Top 10 DTs In 2018 NFL Draft

1. Washington DT Vita Vea – Junior – 6-4, 347 – 5.10
Vea is the clear-cut dominant tackle in this year’s draft class. With amazing strength (41 reps of 225 pounds) and tremendous movement skills for such a mammoth man, Vea is a once-in-decade player at defensive tackle. Keep in mind that Vea is still learning how to play the position after spending his time in high school as a 270-pound running back. Vea is just scratching the surface on how good he can become after recording 99 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his Huskies career.

Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne – Photo by: Getty Images

2. Alabama DT DaRon Payne – Junior – 6-1, 292 – 4.99
Payne is a strong, well-built defensive tackle that plays with a great deal of power. He dominated in the College Football Playoffs, especially in the National Championship win over Georgia. Payne has the tools to be a good pass rusher, but still has a ways to go in that area, evidenced by just five career tackles for loss and only three career sacks, including one last year. Payne was a two-year starter and may need a few years to learn how to play at an NFL level, but the fact that he is a rugged run stuffer will allow him to get on the field early in his career.

3. Michigan DT Maurice Hurst, Jr. – Senior – 6-1, 291 – 4.98
Hurst is lauded for his quickness and ability to penetrate, playing in Michigan’s one-gap scheme. While he has some good pass rushing ability, Hurst is not nearly as accomplished in getting the quarterback as some would suggest. Hurst recorded 32 tackles for loss in his three years as a starter for the Wolverines, but only had 13.5 sacks in four years, including a career-high 5.5 last year. Hurst wasn’t allowed to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine due to a heart condition, but apparently has been cleared to play since then. That medical red flag might have cost his draft stock to dip a bit.

4. Florida DT Taven Bryan – Junior – 6-5, 291 – 4.98
Bryan has been described as an incredibly athletic defensive tackle, yet he didn’t dominate the NFL Scouting Combine, as some suggested he would. Bryan is skilled at penetrating as a one-gap, three-technique defensive tackle, but doesn’t have great production. In just a year and a half as a starter, Bryan had 10.5 tackles for loss and only 5.5 sacks, including four during his junior year. The Gators standout also recovered three fumbles, forced one fumble and recorded an interception during his Florida career. Still, NFL scouts wanted to see more from him, which is why he’s a late first-round pick rather than a top 10 pick.

5. Stanford DT Harrison Phillips – Senior – 6-3, 307 – 5.21
Phillips is a strong, physical, hard-working nose tackle that has enough quickness to also play the three-technique position at the next level if asked. Phillips has great production over his last two years for the Cardinal, recording 144 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 14.5 of his 16.5 career sacks. As a senior, Phillips posted 98 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in a monster year. Phillips also showed well at the Senior Bowl and is expected to be a second-round pick. Some NFL teams like him better than Bryan.

Fort Hays State DT Nathan Shepherd – Photo courtesy of FHSU

6. Fort Hays State DT Nathan Shepherd – Senior – 6-4, 315 – 5.09
Shepherd is a small school giant with an NFL-ready frame that resembles that of Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Despite constant double-teaming at the Division II level, Shepherd was an All-American and the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after recording 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Shepherd recorded 34 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his four years in college between Simon Fraser University in Canada and Fort Hays State. The 25-year old Shepherd is very mature and had a dominant showing for a practice and a half at the Senior Bowl before breaking his hand.

7. North Carolina State DT B.J. Hill – Senior – 6-3, 311 – 4.99
Hill was part of one of the most formidable defensive lines in college football over the past few years. While teammate Bradley Chubb racked up most of the sacks, Hill showed he could get to the quarterback from the interior on occasion with eight career sacks in his four years as a starter, in addition to his 23.5 career tackles for loss. Hill is big, strong and fast, and used a great showing at the NFL Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl to up his draft stock, which is likely in the second round now.

8. Georgia DT Trenton Thompson – Junior – 6-3, 288 – 5.06
Hines isn’t the biggest defensive tackle, but is only a junior and has the frame to add a bit more bulk. While he had a great sophomore season with 64 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, including a dominant performance over TCU in the Liberty Bowl in 2016, Thompson’s junior season was a bit of a disappointment with just 38 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and no sacks. Thompson may have made a mistake by skipping his senior season and entering the draft a year early. He’ll likely be drafted on potential and athletic ability rather than production in the second or third round.

9. Florida State DT Derrick Nnadi – Senior – 6-1, 317 – 5.33
Nnadi is a big-bodied defensive tackle that doesn’t have great movement skills, but wins with brute force. Nnadi has 165 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his career, which shows he can get to the quarterback on occasion. Nnadi also has three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career. He may not be quick and agile enough to play three-technique tackle at the next level, but would be a serviceable nose tackle in the NFL. Nnadi is likely a second- or third-rounder.

