2025 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Tackle

2/15/25: In 2024, Grant had 32 tackles, three sacks, and five passes batted. The 6-foot-3, 339-pounder has a rare combination of speed, athleticism, and strength. Grant has top-notch ability with a surprising ability to bend his big body. He can play strong when he wants or needs to, and Grant is fast with the ability to run plays down. Grant has a ton of upside, and he is not as dominant as he can be. He could be a better pro than college player, and Grant looks like a top half of the first-round talent for the 2025 NFL Draft. Some sources say that Grant is an elite run defender right now, and while he is not an elite pass rusher right now, he has a lot of ability to grow and improve.

6/24/24: It took time for Kris Jenkins to work his way onto the field behind Mazi Smith, and that is the same situation for Grant, who was playing behind Jenkins in 2023. However, Grant really flashed as a sophomore. Over 2023, Grant recorded 29 tackles, four passes batted, 3.5 sacks, and an interception in backup duty. The 6-foot-3, 339-pounder has a good skill set with big-time upside.

2/15/25: In 2024, Graham had 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one pass batted. He was a non-factor in Michigan’s loss to Texas, but was phenomenal in a narrow win over USC. Graham plays hard and is tough at the point of attack. He has a bad body composition for the NFL, and that bothers some team sources. Hence, multiple team sources say they see Grant going in the 10-16 range of the first round.

6/24/24: A former star recruit, Graham flashed as a freshman in 2022, collecting 28 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a pass batted. He recorded 35 tackles, three sacks, one pass batted, and one forced fumble in 2023. Graham has good size and upside.

2/15/25: Collins had 53 tackles, one sack, and six passes batted thus far. While Collins is not a sack producer, he does contribute to the rush by getting a push into the pocket. Collins is strong, physical, and very tough as a run defender. Some team sources think he could sneak into the first round.

6/25/24: In 2023, Collins collected 22 tackles, two sacks, and two passes defended. Collins is a large defensive end that should move inside to defensive tackle for the NFL, or drop weight if he is going to stay on the edge. Collins was a solid run defender over the past three seasons, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production in 2024.

2/15/25: Turner had 36 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He has been solid but not dominant. Team sources say that Turner’s instincts are just okay, he doesn’t know how to use his hands, isn’t overly explosive, and needs to get stronger. Other sources say that Turner is too twitched up to get out of the second round.

6/24/24: Turner has a strong 2023 season for the Aggies, recording 33 tackles with six sacks and two forced fumbles. It was a big jump from his 2022 and 2021 seasons when he had .5 and 1.5 sacks, respectively. If Turner stays consistent with his 2023 play, he could rise into being a prospect for the opening night of the draft.

2/15/25: Sanders had four sacks and 51 tackles. He showed some dangerous interior pass rush ability and some team sources feel that Sanders could rise in the months leading up to the draft. He performed well at the Senior Bowl practices. Multiple team sources say they have Sanders on the bubble of the first and second round.

6/24/24: Sanders broke out in 2023 with 43 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four passes batted. Sanders has excellent size with upside to develop. Team sources said Sanders jumped out to them as a player to watch for the 2024 season.

2/15/25: Nolen had 48 tackles with 6.5 sacks, and two passes batted. Some team sources said they gave Nolen a backup grade because has a lot of bad tape. However, Nolen is a gifted athlete with a special skill set. That physical talent could cause him to go higher, but Nolen needs a lot of development. Some sources think he could go in the first round because of his skill set, and others say they have him much lower because of character concerns and the bad tape.

6/24/24: Nolen was a highly recruited player who was considered to have star potential. In 2023, he showed why, recording four sacks and 37 tackles while causing a lot of disruption for Texas A&M. The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder has a good skill set with a lot of upside. He entered the transfer portal after the 2023 regular season and landed with Ole Miss.

2/15/25: In 2024, Williams has 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks thus far. Williams is quick and athletic on the inside of the line. Some sources think Williams has late first-round potential, and others have him projected to day two.

6/24/24: Williams flashed interior rush ability in 2021 when he put up five sacks and 16 tackles. In 2023, he played solid football while recording 54 tackles, three sacks and five passes defended. Williams had a number of impressive plays against Notre Dame, getting the better of left tackle Joe Alt. Williams decided to return to Ohio State for the 2024 season, and he could take on a bigger role with Michael Hall Jr. moving on to the NFL.

