A little less than a week ago, I wrote about the 2026 DT class and broke down some quality fits for the Las Vegas Raiders, and well I got about 20 players done with a lot more still to come. That first article is here in case you missed any. I also broke down what exactly to expect from the Raiders DL here that will also outline what the Raiders are going to have on their roster already. A brief introduction and background to the first article is below, if you read the first one and want to refresh here you go, if not well here it is
The NFL Draft is a little over a month away, and the Raiders will hold the 1st overall pick (1st round), 36th overall (2nd round), 67th overall (3rd round), 102nd, 117th, and 134th overall in the 4th round, 175th (5th round), 185th and 208th in the sixth round, and 219th in the seventh round. The Raiders hold 10 overall draft picks, among the most in the NFL this year, despite missing out on the 14th overall pick from the Ravens. The Raiders have consistently been projected as taking a nose tackle highly in the 2026 draft, the Raiders likely won’t have a true 0-Tech on the field all that often, as teams don’t sit in base assignments more than 24-28% of the time based on the last three seasons. Additionally, Las Vegas will have a 1-shade nose tackle more often than a 0-Tech, requiring their “nose tackle” to be more reliant on quick inside leverage, instead of pure mass that can clog gaps. I broke down what exactly to expect from the Raiders DL here that will also outline what the Raiders are going to have on their roster already.
New defensive coordinator Rob Leonard is likely to have an adaptation of both Mike MacDonald’s & Brian Flores systems, after coaching under both. Last season, Seattle ran a true )-Tech/Nose just 61 times, and they had a 1-Tech on field just 103 snaps last season. That has slightly changed from MacDonald having a nose 101 times in 2024 and a 1-Tech 214 times in 2024 as well, though he’s held firm around 70-78 and 100-124 majority of his NFL career. Taking a look at the Vikings, they ran a true nose tackle 119 snaps, with a 1-Tech 98 snaps. Flores has consistently held between 102-155 snaps with a 0-Tech, and 100-134 with a 1-Tech in his career. Rob Leonard has never ran a true 3-4 front, and it’s likely that front isn’t going to be seen often with how often the Raiders look to run a versatile defense, will rotate into 4 man, 5 man, over, under, and bear fronts. Additionally, they’ll likely live out of a nickel defense which puts a traditional 4 man front majority of the time, so the impact that a true NT will be played often is likely limited, and a bigger look is towards more athletic 1-2 tech’s with the ability to slide between 0, and another key factor is their versatility to work outside of 1/2 tech as Leonard has consistently rotated his DL between multiple techniques to tap into certain situation and packages. Las Vegas is going to be heavy with an attack-react front, requiring the DL to get upfield quickly and get into the LOS/backfield, comparative to a react-attack front that is more patient approached and requires defensive lineman to set up blockers and then get to the backfield. Either are effective, but with his history coming from Patrick Graham, Brian Flores, and Mike MacDonald who have all ran mostly attack fronts, it’s hard to see that changing for Leonard. The goal for the Raiders will be getting one-gap principles that allow the defensive line to hold gaps, fire upfield, and get to the defender in the backfield, something that Las Vegas did exceptionally well with last season ranking 7th in run defense, 1st in TFL, and having the 5th best run defense per EPA/play in the NFL under Leonard’s first year as run game coordinator.
Taking a very quick look at what Leonard has had with his defensive line, that will also require athleticism based on his high rates of stunts and twists where in his career, his defensive line’s have never ranked lower than 10th in defensive line movement rates (it sounds made up, it’s not I promise). Leonard loves looping outside pass rushers inside to create free lanes with double teamed IDL, sim pressures, and working to create 1-on-1 opportunities for blitzing linebackers, which with the additions of Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean will happen quite often. Through his time with the Raiders defensive line, Leonard did run a 0-Tech on 155-188 snaps between 2023 and 2025, with the most coming in 2022 with now Ravens nose tackle John Jenkins. Additionally, they have ran a 1-tech nearly 245 snaps or so in each season under Leonard, a trend that continued to his days in Baltimore. With all this in mind, the main goal of the article was to detail NFL draft defensive lineman that will fit what he’s looking for, so with that here we go:
*Based on the article I linked above, you can see two key things, and if you didn’t read that it’s alright. Adam Butler has spent 19% of his career snaps at 0-Tech & 9% at 1-Tech. Additionally, JJ Pegues played nearly 35% of his collegiate snaps at a 0-Tech and 8% at 1-Tech. Something that Las Vegas didn’t utilize last season *
Traditional 0-1 Tech:
Previous Names: Domonique Orange (Iowa State), Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati), Keeshawn Silver (USC),
Tim Keenan III, Alabama (Consensus: Mid to Late 4th)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 320 | Career: 95 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3 PBU, FF, 44 run stops, 6.5% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 484 snaps
- 1-Tech: 69 snaps
- 2-Tech: 455 snaps
- 3-Tech: 365 snaps
- 4-Tech: 25 snaps
Keenan has split time around the line, but with Alabama’s pretty limited time using a 1-Tech in general will be an adjustment for him. Keenan originally started his season working as a 2/3 Tech and Alabama quickly shifted him more towards the traditional 0-Tech role. Keenan is stout at the point of attack, has a good frame though he’s slightly undersized in terms of his height. He shows natural leverage, a decent first step, and he’s violent against the run. Keenan’s ceiling as a pass rusher is limited, he doesn’t show a ton in terms of technique and upside especially with a lack of athleticism at times. Keenan is a strong mid round low ceiling, high floor NT option for Las Vegas if they go elsewhere early on.
