness makes him quite slippery but a centered block can clear him from the run lane due to his lack of mass/anchor. He’s an energetic, gap-to-gap rusher who can threaten guards on their edges or play his role as an effective twister. Finding the right scheme fit will be critical for Halton in the NFL.

While he’s an enormous interior presence with impressive physical features, Jackson’s inconsistencies are partially rooted in flawed fundamentals and technique. He plays too upright and with inconsistent base width/block take-on, making him more easily cleared from gaps. He might never become a tree stump at the point, but he could see vast improvement in his shed-and-control with quicker hands, improved upper-body power and a full-time move to odd-front end. The tape is uneven with a floor of average backup, but Jackson’s size and length could be considered unmined gold by some teams.

Two-year starter who is solidly proportional with adequate length. McClellan is not a natural knee-bender, which limits his anchor, and he allows blockers too far into his frame too often. He has flashes where he can dominate a rep, but he will need to improve his take-on technique and hand usage to be more consistent. His first step is average and his pass rush isn’t overly explosive, but McClellan can pry open edges with strong hands. He plows through to collapse pockets once his foot is in the door and projects as a backup nose tackle in an even-front defense.

Twitchy 3-technique with rare short-area quickness. Durant's disruptive potential is maximized in slanting/twisting schemes, where he can use his lateral quickness to beat zone blocks, slip into gaps and track down screens. His small frame and short arms make him a sitting duck as a static defender, though. His rush moves need to be sharpened and refined to give him the best chance of becoming a rotational, sub-package 3-technique in a gaming front.

Benny is a tricky evaluation as a 3-technique. He has good length and is consistent entering into block battles. He’s an effective two-gapper who locates the ball-carrier and quickly sheds. On the flip side, he’s not a true wide-body and struggles to drop a sudden anchor when challenged by downhill double teams. He lacks ideal explosiveness and is unlikely to be much of a disruptor. Benny is capable of competing for a backup role as an early down interior lineman who can play in one- or two-gapping fronts.

Rotational interior defender capable of playing either tackle spot. Williams is on the short side but possesses good length and an ability to stack and shed blocks as a two-gapper. He lacks lateral quickness and playmaking ability beyond smaller spaces, though. He needs to do a better job with his block take-on against down blocks and double teams. While Williams is capable against the run, his ineffectiveness as a pass rusher could limit his draft stock.

Barrett isn’t overly explosive and athletic, but it’s hard to ignore his “slow power” and the way he helped clog the drain as a run-stuffer in 2025. He’s well-built with room to add even more mass. Barrett lacks first-step quickness and sudden hands, so he’s best-suited as a block-eater and two-gapper. The production won’t pop and he won’t add much as a rusher, but Barrett can add depth as a rotational nose tackle for teams looking for more congestion in the middle.

Jordan van den Berg began to hit his stride at Georgia Tech in 2024 after three quiet years as a backup at Penn State. Elite testing numbers at his pro day will send scouts back to the tape for further evaluation. He possesses disruptive first-step quickness and heavy hands to beat blocks. He carries average mass and below-average length. He needs to prove he can take on NFL blockers at the point of attack. The career production looks a little light on paper, but van den Berg appears to possess translatable traits that could entice a team with a one-gapping defensive front to draft him on Day 3.

Keenan is a girthy nose tackle with average talent and upside. He has the frame/play strength to take on blocks and fight for ground with reasonable success. However, a lack of length limits his ability to command the point of attack with a quick punch-and-shed. He’s more block-beater than block-eater and won’t offer much as a rusher. Keenan has Day 3 value as a rotational player.

As an interior defender, Proctor is an elite athlete with rare playmaking range. He’s an elusive rusher with an explosive first step and the ability to unlock openings with varied approaches and angles. He’s also very undersized with limited recourse once linemen have him squared up and put hands on him. He lacks the anchor or contact balance to withstand power. Proctor needs to find a fit in a move-based defensive front where he can try to mismatch interior protection with his quickness and athletic gifts.

Steady interior defender who plays with good initial quickness and adequate play strength. Ball can dart into gaps or hold the point against single blocks as a two-gapper. While he can handle hand-to-hand combat, he’s unable to sink a deep anchor and compete at a high level against double teams and down blocks. He’s an effort rusher with decent footwork but could become much more effective with better hand work. Ball has average upside as a rotational defender in an even front.

