2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Tackle

4/23/24: Murphy impressed team sources in 2023, showing the ability to defend the run and contribute to the pass rush. He is a quick interior rusher who is very skilled at putting consistent pressure on the quarterback. In the ground game, Murphy is tough to move thanks to a strong upper body and anchor. In 2023, he recorded 29 tackles and five sacks for the Longhorns. Murphy is short and lacks length, but he is quick, strong, and is tough at the point of attack. Team evaluators really like what he put on tape in 2023.

4/23/24: Newton totaled 52 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes batted in 2023. Team sources love Newton’s pass-rush ability and production. However, he gets destroyed in the ground game at times and also seems to turn his play on and off. If Newton were more consistent in his effort and run defense, he would be a definite first-rounder for the 2024 NFL Draft. As things stand, he is on the bubble between Rounds 1 and 2. A foot injury kept him from working out at the combine and could have hurt his late-season tape.

8/19/23: Newton made his debut in the covid-shortened 2020 season, recording 1.5 sacks, 23 tackles, one forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for a loss. In 2021, Newton made his presence felt with three sacks, four tackles for a loss and 50 tackles. He was even better for the Fighting Illini in 2022, recording 5.5 sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, 62 tackles, 11 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

Against the pass, Newton is an impressive speed rusher. He is athletic and twitchy at the point of attack with a burst to fire his gap. Utilizing developed strength and active hands, Newton will slap hands off of him and use his speed to dart past blockers. He has a real burst to close, and there is no doubt that Newton is a fast interior rusher.

In the ground game, Newton is strong and tough at the point of attack. He plays low and can hold his ground. The question that team sources have about Newton, and a clear answer may not be provided in 2023, is if Newton can hold up well when going against mass being that Newton has a short, stocky, sawed-off build.

4/23/24: Robinson was a really solid football player for the Tigers in 2023, recording 43 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a forced fumbles. With good height, length and weight, Robinson offers the flexiblity to play defensive end or tackle at the pro level. In college, he played on the inside before moving to the edge as a senior, and end looks like his best spot in the NFL. Robinson could also be a base end who moves inside to tackle in the sub package. He had a superb week of practice at the Senior Bowl, showing some serious power to shed blocks. Robinson is big, strong, and a good power rusher who also is tough against the run. However, team sources feel Robinson lacks some speed and juice off the edge.

4/23/24: In 2023, Fiske recorded 43 tackles and six sacks for the Seminoles. He had 58 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes batted in 2022 for Western Michigan. Fiske totaled 7.5 sacks over the three seasons before that. At the point of attack, Fiske is quick and has some speed to get after the quarterback. However, he needs to get stronger and more stout against the run. Fiske has good instincts and a steady motor.

4/23/24: Jenkins totaled 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 2023. While he never had big sack numbers, he can create consistent pressure on the quarterback. In the ground game, Jenkins is tough, strong and reliable. Pro team sources said they think he could be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: After spending a couple of seasons as a backup, Jenkins earned a starting spot in 2022 and had a strong debut with 54 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two hurries. It would help Jenkins to ramp up his pass-rush production in 2023. Jenkins is the son of former Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

4/23/24: In 2023, Hall recorded 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks while playing out of position at nose tackle. He played well, but Ohio State hurt his production by playing him out of position. Hall is a natural gap-shooting three-technique with impressive speed and athleticism at the point of attack. Hall practiced well at Senior Bowl, but he has a lot of character concerns that are hurting his standing with teams. The character issues could push him well into the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft even though he has an opening-night skill set.

8/19/23: Hall got off to an impressive start for the 2022 season, showing speed and playmaking ability at the point of attack. While Hall (6-2, 290) is a little light, he is fast off the ball with the ability to fire his gap. He recorded 19 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2022, but looked like he was just scratching the surface of his potential.

4/23/24: Sweat did well in games against Alabama and Oklahoma, but in other games, he did not play as well. In 2023, Sweat totaled 45 tackles, two sacks and five passes broken up. He looked heavier compared to 2022 and did not seem to be moving as well. Those things will only reinforce the work-ethic and conditioning concerns NFL sources have. At the Senior Bowl, he flashed at times with overwhelming size, power and quickness, but he also looked extremely heavy. Sweat hurt himself with teams by getting arrested for DWI this spring.

