2018 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Tackles

By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
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The top 2018 Defensive Tackle prospects available for the 2018 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2019 prospect. ** – denotes 2020 prospect.

This page was last updated April 25, 2018. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

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

Vita Vea*, DT, Washington
Height: 6-5. Weight: 332. Arm: 32.63.
40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2018): 1.
4/25/18: Some sources have compared Vea to Haloti Ngata in terms of ability to play defensive end or nose tackle. They feel that Vea is a special nose tackle prospect who offers more than Danny Shelton did coming out of Washington. Vea will be downgraded in the 2018 NFL Draft because of being a nose tackle, but he still is a special and rare player.

Vea has a serious combination of size, length, strength, and quickness at the point of attack. He is a heavy nose tackle who is a rock against the run and can occasionally collapse the pocket in the pass rush. Vea totaled 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and four passes batted in 2017. He has shown the ability to contribute somewhat in the pass rush while being big, strong, and having a burst at the point of attack.

9/1/17: Vea was a load at the point of attack for Washington in 2016. On the year, he totaled 39 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one force fumble and two passes batted. Vea has a serious combination of size, length, strength, and quickness at the point of attack.

For the NFL, Vea projects as a heavy nose tackle who can be tough at the point of attack. He is a big, thick and strong. Vea can use his size and strength eat up blockers and generally holds gap integrity. He has a quick burst off the snap, and there are times where his size, power, and quickness overwhelm smaller interior linemen. Vea is at his best when he tries to bull his way into the backfield to cause disruption. With his upper body strength and the power in his base, Vea can push off or through blocks. He has a good motor and gives a second effort, too.

Vea needs to show improvement in the pass rush during 2017. The junior needs to develop some pass-rushing moves to go with his bull rush. He has to become more consistent in creating pressure and laying hits on the quarterback in order to be a highly in-demand draft prospect. Otherwise, he could be viewed as just a nose tackle.

Da’Ron Payne*, DT, Alabama
Height: 6-2. Weight: 311. Arm: 33.
40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2018): 1.
4/25/18: Payne had 47 tackles, two sacks and a pass batted in 2017. He was superb, showcasing his freakish speed and athleticism. Payne was a tremendous run defender all year, shutting down his gap and keeping teams from running the ball on Alabama. When the Crimson Tide let him rush the passer, Payne demonstrated the ability to collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback as well. He was superb in the playoff games against Clemson and Georgia.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Payne showed he is a freaky athlete with a very fast 40 time, displaying his shocking speed and athleticism for a heavy interior lineman. Payne gets rave reviews all over the scouting community. In speaking with some general managers who visited Alabama during the fall, immediately they thought that Payne and Minkah Fitzpatrick were legit studs for the NFL. Payne looks like the rare nose tackle who has top-25 potential.

9/1/17: Scouts who have looked ahead to the 2018 class have raved about Payne’s potential. Coming from Alabama, it isn’t a stretch that Payne could take on the lead role for the Crimson Tide with Jonathan Allen moving on to the NFL. Payne is a run plugger with a lot of potential to grow. In 2016, Payne recorded 36 tackles with 3.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks and one pass broken up.

What the stats don’t illustrate is that Payne can be physically dominant. He dominated his one-on-ones last year when he was lining up over guards. Payne causes disruption and makes his teammates better. Payne’s contributions helped the sacks totals of Allen, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. Payne could be poised for a big junior year.

Taven Bryan*, DT, Florida
Height: 6-5. Weight: 291. Arm: 32.74.
40 Time: 4.98.
Projected Round (2018): 1-2.
4/25/18: At the NFL Scouting Combine, Bryan showed his freakish athleticism and speed with a tremendous workout. That solidified his first-round standing. Bryan broke out in 2017 with 40 tackles with six tackles for a loss and four sacks. He had a dominant game against Texas A&M. In speaking with some scouting sources, Bryan has drawn comparisons to Denver Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe. Some announcers have compared the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder Bryan to J.J. Watt, and in terms of style of play, Bryan is reminiscent of Watt when playing well, but Bryan is not consistently dominant to deserve a comparison to Watt.

Bryan has a tremendous get-off with serious explosion off the snap. He also has developed strength with active hands to shed blocks. With his length, Bryan can play end or tackle, and he would be a perfect fit as a five-technique. He had a late start in football, however, from growing up Wyoming, and that shows up in him not demonstrating good instincts. Bryan is inconsistent while lacking feel and pass-rushing moves. Thus even though he is a first-round athlete, he still needs development as a player.

Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Height: 6-1. Weight: 292. Arm: 32.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
4/25/18: In 2017, Hurst totaled 56 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one pass broken up and five sacks. He has superb first-step quickness as he can constantly fire his gap and get into the backfield. Hurst is so fast off the snap that he often broke into the backfield while offensive linemen were still getting out of their stances.

If Hurst were bigger, he would be a sure-fire first-rounder, but he has size issues and has problems holding up in the ground game for the NFL. However in speaking to sources at six different teams, none of them had a first-round grade on Hurst. One NFC general manager in the market for defensive line help said this about Hurst, “We graded him in the bottom half of the second [round], and he could go in the third [round].”

A couple of team sources said that Hurst has a shot at going in Round 1 because there aren’t 32 prospects with first-round grades. Thus some players with grades in the second round will end up getting selected on Thursday night of the draft. A couple team sources thought Hurst shouldn’t go in the first round, but he might sneak in late in the first round. Sources from four other teams thought he would, and should, go on the second day of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Hurst was sent home from the combine because of a heart concern that was detected. He was cleared after further exams, so hopefully the heart issue won’t have any impact on Hurst.

9/1/17: Hurst has developed into a tough defender at the point of attack for Michigan. As a sophomore, he had 35 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. Hurst improved as a junior with 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. The senior would be rated higher if he weren’t undersized for defensive tackle in the NFL.

Tim Settle*, DT, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-3. Weight: 329. Arm: 33.
40 Time: 5.37.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
4/25/18: Settle put together a strong 2017 season and was one of the better defenders on a tough Virginia Tech defense. The big nose tackle totaled 36 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks and one pass batted for the year. That was a big improvement over his 2016 season when he had 17 tackles and no sacks. The physical defender is probably more likely to be a second-day pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, given how nose tackles are downgraded.

Rasheem Green*, DT/DE, USC
Height: 6-4. Weight: 275. Arm: 33.75.
40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
4/25/18: At the NFL Scouting Combine, Green was impressive with an incredible 40-yard dash time. Green also played well for the Trojans in 2017. The junior recorded 43 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, one forced fumble and four passes broken up on the year. As a sophomore, he totaled 55 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four passes batted and two forced fumbles.

Green has good instincts and play recognition. He can use those skills to bat a lot of passes to prevent completions downfield. Green played defensive tackle for USC, but in the NFL, he could play end as well. Green needs to get stronger to hold up in run support. Right now, he could be a base end in a 4-3 defense who moves inside in passing situations. Once he gains weight and strength, Green could play tackle every down, but he’s undersized at the moment. Green also could be a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense.

R.J. McIntosh*, DT, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 286. Arm: 33.88.
40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
4/25/18: There are some team sources who really like McIntosh and think he’s one of the only pure three-techniques in the 2018 NFL Draft. Some teams see him as a second-rounder while others have him in the third or fourth round, so there is a lot of variety in the grades of McIntosh.

McIntosh had an impressive 2017 season and caused disruption for Miami at the point of attack. He totaled 52 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, seven passes broken up and one forced fumble on the year. McIntosh also played well as a sophomore with 47 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. McIntosh has scheme flexibility with the ability to play tackle in a 4-3 and serve as an end in a 3-4.

Trenton Thompson*, DT, Georgia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 288. Arm: 34.
40 Time: 5.06.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
4/25/18: Thompson totaled 38 tackles with 3.5 for a loss and zero sacks in 2017. He also missed multiple games with an MCL sprain. Sources say that Thompson is an early-round talent, but they wanted him to play more consistent football. They also say his body type is a little odd for a three-technique, feeling that his body type fits a 3-4 defensive end better. He should have returned to school to improve and become more consistent before turning pro. Thompson had a good workout at the combine.

9/1/17: Thompson really improved throughout the 2015 season and started to flash a special skill set. The sophomore totaled 56 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and a pass broken up. Thompson ended his junior year in superb fashion by dominating the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against TCU, recording three sacks.

One of the hardest things to find for a NFL defense is an interior defensive lineman capable of being a steady pass-rusher. Thompson is that rare kind of defender as he has a lot of ability to get after the quarterback. In the pass rush, he is a fast interior defender who routinely fires by guards to collapse the pocket. Thompson can bolt by guards, can use his speed to loop around the line on stunts, and can close on the quarterback in an instant. Thompson is very fast at firing his gap to create disruption in the backfield with an impressive ability to redirect to chase down quarterbacks and running backs. The speed also extends to run defense, as he can flow down the line to get in on tackles near the line of scrimmage.

Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
Height: 6-3. Weight: 295. Arm: 33.75. Hand: 10.5.
40 Time: 5.21.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
4/25/18: Phillips turned himself into a NFL prospect with a tremendous senior season. He had 103 tackles with 17 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the year. In speaking with a director of college scouting who was scouting at Stanford, they felt that Phillips is a mid-rounder. They said that Phillips struggles with double teams and has limitations as a pass-rusher for the NFL that push him down, but they think Phillips is a good run stuffer for the next level. They said his game is similar to former Stanford nose tackle David Parry. Others will probably grade Phillips higher.

As a junior, Phillips had 46 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. He missed his sophomore season with an injury after backing up as a freshman.

Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 310. Arm: 33. Hand: 10.
40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
4/25/18: Shepherd was one of the Division II products who did well enough to earn a Senior Bowl invitation. In Mobile, he held his own before getting injured. In 2017, Shepherd totaled 38 tackles with 12.5 for a loss and four sacks. He had 61 tackles with three sacks in 2016 and 69 tackles with three sacks in 2015. Shepherd could play tackle in a 4-3 and or five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense. At the combine, Shepherd had a solid workout. Sources from a variety of teams like Shepherd, and he could sneak into the second day of the 2018 NFL Draft.

B.J. Hill, DT, N.C. State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 321. Arm: 32.35. Hand: 10.38.
40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
4/25/18: Hill had a good workout at the combine and helped himself by illustrating his athleticism. Hill was part of a talented defensive line for the Wolfpack, and all four of their 2017 starters are future NFL contributors. Hill is a tough run defender at the point of attack who is tough to move and reliable to fill his gap. The senior recorded 57 tackles with 5.5 for a loss, three sacks and three passes batted in 2017. As a junior, he totaled 39 tackles with 2.5 for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble and three passes batted. Hill contributed 50 tackles as a sophomore with 3.5 sacks and 40 tackles as a freshman with 1.5 sacks.

Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 317. Arm: 33.5.
40 Time: 5.38.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
4/25/18: In 2017, Nnadi notched 53 tackles with 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 10 tackles for a loss and a pass batted. He played well, causing disruption at the point of attack. Nnadi has good strength and quickness, but also faces some size limitations. He would fit well on the inside of a 4-3 defense as a nose tackle.

9/1/17: Nnadi was expected to have a breakout 2016 season, but he wasn’t making much of an impact prior to a huge game against Miami to help lead the Seminoles to a victory. After that, Nnadi was a productive defender for the Seminoles. He totaled 44 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks on the year. Nnadi was a solid nose tackle for the Seminoles in 2015, totaling 45 tackles with two for a loss and two sacks. The senior has the upside to develop during 2017.

Andrew Brown, DT, Virginia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 294. Arm: 35.13. Hand: 9.13.
40 Time: 5.03.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
4/25/18: In 2017, Brown notched 46 tackles with 10.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He possesses a lot of talent, but doesn’t play up to his skill set consistently. Brown had a good combine that showed his natural physical talent.

9/1/17: Brown is a sturdy defender at the point of attack and impressed last year. Scouting sources say that Brown has a first-round skill set entering the 2017 season. In 2016, he totaled six sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and 38 tackles. Brown has good size to be a base end with quickness and athleticism to get after the quarterback.

Justin Jones, DT, N.C. State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 311. Arm: 33.63. Hand: 10.
40 Time: 5.09.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
4/25/18: Jones played well for N.C. State in 2017, showing some quickness at the point of attack to fire into the backfield and cause disruption. He also rushed the passer pretty well for an interior lineman. Jones had 2.5 sacks, 34 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss on the year. He missed the season opener.

Folorunso Fatukasi, DT, Connecticut
Height: 6-4. Weight: 303. Arm: 34.13.
40 Time: 5.29.
Projected Round (2018): 4-6
4/25/18: Fatukasi notched 45 tackles, 7.5 for a loss and four sacks in 2017. He had an impressive week at the East-West Shrine. Fatukasi was quick at the point of attack and also strong to hold his ground. He showed the versatility to fit a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.

9/1/17: Fatukasi had a quality junior year for the Huskies as he notched 43 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a blocked kick. If Fatukasi can improve his pass rush as a senior, he could rise.

Kendrick Norton*, DT, Miami
Height: 6-3. Weight: 318. Arm: 33.75.
40 Time: 5.25.
Projected Round (2018): 4-6
4/25/18: Norton collected 26 tackles with 6.5 for a loss, two sacks and one passes batted in 2017. He is a run-stuffing nose tackle prospect for the NFL. Norton should have returned to school, but he entered the 2018 NFL Draft.

9/1/17: Norton had a solid 2016 as a first-year starter for the Hurricanes. The sophomore totaled 39 tackles with 10 for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble on the season. Norton could be better as a junior and senior with development.