Albert Regis, Texas A&M (Consensus: Late 5th)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 317 | Career: 116 tackles, 11 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 10 PBU, FF, 51 run stops, 2.7% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 208 snaps
- 1-Tech: 21 snaps
- 2-Tech: 758 snaps
- 3-Tech: 419 snaps
- 4-Tech: 77 snaps
Regis is likely to see more snaps shift from 3-Tech to a 1/2 and his 0-Tech role in the NFL. He’s a very limited pass rusher, as seen by his production, but also lacking any diverse hand technique, struggling to get off the line of scrimmage, and overall is an average to below average athlete for a pass rushing threat as he’ll get beat to the point of attack rather quickly. Regis is undersized, but his lower body strength, understanding of leverage, and low pad level will be a strong initial point for him in the NFL. He’s a very limited player, and likely is a true 1-2 down defender in the NFL, but Regis is an exceptional run defender which will get him his name called early day three. If Las Vegas looks to go a different route early on, and values a later round nose tackle Regis shows a ton of potential fits though it’ll depend on how much they value pass rush from a nose as well.
Brandon Cleveland, NC State (Consensus: Late 7th to UDFA)
HT: 6’4 | WT: 315 | Career: 107 tackles, 16 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 FF, 47 run stops, 6.3% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 590 snaps
- 1-Tech: 353 snaps
- 2-Tech: 308 snaps
- 3-Tech: 98 snaps
- 4-Tech: 58 snaps
I love Brandon Cleveland, he’s certainly one of “my guys” and Cleveland has just been very well rounded, consistent, and efficient. Cleveland has consistently been a massive impact against the run, including a career depth of tackle of 1.72 which is top five among all DT in the class this season. Cleveland won’t show a ton of production as a pass rusher, but he’s shown subtle athleticism, and good hand technique/combat skills to be a consistent pass rusher at times. Cleveland will make a roster off his diversity, where he’s started to shift towards more of a 2/3 tech instead of the pure 0/1 he was in 2024. Cleveland saw improvement as a pass rusher when he was able to work more inside, rely on his athleticism, and combine with his strength/anchor. Cleveland should carve out a strong NFL career as a late day three selection.
Damonic Williams, Oklahoma (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 323 | Career: 122 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 FF, 47 run stops, 6.5% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 879 snaps
- 1-Tech: 129 snaps
- 2-Tech: 395 snaps
- 3-Tech: 218 snaps
- 4-Tech: 222 snaps
- 5-Tech: 61 snaps
I hope you enjoy UDFA’s, cause a lot of the names on this list are likely late day 3, UDFA type players. Williams is undersized for nose, though he has impressive strength and anchor with his size. He’s bounced between different techniques, and Oklahoma ran him primarily at a 1/2 Tech in 2025, despite his track record coming at nose. Williams struggled working away from nose tackle, seeing lows in run stop win rate, and pass rush win rate. Williams has a very limited ceiling, but he shows decent athleticism, strength, and is smart vs the run which should allow him to potentially push for a roster spot as a day three player if he shifts back to nose.
