TOP 10 DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Jonathan Allen – Alabama – Senior – 6-3, 286 – 5.00
Allen has had a bit of a fall form grace during the draft process due to less-than-ideal athletic testing at the NFL Combine. But, when he’s been on the field – you know, the actual football part – he’s been one of the best interior defensive linemen in college football with 30.5 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks over the last two years. He, like Solomon Thomas is a “tweener” on the defensive line, but a good football player regardless.

2. Malik McDowell – Michigan State – Junior – 6-6, 295 – 4.85
Malik McDowell is perhaps the most interesting defensive tackle in this entire class. The reason for that is because when he’s on the field and going full speed, he’s unstoppable, plain and simple. But, for the last year there have been a few red flags that have come out on him, one most notably is when he said at the Combine that he just stopped listening to coaches at Michigan State. That’s not what you want to hear. Talent wise, he’s a Top 10 player in this class. Character wise, who knows?

3. Chris Wormley – Michigan – Senior – 6-5, 298 – 4.86
Wormley is a name you probably haven’t heard enough at the top of this interior defensive line class. he was the strong presence in the middle for a very good Michigan front four, and had good production with 31.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks in his career. He projects best as a 3-tech defensive tackle.

4. Larry Ogunjobi – Charlotte – Senior – 6-5, 305 – 4.97
Ogunjobi nearly had four straight years of double-digit tackle for loss production, but in his true freshman season missed that mark by half a sack. He recorded an incredible 49 tackles for loss during the course of his career, and that production is why he’s so high on this list. He’s a power rusher who uses good balance and strength to bull rush and rip off blockers.

5. Dalvin Tomlinson – Alabama – Senior – 6-3, 310 – 5.19
Coming up next in the line of good defensive NFL players to come out of the factory that is Tuscaloosa, Alabama we have Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson is a solid, productive interior defensive lineman who didn’t get the credit or the spotlight he deserved in the shadow of A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, Jon Allen and even the edge rushers. Tomlinson only had 10.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks during his career, but much of his impact came in form of disruption.

6. Jaleel Johnson – Iowa – Senior – 6-3, 316 – 5.38
Johnson was a late-bloomer in terms of national draft stock, but has become an understood Day 2 pick since. He has a motor that just won’t quick and the quick feet and hand usage to match. He’s not as athletic as some hoped he was, as shown at his Combine, but his 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his final year showed skills that translate as a pass rushing interior defensive lineman.

7. Grover Stewart – Albany State – Senior – 6-4, 347 – 5.14
Grover Stewart is a name that you might not have heard of, but if that’s the case, you better get used to it. With career production like 43.5 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks, Stewart certainly knows how to use his big body well. At 347 pounds, Stewart may look like a nose tackle, but actually has the power and speed to be a pass rushing 3-tech.

8. Davon Godchaux – LSU – Junior – 6-3, 310 – 5.27
Godchaux doesn’t have ideal measureables, but what he does have you just can’t teach. His motor and ability to “play angry” show up on tape, as he’s often the player taking up two or three blocks and throwing defenders all over as a nose tackle. He’s one of the top gap-stuffers in this class, despite critiqued height, weight and arm length.

Auburn DT Montravius Adams – Photo courtesy of Auburn

9. Montravius Adams – Auburn – Senior – 6-4, 305 – 4.87
Adams has been coveted ever since he was a high school recruit. As a former five-star recruit, Adams moves very well for a man his size. He’s quick off the snap, and when he can time things right, can really push the middle of an offensive line back. However, when he doesn’t time things right, he’s often left unable to get off blocks.

10. Carlos Watkins – Clemson – Senior – 6-3, 309 – 5.01
As a fifth-year senior, Watkins let his most production season be his last, including leading his defensive line unit to a national championship. His 12.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks were the most he’s ever recorded in 2016. He’s not elite athletically, but he’s a determined pass rusher and gap stuffer for a 4-3 defense.

BEST OF THE REST
11. Caleb Brantley – Florida – Junior – 6-3, 307 – 5.14
Caleb Brantley would be much higher on this list (maybe even as a first round prospect) if it weren’t for a report that came out this week where he allegedly knocked a woman unconscious. As teams scramble to figure out what really happened (side and witnesses are saying both sides aren’t true), Brantley stock could plummet. On the field, he’s one of the bets interior defensive tackles in the class to play either 3-tech or even some nose tackle.

12. Tanzel Smart – Tulane – Senior – 6-1, 296 – 5.24
One word really sticks out when you watch Tanzel Smart play: Effort. That’s something that is not as common as you would figure for an NFL player. There are a lot of defensive lineman who (understandably) don’t love exerting the force to move their body at full speed every snap. Smart does. He’s been a starter since his freshman year, and accumulated 39.5 tackles for loss in that time.

13. Elijah Qualls – Washington – Junior – 6-1, 313 – 5.13
Qualls is not your prototypical late-round nose tackle type of player. He has tons of strength in his body, but with shorter limbs and a lot of weight to carry, it limits him on his movements beyond plugging gaps. He actually translates better to a 3-tech, but without the length, you wonder how effective he can ben.

14. Eddie Vanderdoes – UCLA – Senior – 6-3, 305 – 4.99
As a former five-star recruit who played 13 games in his true freshman season, Vanderdoes has been a player on the NFL radar for years now. Unfortunately, a torn ACL in 2015 left him to not be the same player in 2016. He doesn’t carry his body weight well, but he’s a warrior in the trenches. He’s got that “dawg” in him that player love to line up with. If he can return to pre-torn ACL form, he’ll be a steal as a nose tackle.

15. Vincent Taylor – Oklahoma State – Senior – 6-3, 304 – 5.07
Being the first off the snap is often key to winning leverage and determining where plays are going, and Taylor does a good job of being one of the first players off the line. He struggles with athleticism at time, heavy feet and limited flexibility, but going up the field he’s powerful and tough to handle.

Click the next page to see who our “Best Bets” are for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from this list.