Rankings and quick lookaheads of all the defensive tackle prospects invited to the 2019 NFL Combine.
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2019 NFL Defensive Tackle Combine Workout: Sunday, March 3
Here we go with the 2019 NFL Combine, with all the breakdowns and analysis of every positive and negative for all of the top prospects. This isn’t that hard. Just simplify it – who can play football well enough to make an impact at the next level?
The bigger breakdowns will come before the NFL Draft, but for now – again, from the college perspective – here are the pre-combine rankings for all of the defensive tackles invited to the big workout.
It’s one of the deepest positions in the draft with almost everyone on this list good enough to potentially start – and with the bulk superstars up top. Before getting into the top six breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest.
2019 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted pre-NFL Combine.
22. Albert Huggins, Clemson 6-3, 308 (7 FA)
On just about any other team, he would’ve stood out as a star defensive tackle and would’ve had a shot to show off his tremendous talent. He could be a gigantic steal in the late rounds with the combination of toughness and quickness to become a starter.
21. Daylon Mack, Texas A&M 6-1, 325 (6)
The superstar recruit had a nice career, but didn’t come up with the dominant run many expected. He’s got the right base and the right bulk for the interior, and he can get into the backfield from time to time. He might not be a special pro, but he’ll be a nice late pick to work in a rotation.
20. Chris Slayton, Syracuse 6-3, 315 (6)
Quick and great at getting behind the line and coming up with tackles for loss, he’s got the size to and the makeup to be a terrific 4-3 tackle in a rotation. He’s not a big-time run stopper, but he has the tools and does just about everything well.
19. Trysten Hill, UCF 6-2, 330 (5)
The vocal leader and anchor of the great UCF defenses, he’s got the right size and he moves extremely well. He didn’t put up big numbers until last season, and then he started to get into the backfield more and he predicted at a higher level.
18. Demarcus Christmas, Florida State 6-3, 300 (4)
Good enough to grow into an NFL starter, he has the prerequisite skills, toughness, and quickness – to a point. He doesn’t have any special tools, but he’s got the body and the upside to be a decent flier after the third round.
17. Armon Watts, Arkansas 6-5, 298 (4)
After taking off under the new coaching staff, he’s looking more and more like a potential star at the next level – he’s just scratching the surface. He’s not bulky, but he’s strong, has all the tools, and he showed early on in the offseason workout process that he’ll be a factor in the mid-rounds.
16. Daniel Wise, Kansas 6-3, 290 (6)
A productive starter with a great drive and quick enough step to get behind the line, he’s a nice veteran who’ll be a steady and dependable factor on the inside. Keeping on weight will be a big problem, but he’s simply a good football player. He’ll shine if surrounded by size.
15. Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois 6-0, 318 (3)
A short fireplug of a defender, he’s got a great base and can’t be moved off of it. More importantly, he’s ultra-quick with a whole lot of tools, moves, and crafty ways to get to the ball. He might not have the ideal body or frame, but he’s an NFL starter.
14. Isaiah Buggs, Alabama 6-3, 294 (3)
All the tools are there, but he’s still a bit of a project. Ultra-quick, extremely athletic, and strong enough to be a rock against the run at times, he should be great in workouts. However, he doesn’t have the idea body type and he’s missing the raw bulk. He won’t be a superstar, but he’ll start.
13. Terry Beckner, Missouri 6-4, 305 (3)
How well can he hold up? The talent is undeniable with anchor strength and just enough movement and athleticism to play a variety of roles. He suffered a few knee injuries, and while he was able to come back and show off his quickness, medical evaluations will mean everything. If he can stay in one piece, he’ll be a steal after the second round.
12. Dontavius Russell, Auburn 6-2, 323 (4)
A rock-solid four-year producer, there’s nothing flashy about his game, but he’s a true interior space-eater who’ll make everyone around him better. Don’t expect him to do anything in the backfield, and he might be pigeon-holed as a nose tackle, but he’s the type of tough-guy bruiser every defensive coordinator would love to work around.
11. Gerald Willis, Miami 6-2, 298 (2)
One of the more interesting calls among the defensive tackles in the deep class, he’s not quite big enough, but he’s devastatingly quick and could have moments where he takes over the game. But he’ll get steamrolled over by NFL bulk. He won’t be for everyone, but find the right role in a rotation, and look out.
