2019 NFL Draft Prospects: Nose Tackles

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2019 nose tackle prospects available for the 2019 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2020 prospect. ** – denotes 2021 prospect.

This page was last updated April 20, 2019. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Christian Wilkins, NT, Clemson
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 315. Arm: 32.50. Hand: 9.75.
   40 Time: 5.04. 10-Yd: 1.76.
   Bench: 28. Vertical: 29.5. Broad: 8-11.
   Projected Round (2019): Top-20.
   4/20/19: There are some teams that are high on Wilkins and others have him lower, but he stands a good shot of going in the top 20. Wilkins was expected to be a combine standout because he clearly is a very athletic defensive tackle. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder was as advertised with a quick 40-yard dash of 5.04 seconds. After that, he was fast and fluid in the field drills, showing his agility to move through the bags with speed. Following his combine performance, Wilkins has a real shot at going in the top 20 and could go in the top half of the first round.
   
   In 2018, Wilkins totaled 50 tackles with 14 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He played well for Clemson over the course of the season, utilizing his speed to cause a lot of disruption at the point of attack. He put a lot more pressure on the quarterback than his sack total indicates.
   
   8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Wilkins checks in at 6-foot-3, 312-pounds with 32.38 inch arms, 9.5 inch hands, and 80.5 inch hands. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 4.90 seconds.
   
   In 2017, Wilkins totaled 60 tackles with 8.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks. He played well all year, using his speed and athleticism to cause disruption at the point of attack. In speaking with sources at multiple teams, they see Wilkins as a future first-rounder. He is a fast interior pass-rusher who can collapse the pocket and provide an inside pass rush. Wilkins dominated Miami in the ACC Championship.
   
   Wilkins played well for Clemson in 2016 as part of a tough defensive line that controlled the point of attack. The sophomore recorded 48 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and 10 passes batted. Wilkins made 33 tackles and two sacks as a freshman in 2015. He has a nice skill set with upside.
   
   Wilkins had to play a lot of defensive end in 2016 because of injury. He displayed a nice ability to play there, but his NFL home is on the inside. As a pass-rusher, Wilkins is able to get after the quarterback with pressure coming around the corner. He looked the most dangerous when lining up over guards and firing past them to cause disruption in the backfield. While he played a lot of end, at his weight, Wilkins really doesn’t have edge-rusher speed for the NFL. He will have to rush from the inside as a pro, but that is his natural position anyway. Wilkins is a solid run defender, too. He has a strong, thick lower body to hold his ground at the point of attack.





2. Dexter Lawrence*, NT, Clemson
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 342. Arm: 34.75. Hand: 10.50.
   40 Time: 5.05. 10-Yd: 1.76.
   Bench: 36.
   Projected Round (2019): 1-2.
   4/20/19: Lawrence notched 37 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks and three passes broken up in 2018. In the pass rush, he created some pressure and caused some disruption. Some team sources are disappointed in Lawrence and question why he never got back to being the player he was as a freshman. Some teams graded Lawrence in the second round. He could sneak into the first round, and shouldn’t slip out of the second round.
   
   8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Lawrence checks in at 6-foot-4, 350 pounds with 35.13-inch arms, 10.25-inch hands, and a wingspan of 85 inches. They him running the 40-yard dash at 5.00 seconds.
   
   Lawrence totaled 34 tackles with 2.5 sacks in 2017. While he wasn’t as good as he was in 2016, and his production reflected that, he helped create a lot of sacks for those around him. Some team sources wonder if Lawrence was playing injured as a sophomore.
   
   Lawrence was a tremendous freshman to help Clemson win the National Championship. NFL sources raved about Lawrence in the 2017 season, because he was impossible to ignore in 2016. Lawrence was an All-Freshman selection all over the nation while being the ACC Rookie of the Year for that season. He totaled 63 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and a pass batted as a freshman. One national scout for a NFC team told me that they thought Lawrence was among the two most disruptive defensive linemen in 2016, along with Alabama’s Jonathan Allen.
   
   With other good talent around Lawrence and his experience, he could dominate as a junior.



3. Jerry Tillery, NT, Notre Dame
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 295. Arm: 34.25. Hand: 10.63.
   40 Time: 4.93. 10-Yd: 1.69. Three Cone: 7.45.
   Bench: 23. Vertical: 32. Broad: 9-7.
   Projected Round (2019): 1-3.
   4/20/19: Tillery was phenomenal to open the season and dominated Michigan to help Notre Dame to a seven-point win. For 2018, he totaled 30 tackles with eight sacks, 10.5 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. Tillery spent the year playing like an early-round pick for the 2019 NFL Draft. He had a good workout at the combine.
   
