2020 NFL Draft Prospects: Nose Tackles

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2020 nose tackle prospects available for the 2020 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2021 prospect. ** – denotes 2022 prospect.

This page was last updated April 22, 2020. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Derrick Brown, NT, Auburn
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 326. Arm: 34.25. Hand: 9.
   40 Time: 5.16.
   Projected Round (2020): Top-10.
   4/22/20: Brown had an impressive workout at the combine, showing good speed and athleticism for a tackle of his size. Multiple team sources also say that they really like Brown off the field, as he is a good kid and his team won’t have to worry about him getting in trouble in the NFL.
   
   Brown totaled 55 tackles with four sacks, four passes batted and two forced fumbles in 2019. He was an animal against Florida with a strip-sack, two fumble recoveries, lots of yardage on fumble returns, and ton of disruption in the backfield. After only playing one series against Kent State, Brown dominated against Texas A&M. He was a monster in the ground game and collected two sacks and a forced fumble as a pass-rusher. Brown came through with some phenomenal plays to help Auburn win the Iron Bowl and illustrated his freakish skill set. He racked up seven tackles and caused lots of disruption. Brown battled hard against Georgia and made some impressive plays versus the Bulldogs’ all-star offensive line.
   
   6/29/19: Brown played well as a junior despite facing a bunch of double teams. He is fast and powerful at the point of attack. Some scouts are really high on Brown and feel he has huge upside due to still being a very young player. Brown totaled 48 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble in 2018. He played well versus LSU and Washington, plus helped to lead a comeback against Texas A&M.
   
   According to 2018 preseason data from NFL team sources, Brown checks in at 6-foot-4, 322-pounds with 34.25-inch arms, 8.5-inch hands and an 82.75-wing span. They had him down at 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
   
   Team sources love Brown with his quickness to push the pocket and the strength that he plays with. They see him as a three-technique for a 4-3, and he could play as a one-technique as well. Sources say they see Brown as a future first-round talent.
   
   In 2017, Brown was a really solid interior lineman for Auburn. He was a tough run defender and contributed some in the pass rush. He totaled 56 tackles with nine tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the year. Brown has the upside to get better as he gains experience.





2. Javon Kinlaw, NT, South Carolina
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 315. Arm: 34.5. Hand: 10.13.
   Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
   Projected Round (2020): Top-20.
   4/22/20: Kinlaw was superb for the Gamecocks in 2019, totaling 35 tackles with six sacks and two passes defended. In 2018, he had 4.5 sacks, 38 tackles and five passes batted.
   
   Kinlaw was the best football player at the Senior Bowl practices from either team, bar none. South Carolina did not play in a bowl game, but Kinlaw picked up where he left off in SEC play, dominating at the point of attack to open the week in Mobile.
   
   The first thing that stands out about Kinlaw is his size. He is a tall, thick and good-looking athlete. After passing the eyeball test, one can see some special ability as Kinlaw really fires off the ball. He is quick to close and has strength to fight off blockers. Kinlaw just has an incredible skill set and knows how to use it. He overwhelms offensive linemen with speed and athleticism to dart by them. Kinlaw can overpower them with strength and uses his great length to keep them from getting into his chest to sustain contact. He could go as a top-15 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
   
   For the NFL, Kinlaw could be a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 and would fit well on the inside of a 4-3. Some team sources say there are some makeup and character concerns with Kinlaw.



3. Raekwon Davis, NT, Alabama
   Height: 6-7. Weight: 311. Arm: 33.88. Hand: 11.
   40 Time: 5.12.
   Projected Round (2020): 2-3.
   4/22/20: Davis had 47 tackles with .5 sacks in 2019 and missed some time with a sprained ankle. He was a tremendous run defender for Alabama. Team sources say they have given Davis second-day grades because he looks limited to being a two-down run stuffer in the NFL. There could be some medical concerns with Davis as well.
   