Quientrail “Bobby” Jamison-Travis, Auburn (Consensus: Early 7th)
HT: 6’4 | WT: 322 | Career: 56 tackles, 4 TFL, sack, 28 run stops, 6.4% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 291 snaps
- 1-Tech: 42 snaps
- 2-Tech: 214 snaps
- 3-Tech: 111 snaps
- 4-Tech: 68 snaps
- 5-Tech: 39 snaps
Jamison-Travis is pretty similar to the guys above him, he’s a stout physical run defender, and shows a ton of lower body power. He has great arm length, is able to engage quickly, and holds his own vs double teams in consistent gap control assignments. Jamison-Travis does show good initial burst and quickness off the line of scrimmage, has good lateral movement skills, and overall does show very subtle athleticism that allows him to get to the point of attack quickly as a run defender. Jamison-Travis is limited as a pass rusher, doesn’t show a ton of hand technique, utilizes his speed to power to often, and he’ll need to consistently find ways to win outside of athleticism. Jamison-Travis will have to rely on early downs to make an NFL roster, and should be a target in day three. His fit for the Raiders is a little interesting, with a true limit on a 0-Tech but as a late round aspect could be a strong option.
Diverse 0/1/2/3 Tech:
Previous Names: Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Christen Miller (Georgia), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), Cole Brevard (Texas), Landon Robinson (Navy), Darrell Jackson Jr (Florida State), Zxavian Harris (Ole Miss), Jordan van den Berg (Georgia Tech), Deven Eastern (Minnesota)
Peter Woods, Clemson (Consensus: Late 1st)
HT: 6’3 | WT: 310 | Career: 84 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 FF, 55 run stops, 12.2% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 112 snaps
- 1-Tech: 14 snaps
- 2-Tech: 359 snaps
- 3-Tech: 491 snaps
- 4-Tech: 60 snaps
Ahh Peter Woods, man I have a lot to say about him but we’ll try and keep this “short” Woods saw his production, run stops, and pass rush win rate all fall each season since 2023 when he first started at Clemson including a massive career low of 8.3% pass rush win rate in 2025 compared to 13.5% in 2024. While his snap count increased by nearly 150 snaps, Woods also saw his playtime snaps differ. Comparative to 2023/2024 where he nearly played an even amount across the line, with an increase at 3T, Woods saw nearly almost all his snaps come at 3T in 2025 which did limit him severely. The main point, is Clemson utilized him horrifically in 2025, which severely limited his production, draft stock, and overall ability to potentially translate to the NFL. Woods will need to be placed more around the defensive line in his career, allowing him to find matchups, win with his speed to power, and also work with his hip/ankle flexibility that allows him to dip, turn the hoop, and consistently get past lineman. While Woods wasn’t the best athletically testing wise, he shows good game athleticism on field, has power to anchor and fight at the point of attack, and his pass rush technique is frequently flashing. While he’s an inconsistent player, he’s going to need to be in a front that allows him versatility, and the ability to work on stunts/twists to be an impact NFL pass rusher which the 21 year old can certainly do. It’s hard to ignore the 2025 film, but it’s also not hard to see the 2024 and 2023 film where he dominated bigger, older, and stronger defensive lineman early in his career.
Nick Barrett, South Carolina (Consensus: Mid 5th)
HT: 6’3 | WT: 322 | Career: 72 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, INT, TD, 36 run stops, 4.9% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 120 snaps
- 1-Tech: 99 snaps
- 2-Tech: 417 snaps
- 3-Tech: 324 snaps
- 4-Tech: 13 snaps
I love the NFL draft time for a couple reasons, one it’s because I watch too much football, but secondly is just bad takes. Similar to guys like Caleb Banks and Darrell Jackson Jr, people see Nick Barrett at 6’3/325 and others on this list and just automatically assume “nose tackle” but that’s not fully the case for most of them. Barrett does have exceptional size, is quick off the line of scrimmage, shows good power in his upper body and initial punch that consistently gets him into position to drive guards/centers backwards, and is smart vs the run showing an ability to break down concepts, clog lanes, and play both gap/man control well. He’s extremely inconsistent, won’t provide much as a pass rusher, and overall has a very low career snap count (973) through five seasons which is also a massive concern. Barrett isn’t the best athletically, and as a 5th year player he’s very raw in a lot of aspects but his 2025 film shows enough to warrant a mid round swing on a run first defensive tackle that can slide across the defensive line.
Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M (Consensus: Late 5th to Early 6th)
HT: 6’3 | WT: 295 | Career: 138 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, INT, FF, 63 run stops, 7.4% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 72 snaps
- 1-Tech: 6 snaps
- 2-Tech: 365 snaps
- 3-Tech: 374 snaps
- 4-Tech: 560 snaps
- 5-Tech: 5 snaps
For starters, Onyedim has 34 1/4 arms which is fantastic for him but there’s a lot to work on as well, which also a good thing to have. Texas A&M finally shifted away from using him as a 4-5 Tech in 2025 and he saw an uptick in his pass rushing abilities, though he’s extremely athletic and could kick into some 4-Tech at the NFL level. He’s extremely strong at 295 pounds, shows a good first step off the LOS, can work laterally well, and does well working with natural leverage to get under offensive lineman’s pads. He’ll need to improve his hand technique, speed to power conversion, and pad level to make an impact as a pass rusher, but Onyedim does show good flashes of athleticism, strength, and versatility to be a strong mid round defensive tackle target for a diverse front such as Las Vegas.
