Category: Interior DL

2024 NFL draft: Bowl season DT big board

2024 NFL draft: Bowl season defensive tackle big board from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

It’s time to give the big men up front some love. The defensive tackles are always an interesting group to evaluate and ordinate, in part because they come in different sizes and styles of play.

I just dove into a handful of these players in the last week or so, and the more I watch the group, the more I do like the DT class overall. Still need to watch more of most of these guys, as this is more on first impression and preliminary study for all but the top two, who I’ve watched extensively and really like.

Offensive tackles

Wide receivers (via Brennen Rupp)

Cornerbacks

EDGE rushers

Running backs

2020 NFL draft: Rashard Lawrence scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about LSU defensive line prospect Rashard Lawrence

Rashard Lawrence | DL | LSU

Elevator Pitch

Lawrence is a big man who plays in the middle of the defense in that 1-technique role in a 4-3 defense. Could play some nose or a 5-technique defensive end in a 3-4. Another talented LSU Tiger who will like be selected in the the third-fifth round range. Will provide some depth as a rotational piece early on in his career.

Vitals

Height | 6-2

Weight | 308

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Lawrence is a wide body in the middle of the defense that can be disruptive while also eating up blockers to allow the linebackers to roam. He can shed blocks with his constant work with his hands. Despite playing in the one technique, he provides plenty as a pass rusher. He recorded nine sacks over his four seasons with LSU.

He makes plenty of disruptive plays in the backfield. During his four years, recorded 20.5 tackles for loss. He is able to win off the line with his quickness and great first step. Lawrence does possess some pass rush moves that allow him to get free. High motor and high character player. Lawrence doesn’t give up on plays.

Weaknesses

There are some durability concerns in Lawrence’s game with injuries in 2017 and 2019. Teams will wonder if he can stay healthy enough to count on him to be a contributor on the defensive front of a defense. Despite the knee injury in 2019, he still appeared in 12 games for the Tigers.

His footwork and balance are a concern. His leverage isn’t what some would expect it to be. He will need development on his technique as he can play a bit high which allows blockers to get the better of him.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Marlon Davidson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Auburn defensive line prospect Marlon Davidson

Marlon Davidson | DL | Auburn

Elevator Pitch

A versatile defender with athleticism, size and power, Davidson is a bit of a tweener but possesses the tools to be a solid contributor, regardless of where he plays at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 303

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Defensive coordinators will have plenty of different ways to utilize Davidson at the next level.

While he’s packed on close to 30 pounds in his transition to the interior defensive line, Davidson can still play off the edge in a stand-up or hand-in-the-dirt role. He does a good job of setting the edge as a run defender and can also work off of blocks to make plays in space. He plays with a high motor when engaged with blockers and keeps his legs churning to try and penetrate the backfield. When slotted inside, Davidson’s athleticism for the position makes him tough for guards and centers to stop. He accelerates well off the snap and moves well laterally for someone his size. His agility allows him to be utilized on stunts, as well as pull off finesse moves like spins and swims as a pass-rusher.

The big appeal with Davidson is that he’s more powerful than most edge rushers and quicker than most interior defensive linemen. Whether you project him as a 3-tech, a 5-tech or even a pure edge rusher, he brings some sort of mismatch to the table, and that versatility should help him get on the field early on in his career. He also has some value on special teams, having blocked three kicks in 2018.

Weaknesses

As is the case with most tweener prospects, there’s some question as to where Davidson fits best at the next level. He started off his career as a 240-pound edge rusher, but has since had to put on a lot of weight to kick inside, and there are some inconsistencies in his game that show that inexperience. He’s still getting used to playing in the trenches, as his play strength hasn’t quite developed completely yet. His ability to eat up gaps against the run and hold on through blocks using his anchor strength could be improved.

Davidson’s pad level can be improved a bit, which is one of the factors affecting his lack of significant lower-body strength on tape. His overall feel and instincts as a run defender could be worked on, but that should come with spending more time and taking more reps as an interior defensive lineman.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: McTelvin Agim scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Arkansas defensive line prospect McTelvin Agim

McTelvin Agim | DL | Arkansas

Elevator Pitch

An explosive interior defender who excels at slipping past blockers and penetrating the backfield with short-area quickness and a high motor, Agim has three-down potential at the next level. He can improve his technique a bit and can add some more power to his game, but he can eventually grow into a starter with some development.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 309

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Agim played at Arkansas as a defensive end before converted over to defensive tackle this past year, and that experience at end is apparent in his athleticism.

