Who are the defensive tackles who’ll matter in the 2020 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?
2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings
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It’s an okay group of tackles with a few superstars up top and a whole slew of promising-to-terrific starting prospects right after. It’s an amazingly athletic group of big men who can do a little of everything right, but there aren’t many Coke machines – gigantic guys who’ll just sit there and take up space, in a good way – and the power isn’t the same as it’s been in the last few years. Even so, this is a good class to get excited about.
From the college perspective, here are the top defensive tackles in your 2020 NFL Draft, starting with the ones who’ll be in the mix, and then diving into the five who’ll actually matter over the next ten years of the pro football world.
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15. Larrell Murchison, NC State
Size: 6-2, 297
The Good: Extremely athletic and quick, he might be undersized, but he can move. Always working and always grinding, he’s a producer who came up with 80 tackles with 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in his two seasons. He’ll never take a play off.
The Not-So-Good: He’s just not quite big enough. The bulk is missing to avoid getting bullied around by the power blockers. For his good combine numbers, he’s not quite as smooth as you might like for an athletic tackle.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Make him a part of your rotation and he’ll be fine. He’ll never be an anchor or a power tackle against the run, but he’ll always bring it. He can be a playmaker in the backfield at a good mid-round value.
Projected Round: Fifth
14. Raequan Williams, Michigan State
Size: 6-4, 308
The Good: One of the main men on a good MSU line over the last four seasons, he made 157 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and 29 tackles. With great length and anticipation, he became great at batting down passes as his career went on. He’s got good enough skills to do just about everything you want in an NFL defensive tackle.
The Not-So-Good: He doesn’t do any one thing at a high NFL level. He’s got enough quickness and power to get by, but he’s not going to be anyone’s anchor and needs to be a part of a rotation.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s enough to his game to take him in the middle rounds and expect enough versatility and skill to be a great part of a line. He might be a backup, but he’s got starting traits with the upside to surprise a bit if he’s surrounded by good bulk.
Projected Round: Fifth
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13. Rashard Lawrence, LSU
Size: 6-2, 308
The Good: He’s the alpha-guy with the make-up to make a D line his from Day One. Quick enough to get behind the line, and strong enough to bull his way into the backfield, he made 114 tackles over his last three seasons with eight sacks and 19 tackles for loss. His game is about his nastiness – he’ll take on everyone on the inside to make a play.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite the Coke machine type of tackle you want for the interior – he’s not bulky enough. He’s not enough of an athlete for the position to be seen as a consistent pass rusher, and he’s been banged up with an ankle injury that has to be all okay from the start.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s just enough parts missing to think he’ll be a force with the move up to the next level, but you really, really want this guy as a part of your defense. He might not be the most talented player up front, but he’ll be the one who sets the tone and takes on the leadership responsibilities.
Projected Round: Third
12. James Lynch, Baylor (DE)
Size: 6-4, 289
The Good: A pass rusher with just enough size to work inside or out, he turned into a killer behind the line last season with 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss with 41 tackles. Don’t get hung up on his lack of bulk – he’s strong enough to hold his own against raw bulk. He’ll overcome his size issues with tremendous quickness.
The Not-So-Good: His game doesn’t necessarily work at the next level, at least as a tackle. He’s athletic, but he’s more of a powerful bull rusher who might be scheme specific as a 4-3 tackle if someone wants him for the interior.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’ll keep on working and keep on getting into backfields enough in a training camp to push hard for a starting spot. He might not be for every defensive line, but he’ll adapt his style and use his tools to become a dangerous interior pass rusher.
Projected Round: Third
11. Marlon Davidson, Auburn (DE)
Size: 6-3, 303
The Good: Versatile enough work in any style as an end or a tackle, he’s a quick veteran who has been through the SEC wards for the last four years. Durable enough to last throughout his career and battle through the bumps and bruises, he played 50 games with 174 tackles with 14.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. He improved as a pass rusher as his career went on, but he’s strong enough to handle life in the interior in a 4-3 set.
The Not-So-Good: He’s way too much of a tweener. He played at under 280 pounds, but check in at just over 300 at the combine – does his weight matter in one way or another? His best fit might be on the outside, but he’s not a speed rusher.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s not a lot of boom but there’s possibly a bust depending on where someone wants to use him. He’s a solid all-around D lineman who can start, but there isn’t enough about his game to stand out by NFL standards. On the plus side, he’s got enough overall skills to be a possibility almost anywhere on any line.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings Top Ten
2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings Top Ten
11. Benito Jones, Ole Miss
Size: 6-1, 316
The Good: While he might not have ideal size or length, he’s got a great center of gravity and he doesn’t get shoved off his base. Quick, he got behind the line for 10.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss to go along with 132 tackles. Always moving and always working, he keeps on coming and never gives O linemen a break.