James Thompson Jr, Illinois (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’5 | WT: 315 | Career: 100 tackles, 15 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 PBU, 46 run stops, 6.1% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 70 snaps
- 1-Tech: 31 snaps
- 2-Tech: 177 snaps
- 3-Tech: 458 snaps
- 4-Tech: 515 snaps
- 5-Tech: 112 snaps
Thompson is strong, exceptionally strong, and it’ll be his main calling card in the NFL. He has decent arm length at 32 1/2 inches, which for 6’5 is below the threshold you’d expect. Thompson has an extreme motor which pops consistently, and he’s a non stop defender not only playing a high rate of snaps, but also simply playing through the whistle each snap. He has strong violent hands, exceptional lower body strength and flexibility, and can be flexible as a run defender and pass rusher. Thompson has good gap control ability, strong hand combat technique, and while he’ll need to refine his pass rush moves there’s a world he will produce 4+ sacks consistently. Thompson is limited in his pass rush, which will knock him, he needs a lot of work, and most comes in his technique and experience against the pass. He’s a tweener lacking the true pass rush to be a 3/4 tech in the NFL, but he’ll need a little more mass as a 3-4 end. Thompson is a versatile defender, who despite his age, does have a higher ceiling and could be an interesting mid round target.
Jackie Marshall, Baylor (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’3 | WT: 306 | Career: 94 tackles, 13 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 FF, 47 run stops, 7.3% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 45 snaps
- 1-Tech: 10 snaps
- 2-Tech: 183 snaps
- 3-Tech: 293 snaps
- 4-Tech: 299 snaps
- 5-Tech: 295 snaps
- 6-Tech: 270 snaps
Similar to most Baylor defensive lineman, Marshall has played across the defensive line majority of his career as seen by the snaps above. Marshall is pretty limited athletically, which is a surprise given his diverse snap counts, but he shows a solid first step, and can get into the rep quickly. He’s a tweener and the true role is very questionable, as he hasn’t worked primarily enough at one role to be a true fit, and he’ll need to add more mass to maintain his role as a 4i in a 3-4 though the versatility will be something sought after as an undrafted free agent. Marshall is strong, and it’s his consistent calling card, while also playing with good leverage and average ankle/hip flexibility. He’s an intriguing prospect for the versatility and potential to develop into a backup defender, but he’s likely a true UDFA that will need to push for a roster spot in year 2/3.
David Gusta, Kentucky (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 309 | Career: 74 tackles, 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 30 run stops, 9.5% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 218 snaps
- 1-Tech: 195 snaps
- 2-Tech: 560 snaps
- 3-Tech: 649 snaps
- 4-Tech: 69 snaps
Gusta measured in with 31 inch arms, which is a massive limitation for him, though he’s extremely athletic as well and wins a ton with his strength. Gusta has a quick violent first punch, is exceptionally strong at the point of attack, and his lower body also holds a good build and a ton of strength. Gusta has constant moving legs, quick feet, and overall can work across the defensive line fairly effectively because of his extreme athleticism and foot work. He’s limited with the lack of size and length, which does get him consistently flushed out against the run (he played 181 snaps as a 0-Tech in 2025 and it wasn’t great), while also losing leverage at times because he’s not able to grapple onto defenders. Gusta does have room to grow as a pass rusher as well, relying mainly of his athleticism and the technique needs work. He’s an intriguing prospect, should hear his name called on day three despite the consensus UDFA grade, but he shows a lot of upside with his athleticism and raw traits.
