Defensive Tackle Class
Early-round talent: B+Mid-round: B+
Late-round: B
Overall grade: B+
Merging the 2025 and 2026 prospects
Mason GrahamKenneth Grant
Walter Nolen
Peter Woods
Caleb Banks
Tyleik Williams
Kayden McDonald
Lee Hunter
Alfred Collins
L.T. Overton
Just to be clear, this article and series are all my opinion. I base my evaluation on my own film study and also on information I’ve gotten from general managers, directors of college scouting, national scouts, area scouts, and NFL coaches who know way more than I do.
The last two years were very good classes of defensive tackle talent, and 2026 is not as good, but it is still a good year for tackle tackle. If you were to merge the classes together, Mason Graham would be the top prospect in either year. Peter Woods would be a little behind Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolen. Caleb Banks is a better prospect than Tyleik Williams, although Banks may slide because of medical issues. Kayden McDonald and Lee Hunter are about on a par with Williams and Alfred Collins. L.T. Overton would be behind Collins.
Safest Pick: Peter Woods, Clemson 
Previous Picks:2025 Mason Graham
2024 Byron Murphy II
2023 Jalen Carter
2022 Jordan Davis
2021 Christian Barmore
2020 Derrick Brown
2019 Christian Wilkins
2018 Vita Vea
2017 Jonathan Allen
2016 Jarran Reed
2015 Leonard Williams
2014 Louis Nix
2013 Star Lotulelei
Woods is a talented player with a very good skill set of speed, athleticism, strength, and upside. He could be a special player if he works hard and is dedicated to being the best player he can possibly be.
Biggest Bust Potential: Christian Miller, Georgia 
Previous Picks:2025 Walter Nolen
2024 Brandon Dorlus
2023 Siaki Ika
2022 Perrion Winfrey
2021 Marvin Wilson
2020 Ross Blacklock
2019 Jerry Tillery
2018 Maurice Hurst
2017 Malik McDowell
2016 Robert Nkemdiche
2015 Mario Edwards Jr
2014 Anthony Johnson
2013 Jesse Williams
This was a difficult selection, but Miller stood out as a player who gets drafted too early. There was a lot of hype for him to be the next dynamic interior tackle for Georgia, but Miller never played or produced up to his skill set. Perhaps he is a late-bloomer, but drafting Miller early could be questionable, as you are betting on what he could be rather than what he produced for the Bulldogs.
Defensive Tackles Rankings by Attributes
Pass Rush:
NFL prototype: Quinnen Williams, Cowboys
- Peter Woods
- Caleb Banks
- L.T. Overton
- Lee Hunter
- Kayden McDonald
Recap: The NFL is always searching for interior linemen who can get after the quarterback. They are a hard commodity to find, and one can make a massive impact on a team’s ability to rush the passer. Tackles who can rush the quarterback set up a lot of sacks for edge rushers via disruption and double-teams. The fastest way to get to a quarterback is from up the middle, and even just forcing quarterbacks to get off their drop spot hurts the passing game. Pass rush up the middle is more disruptive for quarterbacks than edge rushing.
For the NFL, Woods is a twitchy interior tackle who has speed to get upfield and impressive agility to dart past blockers. Woods is fast to fire his gap and can charge hard into the pocket to cause disruption. As a pass rusher, Woods has a lot of upside for rushing as an interior defender who can put pressure on the quarterback and generate some sacks.
In the pass rush, Banks does an impressive job of collapsing the pocket for a nose tackle prospect. Banks has a serious bull rush with devastating power that can overwhelm blockers. He can embarrass some guards with how he can get them backpedaling against their will straight into their quarterback. On top of a power bull rush, Banks shows a nice rip move to get on the edge of blockers and collapse the pocket. He is tough to stop once he gets moving, and Banks shows a burst to close. Banks has the ability to be a speed rusher, and he will surprise some interior linemen with pure explosion at times. Banks could stand to play lower and not stand so high. When does he neutralize his speed and power, and offensive linemen can lock him up. He also has some stiffness that is common with players of his stature, so he could stand to work on hoop drills more to improve his ability to sink his hips.
As a pass rusher, Overton shows a nice combination of skills that make him tough to block at the point of attack. Overton has good quickness out of his stance to fire upfield and get into the chest of blockers. He shows a strong upper body to shed blocks, and does a nice job of using his hands and feet at the same time. Overton has a strong bull rush, and he can ride blockers back to the quarterback. With quality athleticism, Overton is able to move and is agile to redirect to get on the edge of blockers. Overton has quickness to close and is physical when he gets to the quarterback. Overton has quality speed, but is not fast enough to beat pro tackles as a speed rusher around the corner. Hence, he is better off lining up inside. Overton could stand to refine his pass-rushing moves and add more moves to attack pro blockers.