   Teams have red flagged Tillery’s draft report with serious character concerns. Every source with a handful of teams who went through Notre Dame heard about significant character issues with Tillery. It was so renowned that even during TV broadcasts, there were mentions of Tillery being a bad teammate and that he was trying to change that. Team sources say not only are they concerned about Tillery in the locker room, they also are worried about him failing tests and getting suspensions in the NFL. Tillery is a known partier, so it hurt him to miss out on the Senior Bowl interviews to address those concerns and work on convincing teams that he has grown out of those past behaviors.
   
   For the most part, evaluators like Tillery’s on-the-field potential. Some are not fans of him, while others are high on his pro potential with a skill set that combines size, athleticism and quickness. However, even the sources that like Tillery on the field are not sure he will remain on their draft boards because of the off-the-field concerns.
   
   8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Tillery checks in at 6-foot-6, 304 pounds with 33.63-inch arms, 10.63-inch hands, and a wingspan of 82 inches. They have him running a fast 40-yard dash at 4.80 seconds.
   
   Over the past few years, Tillery has played well for Notre Dame and has been active at the point of attack. For 2017, he totaled 47 tackles with nine for a loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Tillery had 37 tackles with three tackles for a loss in 2016. The sophomore played better than the numbers illustrate and caused some havoc in the backfield. Tillery has a good skill set to develop and is capable of compiling more production.



4. Khalen Saunders, NT, Western Illinois
   Height: 6-0. Weight: 324. Arm: 32.38. Hand: 8.88.
   40 Time: 5.01. 10-Yd: 1.73. Three Cone: 7.57.
   Bench: 27. Vertical: 30.5. Broad: 8-5.
   Projected Round (2019): 2-4.
   4/20/19: Every year, the Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for some small-school prospects to show they are legit NFL prospects, and Saunders was the small-school star of the 2019 Senior Bowl. He was very quick at the point of attack, showing the speed to dart by guards and pressure the quarterback. Saunders also has strength with a short, quick, thick build that makes him tough to block. He would be a good fit as a three-technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. Saunders was very productive in 2018, totaling 72 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a pass batted. He notched 7.5 sacks as a junior. Saunders could go in the second or third round after his week in Mobile.





5. Chris Slayton, NT, Syracuse
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 307. Arm: 33.50. Hand: 10.63.
   40 Time: 5.13. 10-Yd: 1.81.
   Bench: 28. Vertical: 29. Broad: 8-5.
   Projected Round (2019): 2-3.
   4/20/19: Slayton was probably the best player at the East-West Shrine. He dominated in the pass-rushing one-on-ones, using speed, leverage, and strength to consistently get the better of the offensive linemen. Slayton also showed the ability to play a variety of techniques on the defensive line with versatility to fit any NFL defense. The athletic Slayton does a fantastic job of staying low and playing with good leverage while also utilizing the length that comes with his frame.
   
   Slayton totaled 24 tackles with eight tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2018. As a junior, he notched one sack and 28 tackles. Slayton had four sacks as a sophomore.



6. Isaiah Buggs*, NT, Alabama
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 306. Arm: 30.88. Hand: 9.00.
   40 Time: 5.15. 10-Yd: 1.82. Three Cone: 8.01.
   Bench: 20. Vertical: 24.5. Broad: 8-0.
   Projected Round (2019): 3-5.
   4/20/19: Buggs did not have a very impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. He would flash occasionally, but was not consistent in practice. In speaking to team sources, they dinged him in their reports for running hot and cold and “playing when he wants to play.” He has a reputation for being lethargic. Buggs also is short and undersized for the NFL.
   
   Buggs played well for Alabama in 2018 with 51 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes batted. The sack numbers that Buggs produced came from a lot of disruption caused by Quinnen Williams and other Alabama defenders. Buggs is a nice player who has strength, quickness and athleticism. He looks like a solid mid-round talent.
   
   8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Buggs checks in at 6-foot-2, 294-pounds with 30.63-inch arms, nine-inch hands, and a 75.13-inch wingspan. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 4.99 seconds.
   
   Alabama is not a program that hits the junior-college ranks hard, but Buggs was an exception, and he surprisingly won a starting spot right away at Alabama. In 2017, Buggs had 51 tackles with four tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He could be even better now that he has a year of experience in the SEC. Buggs should see a lot of good blocking looks with Raekwon Davis drawing attention.