8/19/23: Sweat is a massive nose tackle who is a beast at the point of attack in the ground game. He had his best statistical year in run support in 2022, recording 29 tackles. Sweat totaled 22 stops total in each of his previous two seasons. He is a big, powerful, strong man who can cause disruption at the point of attack and also generate a push in the pass rush. Off the field, team sources say Sweat a good kid but has some issues with lethargy and likes to party. Sweat possesses a big-time skill set and upside to develop.

4/23/24: Eboigbe totaled 63 tackles, pass batted and seven sacks in 2023. Team sources said Eboigbe has power, but is limited athletically. He is a strong, tough, plays hard, and his power can be seen in the ground game, but he lacks explosion and feel as a rusher. Eboigbe shows decent speed and isn’t a bad athlete. Sources said they feel he could be a backup defensive end who also takes snaps as a three-technique. Eboigbe helped himself with a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

8/19/23: Eboigbe was a rotational backup in 2022, just like he was over the previous three seasons. Eboigbe is a projected starter who needs a season of big production to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

4/23/24: Smith was suspended in Week 1 and collected 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defended for his 2023. He did not look like the dynamic interior defender he was before and might need some more post-injury recovery prior to returning back to his earlier form. Smith flashed his old self, but was inconsistent. He should have returned for his junior year to put together a bigger season, as it would have given him a better shot at being a first-rounder in 2025.

8/19/23: Smith was a dynamic freshman for the Tigers in 2021, and the former five-star recruit made an instant impact for them, recording four sacks and 19 tackles. There was a ton of hype coming from LSU that he was poised to have a monster 2022 season, but he suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against Florida State and missed the year. The 6-foot-5, 298-pounder has excellent size and length with the upside to build on his fantastic debut. Smith could break out and dominate in 2023.

4/23/24: In 2023, Orhorhoro recorded 25 tackles, five sacks and a pass defended. He was a solid defender for Clemson. Orhorhoro showed impressive speed and worked out well at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

8/19/23: Orhorhoro recorded 23 tackles, five passes batted and four sacks in 2022. He was a solid rotational defender for the Tigers. Orhorhoro took advantage of the opportunity of Bryan Bresee going out with injury in 2021 to have a solid season. Orhorhoro totaled 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks that year. While Orhorhoro might be a rotational backup, NFL teams like his potential and have him with a favorable projection entering his junior season.

4/23/24: The big and strong nose tackle Jefferson impressed team evaluators with his play in 2023. The Navarre, Florida product was a tough run defender in the middle of the defensive line for the Tigers. He collected 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks and pass defended in 2023. As junior, he recorded three sacks and 31 tackles. Jefferson has good size for the NFL and could be a physical interior defender as a pro. He had a quality week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

4/23/24: Carter was tough player for the Blue Devils in 2023. He did a solid job in run defense while recording 39 tackles and one sack. Carter showed more pass-rush production in 2022 when he had 5.5 sacks. He recorded 4.5 sacks in 2021. Carter also totaled seven forced fumbles over 2021-’22. Carter is a sleeper who could be a nice value pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

4/23/24: Dorlus collected 25 tackles, five sacks and seven passes batted in 2023. He showed some interior pass-rush ability compared to previous years. Team sources say Dorlus is capable of being better, but he doesn’t play hard 100 percent of the time. His lack of effort and bad motor have them giving him second-day grades for the 2024 NFL Draft. Dorlus also was extremely light at the Senior Bowl for an interior NFL defensive lineman. He gained weight for the combine, where he ran a fast 40-yard dash.

8/19/23: Dorlus was a solid defender for the Ducks in 2022, recording 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defended. He totaled 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks in 2021. For the NFL, Dorlus could stand to add some more strength.

4/23/24: Wingo is undersized, but he has some speed at the point of attack. He only started seven games for the Tigers in 2023, but produced well in those contests, recording 25 tackles, five tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. Wingo started 13 games in 2022 and totaled 46 tackles, six tackles for a loss, three sacks and four passes batted. Wingo could be an interior designated pass rusher at the next level.