The Not-So-Good: He doesn’t have the bulk. He might not fit every style and every team without the length that some teams want. To make things tougher, his workout numbers were just okay. He’s a tackle, but in this class of quick athletes for the position, he didn’t stand out.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Someone will be in love with him right outside of the top 100. Super-strong with a big-time attitude – in a good way – and four years of SEC experience, he can be a part of just about any line. Get past his lack of a true NFL body type.
Projected Round: Fourth
9. Leki Fotu, Utah
Size: 6-5, 330
The Good: You’d think with his size, mass, and strength he’d be the gum-up-the-works guy, and he might be. However, he’s athletic enough to do a little of everything for the line and get to the quarterback more than he did at Utah. He made 81 tackles with four sacks and 17 tackles for loss in his last three seasons, but stats probably won’t matter at the next level as he occupies multiple blockers in the interior.
The Not-So-Good: Don’t expect a whole lot of big plays when he takes over inside. He’s strong enough to get into the backfield, but if he’s not holding up against the run, he’s probably not doing what you want. There’s also a wee bit of a durability issue – he never played more than ten games in a season.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Building the infrastructure can be fun. He’s a part of an NFL defensive front with the size and all-around power that’s missing a bit in the draft.
Projected Round: Third
8. DaVon Hamilton, Ohio State
Size: 6-4, 320
The Good: Here’s your big NFL defensive tackle. In a draft loaded with decent-sized athletic tackles who don’t quite bring the thump, Hamilton helps take care of that. He’s not just a brick wall who occupies multiple blockers, he can get behind he line, too, with seven sacks and 20 tackles for loss in his four years.
The Not-So-Good: While he’s big and quick, he’s not quite what you want in a true anchor. He can handle himself on the inside against the blasters, but he didn’t get in on a whole lot of tackles considering his opportunities. In his four seasons he never got through a full year without missing some time.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Big and athletic tackles who fall after the second round are finds. He’s not quite the interior pass rusher who can take over, and he’s not quite the powerful tackle who can own a line, but he can move and he can start right away.
Projected Round: Third
7. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Size: 6-6, 311
The Good: Tools, tools, tools. He’s tall, strong, athletic, and he’s got the length NFL teams would like. While his pass rush fell off as his Bama career went on, he made 171 tackles with 10.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in his last three seasons. Like all big Tide defensive linemen, he’s versatile enough to fit in any scheme with the upside to be a killer 3-4 end.
The Not-So-Good: Yeah, it’s all there, but … there’s something missing. He went from making 8.5 sacks as a sophomore to coming up with just two in his final two years. He was good, but he didn’t quite dominate like it seemed like he would as his career went on.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s going to be a big-time call. It’s probably going to take an early second round pick to get him, but can he raise his game to match all of his abilities? On the plus side, if he puts it all together, he has the upside to be the best tackle in this draft, and it’s possible the value could be fantastic after the first round.
Projected Round: Second
6. Jordan Elliott, Missouri
Size: 6-4, 302
The Good: He has all the talent, the size, and the ability, but it all came down to what he could do in Indy to show off at the combine. He almost broke the 5.0 mark in the 40, was quick in the short drills and looked the part of a dangerous interior pass rusher. It took a little while to blow up at Mizzou, but he was solid at getting behind the line as his career went on, and last year he turned into an all-around producer.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not all that bulky, so if he’s not getting into the backfield, he might struggle to find a set role. If you care about the numbers, he wasn’t able to put up anything to jump out as one of the elite players in the draft, and he disappeared in games a bit too often. However …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Blow off the stats – they don’t quite indicate his worth as an all-around tackle to the Tiger defense over the last two years. He was a high-end SEC performer who always brought the effort and has the tools to step in and start right away at the next level.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings No. 5
2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings Top Five
5. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
Size: 6-2, 304
The Good: He’s a 304-pound defensive tackle who runs like a tight end. He came to the combine with the reputation as an ultra-quick athlete who can move, and then he ripped off a 4.79 in the 40 and was fantastic in the shorter drills.
Productive over his four years with the Sooners, he made 147 tackles with 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss as an all-star up front. Effort is never a problem, he’s going to be a big plus in the locker room and the rare quickness should be a great match for an NFL line with bulk.