   6/29/19: Davis totaled 55 tackles with 5.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks in 2018. For the NFL, he projects as a nose tackle in a 3-4 or 4-3, yet he could also play five-technique end in a 3-4 defense. His lateral anchor is rare and truly phenomenal. Teams just can’t move him at all in the ground game. Davis’ lower and upper body strength gives him a rare ability to handle bump blocks and double teams without giving up any movement in the ground game. Davis did not produce the big sack total in 2018 that he did in 2017, but team sources say they still felt that Davis was worthy of going as a top-20 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft if he had declared.
   
   According to NFL teams’ 2018 preseason data provided by team sources, Davis checks in at 6-foot-6, 316 pounds with 35.25-inch arms, 10.88-inch hands, and a 85.25-inch wingspan. They have him running the 40-yard dash in 5.17 seconds.
   
   Like former teammate Da’Ron Payne, Davis has a freaky combination of size, quickness and athleticism. As a sophomore, Davis showed interior pass-rush skills with a fast first-step, active hands with functional strength to fight off blocks, and a burst to close. Davis can use powerful bull rushes to power through blockers as well.
   
   Davis broke out in 2017 for the eventual National Champions, racking up 69 tackles with 10 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks and one interception. It was his first season of extended playing time, and he was very impressive. Davis definitely has early-round potential for his draft class.



4. Jordan Elliott*, NT, Missouri
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 302. Arm: 32.38. Hand: 10.25.
   40 Time: 5.02.
   Projected Round (2020): 2-3.
   4/22/20: Elliott recorded 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three passes batted in 2019. He decided to enter the 2020 NFL Draft rather than return to Missouri. While Elliott has some talent and a pro skill set, he didn’t always play up to it in college. Still, teams like his tools and feel he has upside for the NFL.
   
   6/29/19: Team sources said that Elliott impressed them last year even though he didn’t produce a big stat line. For 2018, he totaled 24 tackles with three sacks and a pass batted. Elliott has a good skill set with upside to get better now that he has some experience. Some team sources said they projected him as having potential to go in the top half of the 2020 NFL Draft.





5. DaVon Hamilton, NT, Ohio State
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 327. Arm: 32.88. Hand: 9.88.
   40 Time: 5.14.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-5.
   4/22/20: Hamilton was a dangerous interior pass-rusher as a senior in 2019, recording 28 tackle with six sacks. Over the previous three seasons, he had one sack and 38 tackles as a rotational backup. Ohio State was so loaded on the defensive line, it took time for Hamilton to earn playing time with a lot of older talent above him. He earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and had respectable week of practice there.



6. Benito Jones, NT, Ole Miss
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 321. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 9.75.
   40 Time: 5.26.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-5.
   4/22/20: For the NFL, Jones could be a heavy nose tackle who contributes somewhat in the pass rush. Jones got his 2019 season off to an impressive start with a strong performance against Memphis, including an interception. On the year, he totaled 30 tackles tackles with 5.5 sacks and four passes batted.
   
   Jones then was decent at the Senior Bowl. He has some athleticism and quickness, but also has limitations from his height and lack of length.
   
   6/29/19: Jones is a heavy nose tackle who had a quality junior year for the Rebels. In 2018, he totaled 34 tackles with nine tackles for a loss and three sacks. Jones had 39 tackles as a freshman and 29 in 2017.



7. Leki Fotu, NT, Utah
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 330. Arm: 33.88. Hand: 10.25.
   40 Time: 5.15.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-5.
   4/22/20: Fotu had 28 tackles with 1.5 sacks, two passes defended and a forced fumble in 2019. Team source say Fotu is a quality nose tackle and run defender, but he doesn’t have the pass rush to be a three-down player in the NFL. They view him as a two-down stuffer. That projection was given further confirmation at the Senior Bowl.
   
   6/29/19: Fotu is a heavy nose tackle who is a tough run defender and occupies blockers at the point of attack. In 2018, Fotu had 33 tackles with three sacks. His best fit could come in a 3-4 as a nose tackle or heavy five-technique.





