2026 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Tackle



The top 2026 Defensive Tackle 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, DT, 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, DT, 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, DT, 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. Michigan image Kenneth Grant, DT, 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.



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

7/3/24: Sanders broke out in 2023 with 43 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four passes batted. Sanders has excellent size with upside to develop. Team sources said Sanders jumped out to them as a player to watch for the 2024 season.



6. Texas A&M image Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
Height: 6-3. Weight: 289.
Projected 40 Time: 4.98.
Projected Round (2025): 1-3.




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




8. USC image Bear Alexander*, DT, USC
Height: 6-3. Weight: 305.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2025): 3-4.




9. Miami image Akeem Mesidor, DT, Miami
Height: 6-2. Weight: 281.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2025): 4-6.




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




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




12. South Carolina image Tonka Hemingway, DT, South Carolina
Height: 6-2. Weight: 288.
Projected 40 Time: 5.19.
Projected Round (2025): 6-FA.




13. Alabama image Jaheim Oatis, DT, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 321.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2025): 7-FA.




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