2/15/25: Norman-Lott is a quick gap-shooting defensive tackle capable of putting pressure on the quarterback. In 2024, he had 18 tackles and four sacks while being disruptive for the Volunteers. In 2023, Norman-Lott showed pass-rush ability with 5.5 sacks and 26 tackles with Arizona State. Norman-Lott looked more muscular and much tougher against the run with Tennessee than he did with the Sun Devils. Team sources think Norman-Lott is on the bubble of the first- and second-round. He is a dynamic interior pass rusher and that is a tough commodity to find.

2/15/25: In 2024, Burch finally put it all together with 31 tackles, five passes batted, one forced fumble, and 8.5 sacks. Burch played well for Oregon showing dangerous rush ability from defensive end or tackle. With his size, strength, and athleticism, Burch can play defensive end, and he flashes ability to be a power end for the NFL. He also can move inside fulltime or be an interior rusher in the subpackage. Burch has one of the best physical skill sets of any player in the 2025 NFL Draft, but some team sources are wary that Burch never dominated and played up to his amazing skill set.

6/24/24: In 2023, Burch notched 34 tackles, three sacks and a pass batted. He is a physical run defender at the point of attack. After a few quiet years at South Carolina, Burch had a breakout year in 2022, recording 60 tackles with 3.5 sacks. He then transferred to Oregon for 2023. If Burch builds on last season’s performance, he could be a riser for the 2025 NFL Draft.

2/15/25: In 2024, Farmer had a solid season for the Seminoles plugging up running lanes and providing some help in the pass rush. Farmer totaled 32 tackles with four sacks in his final season, and stayed consistent with his 2023 season when he had 32 tackles and five sacks. Team sources say that Farmer is strong, physical, and isn’t bad athletically. However, they question his instincts and feel Farmer has issues finding the ball. They don’t feel he uses his hands well to shed blocks and make plays.

2/15/25: Harmon was a solid defender for the Ducks in 2024 with 42 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. Harmon has quality size. He had 40 tackles with 1.5 sacks in 2023. Some team sources said they had Harmon as a mid-rounder, and others said they had him on day two.

2/15/25: Hamilton had 51 tackles with 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He is a tough nose tackle at the point of attack.

6/24/24: Team sources said they liked how Hamilton played during 2023. On the year, he totaled 38 tackles and two sacks. Hamilton was solid in run defense and stout at the point of attack. He possesses sufficient size to hold up in the ground game and flashes some quickness and athleticism on the inside of the line.

2/15/25: In 2024, Walker had 37 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two passes defended. He was a non-factor against South Carolina but was active against Georgia. Walker has disappointed some team evaluators in 2024. He plays like a smaller player and does not overwhelm blockers. He plays too high often. Walker did not impress very much at the Senior Bowl.

6/24/24: Walker is a mammoth defensive tackle with surprising pass-rush ability for a heavy interior tackle. In 2023 he had 7.5 sacks with 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, two passes batted, and eight hurries. It was a big jump from his 2022 season when he had 40 tackles with one sack, and twp passes batted.

2/15/25: Robinson had 37 tackles and seven sacks. Robinson is a grinder who plays hard and tough, but he has some skill set limitations for the NFL. Some team sources think Robinson has the strength, physicality, and tenacity to be a starting nose tackle.

6/24/24: Robinson recorded 29 tackles, one sack and three passes batted in 2023. He was a solid defender for the Cornhuskers in the previous two seasons, including 24 tackles and two sacks in 2022 and 27 tackles and two in 2021. Robinson is a late-round pick with good height and length that might stick as a backup.

2/15/25: Caldwell is a heavy-nose tackle that can plug up lanes at the point of attack. In 2024, Caldwell had 29 tackles with one forced fumble and three passes batted. He 2023 he had 27 tackles with 6.5 sacks. Caldwell earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

2/15/25: In 2024, West had 42 tackles with two sacks and a pass defended. He had two sacks in 2023, and five sacks in 2021. West is an impressive defender at the point of attack. He is a thick, strong, and quick tackle. West has a burst to close and fires off the ball. With a strong build, he has the strength to knock blockers back and shed blocks. His tape against Ohio State really help his draft grade with NFL scouts.

2/15/25: Stackhouse had 27 tackles, one pass broken up, and zero sacks in 2024. He is a tough run defender at the point of attack.

6/24/24: In 2023, Stackhouse had 24 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a pass batted. Some team sources think Stackhouse could have been a second-day pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, while others have him projected to the early rounds of Day 3. Stackhouse decided to return to Georgia for the 2024 season, and he could rise if he shows more pass-rush ability as a senior. In 2022, Stackhouse was a solid gap plugger and run defender for the Bulldogs, recording 33 tackles but zero sacks. He needs to show more pass-rush ability in 2024 in order to rise for the 2025 NFL Draft.

