2025 NFL DRAFT: Position Breakdown: INTERIOR DEFENDERS

 

Mason Graham-DL3T-Michigan  
6’3”/296/24 reps
NFL Comparison: Bryant Young/Kyle Williams
PFF Grade: 91.1
3.5 sacks and 7 TFL
Graham has the ideal combination of tools that one looks for in a 3-technique defensive tackle. He is strong, physical, quick and has a motor second to none. The best word to describe him is disruptive. He is seemingly in on every play run or pass. He uses his leverage against taller offensive lineman and his quickness to collapse the pocket. One can only imagine how good he will be if he is drafted to a team that has good edge rushers already (Jacksonville, Las Vegas, San Francisco). He has the skill set to be a very special player from day one.

Kenneth Grant-DL1T-Michigan  
6’4”/331/27 reps
NFL Comp: Vita Vea/Linval Joseph
PFF Grade: 87.1
3 sacks and 7 TFL
Grant was the perfect nose tackle paired with Graham at Michigan. He is the prototype nose tackle with his ability to take on double teams and beat single blockers. He is a decent pass rusher for his size. Grant is a safe pick as a high floor nose tackle that can start in the league for a decade. Vea and Joseph both won Super Bowls and went to Pro Bowls. The team that picks Grant will hope he can have the same success. 

Walter Nolen-DL3T-Ole Miss  
6’4”/296
NFL Comp: Jonathan Allen/Nnamdi Madubuike
PFF Grade: 88.9
6.5 sacks and 14 TFL
Nolen was the number two prospect in the nation, behind only Travis Hunter. He started for two seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss last year. He plays with power and toughness needed for a defensive tackle. He has always been a top notch run stuffer. Last season he really improved as a pass rusher. He knows how to use technique, quickness and explosiveness to cause disruption on the field. Guys with that skill set last in the league a long time. 

Derrick Harmon-DL3T5T-Oregon
6’4”/313
NFL Comp: Akiem Hicks/DaQuan Jones
PFF Grade: 83.9
5 sacks and 11 TFL
Harmon is an elite athlete for a man weighing over 300 pounds. He ran a 4.95 forty and possesses ideal length and hand size. He is versatile and can be used in multiple fronts. NFL.COM had two great player comps for Harmon, Daniel Jeremiah compared him to Hicks and Lance Zierlein compared him to Jones, I will not try to top those accurate comparisons. 

Tyleik Williams-DL1T3T-Ohio St   
6’3”/334
NFL Comp: Eddie Goldman/Grover Stewart
PFF Grade: 79.2
2.5 sacks and 8 TFL
Williams was the nose tackle and anchor on the best defensive line in the country. Williams is the best run stuffer in the class but is not going to provide much against the pass. He has the versatility to play both the one and three techniques. Williams is a very safe pick for a team needing a guy that can come in a start right away.

Darius Alexander-DL3T-Toledo  
6’4”/305/28 reps/4.95
NFL Comparison: Lawrence Guy/Larry Ogunjobi
PFF Grade: 90.1
2.5 sacks and 4.5 TFL
Alexander is a polarizing prospect with a freakish blend of size, speed and power. However, it took him 6 years to be a star player at Toledo. He has positional versatility as well. Despite his age Alexander still has the raw untapped skills that defensive line coaches love. 

Alfred Collins-DL5T3T1T-Texas
6’6”/332
NFL Comparison: Jordan Davis/Terrence Cody
PFF Grade: 82.7
1 sack and 6 TFL
Collins had the longest wingspan at the combine at 85” His combination of length, physicality and athletic ability may be the best in the draft class. He played behind 2024 NFL Draft picks Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat. Last year his snaps increased and he improved as an overall player. He was a five-year college player, but like Alexander he still has plenty of raw potential. Davis has been a good rotational player for the Eagles, Collins could have a similar role in the NFL.

T.J. Sanders-DL3T-South Carolina  
6’4”/297/4.99
NFL Comparison: David Onyemata/Nick Williams
PFF Grade: 82.4
4 sacks and 7 TFL
Sanders is the prototype 3 tech with his combination of size, power and quickness. He is more consistent and had better college production than some of the other defensive tackles that are ranked in the same range. Sanders could provide great value as a pick in the third round.

Joshua Farmer-DL3T5T-FSU
6’3”/305/26 reps
NFL Comparison: Milton Williams/A'Shawn Robinson
PFF Grade: 63.5
4 sacks and 8 TFL
Farmer is one of the best interior pass rushers in the class. With an 83” wingspan, he has the elite length to play as a 5 tech defensive end in a 3-4 defensive alignment. Farmer has a chance to be a productive NFL player but he may need to find the perfect fit to get substantial playing time.