7. Greg Gaines, NT, Washington
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 312. Arm: 31.13. Hand: 9.38.
   40 Time: 5.16. 10-Yd: 1.80.
   Bench: 30. Vertical: 31. Broad: 9-1.
   Projected Round (2019): 3-5.
   4/20/19: In 2018, Gaines recorded 55 tackles with 3.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for a loss and one interception. He was a solid nose tackle run plugger for Washington. Gaines then put together a strong performance at the Senior Bowl, showing some pass-rush skill in the one-on-ones.
   
   8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Gaines checks in at 6-foot-1, 315 inch pounds with 31-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands, and a 75.38-inch wingspan. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 5.20 seconds.
   
   While Vita Vea got all the attention in 2017, Gaines also had a good season for the Huskies. Gaines totaled 30 tackles with five tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and three passes batted on the year. He chipped in 35 tackles with 3.5 sacks in his sophomore season. It will be interesting to see how the loss of Vea impacts Gaines’ play, but entering the fall, he is projected to have first- through fourth-round potential from NFL sources for the 2019 NFL Draft.





8. P.J. Johnson*, NT, Arizona
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 335.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
   Projected Round (2019): 3-5.
   4/20/19: Johnson started out his collegiate career in the junior college ranks before landing at Arizona. He has some athleticism for a big-bodied interior lineman. The junior totaled 31 tackles with three sacks, one forced fumble and one pass broken up in 2018. In the NFL, he could fit well in a 3-4 defense due to having the size to play five-technique end or nose tackle. He also could be a nose tackle in a 4-3.



9. Demarcus Christmas, NT, Florida State
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 294. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 9.13.
   40 Time: 5.08. 10-Yd: 1.77. Three Cone: 8.13.
   Bench: 22. Vertical: 25.5. Broad: 8-5.
   Projected Round (2019): 3-5.
   4/20/19: Christmas totaled 28 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two passes batted in 2018. He turned in solid games against Virginia Tech and Miami. Christmas was a late-add to the Senior Bowl, where he put together a decent performance.
   
   8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Christmas checks in at 6-foot-3, 311 pounds with 32.38-inch arms, nine-inch hands, and a 78.13-inch wingspan. They have Christmas running the 40-yard dash in 5.05 seconds.
   
   Christmas formed a tough interior to the Seminoles’ defensive line with nose tackle Derrick Nnadi. Christmas has some length and quickness at the point of attack. In 2017, he notched 36 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and four passes batted.



10. Trysten Hill*, NT, Central Florida
    Height: 6-2. Weight: 308. Arm: 33.38. Hand: 10.25.
    40 Time: 5.04. 10-Yd: 1.74. Three Cone: 7.70.
    Bench: 28. Vertical: 35. Broad: 9-7.
    Projected Round (2019): 4-6.
    4/20/19: Hill totaled 36 tackles with three sacks as a junior and decided to enter the 2019 NFL Draft. He recorded 20 tackles and two sacks in his sophomore campaign. Hill helped himself with a good combine workout.





11. Albert Huggins, NT, Clemson
    Height: 6-2. Weight: 305. Arm: 33.50. Hand: 10.63.
    40 Time: 5.12. 10-Yd: 1.81. Three Cone: 7.84.
    Bench: 35. Vertical: 25.5. Broad: 8-5.
    Projected Round (2019): 4-6.
    4/20/19: Huggins would have been a starter at most schools, but with Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence ahead of him, Huggins was relegated to being a rotational backup. As a senior, he totaled 23 tackles with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss. Huggins recorded 22 tackles with 1.5 sacks as a junior and three sacks as a sophomore. He has enough size, quickness, and athleticism to be a rotational backup in the NFL.



12. Daylon Mack, NT, Texas A&M
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 336. Arm: 32.00. Hand: 10.13.
    40 Time: 5.10. 10-Yd: 1.74. Three Cone: 8.02.
    Bench: 30. Vertical: 27. Broad: 8-6.
    Projected Round (2019): 4-6.
    4/20/19: In 2018, Mack recorded 32 tackles with 5.5 sacks with 10 tackles for a loss and one pass broken up. He could be a backup nose tackle at the next level.
    