4/23/24: In 2023, Lovett notched 22 tackles and three passes batted. He also dealt with injuries.

8/19/23: Lovett flashed in 2021 with 28 tackles and two sacks. In 2022, he was held back by injury and only played in six games, recording 10 tackles with a sack and forced fumble. Lovett looked heavier in 2022, and that seemed to have cost him some explosion off the ball. Lovett needs to put together a productive senior year to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

4/23/24: Taylor recorded 20 tackles and a sack while playing in eight games in 2023. He should have gone back to Miami for next season, but he entered the 2024 NFL Draft. Taylor has a good skill set and is a gifted athlete, but in college, he was a massive underachiever and never produced up to his talent. At the combine, sources said some teams were close to removing Taylor from their board because of football character.

8/19/23: Taylor flashed some potential as a freshman in 2021, racking up 24 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a pass broken up. In 2022, he recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Taylor has upside and talent, but his desire is the question. Some sources say he could go as high as the first round or as low as the fifth round depending on how hard he plays and works.

4/23/24: Hall recorded 18 tackles and two sacks in 2023. He had better production in 2022 when he totaled 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks. That came on the heels of 18 tackles and six sacks in 2021.

4/23/24: The Bulldogs had Crumedy for five seasons, and he was a solid defender for them. In 2023, he recorded 35 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Over the previous four years, Crumedy totaled six sacks. Crumedy is a nose tackle who will have to earn playing time as a pro by being a tough interior run defender. He had a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

4/23/24: Davis notched 34 tackles, a half sack and a pass batted in 2023. He had a decent week of practice at the Senior Bowl. He has the potential to be a serviceable backup in the NFL.

8/19/23: In 2022, Davis totaled 32 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two passes batted. He displayed some quickness and athleticism. If Davis were a little taller and longer, he would be rated higher. Over the past three seasons, Davis flashed some ability for the Tigers. In 2019, he had an excellent debut with 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two passes batted. He has not played to that level since then. After recording two sacks and 13 tackles in 2020, he recorded 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2021.

4/23/24: Pollard flashed some interior rush ability in 2023, recording four sacks and 25 tackles. He produced more pressure than the numbers illustrate with an impressive win rate from his senior year. Over the previous four seasons, he totaled eight sacks in rotational duty.

4/23/24: Jackson is a heavy nose tackle who did a nice job as a run stuffer for the Aggies in 2023. He put up 27 tackles and three sacks on the year. For the NFL, Jackson is a heavy nose tackle who will probably come off the field in the sub package. He had a respectable week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

4/23/24: While Johnny Newton got a lot of attention, Randolph was a solid defender for the Illini over the past few seasons. In 2023, Randolph totaled 49 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a junior, he recorded 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, an interception and a pass batted. Randolph could be a nice project who has the potential to be a big defensive end in the base defense or line up on the inside.

4/23/24: Lee was a solid interior defender for the Hawkeyes over the past three seasons. In 2023, he notched 55 tackles and three sacks. That was almost identical to his 2022 production of 53 tackles and three sacks. Lee is a better run defender than pass rusher. He could be a solid backup competitor to start out his NFL career.

4/23/24: In 2023, Rogers totaled 17 tackles and one sack. He is a heavy lane plugger at the point of attack. Team sources said Rogers practiced well at the East-West Shrine, but he did not play with the same motivation in college and has issues with keeping his weight in check.

8/19/23: Rogers was a rotational contributor at Kentucky before transferring to Auburn for his senior year. With the Wildcats in 2022, he recorded 36 tackles and .5 sacks. Rogers needs to show more pass-rush ability with the Tigers.

4/23/24: Harris was a decent defender for the Tigers in 2023, recording 40 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble and one pass batted. He had two sacks in each of the previous two seasons. Harris faces some limitations, including a lack of length and weight, for the next level.

4/23/24: Murphy recorded 24 tackles and one sack in 2023. He had similar production in 2022. He totaled 38 tackles and four sacks in 2021, which was his best season of football for the Tar Heels.

4/23/24: Logue was a rotational backup player for the Bulldogs. He notched 17 tackles and .5 sacks in 2023. That was after he recorded 16 tackles and zero sacks in 2022. Logue will have to compete to be a backup nose tackle in the pros.