By Charlie Campbell.
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This page was last updated March 19, 2020. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Defensive Tackle Class
Early-round talent: B-
Mid-round: B
Late-round: B
Overall grade: B
Merging the 2020 and 2019 prospects
Quinnen Williams
Derrick Brown
Ed Oliver
Christian Wilkins
Javon Kinlaw
Dexter Lawrence
Jeffery Simmons
Jerry Tillery
Justin Madubuike
Ross Blacklock
Raekwon Davis
Jordan Elliott
Trysten Hill
Neville Gallimore
Dre’Mont Jones
Larrell Murchison
Last year was an excellent year for NFL teams to target interior defensive line talent, and the class earned a rare A+ from me. Six tackles went in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and if it weren’t for an injury to Jeffery Simmons and off-the-field issues with Jerry Tillery, that draft class could have had three top-10 worthy tackles and three more worthy of going as top-20 picks.
This year’s class is not nearly as good, but there still are some solid defensive tackles for the first two days of the 2020 NFL Draft. There are two definite first-rounders: Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw. Brown would be a worthy top-five pick in any draft class. Team sources told me if Brown had come out last year, he would have graded out ahead of Ed Oliver and Christian Wilkins. Kinlaw is a prospect on a par with Oliver and Wilkins.
Justin Madubuike would be a first-round pick if it weren’t for off-the-field concerns. Ross Blacklock, Raekwon Davis and Jordan Elliott are all worthy second-rounders who are better prospects than Trysten Hill. Neville Gallimore and Dre’Mont Jones are on a par with each other.
Safest Pick: Derrick Brown, Auburn
Previous Picks:
2019: Christian Wilkins
2018: Vita Vea
2017: Jonathan Allen
2016: Jarran Reed
2015: Leonard Williams
2014: Louis Nix
2013: Star Lotulelei
Looking at the past years, I was way off on Nix, but the rest all of turned into solid pros. Reed had a breakout year in 2018 for the Seahawks and has turned out well. Lotulelei is a moderate disappointment as a top-16 pick, but he is a serviceable NFL player. Williams quickly became a Pro Bowler for the Jets, but he has also been disappointing in recent years. Allen was played really well thus far for Washington. Vea was very good in his second season. It is far too early to pass any judgement on Wilkins.
Brown is the second best player In the 2020 NFL Draft in this analyst’s opinion, behind only Ohio State’s Chase Young. Where Brown goes in the top 10 is dependent on team needs, but Brown is a true top-five talent. He is similar to Ndamukong Suh with explosive power, violence, speed, and size at the point of attack. Brown is a great fit for any defense, and I think he is a safe pick to turn into a very good pro.
Biggest Bust Potential: Ross Blacklock, TCU
Previous Picks:
2018: Jerry Tillery
2018: Maurice Hurst
2017: Malik McDowell
2016: Robert Nkemdiche
2015: Mario Edwards Jr.
2014: Anthony Johnson
2013: Jesse Williams
I have a pretty good track record here. McDowell’s career may be over before it started because of an ATV accident. Nkemdiche was a huge bust for the Cardinals. Edwards was a bust for Oakland. I was right about Anthony Johnson and Jesse Williams, although both fell in their drafts and weren’t the early-round prospects who some in the media made them out to be. Hurst has been solid for Oakland, but he had major medical concerns coming out. Tillery didn’t do much as a rookie, but it is far too early to pass any judgement
This was a difficult choice because no early-round tackle screams potential bust to me. They all seem like they have a role that they can fit for the NFL, so I asked around to team sources and Blacklock was returned as the most common suggestion. The reason for that was Blacklock already having suffered a serious injury, having a small body of work, and being extremely raw. Thus of the early-round defensive tackle prospects, Blacklock could be the the riskiest.
Defensive Tackles Rankings by Attributes
Pass Rush:
NFL prototype: Aaron Donald, Rams
- Javon Kinlaw
- Justin Madubuike
- Derrick Brown
- Neville Gallimore
- Larrell Murchison
- Ross Blacklock
- Jordan Elliott
- Raekwon Davis
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 pressure 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. A pass rush up the middle is more disruptive for quarterbacks than edge rushing.
Kinlaw is dangerous in the pass rush and could be the best rusher of this group for the NFL. He is a quick defender at the point of attack with the ability to fire his gap to get penetration upfield. With his superb length, Kinlaw does a phenomenal job of keeping guards from getting into his chest, keeping them at an arm’s length making it difficult for them to sustain blocks. With his natural and functional strength, he can push through blocks and can close in an instant on the quarterback. Kinlaw could stand to expand his variety in his pass-rushing moves to get after the quarterback in the NFL.
