2021 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Tackle

4/26/21: For his development as a football player, Barmore should have gone back to school, but he could still be a first-round pick in 2021 NFL Draft given his rare pass-rush ability. Barmore is not as well-rounded or polished as other recent Alabama defensive tackles like Quinnen Williams, Jonathan Allen or Da'Ron Payne. Some sources say Barmore needs to mature and show more consistent effort on a down-by-down basis. Those concerns were only reinforced by his disappointing pro-day performance.

Barmore had a mixed 2020 season for Alabama. On the positive side, he demonstrated the ability to be a dangerous interior pass rusher. On the negative side, his run defense and physicality were lacking. Some team evaluators felt if Barmore had gone back to school to become a better run defender and develop into a more well-rounded player, he could have been high first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Late in the season though, including the playoff games against Notre Dame and Ohio State, Barmore showed improvement in run defense and things seemed to be clicking for him in both phases. Barmore is a fast, athletic interior pass rusher who is a dangerous quarterback hunter.

9/5/20: Barmore flashed ability as part of Alabama's rotation in 2019. It was only his redshirt freshman season, so he could easily be primed to break out in 2020 or 2021. Barmore has good size with length at the point of attack to go along with quickness and athleticism. He could be the next Alabama interior lineman who becomes an early-round prospect, similar to Quinnen Williams, Da'Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Raekwon Davis among others.

4/26/21: Onwuzurike decided to sit out the 2020 season, but participated at the Senior Bowl, where he had a respectable showing. Onwuzurike has a nice first-step and is dangerous to fire his gap to get upfield. Consistently, Onwuzurike causes disruption in the backfield. However, he struggles to finish rushes and gets tied up by offensive linemen, which is why he did not produce a lot of sacks in college and is more of a disruptor than a producer for the NFL. Onwuzurike is a solid run defender. Team sources feel he is a good, but not dominant player.

9/5/20: Onwuzurike notched 45 tackles with two sacks in 2019. He was a solid defender for the Huskies, but he needs to improve his pass-rush abilities. In 2018, Onwuzurike had 34 tackles with 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks as one of Washington's primary replacements for Vita Vea. In 2017, Onwuzurike recodrd 16 tackles with two sacks. Onwuzurike has upside to improve, plus he received good coaching from Jimmy Lake.

4/26/21: Odeyingbo played really well for Vanderbilt in 2020, putting up solid production in the ground game and as a pass rusher. He put more pressure on the quarterback than his sack total indicates.

Odeyingbo has good size with quality speed and athleticism for a defender with his build. A number of team sources say Odeyingbo graded out in the second round, and some thought he could go as a top-50 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but then he tore an Achilles in pre-draft workouts. Some teams still have him high and in contention for their second-round pick while others have dropped him lower because of the injury.

Some team sources are really high on Odeyingbo's upside and think he could grow into being an excellent defensive tackle in the NFL. They think he could be a disruptive three-technique with speed and length.

9/5/20: Odeyingbo is a big defensive end who can set the edge and be a tough run defender at the point of attack. He has good length and the potential to be a base end in a 4-3 or a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4. Odeyingbo needs to improve his pass-rush production in 2020.

4/26/21: Nixon was very good for Iowa in 2020, getting after the quarterback and showing improvement as a run defender. Nixon has quickness at the point of attack and an ability to close on the quarterback. Some team sources say they have given Nixon a grade of late second-, early third-round grades for the 2021 NFL Draft. They feel Nixon has big upside to develop into a good pro.

9/5/20: The Kenosha, Wisconsin product broke out in 2019, showing quickness to get upfield and cause problems behind the line of scrimmage. Nixon wasn't even a full-time starter, but he still produced solid production for an interior defensive lineman. He could have been a riser if he had played every down, and he could be even better now that he has some experience.

4/26/21: Shelvin opted out of the 2020 season to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. He did not re-join LSU. Some team sources say they have Shelvin a third-round grade and think he could be a good block-stuffing nose tackle in the NFL.