The Not-So-Good: As athletic as he is and with the motor that he has, the 8.5 sacks in four years coming from a pass-happy Big 12 are way light. He”ll get in on tackles, but he’s not any sort of an anchor. There’s a concern that his value will be diminished in a hurry if he’s not making things happen behind the line.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Take the tools and find something to do with them. Guys this big and this quick don’t exist, and he’s going to work his way into a player with the right coaching and in the right scheme. There’s definitely a bust potential if he’s not making big plays, but at worst he’s a great part of a rotation.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings No. 4
4. Ross Blacklock, TCU (DE)
Size: 6-3, 290
The Good: In terms of upside and potential, he might be the most promising interior pass rusher in the draft. He only came up with 5.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in his two seasons, but he’s a versatile option with sub-5.0 speed and the explosiveness that defensive coordinators are all looking for.
Always working and always hustling, he requires constant attention with the ability to jump off the ball and bother the lumbering interior offensive linemen. He’ll require double-teaming depending on his role and where he lines up – he could end up living as a big end more than on the inside.
The Not-So-Good: His sack production was a bit light – just 5.5 in two years – considering he’s got all the skills to be special behind the line. Don’t get excited about him as a run stopper – he’s fine, but hardly amazing – and good luck finding a set home for him if you don’t have a preconceived idea of how you’re going to use him. Injury-wise, he came back and produced after missing all of 2018 with an Achilles’ heel injury, but that’s still part of the resumé.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There are way too many positive tools and raw abilities to not think of him as a possible late first rounder. He might not have the bulk that some teams would like, and the overall production was just okay, but it’s dangerous to pass on athletic big guys who’ll work as hard as he does and will bring the effort he does.
Projected Round: First
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings No. 3
3. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
Size: 6-3, 293
The Good: One of the most athletic big men in the draft, he might not be a 300+ pound blaster, but he ran a 4.8 40, threw 31 reps up on the bench, and showed off at the combine the quickness everyone was looking for.
A terror behind the line, he came up with 11 sacks, 85 tackles and 22 tackles for loss over the last two seasons as the star of the A&M interior. With a whole slew of moves in the bag, he can destroy lumbering O linemen who don’t have their technique down on every snap.
The Not-So-Good: The size is going to matter a wee bit. He’s not bulky enough, he gets engulfed by the interior giants, and he got erased a bit too often. If he’s not generating pressure, or making teams worry about what he can do to get behind the line, he’s not doing his job.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: While he doesn’t quite look the part of an NFL defensive tackle, and he’s not quite an end, he’s got terrific skills and the upside to be a one-man game-wrecker if he’s matched up on a sluggish offensive guard. There are enough tools to think there might be something special.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings No. 2
2. Derrick Brown, Auburn
Size: 6-5, 326
The Good: Ultra-quick, tremendously powerful, and a phenomenal athlete for his size, he’s got all of that, plus the four-year production, plus the attitude and mindset to be a leader of a line right away.
He’s it. He’s the Face of the Franchise defensive player with the character coaches dream of. A marked man last year, he still came through with a brilliant season to close out his career with 170 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss. A little of everything, he’s a pass rusher, an anchor, and a big-time run-stopper who never stops working.
The Not-So-Good: The only slight knock is that he’s not all that smooth and he might have to rely on his power a bit more than his quickness. The guy is 326 pounds so he gets a free pass on not having defensive back fluidity, but his style might be tweaked a bit at the next level.
His job will be more to occupy blockers than to be the all-around producer he was at Auburn. There’s a chance he doesn’t have one dominant NFL trait once he gets into the starting mix.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Brown falls into the If You Had 11 (This Guy)-Types You Could Rule The Football World category. He’s a special player with no real knocks on his game. Throw in the intangibles, and some team will be ecstatic to grab him just outside of the top five.
Projected Round: First
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Rankings No. 1
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1. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Size: 6-5, 324
The Good: As is he’s a special athlete and prospect with elite size, length, and quickness off the ball when it’s time to make something big happen. But there’s a chance he’s just scratching the surface with the upside to otherworldly.
He’s got all the athleticism and versatility to fit anywhere, but the real key is his power and pop. There’s a whole lot in his arsenal that he can use as a playmaker in the backfield as well as a run stopper. He made 82 tackles with ten sacks and 17 tackles for loss in his South Carolina career, but he was also the one everyone needed to worry about.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not Derrick Brown. The Auburn star defensive tackle has almost no bust potential and should be a sure-thing starter. Kinlaw is more of the shot-for-the-stars. He needs a little more overall technique work, and yeah, the overall stat-sheet production was a wee bit light for a player with his skills.
Throw in any red flags a team might have after he came off a hip injury, and there’s just enough there to potentially make Brown the top defensive tackle pick.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: The fight and the effort are always there, and he’s got the ability to take his game to another place once he’s surrounded by other NFL talents. Out of all of the tackles in the draft, he’s one who might just progress into the Man’s Man category of guys who are just at a whole different level. He’s worth the top ten overall pick to find out.
Projected Round: First