10. Renell Wren, Arizona State 6-5, 294 (4)
The college production was just okay, but with his frame, his NFL tools, and the upside to get stronger and better, he’ll be a favorite throughout the offseason workout process. Be stunned if he’s not the talk of the Combine after the defensive tackle workouts – he’ll look like he’s going a half-click faster than everyone else.
9. Greg Gaines, Washington 6-2, 320 (4)
A productive and reliable four-year starter, he’s got the base and the bulk to sit on the inside and eat up the run. All out all the time, he can get behind the line on want-to, and he’ll put up decent all-around numbers as a solid and safe mid-round pick.
8. (DE) Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M 6-3, 295 (3)
It took a while to get everything rolling, but he turned into a strong all-around defender on the line over the last few seasons. Versatile, he could end up as a too-quick 3-4 end if he doesn’t end up beefing up a bit and living on the inside. While he’s a bit of a tweener, he can find a home in any scheme.
7. Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame 6-6, 304 (2)
A safe NFL defensive tackle with the ability to crash into the backfield as well as hold up just fine against the run, he carries his weight well, moves like an end, and can play anywhere on a line. He might not be a true bulk run stuffer, but that’s nitpicking for a Day One starter.
NEXT: Top 6 Defensive Tackle Prospects Before the NFL Combine
6. Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State 6-4, 300 (1)
Career Statistics: 163 tackles, 7 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles, 7 broken up passes
Why Jeffery Simmons Is Here On The List: He’s be a sure-thing top 15 overall pick – more likely top ten – if he didn’t suffer a torn ACL in an offseason workout.
As is, some team is going to take him early knowing he’ll need a redshirt season, because he’s a special talent. At 6-4 and 300 pounds, he’s got decent size, the perfect frame, and the quickness to live in the backfield with 30 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.
The issues from a 2016 arrest and guilty plea on a simple assault charge are going to be part of the puzzle, but he grew past that and became an SEC Academic Honor Roll student to go along with his play on the field.
What The NFL Types Want To See: He’s not invited to the Combine, but the medical evaluation will be everything. The interview process will matter considering his past legal issues, but his draft stock is totally dependent on just how bad his knee injury really is.
Bottom Line: Even in a special class of defensive tackles, it’s not crazy to suggest that he might be the best of the bunch – when healthy. He’s got the strength to be an anchor, the quickness to be a dominant force behind the line, and the upside to be a difference-maker and star of a D line.
NEXT: No. 5 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
5. Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State 6-3, 283 (1)
Career Statistics: 114 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 4 broken up passes
Why Dre’Mont Jones Is Here On The List: If it’s possible to be an All-Big Ten star and a sure thing first round draft pick and still be underappreciated, that’s Jones.
The stats are fine, but he took over at times as a junior for a defense that was way too leaky for way too long. He was the pass rusher from the interior when Nick Bosa went out, and he turned into the star up front who was able to come up with big plays in big moment.
He might be undersized, but he’s way too quick for most interior offensive linemen. There will be problems against the mashers, but as a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle, he’ll be deadly.
What The NFL Types Want To See: His quickness and athleticism have to be at a whole other level. He’s not going to be big enough for some teams, and he’s not going to be a big bulky run stuffer, but if he can be sold by the scouts as a disruptive force in the backfield like a lesser Aaron Donald, a good workout would make that happen.
Bottom Line: This is a bad year to be a star defensive tackle prospect. In most drafts, he’d be a sure-thing top 15 pick, but he might end up being the fifth or sixth off the board just because the position is so deep. Even so, interior linemen with his quickness are rare.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
4. Christian Wilkins, Clemson 6-3, 312 (1)
Career Statistics: 192 tackles, 16 sacks, 40.5 tackles for loss, 15 broken up passes
Why Christian Wilkins Is Here On The List: He’s everything you want in a starting defensive tackle. He’s got the size, the quickness to get behind the line, and the toughness to serve as an anchor who can handle the double-team. Throw in that an emotional tone-setter who’ll be the instant leader on any defense, and he’s the total package.
So what’s wrong with him? How come he’s not in the top three, if not No. 1 overall among the defensive tackles? Two of the three guys ahead of him have ungodly crazy traits.
