The Triple Take crew of Dale Lolley, Matt Williamson and Mike Prisuta take a look at the top prospects in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held in April. Today, they delve into the defensive tackle position.
The opinions expressed here are their own and not those of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dale's Take
If you subscribe to the planet theory, which says that there are only so many big, athletic people walking the planet, you understand why defensive tackles are so sought after in the NFL.
If you're big and extremely athletic, you can play defensive tackle in any scheme. If you're big and not quite as athletic, you're probably getting moved to the offensive line.
That's just how it does.
The 2025 NFL Draft, while lacking in offensive linemen, is loaded with the big, super-athletic guys. This might be a generational-type defensive tackle draft, if not at the top of the draft, then for its overall depth.
"There's no shortage of defensive tackles that are intriguing in this draft," said NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
Given the rigours involved with playing the position, that's a good thing.
None of the players available this year might become the second coming of Aaron Donald, but there should be starters or future starters available into the later rounds of the draft.
Dale's Rankings
1. Walter Nolen, Mississippi, 6-4, 296 lbs. - The former No. 1-overall recruit in the nation initially chose to go to Texas A&M. And like many of the Texas A&M players, he didn't have production there. But a transfer to Mississippi in 2024 saw him take off. Nolen had 48 tackles, including 14 for a loss, 6.5 sacks and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. Big, strong and fast, Nolen's best football is still ahead of him.
2. Kenneth Grant, Michigan, 6-4, 331 lbs. - Grant is a nose tackle who has enough pass rush juice to also play in nickel and dime packages, a rarity in today's game. At times, he looks unblockable. Other times, he looked a little less so. But he played as heavy as 360 pounds at Michigan. Playing closer to 330 pounds will make him more effective. Over the past two seasons, he recorded 6.5 sacks and, perhaps as importantly, had 11 pass defenses. He understands how to be disruptive at the line of scrimmage.
3. Mason Graham, Michigan, 6-3 ½, 296 lbs. - Graham gets some consideration as the top player at the position for many. And he's been perhaps more disruptive than some of the other players on this list. But that was largely because of his motor, which is excellent. Athletically, he's not as gifted as Nolen or Grant, which could limit his upside. But he's a good player. He might just not ever be great.
4. Derrick Harmon, Oregon, 6-5, 310 lbs. - Harmon has prototypical 3-4 defensive end size and length with his 34-inch-plus arms. A transfer from Michigan State, Harmon blossomed at Oregon last season, recording 45 tackles and 5 sacks along with 5 pass breakups. Harmon knows how to get skinny to penetrate at the snap, but can play a little too high at times. But he's a good, solid prospect.
5. Darius Alexander, Toledo, 6-3 ⅞, 305 lbs. - A small-school prospect who stood out at the Senior Bowl, Alexander is nimble enough to play end or stout enough to play the interior, even at the nose. He's got heavy hands that jolt offensive linemen. Has pass rush juice (7 ½ sacks over the past two years) and added seven pass breakups, including an interception against Pitt in the Motor City Bowl, in which he was dominant. The only drawback is that he's already 24 years old.
Sleeper: Ty Robinson, Nebraska, 6-5 ½, 288 lbs. - There were so many guys to choose from for this spot, but Robinson might be the one who is being slept on the most by draft prognosticators. He's big, strong and fast and he just wrecks things. He also ran a 4.83-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Robinson is like the Energizer Bunny and if offensive linemen don't match his intensity, they're in for a long day. I don't understand why there isn't more buzz about a guy with his size, athleticism and production.
Defensive Tackle
Matt's Take
Defensive tackle is one of the strongest positions in the 2025 NFL Draft. That being said, the blue-chip talent at this position is a bit lacking.
But the depth of 5 Techniques, 3 Techniques and especially nose tackle types is outstanding. There is something for everyone. There could be as many as 16 defensive tackles drafted on the first two days of the draft.
The Super Bowl Champion Eagles showed the great value of investing in defensive linemen of all shapes and sizes and how an outstanding defensive line can neutralize even the greatest of quarterbacks on the biggest of stages.
In a copycat league, expect many teams to break ties in the favor of adding young talent to their defensive front. And there should be plenty to pick from deep into this class.
Matt's Rankings
1. Kenneth Grant, Michigan, 6-3 5/8, 331 lbs. - There just aren't many human beings on the planet-or even in the NFL for that matter-with Grant's natural gifts. He is massive and moves and runs like someone much lighter. He can play nose tackle or up and down the line of scrimmage with the ability to shoot gaps or swallow up double teams. Grant's pad level can be a little inconsistent, however.
2. Mason Graham, Michigan, 6-3 1/2, 296 lbs. - Most have Graham as the top player at this position because of his highly disruptive nature and interior pass-rush presence snap after snap. He plays low and with great tenacity. But Graham isn't a top-notch athlete, which could restrict his ability to dominate at the next level as he did at Michigan. Graham also has short arms (32 inches) for a premier prospect at this position.