2/15/25: Brinson had 26 tackles and two sacks in nine games.

6/24/24: In 2023, Brinson had 21 tackles and two sacks.

8/19/23: Brinson was a rotational backup for the Bulldogs in 2022, recording 12 tackles and a sack. If Brinson produces more pass rush as a senior, he has the potential to rise as the 2024 NFL Draft nears.

2/15/25: In 2024, Alexander was a solid defender for Toledo and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. In Mobile, he had a quality week of practice. He had 40 tackles with 3.5 sacks and four passes batted. The previous season he had 36 tackles with four sacks.

2/15/25: In 2024, Peebles had 30 tackles with three sacks and three passes batted. He was a solid defender on the interior of the defensive line for the Hokies. Peebles had 44 tackles with five sacks and two passes batted in 2023.

2/15/25: Jules has been a tough run stuffer and gap filler for the Gamecocks this season. In 2024, he had 14 tackles. In 2023 with Pitt, he had a quality season for a nose tackle with 24 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.

2/15/25: Smith had 35 tackles and two sacks. He was solid but unimpressive at the Senior Bowl.

6/24/24: Smith collected 30 tackles and two sacks in 2023. Smith has the talent upside to rise in his final season if he can produce more for the Crimson Tide. In 2022, he notched 20 tackles and a sack.

2/15/25: Black had 34 tackles with one sack and two passes batted. He has character concerns and did not interview well at the Senior Bowl according to team sources.

6/24/24: Black was a solid player for Iowa in 2023, totaling 51 tackles with five tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and five passes defended. If Black can improve his pass rush in 2024, he could be a riser for the 2025 NFL Draft.

2/15/25: Jackson had 37 tackles, two sacks, and two passes defended. He had a decent week of practice in Mobile.

6/24/24: Jackson collected 32 tackles and two passes defended in 2023. Jackson played at Memphis in 2022 with quality production for a massive nose tackle. He recorded 41 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss. It would help Jackson to show the ability to create some push in the pass rush to be more than a run-stuffing nose tackle.

2/15/25: Thomas had 41 tackles and one pass broken up.

6/24/24: Thomas has played well enough during his collegiate career to get placed on NFL team’s preseason watch list. In 2023 he had 38 tackles with one sack. The previous season he had 35 tackles with three sacks. It would help Thomas to impress at an all-star game after the 2024 season.

2/15/25: Hunter had 44 tackles with one sack.

6/24/24: Gybter was a good run defender for the Knights in 2023 as he produced 69 tackles with three sacks. Hunter is a big nose tackle that needs to produce more in the pass rush to rise.

2/15/25: Gregory had 43 tackles and three sacks.

6/24/24: Gregory is a big-nose tackle at the point of attack. In 2023 he had 16 tackles and one sack. Gregory needs to be more productive as a senior.

2/15/25: Mills had 37 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Mills was a good college player, but he has limitations for the next level.

6/24/24: In 2023, Mills recorded 47 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Mills flashed the previous two seasons with three sacks in 2021 and 3.5 in 2022. He improved his tackle total from 16 to 24, but he needs to produce more pass rush in his final season to rise.

2/15/25: Broughton had 38 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. Broughton ended his 2025 season playing well for Texas.

6/24/24: Broughton had 17 tackles with one sack and one pass batted in 2023. With Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat ahead of him, Broughton was a rotational backup. He has the upside to rise as a starter in 2024.

1/11/25: Hemingway had 25 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass batted.

6/24/24: Hemingway was a solid nose tackle for the Gamecocks in 2023, recording 32 tackles with 1.5 sacks and seven passes batted. The previous season he had 33 stops with four sacks. Hemingway could stand to add some weight for the NFL.

2/15/25: Barber had 35 tackles with 2.5 sacks thus far.

6/24/24: Barber had some steady sack production in 2020-2022 when he tallied four, three, and three sacks, respectively, over those three seasons. In 2023 he missed significant time with injuries.

2/15/25: Williams had 30 tackles with a pass defended and one sack thus far.

6/24/24: Williams was a solid nose tackle for Missouri in 2023, totaling 25 tackles with two forced fumbles and two passes defended. He had 28 tackles with two sacks in 2022. Williams needs to improve his pass rush production as a senior.

2/15/25: Toia had 25 tackles and one sack.

6/24/24: Toia was a solid defender at the point of attack for the Bruins in 2023. He totaled 28 tackles with one sack and one pass defended. The previous season he had 30 tackles. Toia is a heavy nose tackle prospect. Toia started out his collegiate career at USC before transferring to UCLA.