Clay Patterson, Stanford (Consensus: Early 5th)
HT: 6’3 | WT: 280 | Career: 146 tackles, 38 TFL, 27 sacks, INT, 5 PBU, 3 FF, 52 run stops, 11.7% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 152 snaps
- 1-Tech: 22 snaps
- 2-Tech: 402 snaps
- 3-Tech: 704 snaps
- 4-Tech: 358 snaps
- 5-Tech: 559 snaps
- 6-Tech: 107 snaps
Patterson, who started his career at Yale, played 5-Tech just 50 snaps in 2025 and was primarily used off the role during his time at Yale, though he was also productive and does have the athleticism to play a diverse front in his career. He’s logged an 4.85 50, 4.44 shuttle, 10-4 broad, and 38 vert, and his diverse playstyle does consistently show up on his film as well. Patterson has an explosive first step, strong power at the point of attack, strength at the POA, and anchors extremely well against the run. He’s a smart defender, who’s stock is rising fairly quickly over the last couple of weeks, and he should hear his name called sometime on day three. He’s a versatile defender, and fits what the Raiders are searching for well.
Traditional 3/4 Tech:
Previous Names: Caleb Banks (Florida), Gracen Halton (Oklahoma), Rayshaun Benny (Michigan), Chris McClellan (Missouri)
Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana (Consensus: Late Round 3)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 295 | Career: 134 tackles, 26 TFL, 16.5 sacks, 2 FF, 41 run stops, 13.7% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 8 snaps
- 1-Tech: 34 snaps
- 2-Tech: 421 snaps
- 3-Tech: 1220 snaps
- 4-Tech: 48 snaps
- 5-Tech: 5 snaps
Proctor is a really really fun watch, he’s an electric athlete with a 4.79 40, 4.71 shuttle, 9-5 broad, and 33 vert while also having 33 1/4’ arms. He has an extremely explosive first step, phenomenal initial burst and quickness, works laterally and horiztonal well, shows good ankle and hip flexibility to dip and rush through defenders with bend and twitch. He shows a massive impact vs the pass, with a highly refined swin, club and chop move, while also having great speed to power which shows up often. He has an explosive lower half, doesn’t waste movement, and keeps his feet constantly with the same lower body athleticism. Proctor does struggle at times vs the run, getting pushed around though he added weight near the combine and has said he plans to focus on his lower body strength, which will help him as a run defender in the NFL extremely well. He’s extremely limited to a 3 and likely a little 4i technique in the NFL as his size does limit how well he’ll work on the 0-2 techniques, and he can also have a tendency to get beaten pretty badly against double teams. Proctor has a massive ceiling, is an electric pass rusher, and should make an NFL impact quickly. He’s similar to Oklahoma’s Gracen Halton with a little more refinement needed, but should Las Vegas be searching for a true pass rush focused 3T in the middle rounds, Proctor is a no brainer.
DeMonte Capehart, Clemson (Consensus: Late 5th)
HT: 6’5 | WT: 315 | Career: 72 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 5 PBU, FF, 39 run stops, 5.4% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 198 snaps
- 1-Tech: 26 snaps
- 2-Tech: 174 snaps
- 3-Tech: 489 snaps
- 4-Tech: 28 snaps
Capehart has only played 915 snaps since 2020 which is a massive concern to start, he’s seen more time recently but is pretty limited to a true 3-Tech with limited upside as a pass rusher. He’s fairly athletic, big, and shows a ton of power with his violent hands and core strength. Capehart does well anchoring in the run game, has a thick well built out lower half that helps him consistently drive upfield and also plant and be a rock in the run game. He wins primarily with power, will need to refine his pass rush skillsets, and has the athleticism that you can rely on. He has a massive frame, and can stand up too tall which causes defenders to get into his chest too easily which limits his ability to work as a pass rusher. He’s athletic, but relies too often on athleticism and strength over technique. At 23 years old, Capehart is worth a flyer as a developmental defensive tackle in the pass game, but he should have a decent impact early on in run situations.
Zane Durant, Penn State (Consensus: Mid to Late 5th)
HT: 6’1 | WT: 291 | Career: 89 tackles, 22 TFL, 10.5 sacks, INT, 3 PBU, 44 run stops, 8.2% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 124 snaps
- 1-Tech: 46 snaps
- 2-Tech: 381 snaps
- 3-Tech: 1025 snaps
- 4-Tech: 76 snaps
Durant is fun, he’s extremely electric off the line of scrimmage, has exceptional movement skills, and can be a true threat as a pass rusher at the NFL level. He’s a pure fit for an attack front, as he’s able to get up field extremely quickly, get to the backfield, and deconstructs blocks well. Durant converts speed to power which helps to limit his size and length deficiencies with just 31 inch arms. Durant works well in stunts, twists, and other aspects that help him get to the point of attack where he can win off athleticism. As mentioned, Durant is undersized, gets flushed out extremely consistently vs the run, and doesn’t have the arm length capable to engage the offensive line and keep gap integrity. There’s a role for Durant in the NFL, but it’s very dependent on his system and coaching staff that will utilize him as a sparse pass rusher. Durant will need to improve in areas he’s able including his speed to power, pass rush technique, and quit the reliance on pure speed to win which will allow him to see the field more often. Durant is an intriguing prospect, but the biggest question marks come with his fit, size, and how well he can develop pass rush moves early on.