Squatty run-down defender with a broad build and natural play strength. Corleone, aka “The Godfather”, lacks ideal length and shed quickness, so he might need to come off the ball with better explosiveness to help create an advantage early in the rep. He’s rarely on the ground, generally playing with squared pads and good short-area athleticism. A bout with blood clots in 2024 could require additional medical work for NFL teams during their evaluation, but Corleone appears to have enough talent to compete for a backup role as an even-front nose tackle.

Thompson is a slightly undersized but explosive interior defender with the potential to take snaps as both a 1- and 3-technique in a one-gapping scheme. He lacks a track record of production and is more of a projection-based prospect. A lack of response quickness post-snap diminishes his effectiveness in the first phase of the rep, so getting his actions timed up to the snap will be critical in unlocking his disruption. He hasn’t learned to convert his athletic ability into a more consistent rush, but he certainly could do that in time. Thompson profiles as a late Day 3 pick with developmental upside.

Sixth-year senior who came in as an oversized linebacker but has filled out and embraced his role inside. Eason uses leverage and play strength to sit down and occupy blocks, but he has the short-area quickness to play in gaps. He’s missing the size/length of a natural two-gapper but he’s not often pushed around by single blocks. Though not a plus pass rusher, he has the athleticism to be better than his 2025 pressure rate suggests. Eason excels at the dirty work and projects as a backup on the interior.

Robinson might not possess ideal measurables, but don’t ignore his game tape. He’s small by NFL standards, but he’s strong. It takes a low pad level to neutralize his leverage and move him at the point. He’s typically quicker than opponents when activated in slanting, stemming fronts. While his sack production might not translate, he's disruptive when active. Robinson has the talent to grab a roster spot as a 1-technique in the right scheme.

Smith is a squatty, space-eating nose tackle with a wide, powerful base. He can be reached/sealed by centers on move blocks but is more than capable of using his natural leverage to grow deep roots and occupy blocks against downhill schemes. He offers no rush help but it won’t matter for teams looking to fortify their interior against the run. Smith has a chance of finding a roster home as a late draft pick or undrafted free agent signee.

One-gapping 3-technique whose 2024 tape might have been a better representation of what he’s capable of than his 2025 tape. Marshall is a twitchy, athletic interior defender capable of creating disruption, but he doesn’t pop on tape enough. He’s not going to hold his ground and leverage gaps, so he’ll need to become better at utilizing his first-step quickness and hands to create early advantages. If Marshall can elevate his grit and urgency, he has a chance to become a rotational defender.

Seventh-year senior with enticing disruption potential but only a single season of meaningful production. Hunt primarily played the 5-technique in Cincinnati’s odd front, but he’s suited for work as a penetrating nose tackle in an even front. He’s a plus athlete with quickness to beat blockers to the spot and dart into gaps or around base blocks. He has the foot quickness to test the gap-to-gap range of a center when aligned inside. His age, production and injury history might hurt his draft chances, but his style of play and athletic ability give him a chance to compete as a rotational, one-gapping nose tackle.

Slightly undersized but wearing good muscle mass, Konga is built for life as a one-gapping 3-technique. His testing numbers were eye-popping, but his career production does not align with the athletic traits. He has good first-step quickness to challenge gaps but is unable to withstand a stout drive-blocker or double-team looks. A right-handed club is his go-to rush move but it feels like there is more meat on the bone as a pass rusher for a team willing to make development a priority. Konga might need to prove himself as a situational rusher to land a spot on an NFL roster.

Fifth-year senior with enough flashes to warrant a longer look. Loving has average size and short arms but his elite testing numbers are evident on tape. He has knock-back pop and can stall out single blocks while giving a good fight against double-teams. He can be a step slow in shedding blocks and will find himself engulfed when he’s not first in with his hands. His foot quickness and rare acceleration allow him to burst to ball-carriers and quarterbacks at a high rate of speed. Loving’s rush is fueled by athleticism over skill and he’ll need to improve the latter to win at a higher rate in the league. He has late-round potential and could surprise in a roster battle.

M’ba’s evaluation will hit a wall with some teams due to his age (will be a 27-year-old rookie), but he’ll be seen as a development prospect with intriguing power by others. Tight hips and a lack of take-on technique create inconsistencies with contact balance and anchor. M’ba does an admirable job of competing against blockers using brute force and determination. There will be lane-clogging potential as a rotational nose tackle if he improves his technique.