He accelerates well off the snap and has impressive overall short-area quickness. He has the slipperiness to squeeze into gaps and sink his way into the backfield and has the flexibility to sink his hips rip past interior blockers. That hip flexibility shows up in Agim’s pad level as he does a good job of maintaining leverage when he engages with the opposition. He has very good closing speed as a tackler for a defender his size, and he has solid lateral quickness at over 300 pounds.

Despite being fairly new to the interior defensive line, Agim has shown some promise in regards to his hand usage in his new position. He plays with quick and active hands, and he has shown the ability to swipe or jab the opposition and string together moves to blow past them and penetrate the backfield. He has flashed some solid speed-to-power conversion abilities, and his lower-body strength should only improve as he spends more time as a tackle.

Weaknesses

In his conversion to defensive tackle, Agim has had to pack on roughly 30 pounds since the beginning of the 2018 season, and while he has obtained a solid weight for the interior, his play strength still needs some work. He doesn’t pack a very powerful punch at the point of attack and doesn’t have enough power in his frame to hold up blocks and consistently eat gaps against the run.

Agim doesn’t always obtain optimal hand placement when going for a power move against a blocker, as he occasionally ends up striking too far wide and allowing the opposition easy access to his chest. His instincts when engaged with a blocker aren’t quite developed yet, as he can improve at knowing when to disengage and controlling offensive lineman at the point of attack.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: Raekwon Davis scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Alabama defensive line prospect Raekwon Davis

Raekwon Davis | DL | Alabama

Elevator Pitch

A lengthy, powerful and athletic interior defensive lineman, Davis has plenty of physical upside and can be a quality starter as either a 3-tech or a 5-tech defensive lineman. There’s a chance he could fall with the top-end talent in this year’s defensive line class, but he could be a solid Day 1 starter with plenty of potential to grow.

Vitals

Height | 6-6

Weight | 311

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

The first thing that stands out about Davis is his physical attributes.

Davis has great length, long arms and a well-built frame that carries plenty of good weight on it. He has plenty of raw strength in his game, as he packs a powerful punch at the point of contact and has shown the force in his frame to physically overwhelm a lot of the offensive linemen he goes up against. He does a good job of eating up gaps as a run defender, making it tougher for opposing ball-carriers to identify a hole in between the tackles. The drive he plays with in his lower body allows him to drive back the opposition and collapse the pocket.

In addition to his power, Davis also plays with athleticism and finesse. He accelerates well off the snap and has impressive short-area quickness for his size. He has good range as a tackler in the open field, and he’s surprisingly good at changing direction for someone as lengthy as he is. His hands also possess that quickness, as he has shown the ability to swipe and clear the hands of opposing blockers. Arguably the best move in his arsenal is his swim move, in which he utilities a powerful jab and a quick and polished arm-over to beat his man more often than not.

Weaknesses

For all of his athletic tools, Davis is still a bit of a work in progress from a technical perspective. As one would expect for a taller defender, he struggles a bit with maintaining ideal pad level and sinking his hips at the point of attack. This prevents him from generating optimal power and maximizing his full potential on a down-by-down basis. He’s much more of an interior presence than a playmaker, and he could get better at finishing plays. His hand usage can run hot and cold, as he can blow up a play on one down and be completely neutralized because of a lack of strong counter moves in his arsenal the next.

Davis was a three-year starter on a dominant Alabama defense, but his production fell off every year he was in the starting lineup. He had 8.5 sacks in 2017, but he combined for just three sacks in the following two seasons. His tackle for a loss numbers went down each year too, as he put up 10 in 2017, 5.5 in 2018 and 3 in 2019. There have reportedly been some concerns about his maturity, so scouts will have to figure that out before drafting him. He was also shot in the leg by a stray bullet in 2017, which teams will also look into.

Projection: 2nd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Jordan Elliott scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Missouri defensive line prospect Jordan Elliott

Jordan Elliott | DL | Missouri

Elevator Pitch

Elliott is a lengthy defender who has value as both a run defender and as a pass-rusher along the interior. His technique is a bit raw, but he brings good athleticism, quick hands and a high motor for the defensive line position. He has the potential to step into a starting role as a late Day 2 selection.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 302

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Elliott has some developing to do, but his ceiling is palpable when you watch his tape.