Bryson Eason, Tennessee (Consensus: Early 7th)
HT: 6’3 | WT: 315 | Career: 105 tackles, 22 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 5 PBU, 39 run stops, 6.6% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 87 snaps
- 1-Tech: 15 snaps
- 2-Tech: 439 snaps
- 3-Tech: 706 snaps
- 4-Tech: 198 snaps
- 5-Tech: 36 snaps
Tennessee gets their defensive lineman to the NFL pretty consistently, and Eason should follow suit. He has a good frame, good arm length at 33 1/8 inches, and is fairly athletic. Eason struggles to fire off the ball consistently, can be late off the line of scrimmage, and does tend to get too high in his pad level immediately which causes him to be knocked out of the play due to his lack of leverage and hand positioning. Eason is beaten to the spot pretty quickly, lacks the elite length that would benefit him, and also shows a very inconsistent anchor. Eason does provide some juice as a pass rusher but he’s played just 1500 snaps since 2020 and was largely taken out against the run with his inconsistencies and struggles in that aspect. Where he does succeed is in pure strength, and hand combat skills where Eason does have some flash of traits. He’s a developmental, depth defensive tackle down the board.
Skyler Gill-Howard, Texas Tech (Consensus: Late 6th to Early 7th)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 290 | Career: 88 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, INT, 2 PBU, 2 TD, 44 run stops, 15.4% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 3 snaps
- 1-Tech: 5 snaps
- 2-Tech: 214 snaps
- 3-Tech: 565 snaps
- 4-Tech: 125 snaps
- 5-Tech: 17 snaps
Gill-Howard suffered a season ending injury early on in the season for Texas Tech, but the former Northern Illinois product was a nightmare in his short time. He logged 17 pressures, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL, and a 17.5% pass rush win rate after a 13% win rate in 2024. He lacks the ideal length for the NFL with 30 3/4 arms, and just 6’1/280 causing him to likely be pushed way down the board despite being an impact playmaker. Gill-Howard’s first step is among the best, if not the best, in the class as he fires off the ball extremely quickly and has a tendency to time the snap perfectly getting him an immediate impact. He has natural leverage, and knows how to use it consistently firing up below guards and is able to convert speed to power to drive backwards at the point of attack, he’s a violent player who pairs that with his athleticism allowing him to be a pure playmaker. Gill-Howard has a wrestling background, which shows with his hand placement, grip strength, and grapple ability consistently able to knock off lineman. He’s a true pass rush specialist in the NFL, with great lower body flexibility and athleticism, though he’ll need to add more strength to his upper body to translate as well. He’s limited in his frame, doesn’t have over the top lower body strength, and he really does struggle to anchor at times. Gill-Howard is also pretty much washed out of the play against combo or double team blocks, largely cause of the size and length limitations where he can’t win off speed and athleticism to the spot. He’s been injured in his career, does have a tendency to get out of the play and likely can’t play a ton of gap control football, but he’s a fit for an attack front focused on man control. Taking a shot on a highly athletic, proven, and smart football player isn’t a bad move, finding a role for him is crucial and he’ll be needed to work stunts and laterally but can make an impact in situational football.
Aaron Graves, Iowa (Consensus: Mid 6th)
HT: 6’5 | WT: 295 | Career: 122 tackles, 25 TFL, 16.5 sacks, INT, 5 PBU, 5 FF, 38 run stops, 13.4% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 1 snap
- 1-Tech: 153 snaps
- 2-Tech: 418 snaps
- 3-Tech: 1239 snaps
- 4-Tech: 62 snaps
Graves is just a damn good football player, the ceiling is likely very limited but he’s proven, and a pure football player on the interior. He’s notably only played 3-T majority of his career, and I’d expect a similar thing to happen at the NFL level, where he’s produced and improved consistently year after year with his win rate going from 8.8% in 2023 to 17% in 2025. Graves is a decent athlete, has a quick first step, and comes off the ball quick. He’s smart, understands blocking concepts, has the ability to defeat double and combo blocks routeinely with his strength and athleticism paired together. His hands are extremely active, violent, and show good power as he’s able to knock lineman off their stance a few times a game. He’s shown an extremely refined productive swim move that he works well to pair with his club and chop moves. Graves is a little stiff in the lower half at times, not showing a lot of ankle and hip flexibility, consistently working to stay rigid and it can cause issues against smaller lineman with his size. He’s shown wasted movement as a run defender, has sloppy footwork, and also doesn’t really seem overly comfortable as a run defender not understanding systems with inconsistent hand work as well. Graves is a fun prospect, is very situational in the NFL, and will be a clear cut pass rush first player, he’s a possible UDFA but would be a productive pick up regardless in late day three/UDFA to fight for a roster spot off his pass rush and hope the run defense can develop with coaching.