    At the East-West Shrine in all three practice sessions, Mack played well and had his way with the opposing offensive linemen. He was clearly the star of the Monday West practice. In the run scrimmage, Mack was exceptional. He was tough to move, eating up blockers, stuffing holes, and swallowing up backs at the line of scrimmage. In the pass-rushing one-on-ones, Mack used his explosive quickness to get into blockers and then his strength to push them aside. His excellent week earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl, and he continued to impress in Mobile. To finish his strong postseason workout tour, Mack showed good speed and athleticism for a heavy nose tackle at the NFL Scouting Combine.
    
    For years with the Aggies, Mack would flash some special ability, but he was a rotational player because of poor work ethic and not staying on top of his conditioning to take on a lot of snaps. Mack still needs to improve his conditioning, but he showed that he has a good skill set with quickness, pad level, power, and a strong base.
    
    8/29/18: In 2017, Mack had 19 tackles with five tackles for a loss, one sack and a forced fumble. He would be a good fit as a zero-technique nose tackle in a 3-4 defense at the next level. Mack has been a rotational player for the Aggies, but scouts have noticed that he has some physical talent.
    
    Mack notched just 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2016, but he played better than the numbers illustrate. Mack was a disruptive force on the interior of the defensive line as a freshman in 2015. He totaled 32 tackles with 9.5 for a loss on the season, but also was a bigger presence than the numbers indicate.



13. Ed Alexander*, NT, LSU
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 331.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.30.
    Projected Round (2019): 4-6.
    4/20/19: Alexander played through some injuries as a junior, but over the course of his career, he was a solid nose tackle for LSU. In 2018, Alexander totaled 28 tackles with three tackles for a loss, one sack and one pass batted. As a sophomore – 17 tackles, one sack – and freshman – 13 tackles – he had modest production. In the NFL, Alexander would fit best as a nose tackle in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.







14. Dontavius Russell, NT, Auburn
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 319. Arm: 32.00. Hand: 9.13.
    40 Time: 5.15. 10-Yd: 1.82. Three Cone: 7.81.
    Bench: 24.
    Projected Round (2019): 5-7.
    4/20/19: Russell was decent for Auburn in 2018, recording 36 tackles with six for a loss and 1.5 sacks. For the NFL, he projects best as a nose tackle. Russell did not impress at the Senior Bowl.
    
    8/29/18: Russell had 46 tackles with 6.5 for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and two passes batted in 2017. He was decent, but unimpressive. Russell was wise to return to Auburn for 2018.
    
    Russell formed a tough interior defensive line in 2016 with Montravius Adams. Scouts who did advanced work for the 2018 class say that Russell has an early-round skill set. It will be interesting to see if Russell finally plays up to his ability, because Adams had a first-round skill set, yet ended up being a third-round pick. Russell recorded 42 tackles with 4.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks in 2015. In 2016, he totaled 29 tackles with two passes batted.



15. Ricky Walker, NT, Virginia Tech
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 310.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
    Projected Round (2019): 6-FA.
    4/20/19: Walker did not work out at the combine. He recorded 48 tackles with 10 for a loss, one pass batted and two sacks in 2018. Walker was a solid defender for the Hokies, but he could have size issues in the NFL. At the East-West Shrine, Walker was a feast-or-famine player, as he would make some splash plays when he was able to fire through the line, but there were also lowlights, including him getting knocked to the ground far too often.
    
    8/29/18: According to NFL teams’ preseason data provided by team sources, Walker checks in at 6-foot-1, 310 pounds with 30.38-inch arms, nine-inch hands, and a wingspan of 72.13 inches. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 4.95 seconds.
    
    Virginia Tech lost a lot of NFL talent from its defense to the 2018 NFL Draft, but Walker is one of the future pros returning to the Hokies. As a junior, he totaled 41 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and one pass batted. With his speed and athleticism, Walker has some interior pass-rush potential.



16. Khairi Clark, NT, Florida
    Height: 6-1. Weight: 315.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.17.
    Projected Round (2019): 7-FA.
    4/20/19: For 2018, Clark totaled 14 tackles with 2.5 for a loss and one sack.
    
    8/29/18: Clark is a nose tackle candidate to eat up blocks at the point of attack. In 2017, he totaled 13 tackles with one sack. Clark needs to produce more as a senior.



17. Olive Sagapolu, NT, Wisconsin
    Height: 6-2. Weight: 346.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.35.
    Projected Round (2019): 7-FA.
    4/20/19: Sagapolu totaled 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks in 2018 before going out for the season with an arm injury.
    
    8/29/18: Sagapolu is a nose tackle candidate for the NFL. As a junior, he had three sacks with 17 tackles. Sagapolu needs to produce more as a senior.

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