The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with the marquee weekend of the offseason less than two months away, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is already heating up.
Over the next several weeks, we're going to take a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Here's what we've covered so far:
Previous: OT
Six Names to Know
Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of players who are widely considered the top defensive tackle prospects in this year's class.
Here's a look at six players to know.
Mason Graham – Michigan
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 296 pounds with 32-inch arms
Snapshot: One of the best players in college football over the last few years, Graham recorded 34 pressures for the Wolverines last season. He's expected to be taken within the first 10 selections of the first round.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 4 overall (No. 1 DT)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 4 overall (No. 1 DT)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Graham is a powerful defensive tackle with outstanding leverage and instincts. He's one of the most consistent players in the draft class. Against the run, he has an impressive short-area burst to attack blockers. He excels in block destruction. He stacks, finds the ball, chucks blockers to the side and collects tackles. He has lateral range to make plays down the line, too. He is always in a leverage position and never gets uprooted. In the pass game, he has a violent club/rip move and a powerful bull rush. His effort is outstanding. Overall, it's easy to identify Graham as a former wrestler. He always has a full gas tank, and he set the tone for the entire Michigan defense."
PFF: "He is fast, violent and relentless, and he can stop the run with great strength. He brings a high floor at all times and a high ceiling in flashes as a 3-technique defensive tackle for a 4-3 front."
For more on Graham, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Kenneth Grant – Michigan
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 331 pounds with 33 ½-inch arms
Snapshot: A prototypical nose tackle due to his size, Grant was a dominant run-defender at Michigan. He also tallied 27 pressures as a pass-rusher in 2024.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 17 overall (No. 2 DT)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 28 overall (No. 3 DT)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Grant is a massive defensive tackle with intriguing quickness and power…He's a very dominant run defender. He easily holds the point of attack, despite playing with a high pad level. I love his effort and awareness to chase down screens. If you want to see what Grant is capable of, watch Michigan's game against USC from the 2024 season. His upside was on full display that day…Overall, there is some assembly required, but his physical tools are very loud and worth the investment."
PFF: "Grant brings a rare combination of quickness and size to the nose tackle position. He has the strength to dominate single blocks and hold up against doubles. When he's in attack mode, he is an imposing player."
For more on Grant, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Derrick Harmon – Oregon
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 313 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms
Snapshot: A two-year contributor at Michigan State from 2022-23, Harmon transferred to Oregon ahead of last season and turned in his best campaign yet with 43 hurries, seven quarterback hits and five sacks.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 22 overall (No. 3 DT)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 26 overall (No. 2 DT)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Harmon is a quick, disruptive defensive tackle with excellent instincts. As a pass rusher, he has quick hands to knock away the punch of opposing linemen. He also has a club/rip move that helps him collect early wins. He flashes an occasional bull rush, but I'd like to see more of it because it's effective. Against the run, he's very aware and avoids getting displaced by down blocks. He can anchor down versus double-teams and he excels at shooting gaps to disrupt and redirect runners. Overall, Harmon has a great feel for the game and can create a lot of havoc despite lacking an elite trait.
PFF: "Harmon has just one year of notable production, but that season showcased a player with a high football IQ, consistent competitiveness and NFL-level quickness. He can be an effective 3-technique defensive lineman for an even front."
For more on Harmon, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Darius Alexander – Toledo
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 305 pounds with 34-inch arms
Snapshot: An excellent run-defender whose physical tools allow him to play both inside and outside, Alexander also posted a 14% pass-rush win rate (according to PFF) in 2024. He recorded at least 35 pressures in each of the last two seasons.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 23 overall (No. 4 DT)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 49 overall (No. 6 DT)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Alexander has excellent size, length and athleticism for his position. He primarily aligned inside at defensive tackle during his time at Toledo, but he did take some reps on the edge in the games I studied. As a pass rusher, he flashes an explosive shake/bull, with the quickness to redirect and cross the face of blockers…Against the run, he uses his length to stack and control blockers. He plays with balance and he's adept at throwing his hip at the double team to hold his ground. He is an older prospect as a sixth-year senior, but I believe he will be a Day 1 impact player on all three downs."
PFF: "Alexander was lightly recruited and was a late bloomer in college football (will be 25 in his rookie season), but his measurables and strength are NFL-caliber. He is a contributing NFL defensive lineman at worst due to his strength profile, with starting caliber impact potential in odd and even fronts."
For more on Alexander, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Walter Nolen – Ole Miss
Measurables: 6-foot-4, 296 pounds with 32 ½-inch arms
Snapshot: An All-American selection in 2024, Nolen began his collegiate career at Texas A&M before transferring to Ole Miss ahead of last season. It turned out to be a wise choice, too, as Nolen posted a career-most 35 pressures in his lone season with the Rebels.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 25 overall (No. 5 DT)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) Top 50 (March 6): No. 34 overall (No. 4 DT)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Nolen is a twitchy defensive tackle who fits best in a penetrating style of defense. Ole Miss slanted him quite often in its defensive scheme and he created some early wins versus the run and pass. As a pass rusher, he can really get off the ball with urgency and roll his hips to jolt blockers. He flashes a violent hump move and can redirect with ease…Against the run, he can generate negative plays for the offense by shooting gaps…Overall, Nolen is extremely talented and disruptive, but he hasn't come close to reaching his potential. If he lands with the right scheme/coach, he could emerge as one of the better players in this draft class."
PFF: "If he continues to grow in his pre-snap plan and hand usage, he can be an impactful, versatile defensive tackle with a high floor due to his strength in run defense."
For more on Nolen, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
Alfred Collins - Texas
Measurables: 6-foot-6, 332 pounds with 34 5/8-inch arms
Snapshot: A versatile player with the body type to play anywhere along the defensive line, Collins recorded 18 pressures for the Longhorns in 2024.
Big Board Rankings:
Pro Football Focus (Post-Combine): No. 49 overall (No. 9 DT)
Expert Analysis:
PFF: "Collins is a long, strong interior defensive lineman with the versatility to play anywhere from 0-technique to 5-technique."
For more on Collins, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.