Aaron Hall, Duke (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’4 | WT: 295| Career: 121 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 4 PBU, 53 run stops, 8.7% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 73 snaps
- 1-Tech: 51 snaps
- 2-Tech: 541 snaps
- 3-Tech: 772 snaps
- 4-Tech: 102 snaps
- 5-Tech: 71 snaps
I won’t touch on Hall for long (that’s a lie) but he’s an interesting prospect. He saw nearly 95% of his 2025 snaps at 3-Tech and it was also his best year compared to spending a lot at 2-Tech in 2024 and 2023. He’s a run defending first defensive tackle, with a good anchor and violence, and the pass rush side has a decent bit of room to grow which it can off the athleticism he shows. Hall has good length, has decent twitch and initial explosion off the LOS, but he’s pretty raw in terms of most his game and only has 1600 snaps through his career which is low for a fifth year player. Hall flashed during his pro day with a near 9.75 RAS score and a ton of initial short area quickness, which shows on his film as well. There’s a lot of upside with Hall, but he has a massive floor as well which will push him to the UDFA realm.
Jayden Loving, Wake Forest (Consensus: Late 6th to Early 7th)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 315 | Career: 130 tackles, 19 TFL, 8 sacks, 3 FR, 50 run stops, 7.1% pass rush win rate, 3 blocked kicks
- 0-Tech: 234 snaps
- 1-Tech: 41 snaps
- 2-Tech: 218 snaps
- 3-Tech: 738 snaps
- 4-Tech: 208 snaps
- 5-Tech: 118 snaps
Loving has recently popped into the draft cycle talk after he dominated his Pro Day with 33 bench reps, a 35 vertical, 4.53 shuttle, and 7.15 3-Cone. Loving also added a 4.78 40 and his 9.92 RAS is among the highest in the class. Loving worked his way up from Bethune-Cookman to Western Kentucky, and now Wake Forest for his final season. Loving is a true 3-Tech fit, though he’s shown some decent film working outside at the 4T and as a true nose tackle as well. He has exceptional power, an extremely violent and quick first step. Loving shows a pure anchor vs the run, and pairs that with good short area movement skills that allow him to be effective on stunts, twists, and loops. Additionally, Loving shows a lot of promise and raw upside, though he’s still very raw for being in his fifth season, and he’s played just 1500 snaps through his career as well. The fifth year senior, has consistent ability to be a one gap defender, and he can also play man control as well. There’s a very real world that Loving could go inside the top 150 (I have an early 4th on him), but if he’s to fall to the fifth or sixth round, it’s a no brainer.
Rene Konga, Louisville (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’4 | WT: 300 | Career: 63 tackles, 11 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 8 PBU, FF, 27 run stops, 12.7% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 107 snaps
- 1-Tech: 5 snaps
- 2-Tech: 218 snaps
- 3-Tech: 397 snaps
- 4-Tech: 247 snaps
- 5-Tech: 182 snaps
Sometimes I watch a prospect, and say oh I’ve seen him already, then I realize I didn’t, well that’s where I was with Konga. The dude is just an explosive missile at defensive tackle. He flys, like literally floats, off the line of scrimmage, is an electric force working laterally and getting to the point of attack first. There’s not many guards who are going to beat him to the spot, and even then he plays with good leverage, violence, and quickness that he can continually drive through defenders. The main issues stem with his real lack of a variety of pass rush moves other than the “I’m bigger, I’m faster, I’m more athletic, and I’m just better” than you approach. Konga needs to improve as a run defender, and his anchor/footwork is sloppy. He’s a relatively inconsistent run defender as well, not really showing a ton of strength at the POA but he does show the strength to be an effective player. Konga is an absolute athletic freak with a 7.03 3-Cone, 34 arms, 4.74 40, 37 vert, 10-02 broad, and 4.56 shuttle. He’ll add strength, has to be better at identifying blocks, and overall there’s a massive gap between his ceiling and floor. All that said, I’m going to bank on the freak athlete, who does win consistently as a pass rusher, and with good coaching can be electric. Konga should be drafted on day three, and hopefully is, but if there’s a world he isn’t he should carve out a strong UDFA career.