Wilkins has no downside, he’s as safe as they come, and he’s as bust-proof as they get. He’s just not the shot-for-the-all-timer-stars type some of the guys ahead of him here are. And that’s why …
What The NFL Types Want To See: How does he look compared to the freaks of nature? Most scouts will get past the raw tools of some of the other tackles and just like the steadiness and sureness of Wilkins, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if he holds his own in the workouts and looks every bit as quick and athletic, that moves him up from top 15 to top ten overall.
Bottom Line: Just take him. He’s not the perfect prospect, and he’s not quite as bulky as some teams might like, but whatever. He’s a ten-year, no-worry pro who’ll start from Day One and be a regular on the Pro Bowl circuit.
NEXT: No. 3 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
3. Ed Oliver, Houston 6-3, 290 (1)
Career Statistics: 191 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 53 tackles for loss, 11 broken up passes, 5 forced fumbles
Why Ed Oliver Is Here On The List: A transcendent interior pass rusher who can take over games by himself and is unblockable at times. Granted, he played a bulk of his games against the Group of Five world, but he destroyed everyone.
It’s not crazy to think he might have been the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, and he certainly didn’t take a step back talent-wise this year. He’s a special talent with the type of unteachable speed, athleticism and skill to be a game-wrecker at the next level.
What The NFL Types Want To See: the athleticism and quickness are going to remind everyone just how amazing a prospect he is for the position. It’s like he’s not the shiny new guy anymore and he’s being nitpicked too much. One amazing workout will wake everyone up. However, how much do you care about his raw bulk? He’s never going to hit the 300-pound mark, but …
Bottom Line: Aaron Donald is barely six feet tall and plays at around 285 pounds, and he seems to be just fine. Yeah, Oliver might really be that good. He might not be quite bulky enough or physical enough, but don’t overthink this. He’s the most unblockable interior presence since that guy out in LA hit the league.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
2. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson 6-4, 355 (1)
Career Statistics: 131 tackles, 10 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries
Why Dexter Lawrence Is Here On The List: Get over the PED suspension that cost him the College Football Playoff. Of course he’ll be tested through the roof, and of course that’s going to be a major concern that’s going to make him slide. And then come great team will move heaven and earth to get him around the 20ish range. And why?
He’s probably the best overall prospect in this draft, knocked down just a slight peg here because of the obvious issues.
With massive size, ridiculous quickness, and the all-around game to be the star a defense works around, he’s the total package right out of central casting. While his tackle production went down after a phenomenal first season, he also had a whole lot of help from the NFL talent around him making things happen. Most of the time, it was his job to stuff everything and be the anchor for everyone else.
What The NFL Types Want To See: It’s ALL about character. He’s getting dogged on the scouting circuit because of the PED kerfuffle, but he’s a special player talent-wise. The scouts and GMs are going to grill him hard on his maturity and ability to handle everything that’s coming as the anchor of an NFL line.
Bottom Line: Take away that and he really does deserve No. 1 overall consideration. Human beings this big and this quick and this talented at football are rare – and Lawrence isn’t that just because of that. The best part is that he’s already the best run stopper in the draft, and he’s still getting better. With a little more time and technique work to go along with all of that talent and all of those tools, he’s going to be terrific.
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Defensive Tackle
1. Quinnen Williams, Alabama 6-3, 295 (1)
Career Statistics: 91 tackles, 10 sacks, 26 tackles for loss
Why Quinnen Williams Is Here On The List: It take something amazing to be able to look like a man among boys as a player on the Alabama defense.
Good as a redshirt freshman, all of a sudden he became totally unblockable as a one-man wrecking crew at times on the inside of the Bama defensive front. When it was time to come up with a big play in a huge moment – at least, when those moments existed in the first halves of games – he was the one who turned it on and ended the contest.
The coaches love him, he’ll put in the work, and he’s got the raw quickness to go along with that motor and drive.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Are the scouts going to care about his lack of raw bulk? He’s hardly undersized, but he’s not a massive wide-body who’ll serve as a true anchor of a defensive front. The measurements are going to matter a bit, and the workout has to be terrific … otherwise he could fall out of the top two to No. 3.
Bottom Line: There’s no doubt whatsoever about his talent, upside, and potential, considering he might just be scratching the surface. However, in one of the greatest defensive tackle drafts ever, is he going to be worth a top three overall pick when there are so many amazing other interior defenders to be had in the first round? He’s a bit more of a call than you might think, but you also don’t want to be the team that passed up on him if he turns out live up to his potential.