3. Walter Nolen, Mississippi, 6-3 3/4, 296 lbs. - If you only watched Nolen's highlight tape, you might think he should be in contention for being the first-overall pick in the draft. His talent just jumps off the screen with a fantastic get off and just rare physical gifts. It is easy to see why he was the most highly recruited player in the country coming out of high school. But Nolen's recognition skills and consistency still need quite a bit of work. He can be a game-wrecker at the next level.
4. Derrick Harmon, Oregon, 6-4 1/2, 313 lbs. - Harmon lived in opposing backfields this past season and is highly disruptive. He is improving at a rapid rate. This is an explosive player whether coming upfield or with his lateral movement skills. Harmon has great arm length at 34 3/8 inches and uses his hands well, but his build is a little top heavy and you'd like to see him add more lower body strength and mass.
5. Darius Alexander, Toledo, 6-3 7/8, 305 lbs. - Alexander is a little overaged and did his work against lesser competition. But he also shined at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine. He lined up all over the line of scrimmage at Toledo and shows outstanding fluidity and body control for such a powerful man. Alexander has 34-inch arms and big heavy hands.
Sleeper: Jordan Phillips, Maryland, 6-1 5/8, 312 lbs. - Phillips really emerged in 2024 for Maryland. He projects as a pure nose tackle at the next level that specializes in shutting down interior run games. A former accomplished wrestler, Phillips toughness, leverage, and hand usage are very apparent. He is a tough guy through and through, which is infectious to his teammates. Phillips didn't have a sack over his two seasons with Maryland and has yet to flash much as a pass-rusher, but he does get off the ball well and is a rapidly improving player overall.
Mike's Take
Even in a talent-evaluation process that's far from an exact science, depth at defensive tackle this time around is considered a given.
Before he accepted a position on the staff at Oklahoma, former Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy assessed the 2025 class as perhaps the deepest in history and definitely the deepest since he had been running the show in Mobile, Ala. (since 2018).
The NFL Scouting Combine took note and invited 41 defensive tackles to Indianapolis this year, up from 25 last year.
And NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah has placed "potential starter" grades on 24 of those players, twice as many as in 2024 (12).
They're out there.
If you need one, come and get him.
Mike's Rankings
1. Mason Graham, Michigan, 6-31/2, 296 lbs. - Graham is considered by many to be the best front seven defender in the draft. One of the reasons why is he has a pass rush component to his game along with the ability to dominant as a run-stuffing force inside. That didn't result in an avalanche of sacks (three-and-a-half in 2024, nine in his three-year collegiate career), but Graham can generate pressure and he can chase plays down with relentless effort.
2. Walter Nolen, Mississippi, 6-4, 296 lbs. - Nolen doesn't lack confidence. He's been quoted assessing himself as the next Aaron Donald. That might be overstating it just a bit, but Nolen's ability to disrupt was on full display at the Senior Bowl. "He has every trait you're looking for," NFL Network analyst Charles Davis insisted. And Nolen can apply them inside or on the edge. "If you give me a 1-on-1, I'm gonna make you pay," Nolen has maintained. He might just be right about that one.
3. Kenneth Grant, Michigan, 6-4, 331 lbs. - With twin terrors such as Graham and Grant inside, it's hard to envision how Michigan lost five games. Grant, like Graham, didn't pile up the stats (three sacks, six-and-a-half tackles for a loss). But Grant nonetheless left an impression on many. "Watching K.G. move is like a work of art," Michigan director of strength and conditioning Jim Tress has said. "He plays and trains violent and explosive."
4. Derrick Harmon, Oregon, 6-5, 310 lbs. - Harmon, a Detroit native, reluctantly decided to leave Michigan State after three seasons and found another level to his game at Oregon. He upped his sacks from one-and-a-half to five and his tackles for a loss from three-and-a-half to 10.5 and also amassed a career-high 45 total stops. And when he wasn't getting home he was applying pressure more often than not.
5. Joshua Farmer, Florida State, 6-3, 305 lbs. - Last year's draft sent defensive linemen Jared Verse (19th overall, Rams) and Braden Fiske (second round, 39th overall, Rams) from Florida State to the NFL. There's apparently more where they came from. Jeremiah has noticed "shock" in Farmer's hands. "When he hits you it looks a little different," Jeremiah added.
Sleeper: Darius Alexander, Toledo, 6-3 7/8, 304 lbs. - Pitt fans likely recall Alexander's 59-yard Pick-Six in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. It wasn't a tip-pick or some other fluke. Alexander dropped into zone coverage, caught the ball, got to the edge and was gone. His performance at the Senior Bowl was, likewise, memorable. The only reason he's a sleeper is because the class is that deep.