Anterio Thompson, Washington (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’2 | WT: 306 | Career: 65 tackles, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 27 run stops, 7.8% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 67 snaps
- 1-Tech: 22 snaps
- 2-Tech: 265 snaps
- 3-Tech: 390 snaps
- 4-Tech: 71 snaps
Thompson posted a 4.73 40 with a 4.38 shuttle, 29 vert, and 33 reps on the bench during his pro day which confirmed the athletic testing you’d expect from him. He’s extremely raw as a prospect, but does showcase some higher end instincts and understanding as a run defender that’s worth taping into as an undrafted prospect. Thompson relies on his athleticism, does show good leverage ability, and his footwork is fluid but overall lacks a lot of technique. He’s strong in his lower half, shows good initial burst, but there’s a lack of moldable traits to create a high ceiling player outside a true depth defensive tackle.
No Clue What You Are Tech:
Previous Name: Gary Smith III (UCLA)
Carlos Allen, Houston (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’0 | WT: 298 | Career: 171 tackles, 23 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 3 FF, 3 FR, 5 PBU, 85 (!!!) run stops, 6.7% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 543 snaps
- 1-Tech: 129 snaps
- 2-Tech: 605 snaps
- 3-Tech: 387 snaps
- 4-Tech: 342 snaps
- 5-Tech: 44 snaps
Allen has logged north of 2000 career snaps, making him one of the most experienced defensive tackles in the class. He’s had such an up and down trajectory, originally spending the beginning of his career at Kennesaw State where from 2021-2023 he played primary a versatile 2/4 technique role with a little work at the 3-Tech as well. When he transferred to Houston, he saw a lot more time as a true 0 and 2 Technique, which is where he’s made a massive impact with north of 125 tackles, 5 sacks, and 13 TFL in just his last two seasons over nearly 1300 snaps. Allen is violent, and he’s quick, he fly’s off the line of scrimmage, has an electric first step, and plays with natural leverage. Allen is undersized for the position, he’s barely above 6 foot at 6001 and is just 295 pounds, but he’s also logged 32 inch arms which is well above average for his size. He has a 4.92 40 and some impressive times in the 3-Cone and Shuttle as well. He’s extremely quick off the LOS, works well in short spaces, has a good understanding of leverage, that he pairs with his speed to power. Allen can anchor vs the run, and despite his size shows a very good ability to lock his legs and push backwards on lineman to create a gap discipline role. The obvious fit for him in the NFL is working as a 2i with some diverse packages that can allow him to tap into the athletic ability and loop/stunt but he’s also excelled at nose despite his frame. Allen really has a diverse skillset, and can impact as a UDFA early on. The Raiders have shown interest in the likely late day three or UDFA, but keep an eye on him come draft time.
Cameron Ball, Arkansas (Consensus: UDFA)
HT: 6’5 | WT: 323 | Career: 138 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FF, 62 run stops, 6.6% pass rush win rate
- 0-Tech: 393 snaps
- 1-Tech: 100 snaps
- 2-Tech: 584 snaps
- 3-Tech: 526 snaps
- 4-Tech: 301 snaps
- 5-Tech: 33 snaps
Ahh, Cameron Ball (I could leave it at that and I think you’d get what I’m saying). Ball originally started his career mainly working as a 0/1 Tech back in 2022, then he transitioned a little more to a pure 0/2 tech in 2023 and was still a decent player. He then transitioned to nearly a fulltime 2 tech in 2024, then 2025 came around. 2025 saw Ball have majority of his snaps at 3-Technique. He’s not overly athletic but shows a lot of strength in his lower body, and at the point of attack which is pretty important for his transition into the NFL. Ball was 30th percentile in his 10 split, 12th in 3-Cone, 10th in bench, and 26th in shuttle, then he magically was 88th in vertical jump and 79th in broad jump. He’s a very explosive player off the line of scrimmage, but there’s struggles after that. He’ll need to refine his technique, but his anchor as a run defender is notable, with a key ability to keep his lower body driving and consistent. Ball has a high end motor, will consistently drive defenders backwards, but Ball does struggle with his hand combat, and ability to maintain leverage at the point of attack as well. It’s a confusing world where he’ll slot at the NFL, lacking true pass rush traits to work at 3-Tech, but he also has done extremely well as a run defender working off the 3/4 techniques compared to struggling more on a 0/1 technique.