Omarr Norman Lott-DL3T-Tennessee
6’2”/291
NFL Comp: Shelby Harris/Osa Odighizuwa
PFF Grade: 69.4
4 sacks and 4 TFL
5.5 sacks and 6 TFL in 2023
Norman-Lott was a little more productive in 2023, but his 2024 tape is still very good. He is shorter than the average tackle but knows how to use his leverage to collapse the pocket. He has long arms for his frame and huge hands. He has the tools to be a starter with more consistency.

Deone Walker-DL5T3T-Kentucky
6’7”/331/22 reps
NFL Comp: Alan Branch/Daniel McCullers
PFF Grade: 71.2
1.5 sacks and 5 TFL7.5 sacks and 13 TFL in 2023
Walker is a traits based prospect with rare height and weight for the position. He was very consistent with three years of college production in the SEC. He started as a Freshman and was a Freshman All American. He has the length to play the 5 tech but he was almost always inside at Kentucky. Branch and McCullers were similar sized players that had good careers as rotational tackles.

Shemar Turner-DL5T3T-Texas A&M
6’3”/290
NFL Comp: Levi Onwuzurike/Jonathan Bullard
PFF Grade: 59.4
2 sacks and 6 TFL
6 sacks and 11 TFL in 2023
Turner was a very highly touted prospect in the class of 2021. He was a three year starter at A&M. His junior year was his best season. He has the tools and potential to be a solid starter like Onwuzurike or a good rotational player like Bullard has been for nearly a decade.

 

  

 

5 Tech/Base Ends	HT	WT	PFF	WING	Bench
Ty Robinson-5T/LDE-Nebraska	6'5''	288	75.1	79	28
Sai'vion Jones-5T/LDE-LSU	6'5''	280	74.9	82 3/8	DNP
Elijah Roberts-5T/LDE-SMU	6'4"	285	91.1	82 1/2	DNP
Tyrion Ingram Dawkins-5T/DE-Georgia	6'5''	276	69.8	82 3/4	DNP
Tonka Hemingway-DL5T-South Carolina	6'3''	284	70.9	80 3/4	DNP
Rylie Mills-5T/LDE-Notre Dame	6'5''	291	71.8	79 3/4	DNP
Zeek Biggers-DL5T-Georgia Tech	6'5''	312	65.0	85 1/8	DNP
Sean Martin-DL5T-West Virginia	6'5''	293	NA	84 1/2	28

 

3 Tech	HT	WT	PFF	WING	Bench
CJ West-DL-1T3T-Indiana	6'1''	316	83.6	79 1/8	DNP
Aeneas Peebles-DL3T-VA Tech	6'0''	282	89.1	78	DNP
JJ Pegues-DL1T3T-Ole Miss	6'2''	309	74.6	79 1/4	DNP
Vernon Broughton-DL3T-Texas	6'5''	311	NA	83 7/8	DNP
Tim Smith-DL3T-Alabama	6'4"	302	73.7	81 5/8	DNP
Ty Hamilton-DL3T-Ohio St	6'3''	299	NA	78 5/8	DNP
Jared Harrison-Hunte-DL3T-SMU	6'3''	290	80.8	79 1/2	DNP
Howard Cross III-DL3T-Notre Dame	6'1''	285	71.0	78 5/8	DNP
Warren Brinson-DL3T-Georgia	6'5''	315	NA	80 7/8	DNP
Junior Tafuna-DL3T-Utah	6'3''	308	76.9	78 3/4	24
Cam Horsley-DL3T-Boston College	6'3''	312	79.8	81	DNP
Eric Gregory-DL3T-Arkansas	6'3''	319	75.3	81 1/4	28
Tommy Akingbesote-DL-Maryland	6'4''	306	72.6	82 5/8	DNP
DaAndre Jules-3T-South Carolina	6'4''	316	NA	83	DNP
Jahvaree Ritzie-DL3T-UNC	6'4''	294	NA	81 1/8	26
Payton Page-DL3T-Clemson	6'3''	290	NA	79 1/8	DNP
Joey Slackman-DL-Florida	6'3''	300	66.5		27
Simeon Barrow Jr-DL3T-Miami	6'3''	290	80.8		DNP
Thor Griffith-DL-Louisville	6'2''	320	84.3		DNP

 

 

1/0 Tech Only	HT	WT	PFF	WING	Bench
Jamaree Caldwell-DL1T-Oregon	6'2''	332	80.3	78 3/8	DNP
Cam'Ron Jackson-DL1T-Florida	6'6''	328	77.4	81 7/8	DNP
Nazir Stackhouse-DL1T-Georgia	6'4''	327	75.2	78 1/8	DNP
Yayha Black-DL1T-Iowa	6'6''	336	NA	83 7/8	DNP
Jay Toia-DL1T-UCLA	6'2''	342	69.0	76 3/8	DNP
Elijah Simmons-DL1T-Tennessee	6'1''	334	NA	80	DNP
Nash Hutmacher-DL1T-Nebraska	6'3''	314	71.2	76 7/8	DNP
Joe Evans-DL1T-UTSA	6'2''	337	64.8	81	DNP