The Texas transfer had his first season in Mizzou’s starting lineup in 2019 after sitting on the bench in 2018 and redshirting in 2017, and he made the most of the opportunity. Elliott showcased plenty of value against the run, playing with plenty of play strength in both his lower body and his hands. He plays with a high motor and does a good job of churning his legs through contact to drive his opponents back. He does a good job of eating up gaps, holding up blocks and clogging lanes to give opposing ball carriers nowhere to go.

In addition to his gap-eating abilities, Elliott has also proven to be a quality gap penetrator. He has good athletic ability for the interior defensive line: when he times his jumps off the ball well, he has the slipperiness to dip past interior blockers and utilize his flexibility to wreck havoc. His frame offers plenty to be impressed with, as he has good length and an overall chiseled physique.

Weaknesses

Given that Elliott only started for one season in college, it’s no surprise that he’s still a bit raw in some areas. One of those areas is in his pad level: although he’s flexible, he doesn’t always sink his hips at the point of attack to maintain pad leverage and generate more power than he already does. His hand placement could be a bit more consistent, though he has shown some flashes in that regard.

Elliott’s solid athleticism gives him some value rushing the passer, but he can do a better job of having a concrete plan when doing so. He can look lost at times and can do better at stringing together moves so that if his first technique doesn’t work, he has a counter move in his back pocket to work with. His pass-rushing production isn’t all that impressive either, as he didn’t have more than three sacks in a single season.

Projection: 3rd Round

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2020 NFL draft: Leki Fotu scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Utah defensive line prospect Leki Fotu

Leki Fotu | DL | Utah

Elevator Pitch

Fotu is a mountain of a man that can clog the interior of a defense. Don’t let his size fool you, despite being 330 pounds, Fotu has a bit of quickness to his game. He likely falls into the latter part of day two but he can make strides to be a focal point inside for man teams looking for a nose or one-technique defensive tackle. A penetrating defensive tackle who needs to develop more as a pass rusher.

Vitals

Height | 6-5

Weight | 330

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

The first thing you notice is the size of Fotu. He uses that size and strength well at the point of attack. He can also use his length against offensive lineman when engaging. One on One blocking against Fotu seems very ineffective, teams will need to use double teams against him more often than not.

Uses his hands well in fighting with interior lineman. Uses that quickness off the line to his advantage. When engaged, uses lower body power well to drive blockers into the pocket. Despite his size, shows off motor in pursuit. Given his abilities up front, Fotu is a perfect player in a two-gap defense.

Weaknesses

Leki Fotu is a work in progress in terms of pass rush. He is fairly limited in giving anything on passing downs so he will likely be a two-down tackle early on in his career. He really struggles with leverage due to playing with a narrow base. Lineman are able to get under his pad level to control him in passing situations.

If he doesn’t beat the lineman off the snap, he can be swallowed up by blocking. His inability to counter is another reason that Fotu is in the latter portions of day two conversations. Late in games he seems. to get gassed so conditioning will play a factor.

Projection: Day 3

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2020 NFL draft: James Lynch scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Baylor defensive line prospect James Lynch

James Lynch | DL | Baylor

Elevator Pitch

An athletic and length interior defender with the versatility to be kicked outside if called upon to do so, Lynch is a productive player with plenty of pass-rushing upside. He uses his hands well and plays with a high motor consistently. Though he needs work as a run defender, the potential is there for him to be a quality player at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-4

Weight | 289

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Lynch’s physical attributes make him one of the more intriguing defensive linemen in the class.

A lengthy defender with long arms and a well-proportioned frame, Lynch has a strong frame that could pack on a little bit more weight if teams want to slide him inside as a 3-technique. He plays with a high motor and rushes hard on a down-by-down basis. His upper body is impressive, as he packs a powerful punch at the initial point of contact and physically overwhelmed Big 12 offensive linemen on a consistent basis.

As one would expect for a player who got 18.5 sacks in his two seasons as a collegiate starter, Lynch brings plenty of pass-rushing upside. He’s an explosive rusher who accelerates off the ball well and has good short-area quickness. His ankles are flexible and allow him to maintain pursuit and turn the corner while working through contact. Baylor had him taking some snaps as a standup edge rusher, and he attacks passing downs like an edge rusher would. He has quick and active hands and fights hard to clear his hands to disengage, as well as maintaining inside leverage. He can rip and dip well for someone his size.

