2026 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Defensive End



The top 2026 3-4 Defensive End prospects available for the 2026 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2027 prospect. ** – denotes 2028 prospect.

This page was last updated July 2, 2024. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

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2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

1. Ole Miss image Walter Nolen, 3-4DE, Ole Miss
Height: 6-4. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round (2025): 1-2.

7/3/24: Nolen was a highly recruited player who was considered to have star potential. In 2023, he showed why, recording four sacks and 37 tackles while causing a lot of disruption for Texas A&M. The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder has a good skill set with a lot of upside. He entered the transfer portal after the 2023 regular season and landed with Ole Miss.



2. Michigan image Mason Graham, 3-4DE, Michigan
Height: 6-3. Weight: 318.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round (2025): 1-2.

7/3/24: A former star recruit, Graham flashed as a freshman in 2022, collecting 28 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a pass batted. He recorded 35 tackles, three sacks, one pass batted, and one forced fumble in 2023. Graham has good size and upside.



3. Kentucky image Deone Walker, 3-4DE, Kentucky
Height: 6-6. Weight: 348.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round (2025): 1-2.

7/3/24: Walker is a mammoth defensive tackle with surprising pass-rush ability for a heavy interior tackle. In 2023 he had 7.5 sacks with 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, two passes batted, and eight hurries. It was a big jump from his 2022 season when he had 40 tackles with one sack, and twp passes batted.



4. Texas A&M image Nic Scourton, 3-4DE, Texas A&M
Height: 6-4. Weight: 280.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2025): 1-2.

6/25/24: After a tremendous 2023 season for Purdue, Scourton transferred close to home with the Texas A&M Aggies. In 2023 he had 50 tackles, 10 sacks, one forced fumble, and three passes defended. Scourton showed impressive quickness and athleticism for a big-bodied defensive lineman.



5. Michigan image Kenneth Grant, 3-4DE, Michigan
Height: 6-3. Weight: 318.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round (2025): 1-2.

7/3/24: It took time for Kris Jenkins to work his way onto the field behind Mazi Smith, and that is the same situation for Grant, who was playing behind Jenkins in 2023. However, Grant really flashed as a sophomore. Over 2023, Grant recorded 29 tackles, four passes batted, 3.5 sacks, and an interception in backup duty. The 6-foot-3, 339-pounder has a good skill set with big-time upside.



6. South Carolina image T.J. Sanders, 3-4DE, South Carolina
Height: 6-5. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 5.00.
Projected Round (2025): 1-2.




7. Miami image Rueben Bain Jr.*, DE, Miami
Height: 6-3. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2025): 1-3.




8. Florida image Jabari Lyons*, DT, Florida
Height: 6-4. Weight: 305.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round (2025): 1-3.




9. Florida image Cam Jackson, 3-4DE, Florida
Height: 6-6. Weight: 355.
Projected 40 Time: 5.55.
Projected Round (2025): 4-6.




10. Minnesota image Jalen Logan-Redding, 3-4DE, Minnesota
Height: 6-4. Weight: 285.
Projected 40 Time: 5.05.
Projected Round (2025): 5-7.




11. Texas image Vernon Broughton, 3-4DE, Texas
Height: 6-5. Weight: 306.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25.
Projected Round (2025): 5-7.




2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P