JoJo Wicker*, DT/DE, Arizona State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 296. Arm: 31.75.
40 Time: 5.16.
Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
4/25/18: Wicker was a surprise early-entry into the 2018 NFL Draft. As a junior, he totaled six sacks with 42 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and one pass batted. Wicker had four sacks as a freshman and 2.5 in his sophomore season. At Wicker’s size, he should probably move inside to defensive tackle.

Kahlil McKenzie Jr.*, DT, Tennessee
Height: 6-3. Weight: 314. Arm: 31.5.
40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: McKenzie finished 2017 with a total of 35 tackles, 3.5 for a loss and two sacks. He entered the 2018 NFL Draft rather than return to school.

9/1/17: A pectoral injury limited McKenzie to only half the season in 2016. As a freshman in 2015, McKenzie flashed with 24 tackles and a sack. He has to stay healthy and produce as a junior.

Du’Vonta Lampkin*, DT, Oklahoma
Height: 6-4. Weight: 335.
Projected 40 Time: 5.40.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: Lampkin is a heavy nose tackle who should have returned to school for 2018. He had 23 tackles with five tackles for a loss and one sack in 2017. Lampkin is extremely powerful, but doesn’t play consistently. He also faced academic problems that caused him to be suspended two games in 2017. Related academic issues caused him to flip from Texas to Oklahoma. Lampkin has had maturity issues off the field as well.

Poona Ford, DT, Texas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 305.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: Ford collected 34 tackles with eight for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass batted and one forced fumble in 2017. As a junior, he had 54 tackles with zero sacks. Ford notched 2.5 sacks in his sophomore season. While he has some quickness at the point of attack, Ford lacks height and length for the NFL, giving him scheme limitations for the pro game. Ford did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine.

Greg Gilmore, DT, LSU
Height: 6-3. Weight: 318.
Projected 40 Time: 5.29.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: Gilmore has some versatility to fit as a three-technique or as nose tackle in a 4-3 defense. In a 3-4, he could play end or tackle given his weight with enough length. In 2017, Gilmore totaled 53 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and one pass batted. He collected 34 tackles with one sack as a junior and 13 tackles as a sophomore. Gilmore has some size and strength at the point of attack, but looks limited. He did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine.

Christian LaCouture, DT, LSU
Height: 6-4. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 5.17.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: LaCouture would fit best as a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense in the NFL. The senior totaled 66 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss six sacks and five passes broken up in 2017. He had a solid week at the Senior Bowl as well. An injury cost LaCouture the 2016 season. In 2015, he had 35 tackles with a sack after recording 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a sophomore.

Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida
Height: 6-0. Weight: 300. Arm: 31.63.
40 Time: 5.16.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: In speaking to team sources just before the draft, they felt that Senat could be a fifth- or sixth-round pick. He already stood out to sources at the weigh-in for the East-West Shrine. Senat doesn’t have good height or length, but he has a strong build with serious strength. In the team scrimmage at the East-West Shrine, Senat showed a burst to fire into the backfield and get a tackle for a loss. He also ate up blocks and plugged his gap as blockers were incapable of moving him. One general manager told WalterFootball.com that they see Senat as a sawed-off nose tackle who has power to hold his gap at the point of attack. They believed then that he could be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent who ends up making the team as a functional nose tackle to rotate into the game.

John Franklin, DT, Stephen F. Austin
Height: 6-4. Weight: 292.
Projected 40 Time: 5.23.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: Franklin totaled 55 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble in his 2017 season. As a junior, he had 31 tackles with seven sacks and four forced fumbles. Franklin could fit as a three-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense, or he could be a 3-4 defensive end. Franklin did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine.

Bilal Nichols, DT, Delaware
Height: 6-4. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 5.18.
Projected Round (2018): 5-7.
4/25/18: Nichols was a steady interior pass-rusher for Delaware over the past two seasons with 5.5 sacks as a senior and five as a junior. In 2017, he also had 56 tackles with four passes batted. Nichols had 25 tackles in 2016 and 29 in the previous season. He could compete as a three-technique in a 4-3 defense or as a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4. Nichols did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine.

James Looney, DT, California
Height: 6-3. Weight: 287. Arm: 32.
40 Time: 4.89.
Projected Round (2018): 6-FA.
4/25/18: Looney helped himself with a solid week of practice at the East-West Shrine. He had some success rushing the passer in practice, displaying some quickness at the point of attack. In 2017, Looney totaled 41 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He could use a redshirt year in the NFL, but he has the potential to develop into a rotational backup defensive lineman.

Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Height: 6-2. Weight: 315. Arm: 33.
Projected 40 Time: 5.40.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: In 2017, Lotulelei had 16 tackles with a pass batted and 1.5 sacks. He is a plugger nose tackle, but he doesn’t make stops in the ground game and lacks an ability to contribute in the pass rush.

9/1/17: Lotulelei notched 28 tackles with 8.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 2016. He is run-stuffing nose tackle for the NFL, but doesn’t offer a lot of pass-rush contributions. The younger brother of Star Lotulelei, Lowell Lotulelei had 33 tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble in 2014 as a freshman. He is a strong nose tackle at the point of attack. In 2015, Lotulelei had 26 tackles with five for a loss and one sack. He could be limited as a nose tackle who comes off the field in passing situations.

Bruce Hector, DT, South Florida
Height: 6-2. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: Some team sources have graded Hector as an undrafted free agent. Other sources think of him as a sleeper pick who could be a good value. They think that for the NFL, Hector could translate as a quick, penetrating three-technique who will contribute in the pass rush. In 2017, Hector totaled 38 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, one pass batted and one forced fumble. He showed his pass-rushing skills with six sacks as a junior and five as a sophomore. Interior pass-rushers are tough to find, so Hector could become a hot prospect in the weeks to come.

Eddy Wilson*, DT, Purdue
Height: 6-3. Weight: 301. Arm: 33.75.
40 Time: 5.37.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: Wilson was a surprise early-entry to the 2018 NFL Draft and probably should have returned to school. In 2017, he totaled 27 tackles with one sack and two passes batted. As a sophomore, he had 36 tackles with 2.5 sacks. He notched 10 tackles in his freshman year. Wilson faced some off-the-field problems at Purdue and also missed the team’s bowl game of the 2017 season because of academic ineligibility.

Taylor Stallworth, DT, South Carolina
Height: 6-2. Weight: 312. Arm: 32.5.
40 Time: 5.28.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: In 2017, Stallworth totaled 30 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss and two passes batted. He had 41 tackles, one sack and three passes batted as a junior. Stallworth will have to compete to make a roster as an undersized nose tackle.

Parker Cothren, DT, Penn State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 304.
Projected 40 Time: 5.29.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: Cothren has some length, weight and strength to him, which lets him set the edge of the defensive line in a 3-4 defense. Being a backup and rotational five-technique end in a 3-4 would be his best fit in the NFL. In 2017, Cothren had 27 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He totaled 26 tackles and two sacks as a junior.

Zaycoven Henderson, DT, Texas A&M
Height: 6-1. Weight: 298. Arm: 32.75.
40 Time: 5.16.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: Henderson totaled 2.5 sacks with 35 tackles for 2017. He could compete as a nose tackle for a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

Matt Dickerson, DT, UCLA
Height: 6-5. Weight: 292. Arm: 33.25.
40 Time: 5.06.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: In eight games as a senior, Dickerson totaled 21 tackles with zero sacks. He had zero sacks and 38 tackles as a junior. In his sophomore year, Dickerson also had 38 stops and one sack with four passes batted. He could compete to make a roster spot as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL, or he could gain more weight to be a nose tackle in a 4-3.

Joshua Frazier, DT, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 321. Arm: 34.25.
Projected 40 Time: 5.34.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: Frazier was a backup for Alabama who had 15 tackles and three passes batted during the 2017 season. He had eight tackles and a sack in 2016. Frazier will have to compete as a nose tackle in the NFL.

John Atkins, DT, Georgia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 321. Arm: 34.
40 Time: 5.36.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA.
4/25/18: As a senior, Atkins totaled 38 tackles with one pass batted and zero sacks. He had 22 tackles with no sacks and two passes broken up as a junior. Given his lack of pass rush, Atkins will have to compete as a nose tackle in the NFL.

Drew Bailey, DT, Louisville
Height: 6-5. Weight: 294.
Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
Projected Round (2018): 7-FA
4/25/18: Bailey totaled 16 tackles with .5 sacks in 2017.

9/1/17: Bailey was a quality run stuffer for Louisville in 2016. He totaled 58 tackles with nine tackles for a loss and two sacks on the year. Getting after the quarterback is critical to helping Bailey’s draft stock.

Matt Elam, DT, Kentucky
Height: 6-7. Weight: 360.
Projected 40 Time: 5.54.
Projected Round (2018): FA
4/25/18: Elam had eight tackles with a pass batted in 2017.

9/1/17: Elam is a massive nose tackle candidate for the NFL. He will need to lose weight and get in better condition, but he is a massive lineman who could be a two-gap or zero-technique in the NFL. Elam had 10 tackles as a freshman, 23 tackles as a sophomore and nine as a junior.