After a number of downs draft classes of defensive tackles we finally got a really strong class in 2025. This years class is strong at the top and deep overall. We could easily see four to five go in the first round. We have even one guy that should go in the top 10. Cutting this list down to ten players was difficult, but lets get to it.
Top Five Defensive Tackles
- Mason Graham-Michigan: Graham is likely a top eight pick. Despite his short-ish arms he can do almost anything you ask him to do. He can play nose, three tech, four, and was even used occasionally as an edge rusher by Michigan because despite being 6’3 1/2 and playing in the 315 range he has pretty good bend. Also despite not having huge sack production he is a definite pass rush threat. If he ends up in the right situation he could be defensive rookie of the year.
- Derrick Harmon-Oregon: Harmon transferred in from Michigan State where he was heavier and played more of a nose tackle role. He slimmed down a bit and was played all over by Oregon. Harmon has ideal size at 6’4 1/2 313 and is quick and agile. Like Graham he can play all over and has even played some defensive end. Harmon was able to show off his pass rush upside with five sacks. Harmon could go in the top 15.
- Tyleik Williams-Ohio State: Williams came into Ohio State as a highly recruited four-star and immediately had an impact as a freshman with six sacks. Big things were expected out of him. His play fell off in ’22, but bounced back a bit in 2023 and was even a little better in 2024. He big at 6’3 334, but is quick and athletic for his size. Williams is already a very good run stuffer, but still has flashes as a potential pass rush upside.
- Joshua Farmer-Florida State: Farmer came to Florida State as a middling three-star recruit and got solid play as a redshirt freshman where he showed some solid play against the run. He was listed at 318 by Florida State and was heavier in 2023. He has continued to slim down and improve his pass rush. Each year he improved in that area and could play anywhere from one tech to 4i. Farmer is very underrated in the media right now.
- Kenneth Grant-Michigan: Kenneth Grant had a lot of hype entering the season based off some flashes of production he had in 2023 and appearing on Bruce Feldman’s The Freak List. Grant came to Michigan as a massive 350 pound nose tackle. Grant put up five sacks in 2023 and it was thought he was in for a big season in 2024. He dropped weight, but ended up not showing much growth. Grant is still a good run defender but his middling testing at the combine/pro day show that he maybe wasn’t the freak athlete he was thought to be and his pass rush upside may not be what it was thought to be.
The Best Of The Rest: Defensive Tackles 6-10
6. Darius Alexander-Toledo: Alexander was obviously a lightly recruited player having signed with Toledo. He spent six years there developing himself, so he comes into the NFL with a very high floor. He is an all around player at 6’4 305 with 34″ arms that he shows well on film. These last two seasons he has really exploded collecting 11 sacks combined and almost 100 pressures. Alexander is an older prospect as he will turn 25 just before the season starts. That points to him maybe not having a big ceiling, but should at the very least be a real solid starter.
7. Ty Hamilton-Ohio State: Hamilton has become the forgotten member of the OSU defensive line with Tyliek, JT and Jack Sawyer getting all the pub. Hamilton is the brother of Jaguars defensive tackle Devon Hamilton. Hamilton has shown flashes of what he can do, but has yet to put it all together. He has played well against the run despite being just under 300 pounds. Hamilton showed off his talent and potential scoring a 9.21 RAS and ran a 4.95 40. The pass rush upside is there and he showed flashes of in in 2024 with six sacks. He could go higher than people think due to his potential and having played for a National Championship team.
8. Walter Nolen-Ole Miss: Walter Nolen was a huge five-star recruit coming out of high school. Nolen is big and strong, but took a couple years to get things going. He started to flash his potential in 2023 with 7 sacks, but he was inconsistent. After transferring to Ole Miss for 2024 he finally showed his potential as a strong run defender, but his inconsistency as a pass rusher still was there. He started hot but faded as the season went. He has stretches of games where he disappears. For how talented he is this shouldn’t happen. Nolen should still go high due to his potential.
9. Jordan Phillips-Maryland: Phillips is what you imagine in your mind when you think of a defensive tackle. He is also really young being just a redshirt Sophomore. Coming into college Phillips was over 330, but continued to work his weight down where he got all the way down to 312 at the combine. He is just a very large and strong man. Phillips probably has the most upside of any of the nose tackles in the class. He didn’t collect any sacks in college, but showed potential and could be a 3-4 sack a season type of defensive tackle.
10. TJ Sanders-South Carolina: TJ took a couple years to get things going. coming in he was undersized at around 275 and it took him sometime to put on the weight. He finally started to show something as a rusher in 2023 with five sacks, but he was playing in the mid 280’s, so his run defense still was iffy. Sanders was able to add the bulk and strength he needed in 2024 and took a big jump as a run defender and was still able to produce as a pass rusher.
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