Madubuike showed his potential with 5.5 sacks last year. He has an excellent skill set as he is quick lineman with twitchy athleticism. On top of the speed, Madubuike is big and strong with boxy build that makes it difficult for offensive linemen to sustain blocks against him. Madubuike can use his quickness to fire by guards and get penetration upfield while also being able to power through them with violence.
As a pass-rusher, Brown beats blockers with variety. He is very strong and can push the pocket with his bull rush. Brown also uses his heavy hands and upper body strength to shed blocks at the point of attack. He can toss blockers to the side and charge after the quarterback. He has good speed with a burst to close and the ability to fire by blockers. On top of his unique combination of strength and speed, Brown has tremendous instincts. He uses good vision to redirect and has a real feel for how plays evolve. Brown may not produce huge sack totals in the NFL, but he will help collapse the pocket and create sacks for his defensive ends.
Gallimore has interior pass-rush ability from his quick first-step off the ball, and his twitchy athleticism lets him penetrate the backfield consistently. Gallimore is a threat to line up over the outside shoulder of the guard and fire past him to collapse the pocket quickly. As a pro, Gallimore has the potential to produce some solid sack numbers and pressures for an interior defensive lineman.
In the NFL, Murchison could be a contributor as a situational pass-rusher as he is quick off the snap with an ability fire into the backfield. He can get tied up due to bein undersized, but he could be a sub-package three-technique pass-rusher in the NFL. His total of seven sacks last year illustrates his ability to get after the quarterback.
Blacklock has quickness off the snap with athleticism to adjust in the short area. He can fire his gap to get upfield and penetrate the backfield. Given Blacklock’s compact and thick build, offensive linemen struggle to tie him up as he uses his functional strength to fight through blocks. With his size, strength and athleticism, Blacklock is a dangerous interior rusher who could contribute to a good pass-rushing unit in the NFL.
Elliott flashes some pass-rush ability, but he was not consistent. He has quickness and strength to fight through blocks, but he didn’t play up to his skill set regularly.
Davis showed some pass rush as a sophomore with eight sacks, but he did not come anywhere close to that production as a junior or senior. In obvious pass-rush situations, team sources think Davis will come out of the game in the sub package, making him more of a run-down nose tackle for the NFL.
Run Defense:
NFL prototype: J.J. Watt, Texans
- Derrick Brown
- Raekwon Davis
- Javon Kinlaw
- Ross Blacklock
- Jordan Elliott
- Justin Madubuike
- Neville Gallimore
- Larrell Murchison
Recap: In run defense, Brown is a load. He uses his strength to hold his ground at the point of attack. Many college interior pass-rushers struggle to defend downhill runs coming straight at them, but Brown is the exception. He stuffs blocks at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t get pushed back thanks to his strength with good leverage. Brown will also toss blocks to the side and make tackles in the ground game. He showed incredible power to make one-armed tackles and throw blockers to the side to cause havoc at the point of attack. He has a strong lateral anchor and is nearly impossible to move out of his gap.
Davis is a phenomenal run defender for the NFL, as he is an immoveable object at the point of attack. He has a tremendous lateral anchor to take on bump blocks and double teams without getting pushed out of his gap. With his strength, size, length and mentality, Davis has the potential to be one of the top run-stuffing defensive tackles in the league.
Kinlaw is a solid run defender too. He has a strong, thick lower body to hold his ground at the line of scrimmage. He fills his gap and can be tough to move. Kinlaw is able to eat up his block and prevent holes from opening up. Regularly, you will see him shed his block to stuff a run near the line of scrimmage or fire into the backfield to disrupt a run off the snap. He also will give an effort to make tackles in the ground game downfield.
In the run game, Blacklock has strength and size at the point of attack to hold his ground. He shows the ability to get off blocks and get in on tackles with quickness and athleticism to make tackles outside of his gap.
Elliott is big and strong at the point of attack, making him tough to move out of his gap. He was a solid run stuffer for Missouri and showed real improvement from his sophomore to junior year. If he finds the motivation, he could end up being better than expected.
Madubuike’s strength and boxy build make him tough to move in the ground game. He can be a stout run defender who holds his gap and also is able to shed blocks to make tackles outside of his gap. One the few things that Madubuike needs to work on is not getting overwhelmed by mass. Hence, he’s rated behind the others.