Weaknesses

Lynch is still a work in progress from a technical standpoint. His pad level could use some improvement, as he has a tendency to get a bit high when he engages with a blocker. Though he’s flexible in his ankles, his ability to sink his hips in contact and generate power while staying low isn’t quite developed yet. He could stand to add some more hand techniques to his game to diversify his skill set some.

Run support is another area Lynch could stand to get better in. His tackle for a loss numbers are noteworthy, as he had 28.5 of them in his seasons as a starter, but he needs some work as far as holding his blocks and eating up gaps go. He can disengage and bring down ball carriers in space and past the line of scrimmage, but he could stand to add a bit more tenacity in his lower body and keep a lower center of gravity.

Projection: 3rd-4th Round

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2020 NFL draft: Justin Madubuike scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Texas A&M defensive line prospect Justin Madubuike

Justin Madubuike | DL | Texas A&M

Elevator Pitch

Madubuike is an athletic and violent interior defender who offers good short-area quickness and the strength to hold his own when defending the run. His consistency could use some improvement, and he’s not the lengthiest defensive lineman out there, but he has solid starting potential at the next level.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 293

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

With a good blend of speed and power in his game, Madubuike has plenty of physical traits to like.

The Texas A&M alum has good explosiveness when he accelerates off the snap, and his speed makes him a tough player for opponents to block. He has solid agility in the open field, allowing him to make tackles in space against the run or chase down scrambling quarterbacks. Madubuike is a powerful and determined defender who complements that speed with heavy hands and a lower body that packs plenty of strength. He is able to eat up gaps against the run, holding blocks and being able to free himself up to make the tackle.

Madubuike has shown some potential in his hand usage, and the flashes he has shown project him as a three-down lineman with value on passing downs. He blends violence and quickness well with his hands, varying his plan of attack depending on the situation. He has offered glimpses of stringing together moves and developing counter attacks, and he often wins the battle with his blocker when he does so. His production in his two years as a starter was also impressive, as he finished with 11 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss in that time frame.

Weaknesses

For Madubuike, it’s not about a lack of tools, it’s about putting them all together and being more consistent with them.

He can play with force in his frame, but the power of his punches at the initial point of contact can be hit or miss. His counter moves are displayed few and far between and should be utilized more often when he doesn’t immediately win at the point of attack. While his power shows up in spurts, his ability to deal with forceful jabs and mauling offensive linemen could be worked on a bit.

Madubuike also has occasional balance issues, as he tends to get knocked over when said forceful jabs are applied to him. He has obvious athletic gifts, but working on his body control and maintaining a low center of gravity could help him out. He also tends to lean over a bit too much when he gets engaged with a blocker.

Projection: Day 2

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2020 NFL draft: Ross Blacklock scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about TCU defensive line prospect Ross Blacklock

Ross Blacklock | DL | TCU

Elevator Pitch

An athletic interior defender with plenty to like in his game, Blacklock possesses the explosiveness to be a disruptive gap penetrator at the next level. He offers value as a pass-rusher with his active hands and lateral quickness in the open field. While he can get better as a gap-eater against the run, he should be able to start in his rookie year.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 290

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

Blacklock’s combination of speed and determination makes him a player to watch out for at the next level.

He fires off the ball with impressive acceleration, hitting top speed quickly and requiring astute planning for interior blockers to even hope to stop. He is a coordinated and functional athlete who can bend and generate power from his hips well. Blacklock plays with very good drive in his lower body, fighting hard on every play and converting speed to power at a high level. He can change direction well in space and chase down ball carriers, too.

The TCU alum offers plenty of upside as a pass rusher. In addition to the aforementioned quality athleticism, Blacklock has a solid array of pass-rushing techniques in his arsenal. He plays with a sense of urgency with his hand quickness, and he does a good job of fighting to shed blocks and develop a plan heading into every rush.

Weaknesses

Blacklock is much more of a gap penetrator than a player who can hold blocks and eat up holes in the run game. He doesn’t do a great job of working through blocks to make plays against the run, and his instincts on said plays could use some work. His play strength is good but not great, and there are some plays where he gets eliminated by a powerful jab from blockers.

He’s a disruptive interior defender, but Blacklock is often a split second too late to grab a sack or a tackle for a loss, settling for pressures and serving as a presence, instead. He didn’t have a season with double-digit tackles for a loss in college, and his career high in sacks in a season is only 3.5. There is some minor concern for injury, too, as he missed his entire 2018 season due to a torn Achilles.

Projection: 2nd Round

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