As a pass rusher, Hunter has some ability to get a push into the backfield with his power. Hunter can seriously bull rush to help collapse the pocket and take away space to step up in the pocket. He is limited from a speed and athleticism perspective to be a dangerous pass rusher that firest a gap and darts past guards in the NFL. As a pro, he could be rotated out of the game for a significant amount of sub-package plays. If Hunter had more pass-rush ability, he would have been a definite first-round pick.
As a pass rusher, McDonald has a nice skill set to attack offensive linemen. He has a strong build with active hands and the power to shed blocks at the point of attack. McDonald has power in his bull rush to knock blockers back and can get penetration into the pocket. To go along with power, McDonald has a burst to close and impressive speed for a big interior lineman. McDonald has the upside and the ability to be a quality interior pass rusher in the NFL.
Run Defense:
NFL prototype: Vita Vea, Buccaneers
- Kayden McDonald
- Lee Hunter
- Caleb Banks
- Peter Woods
- L.T. Overton
Recap: In the ground game, McDonald is strong and stout at the point of attack. He holds his gap well with the power in his base to stonewall downhill runs coming straight at him. McDonald is also disruptive to blowing runs up in the backfield by getting penetration through his strength or using his quickness to fire his gap and get into the backfield. McDonald gets in trouble when he plays too high, so maintaining his pad level and leverage will be important for holding his ground against NFL offensive linemen.
In the ground game, Hunter is a tough defender. He is very stout at the point of attack. When runs come downhill at him, he is able to anchor and hold his ground. He also shows the strength to shed and tackle. Routinely, Hunter pushes his way into the backfield to disrupt runs and resets the line of scrimmage. His lateral anchor is advanced for a college player, as he is tough to move at the point of attack. Hunter is very strong to take on double-team bump blocks and hold his ground when getting hit from the side. Hunter is a very good run defender entering the NFL.
As a run defender, Banks should be an asset for his pro team. He is strong, large, and stout at the point of attack. He has the power to anchor and stop downhill runs coming straight at him. Banks can also work off blocks and flow down the line to get in on tackles. Improving his leverage and playing lower will help him become an even better run defender. His propensity to play too high at times is the critical weakness that Banks must fix for the NFL.
In the run game, Woods is a tough defender who can hold his ground at the point of attack. He also shows the ability to work off blocks and chase down backs to get in on tackles. Woods has three down starting potential on the inside as a tackle.
In run defense, Overton is impressive. He is strong at the point of attack and shows the ability to hold his ground against downhill runs coming straight at him. Overton is strong to shed blocks and is capable of flowing down the line to get in on tackles. Overton has good vision and discipline to lock down the backside on misdirection runs. Overton is physical at the point of attack and has a nasty demeanor. However, for the NFL, Overton needs to add some weight to be an inside run defender. Weighing less than 280 pounds is going to be a problem when taking on guards that are much heavier and stronger.
Three-Technique:
NFL prototype: Chris Jones, Chiefs
- Peter Woods
- L.T. Overton
- Caleb Banks
- Lee Hunter
- Kayden McDonald
Recap: Good three-techniques can be hard to find, and this class has a few players who can do some work as a three-technique. Woods and Overton have the ability to be three techniques in the NFL. They have enough quickness to fire a gap and get penetration into the backfield. Overton will need to gain weight to be a full-time three-down defender. Banks has the ability to do it, but will need to make sure he doesn’t play too high, as when he stands up too high, he loses leverage and will struggle to get upfield. Hunter and McDonald are not good fits to be three techniques in the NFL.
3-4 Defensive End:
NFL prototype: Justin Simmons, Titans
- Caleb Banks
- Kayden McDonald
- Lee Hunter
- Peter Woods
- L.T. Overton
Recap: This group has some solid fits for 3-4 ends. Banks could be an excellent 3-4 end that also offers pass-rush ability for a five-technique. McDonald, Hunter, and Woods could be good fits as five-technique ends. Overton could play five technique as he has the length and strength, but could stand to add some weight.
Nose Tackle:
NFL prototype: Vita Vea, Buccaneers
- Kayden McDonald
- Lee Hunter
- Caleb Banks
- Peter Woods
- L.T. Overton
Recap: A good nose tackle in a 3-4 defense is a tough commodity to find. Someone like Vince Wilfork or Casey Hampton in their prime sets the tone for the pass rush and the run defense by blasting the center into the backfield. An effective zero-technique stuffs the run and occupies interior blockers to open up lanes for blitzes up the middle. McDonald has that ability, and he could be a Wilfork or Hampton-caliber defender during his career. Hunter and Banks are well-suited to play nose tackle as well. They have the strength, length, and burst to be tough to move out of their gap. Woods could be a nose tackle, but he is better as a three-technique. Overton is vastly underweight to be a nose tackle in the NFL, and he should not be lined up as a nose.