Jamison-Travis has good size/length with adequate upper-body power but is too often engaged in long-form block battles instead of controlling and defeating the block at the point. He shows first-step and hand-strike quickness, but he’s forced to lean into contact to bolster his base, leaving him unable to move quickly with the design of the play. He can make tackles two gaps away but his rush is unimaginative and in need of openers to get things going.

Gusta has adequate size and good power but he’s not a true gap-control nose tackle and lacks production from a stem-heavy front. He’s an active, effort-based defender who is capable of fighting for his space against single blocks, but his take-on against double teams is average. First-step quickness and violent hands can create pocket pressure despite a low career sack total, though. Gusta has a chance to fight for a spot as a 1-technique.

Gill-Howard is an undersized one-gapper using suddenness and leverage to elude the clenches of bigger players. He plays with a non-stop motor and palpable sense of urgency, creating wins off the snap against the run and pass. He gives blockers no reps off. His secondary effort and block counters keeps him in the play longer. Gill-Howard lacks functional size and length, which will make him both scheme- and matchup-dependent as a pro. He needs to major in disruption and chaos to find a long-term home as a rotational, upfield tackle.

West’s snap and start counts are unusually low for a draftable prospect. He has the bone thickness of an interior defender, but a chunk of his collegiate reps came at 5-technique and even-front defensive end. He’s a solid athlete with good quickness but below-average hand usage. He appears capable of sinking and anchoring but will be tested against interior double teams on the next level. West’s ability to pressure the pocket could earn him an opportunity at the next level.

One-gapping interior defensive lineman whose short-area quickness fuels his production. Hall has good length but is an average bender with a narrow base. He can get into gaps with slide-and-go movement and moves well chasing runners down the line. He needs to improve his hand usage to be more consistent at the point of attack. He’s a fluid athlete, which plays into his potential as a move rusher. Hall could hear his name called late in the draft, but he’ll face an uphill battle to make a team.

Blay is a slightly undersized nose tackle who climbed from Division II to Conference USA and finally to Miami, where he played for a national title. He takes on single blocks with adequate power to press and separate, but he can be wiped out by double-teams or angle pressure. He’s quick to close the distance on quarterbacks when he gets some breathing room but lacks early explosion and hand work to quickly open doors. Blay’s path to a roster might come as an undrafted free agent.

Three-year starter with a long wingspan but inconsistencies in his game and a lack of standout production. Eastern plays with loose upper-body movement that helps him slip blocks and find gaps. He uses his length effectively to disengage when he times it right. However, his high-cut frame and below-average pad level create persistent issues anchoring and maintaining gap integrity, especially against zone blocks. He ends up on the ground too often and hasn’t proven he can create consistent pressure as a rusher. Eastern’s size and length might be best utilized in a wider alignment as an odd-front end.

Interior defender with heavy hands and a frame for additional mass. Thompson is experienced and capable of playing in even or odd fronts. Tight hips limit his bend at the point of attack, creating inconsistent leverage, but the play strength and hand usage are in place. He’ll give effort as a rusher but he lacks tools to create NFL pressure. Thompson projects as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.

Two-year starter with consistent production in the key categories. Graves lacks NFL-caliber size, length and athletic-testing numbers, but he fills stat columns, using hustle and know-how to find the action. He finished his career with an impressive sack total (16.5) but he’s not a consistent quick-win rusher and those numbers are unlikely to translate. He struggles to hold his ground against double-teams/angle pressure as a run defender, while his lack of length hurts his consistency with block shed and tackling.

High-motor interior lineman with below-average mass but above-average athletic testing to compensate. Burke is a decorated, three-year starter who plays with good hands to separate and shed at the point. He’s been successful at working from edge to edge as a rusher against single blocks but lacks longer levers to work around bigger bodies. While he’s played at a consistent level over the last two seasons, the jump in competition could make finding a roster spot a big challenge as a pro.

Bernard is a defensive line prospect from the same International Player Pathway program that produced Eagles OT Jordan Mailata. Bernard has not played organized football, but he displayed a rare blend of size, length and explosiveness at the IPP pro day in March. He could garner consideration as a defensive tackle, defensive end or even offensive tackle if he takes to the training. He will require work on every facet of his technique and fundamentals, so a team will need to be patient with a long-term plan for him. As one of the rarest of physical specimens I’ve seen in the sport, Bernard warrants a late-round selection. His ability to incorporate and execute upon the coaching he receives will determine his future in the sport. The odds might be against him earning snaps, but the exceptional traits will be hard for teams to ignore.