8. Rashard Lawrence, NT, LSU
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 308. Arm: 34.13. Hand: 11.
   40 Time: 5.07.
   Projected Round (2020): 3-5.
   4/22/20: In 2019, Lawrence recorded 28 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three passes defended. He had a good game against Alabama to help the Tigers notch a huge road win.
   
   6/29/19: Lawrence got off to a good start in 2018, turning in a statement game against Auburn to help LSU pull off a tough road upset. When he is playing his best, Lawrence is a disruptor behind the line of scrimmage as he has the speed and athleticism to fire into the backfield and wreck plays. As a junior, Lawrence flashed speed, athleticism and strength to push through blockers, but he was also not consistent enough.
   
   During 2018, Lawrence totaled 54 tackles with 10.5 for a loss, four sacks and three passes batted, but he was more disruptive than the numbers indicate. He closed out the season with an excellent Fiesta Bowl performance.



9. Josiah Coatney, NT, Ole Miss
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 309. Arm: 33.13. Hand: 9.5.
   40 Time: 5.21.
   Projected Round (2020): 4-6.
   4/22/20: Coatney is a big run-stuffing nose tackle who was a good run defender for the Rebels. In his sophomore – 65 tackles – and junior seasons – 63 tackles -, Coatney was productive in defending the ground game. He had 3.5 sacks as a sophomore and one as a junior. As a senior, Coatney totaled 46 tackles with two sacks. He was then okay at the Senior Bowl.



10. Raequan Williams, NT, Michigan State
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 308. Arm: 33.38. Hand: 9.38.
    40 Time: 5.04.
    Projected Round (2020): 5-7.
    4/22/20: In 2019, Williams had 48 tackles with five sacks, two passes batted and one forced fumble. He made some nice plays against Arizona State, but he also committed some critical penalties that helped the Sun Devils get a tough road win.
    
    6/29/19: Williams collected 53 tackles with 10.5 for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and five passes batted in 2018. He was wise to return for his senior year. Williams has flashed some talent for the Spartans over his career. In 2017, he collected 31 tackles with 2.5 sacks after recording two sacks. That was after 28 tackles during his freshman campaign. Williams has the upside to produce more.





11. Darrion Daniels, NT, Nebraska
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 311. Arm: 33.75. Hand: 9.13.
    40 Time: 5.18.
    Projected Round (2020): 5-7.
    4/22/20: Daniels recorded 34 tackles with 1.5 sacks and an interception in 2019. He worked out pretty well at the combine to help himself.
    
    6/29/19: Daniels transferred to Nebraska after playing at Oklahoma State for the past few years. His best season for the Cowboys came in 2017 when he had 26 tackles and .5 sacks. Daniels was placed on NFL teams’ preseason watch list, with some teams projecting him to have the potential to be a pick in the back half of the 2020 NFL Draft or be an undrafted free agent.



12. Carlos Davis, NT, Nebraska
    Height: 6-2. Weight: 313. Arm: 32. Hand: 9.63.
    40 Time: 4.82.
    Projected Round (2020): 5-7.
    4/22/20: Davis totaled 32 tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble in 2019. He had a fast 40 at the combine to help himself, but team sources say the tape is not impressive.
    
    6/29/19: In 2018, Davis racked up 27 tackles with one sack and five passes batted. He had 42 tackles in 2017 with 2.5 sacks. Davis was placed on NFL teams’ preseason watch list, and some have him projected as a pick in the back half of the 2020 NFL Draft or an undrafted free agent.



13. Tyler Clark, NT, Georgia
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 300.
    Projected 40 Time: 5.30.
    Projected Round (2020): 7-FA.
    4/22/20: In 2019, Clark recorded 2.5 sacks and 26 tackles.
    
    6/29/19: In 2018, Clark totaled 31 tackles with four for a loss, three passes defended and one sack. He had 41 tackles with 2.5 sacks in 2017. Clark has the upside to improve as a senior.

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