Rankings and what to watch for out of all the defensive tackle prospects invited to the 2020 NFL Combine.
2020 NFL Combine: Defensive Tackles
Date: Saturday, February 29: Defensive Tackles
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: NFL Network
From the college perspective. here are rankings and quick looks at all of the defensive tackles invited to the 2020 NFL Combine.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest and what to look for.
2020 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackles: Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted before the NFL Combine.
24. John Penisini, Utah 6-2, 333 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: A big anchor type who could sit in the middle of the line and gum things up, does he have the athleticism or traits to be a late round flier?
23. Rob Windsor, Penn State 6-4, 285 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: Will there be anything there to make him draftable? He’ll always bring the motor, but he had a mediocre 2019 and needs to prove he’s not a practice squad tough cut.
22. Malcolm Roach, Texas 6-3, 290 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: Can he be a fit as a part of the rotation at several spots? He’s a true tweener who has to look like he belongs as draftable late pick.
21. Broderick Washington, Texas Tech 6-3, 305 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: What’s his NFL trait? He’s not really an interior pass rusher, and he’s not quite an anchor who can be a starter in the middle of a D.
20. McTelvin Agim, Arkansas 6-3, 300 (7)
NFL Combine What Matters: A bit undersized, he needs to be ultra-quick with the upside to work at end. He has to look like a tweener pass rusher.
19. Darrion Daniels, Nebraska 6-3, 325 (7)
NFL Combine What Matters: A decent-sized late round flier who has to fly through the medicals after being hurt for way too much of his college career.
18. Carlos Davis, Nebraska 6-2, 320 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: Is he draftable? He might be on the short side, but if could be an interesting flier with interior pass rushing upside.
17. Khalil Davis, Nebraska 6-2, 315 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: A terrific interior pass rusher for the Huskers, the more power he can somehow show, the better.
16. Josiah Coatney, Ole Miss 6-4, 310 (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: The weight matters. He’s played at around 320ish at times and needs to look like a versatile option for a variety of roles.
15. Larrell Murchison, NC State 6-2, 291 (5)
NFL Combine What Matters: Undersized, can he become more than a specialist? He’s tough for his size, and he’s simply a good football player, but does he have the raw tools to go along with the want-to?
14. Raequan Williams, Michigan State 6-4, 303 (5)
NFL Combine What Matters: A good tweener for the interior, can he look the part of a run stopper? He’s got the athleticism, but can he turn it on enough to move up into the top 100?
13. James Lynch, Baylor 6-4, 295 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: Opinions are going to be all over the place on him. An unstoppable backfield force for Baylor, will teams care about his lack of bulk, and will he be 4-3 scheme-specific?
12. Leki Fotu, Utah 6-4, 335 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: Can he be more than a guy who gums up the works? He’s a true anchor, but does he have anything to get into the backfield at the next level?
11. Marlon Davidson, Auburn 6-3, 297 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: Just how heavy will he play? He could slim down and be a 280ish pound pass rushing end, or a potential killer at tackle. He’ll needs to show he has a role.
10. Rashad Lawrence, LSU 6-2, 308 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: It’s all about his movement. His ankle injury that was a slight issue throughout last year has to check out fine. There’s no questioning his leadership or fight, but considering his relatively smallish size, he has to be quick.
9. DaVon Hamilton, Ohio State 6-4 327 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: How does he look? He’s got the size, he’s got the body type that can handle differences in weight, but is he an anchor, or can he really move well enough to be an interior force in the backfield?
8. Benito Jones, Ole Miss 6-1, 321 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: Can teams get past his body size? Does anyone really care that he’s 6-1 and not 6-4? There’s some team out there who’ll be in love with him and secretly hopes he has a bad workout so he’ll drop.
7. Jordan Elliott, Missouri 6-4, 315 (2)
NFL Combine What Matters: Can he look like a first rounder? He’s got the size and the tools, but he has to generate a buzz. He’s a top 50 pick who can be one of the biggest winners in Indy.