9/5/20: Shelvin was a good run stuffer at the point of attack during LSU's dream season in 2019. The big nose tackle occupied blockers, often taking on double teams to help free up other defenders to make tackles. For the NFL, Shelvin would fit as a nose tackle in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense, but he'll come off the field for a pass rusher in the sub package.

4/26/21: Tufele did not opt back in after the Pac-12 decided to play football again. For the next level, Tufele's best fit would come as a three-technique in a 4-3 defense, and he could also play some nose tackle. However, he may not have the size and length to hold up as a two-gap tackle absorbing double teams.

As an interior pass rusher, Tufele flashes the ability to contribute in putting pressure on the quarterback. Tufele is quick off the snap and he plays with good pad level to gain leverage on offensive linemen. In run defense, Tufele is generally a solid defender. He uses his strong upper body to keep guards from pushing him off the ball, and he shows a nice ability to push off and pursue down the line to get in on tackles. Tufele has a good motor in both phases.

9/5/20: Tufele was a disruptive presence for USC in 2019, totaling 42 tackles with 4.5 sacks and a pass batted. His run defense was improved, and he looks like he has upside to improve. After redshirting in 2017, Tufele made an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2018, racking up three sacks with 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a blocked field goal. Tufele has the upside to grow and be better as he gains experience. Tufele announced that he will not return to USC and will enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

4/26/21: Wilson was very disappointing in 2020 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He was not impressive as a pass rusher, and some team evaluators feel Wilson is just a run-stuffing nose tackle for the next level. Some teams are projecting Wilson to the third round or mid-rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft. As the 2021 NFL Draft nears, it sounds like Wilson is more of a mid-round or third-day prospect.

9/5/20: Wilson totaled 44 tackles with five sacks, four passes defended and a forced fumble in 2019. He was a disruptive presence, showing pass-rushing potential, strength, quickness and athleticism. Team sources said they were projecting Wilson to the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft had he decided to skip his senior year. If Wilson improves in 2020, he could be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Wilson had a decent 2018 season for the Seminoles as their best interior defender. On the year, he totaled 42 tackles with 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two passes batted and 4.5 tackles for a loss.

4/26/21: Goldwire played really well for Louisville in 2020, showing good ability to control his gap at the point of attack. He also flashed some ability to contribute in the pass rush. Goldwire was significantly improved over his 2019 and 2018 performances, having almost matched those seasons of production after only five games of 2020.

4/26/21: Johnson played for Indiana in 2020, including putting together an impressive game against Ohio State. Johnson is a well-balanced defender with size at the point of attack. He plays hard and has a steady motor. Johnson is a sleeper who could be a nice value pick.

9/5/20: Johnson has improved each year at Indiana, and as a junior, he was one of the best interior defensive linemen in the Big Ten. Johnson was a quality defender in the ground game while showing improving pass-rushing skills to get after the quarterback. If he had the opportunity to continue to improve and up his pass-rush production, his draft stock could have taken off as a senior. Adding some weight and strength for the NFL would help him, but only if he doesn't lose speed as a result.

4/26/21: In the shortened Pac-12 season, Odighizuwa played well for the Bruins. He could be a designated pass rusher on the inside in the NFL. He would be rated higher if it weren't for his tweener body type. If Odighizuwa can gain weight over a year or two, he might develop into a starter.

9/5/20: Odighizuwa has some quickness and athleticism at the point of attack. Over the past few seasons, he has shown an ability to make some tackles for a loss and sacks by firing into the backfield. However for the NFL, Odighizuwa needs to gain weight and get stronger to be a three-down starter. If Odighizuwa can't get bigger, he could be relegated to a designated pass rusher who only plays in obvious pass situations. At his listed weight, he is going to struggle with the mass and strength of NFL offensive linemen.

If Odighizuwa's name sounds familiar, he is the younger brother of Owa Odighizuwa. Owa Odighizuwa was a third-round pick by the Giants in 2015, but he didn't stick in the NFL.

4/26/21: Slaton played well in 2020, stuffing runs at the point of attack and getting a push in pass protection. He is a good fit for 3-4 nose tackle in the NFL and could also be a run-stuffing nose tackle in a 4-3.