As run defenders, Gallimore and Murchison are at their best when they fire their gaps and cause havoc in the backfield to disrupt runs. With their size and length limitations, both of them will have a hard time holding ground against runs coming straight at them. They can get tied up by mass and length, so they could end up being limited to being sub-package pass-rushers.
Speed:
NFL prototype: Aaron Donald, Rams
- Derrick Brown
- Javon Kinlaw
- Justin Madubuike
- Neville Gallimore
- Larrell Murchison
- Ross Blacklock
- Jordan Elliott
- Raekwon Davis
Recap: These players are all quick interior defenders. Brown plays the fastest, possessing explosion off the snap and ability to fire into the backfield. Kinlaw could be just a little slower than Brown, and both have a disruptive burst off the ball. There is no doubt that Madubuike is very fast at the point of attack. Gallimore and Murchison are very quick as well, showing the ability to fire their gaps and create disruption behind the line of scrimmage.
Blacklock and Elliott are also quick defenders at the point of attack. Each has uncommon quickness for his size with surprising combinations of size, athleticism and speed. They should be able to win with speed rushes in the NFL.
Davis showed some quickness in 2017 and at times over the next two seasons, but he does not play as fast as the other defenders. His game is more power and overwhelming mass.
Three-Technique:
NFL prototype: Chris Jones, Chiefs
- Justin Madubuike
- Neville Gallimore
- Larrell Murchison
- Javon Kinlaw
- Ross Blacklock
- Derrick Brown
- Jordan Elliott
- Raekwon Davis
Recap: Good three-techniques are generally hard to find, but this draft class has a few who are natural fits for that position. The first four above have all shown the ability to be skilled three-techniques. Madubuike has the speed, pass-rush ability and get-off that make him the most natural three-technique in this draft class. He would be a fit in a Tampa 2.
Gallimore and Murchison are natural three-techniques with their speed off the snap. That is really the only spot either fits in at the pro level. Kinlaw and Blacklock have the speed and explosion to be three-techniques as well.
Brown has the ability to play some three-technique and enough quickness and athleticism to fire into the gap off the guard’s outside shoulder. However, he will probably play more nose tackle in the NFL.
Elliott can play some three-technique because he has enough speed, but he would probably be better off rotating into that role. For the next level, he may not have the motor and desire to be as disruptive as teams want their three-techniques to be.
Davis doesn’t fit as a three-technique because he is a heavy nose tackle.
3-4 Defensive End:
NFL prototype: J.J. Watt, Texans
- Derrick Brown
- Javon Kinlaw
- Raekwon Davis
- Jordan Elliott
- Ross Blacklock
- Justin Madubuike
- Neville Gallimore
- Larrell Murchison
Recap: This group has a few 3-4 defensive ends. Brown would be a good fit to play a five-technique role. He has enough length and overwhelming strength to set the edge with the speed to add to the pass rush going against tackles or guards. Brown could be a nasty 3-4 defensive end.
Kinlaw has good length and weight to set the edge alongside enough speed and athleticism to give tackles issues in the pass rush. With his skill set, Kinlaw could be an excellent 3-4 defensive end.
Davis could be a great fit as a five-technique. He has the length, strength, and body type to be a superb fit as a five-technique who sets a physical edge. However, Brown and Kinlaw would offer more rush, so they’re rated ahead of Davis. Elliott is a versatile athletete who has good quickness, athleticism, lenght and strength to be a five-technique.
A team could get away with Blacklock playing some five-technique. Madubuike is not a great fit as a five-technique because he is less effective when he moves further to the outside. Gallimore and Murchison are too undersized to play five-technique in the NFL.
3-4 Nose Tackle:
NFL prototype: D.J. Reader, Bengals
- Derrick Brown
- Raekwon Davis
- Javon Kinlaw
- Jordan Elliott
- Ross Blacklock
- Justin Madubuike
- Neville Gallimore
- Larrell Murchison
Recap: A good nose tackle for 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.
The 2020 NFL Draft has a potential dominating nose tackle prospect in Brown. He is just about a prototypical nose tackle with his size, power, quickness, explosiveness and athleticism. He could end up being like a Wilfork-type caliber nose tackle in the NFL.
Davis has the skill set to fit as a zero-technique with size and strength. In the NFL, he could be an excellent nose tackle. Kinlaw is very versatile with enough strength and weight to play zero-technique. Elliott played some nose tackle for Missouri, and that could be a good fit for him in the NFL.
The rest of this group doesn’t fit as well. A team could play Blacklock or Madubuike at nose tackle, but either would have a hard time holding up there. Gallimore and Murchison don’t have the weight or strength to play nose tackle in a 3-4 or 4-3.
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