6. Raekwon Davis, Alabama 6-7, 312 (2)
NFL Combine What Matters: It’s all there. He’s got all the talent in the world to be something special, but can he put it all together and be a killer to build around? Somehow, he has to show that he can be a whole lot more than his okay senior year.
NEXT: Top 5 Defensive Tackle Prospects Before the 2020 NFL Combine
5. Ross Blacklock, TCU 6-4, 305 (Late 1st)
Why He’s Here On The List: Ultra-quick with just enough size to be moved around to a variety of spots on a line, he’s an interior pass rusher with the upside and body to add a bit more to his frame – he can play heavier if needed. He still has he best football ahead of him if he can stay healthy.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Supreme athleticism. He has to look and move like one of the most athletic big men on the field with the upside to become a dominant force. He has to look like he’s well past the torn Achilles that knocked him out for all of 2018.
Bottom Line: For being an occasionally unblockable force, he only came up with 3.5 sacks last season and nine tackles for loss. He’s got the size and the athleticism to be a terror, but he needs a great workout to be a first round lock. A dominant combine pushes him into the top 20.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
4. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma 6-2, 302 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: When he’s on, he’s got the upside and ability to be the best tackle in the draft. He can really, really move, and he’s got the potential to show it off and have everyone talking. No, he’s not the perfect size, but he could blow the doors off the workout in the short drills.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Is it possible to show more consistency in a bunch of drills? Yeah, it would be nice if he was a bigger tackle, but just how much can he bend and just how small can he get to be slippery into the backfield? He needs to look fluid as well as powerful.
Bottom Line: He’s not exactly a boom-or-bust prospect, but someone is going to fall in love with his upside and athleticism. If it’s possible to not look like a pure pass rushing interior defender, he has to do it. Or … he has to be just that much quicker than everyone else in Indy.
NEXT: No. 3 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
3. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M 6-3, 300 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: A force in the backfield, he led the Aggies in tackles for loss, was active against the run, and was always coming, always working. He might not be for everyone, but he was an elite SEC defensive lineman over the last two years who’ll be a long-time starter at the next level.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Can he be the most athletic tackle in the draft? He’s more quick and athletic than explosive, and he’s not an anchor who’ll take on double-teams and stuff the run – he has to look the part of a difference-maker behind the line. The more pop he can show off the ball, teh better.
Bottom Line: You can’t build a defense around him, but he could be a final piece of a puzzle with bulk on the rest of the line to allow him to do what he does behind the line. He’ll be underappreciated and likely under-drafted because of his lack of raw bulk.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
2. Derrick Brown, Auburn, 6-4, 318 (Top 15 overall)
Why He’s Here On The List: This is what a defensive tackle should be. Very big, always moving, and with the want-to to be a leader with a great football player mentality, he’s an instant leader to work the defensive around. The general managers will love him – he’ll be a Face of the Franchise type that everyone will want to take.
What The NFL Types Want To See: How flexible is he really? He can move for his size, and he’s got the power when needed, but is he smooth through the drills or will he labor a bit?
Bottom Line: Everyone will be looking for reasons to like him – his faults and flaw will be excused a bit with all else he brings. The only concern – he’s very good at everything, but is he dominant in any one phase? That’s looking for something to pick on. As long as he moves okay, he’ll be fine.
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
1. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina 6-5, 315 (Top 15 overall)
Why He’s Here On The List: The perfect combination of size and explosiveness, the former JUCO transfer came to South Carolina and turned into a terrific three-year factor up front. He fits every scheme, can be used in a variety of roles, and has the biggest upside of any of the elite defensive tackles.
What The NFL Types Want To See: How smooth can he look? He can play at around 310, or at 325 depending what a team will like, but he’ll come in at around 315 and has to move effortlessly and violently. There’s a chance he looks like a tweener tackle more than a force to build the D around.
Bottom Line: He’s not the sure thing that Derrick Brown is, and while there isn’t a ton of bust potential, there’s disappointment potential if the light does turn out and stay there. Teams will like Brown a bit more for his overall package of talent and leadership, but Kinlaw’s upside is bigger.