9/5/20: Slaton recorded 29 tackles with two sacks and a pass defended in 2019. He played well to close out the regular season, but he was wise to go back for his senior year. Slaton did not produce a big stat line for the Gators in 2018, but the big nose tackle caused a lot of disruption and plugged a lot of gaps at the point of attack. He totaled 21 tackles with two for a loss on the year.

Team sources have remarked how Slaton jumped out at them and was impossible to ignore while grading the Gators' 2019 NFL Draft prospects. For the NFL, Slaton projects as a heavy nose tackle.

4/26/21: Brown played well in 2020, although he did manage to injure himself while celebrating a sack. Brown was a disruptive defender for the Aggies, contributing in both phases, but he did not produce as much as his skill set said he should. Brown has good size with a thick build and doesn't move poorly for a player of his stature. Sources say a poor work ethic and a poor motor hurt his grade.

9/5/20: Brown has the athletic upside to rise as a junior. He showed improvement and took on a larger role as a sophomore. To rise, Brown needs to get better in the pass rush and put more pressure on the quarterback, particularly with some sack production as an upperclassman.

4/26/21: Graham was a solid defender for Texas over his career. For the NFL, he has the body type to play defensive end or tackle in a 4-3 defense. He also would be a good fit as five-technique in a 3-4. If Graham had produced more pass rush, he would be rated higher. He opted out of Texas' bowl game.

4/26/21: Jones still looked like a heavy nose tackle and gap filler in the 2020 season and didn't display improvements as a pass rusher.

9/5/20: Jones put up very little production 2019, but he is a heavy nose tackle and gap filler. Those players aren't expected to produce big stat lines. Entering the 2018 season, the Michigan State defensive tackle who seemed to be the program's top interior lineman was Raequan Williams, but Jones, then a sophomore, was the team's top interior defender. In 2018, he had 26 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, one pass batted and one forced fumble.

4/26/21: Bohanna is run-stuffing nose tackle who occupies blockers, but he does not offer pass rush or many tackles in the ground game.

9/5/20: Bohanna is a massive nose tackle who should trim some weight for the NFL. As a pro, he could fit at nose in etiher a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense. Even though Bohanna does not produce big tackle totals, he is a good contributor to the run defense with his size and ability to occupy blockers to free up linebackers. At the next level, Bohanna could be a two-down run stuffer who comes out of the game in the sub package.

4/26/21: Tonga played well for BYU in 2020, clogging running lanes and contributing in the pass rush. He is a run-stuffing nose tackle for the next level.

9/5/20: Tonga is a solid run defender who has size at the point of attack. He will need to produce more as a pass rusher during his senior year to rise.

4/26/21: Johnson was a solid college player, but he has some skill-set limitations for the NFL. Johnson could be a third-day pick who ends up being a rotational backup.

9/5/20: Johnson totaled 28 tackles with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2019. He came up with some big plays to help Colorado pull off a comeback win against Nebraska. Johnson is undersized but quick at the point of attack.

Johnson broke out in 2018 with 7.5 sacks. He added 73 tackles and 17.5 tackles for a loss as well that season while showing the upside to get better as an upperclassman.

4/26/21: Scott did not impress for Oregon over 2020.

9/5/20: Scott is a short nose tackle who is a solid run defender but has not shown much pass-rushing ability at Oregon. For Scott to rise, he needed to produce more in the pass rush as a senior, but the Pac-12 canceled its season.

4/26/21: Merrill did not impress in 2020. He has a bad body and limited athleticism and quickness for the next level. Merrill is a nose tackle who can occupy blockers, but could have a hard time sticking in the NFL.

9/5/20: Merrill has the body type of a heavy nose tackle, but he was a solid interior pass rusher for Arkansas State over the past two seasons. Merrill needs to stay consistent and earn an invitation to a top all-star game. If he does well against better competition, he could be a riser in the 2021 process.

4/26/21: Neal is a solid run defender who doesn't offer much in the pass rush.

9/5/20: Neal was a decent defender for three years prior to missing the 2019 season with an ACL injury. Neal needs to stay healthy and having the opportunity to show some pass-rush ability as a senior in order would help have helped him get drafted.