10. Virginia Tech DT Tim Settle – Junior – 6-3, 329 – 5.37
Settle has a lot of potential and athletic ability, but needs to take his conditioning more seriously. Settle had one good year at Virginia Tech, which came last season when he recorded 36 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He could have used another year with the Hokies to get more experience and production – in addition to getting in better shape. Settle didn’t take his offseason training seriously and ran a very disappointing 5.37 time in the 40-yard dash and that could sink his draft stock into the third or fourth round.

Best Of The Rest

11. South Florida DT Deadrin Senat – Senior – 6-0, 314 – 5.16
Senat capped off a great senior season in which he recorded six of his seven career sacks and 10.5 of his 23.5 career tackles for loss with an outstanding week at the East-West Shrine Game. Senat is an undersized nose tackle, but is plenty strong and can anchor well against the double team despite his short, squatty frame.

Sam Houston State DT P.J. Hall – Photo courtesy of SHSU

12. Sam Houston State DT P.J. Hall – Senior – 6-0, 308 – 4.76
Hall began his career at tight end before switching to defensive end and then adding on weight to play defensive tackle at Sam Houston State where he dominated the competition. Hall recorded an astounding 284 tackles, 86.5 tackles for loss, 42 sacks, 29 pass breakups, nine forced fumbles, four interceptions, one fumble recovery and 14 blocked kicks, which is just crazy. Hall had a great East-West Shrine Game week to boost his draft stock, which is now in the fourth round.

13. Miami DT R.J. McIntosh – Junior – 6-4, 286 – 5.13
McIntosh is a good, but not great defensive tackle that could use another 10 pounds or so to be more effective at the next level. McIntosh only had 5.5 sacks at Miami, but can get into the backfield as he racked up 23 tackles for loss. McIntosh also has good awareness, evidenced by nine pass breakups at the line of scrimmage, including seven last year. He’s likely a fifth- or sixth-round pick.

14. Connecticut DT Folounso Fatukasi – Senior – 6-4, 318 – 5.29
Fatukasi is a big, run stuffer with plenty of experience as a four-year starter. While not flashy, the UConn defender was quite productive with 170 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and four forced fumbles in his career. Fatukasi’s best season came in 2015 when he was a three-technique tackle and had 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and all four of his forced fumbles.

15. Miami DT Kendrick Norton – Junior – 6-3, 314 – 5.25
The big Hurricanes defensive tackle is a good run stuffer, but not much more than that. Norton accumulated 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in his Miami career. Norton would have been better served staying in college for one more year, especially given the depth of talent in this year’s defensive tackle class.

16. Delaware DT Bilal Nichols – Senior – 6-4, 306 – 4.95
Nichols is a very athletic defensive tackle, but NFL teams would like to see him play with more strength and vigor. Nichols was a productive small school player, who racked up all 10.5 of his sacks in his final two years for the Blue Hens. Nichols had an up-and-down week at the East-West Shrine Game, but left scouts wanting more after he would show up for one play and be invisible for the next few. Nichols is regarded as a fifth- or sixth-round draft choice.

17. Virginia DT Andrew Brown – Senior – 6-3, 296 – 5.03
Brown played defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, but is probably better suited to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme given his size, as he did at the Senior Bowl where he opened plenty of eyes. Brown is not a great athlete, but gives great effort and had 94 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks – most of which came in his final two years as a starter. Brown is viewed as a late-round pick.

18. North Carolina State DT Justin Jones – Senior – 6-2, 309 – 5.09
Jones is perhaps the least heralded of the four talented N.C. State defensive line, but he could prove to be a Day 3 steal. As a three-year starter, Jones recorded 108 tackles from his nose tackle spot, but also recorded 22.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Jones has the size and bulk to handle double teams. He had a great week in Mobile, Ala. at the Senior Bowl, and if this defensive tackle class wasn’t so deep he would be picked higher than the sixth round.

19. Texas DT Poona Ford – Senior – 6-0, 306 – 5.15
Ford played so well at nose tackle in the East-West Shrine Game that he was called up to the Senior Bowl. Although undersized, he played the nose tackle position well at Texas where he recorded 133 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss as a three-year starter. But Ford is limited athletically and wasn’t even invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Due to his lack of size and pass rushing ability, evidenced by just four sacks, including 1.5 over the last two years, Ford is a late-round pick.

20. Georgia DT John Atkins – Senior – 6-3, 321 – 5.38
Atkins is a one-dimensional run-stuffing nose tackle at Georgia where he started for the past two seasons. Atkins is a big-bodied player that racked up 81 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and zero sacks. There aren’t a lot of space-eating 3-4 nose tackles in this class so Atkins could be drafted in the sixth or seventh round.

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