The era of the "space eater" is officially dead. If you're still looking for a 350-pound defensive tackle who just sits there and holds a gap while the linebackers do the actual work, you're living in 2004. NFL GMs aren't looking for anchors anymore; they want heat-seeking missiles in XXXL jerseys.
That’s why the 2025 NFL draft DT rankings are so fascinating. We are looking at a class that might be the deepest interior group in a decade. Honestly, it’s a bit ridiculous. You’ve got guys like Mason Graham and Deone Walker who move like defensive ends but possess the raw power to collapse a pocket from the inside out. If you’re a quarterback in the AFC or NFC North, you should probably start looking at extra insurance.
The Michigan Monarchy: Graham and Grant
It’s basically impossible to talk about this class without starting in Ann Arbor. Michigan has essentially been an NFL developmental factory for the last few years, and their interior duo is the crown jewel.
Mason Graham is the undisputed king of this hill. Scouts basically treat him as a "sure thing," which is a dangerous label, but he earns it. He’s 6-foot-3, nearly 300 pounds, and he plays with a wrestling background that makes his leverage almost impossible to beat. He isn't just a run-stuffer. He’s a technician. He was a finalist for the Bednarik and Outland Trophies for a reason—the guy led the nation in run-defense grade (92.6) and still found time to generate consistent pressure. When the Cleveland Browns snagged him at number five overall, they weren't just taking a "safe" pick; they were taking a guy who could feasibly be an All-Pro by year three.
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Then you have his teammate, Kenneth Grant. If Graham is the surgeon, Grant is the sledgehammer. He’s massive—330-plus pounds—but he has these weirdly athletic "freak" traits. Remember when he chased down a running back 20 yards downfield? That shouldn't happen at that weight. He’s a three-down player who can play the 0-technique or the 3-technique, and he’s projected as a stone-cold first-rounder.
The Boom-or-Bust Tier: Walker and Nolen
This is where the 2025 NFL draft DT rankings get a little spicy. If you value raw, unadulterated potential over polished tape, you’re looking at Deone Walker and Walter Nolen.
Deone Walker (Kentucky) is a literal mountain. He’s 6-foot-6 and has played at weights up to 350 pounds. The problem? He’s tall. Like, really tall for a defensive tackle. This leads to "pad level" issues—scout speak for "he stands up too straight and gets pushed around." But when he gets his hands on a guard? It's over. He had 7.5 sacks as a sophomore in the SEC. That’s elite production. His 2024 was a bit quieter statistically, but the traits are so rare that someone is going to gamble on him in the early rounds hoping to coach the "high-rise" out of his game.
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Then there is Walter Nolen. He was the number two recruit in the country coming out of high school and has been a "prospect" since he was about 15. After transferring from Texas A&M to Ole Miss, he finally showed the consistency people were craving. He’s twitchy. He moves side-to-side better than most guys 50 pounds lighter than him. He’s a gap penetrator. If you put him in a scheme that lets him just "see ball, get ball," he’s going to live in the opponent's backfield.
The Sleeper Gems You’re Ignoring
Everyone loves the big-school stars, but the NFL is won on Day 2 and Day 3. There are a few names in this interior class that feel like they're being criminally undervalued in the mainstream media.
- Derrick Harmon (Oregon): A Michigan State transfer who absolutely exploded in Eugene. He’s 310 pounds but moves with a fluidity that catches interior blockers off guard. He isn't just a space-eater; he’s a disruptor.
- Darius Alexander (Toledo): The "Group of Five" darling. He was a Senior Bowl standout and has been compared to Braden Fiske for his "pinball" playstyle. He’s older, sure, but his motor never stops.
- Tyleik Williams (Ohio State): A National Champion with the Buckeyes. He’s a "drain-clogger" who actually has nimble feet. If he lands on a team with a veteran D-line coach who can refine his hand placement, he’s a ten-year starter.
Why This Class Matters for the NFL
Modern NFL offenses are obsessed with "interiors." They want to create bubbles in the pocket so quarterbacks can't step up. To counter that, you need guys who can win the 1-on-1 battle against a guard in 2.5 seconds.
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The 2025 NFL draft DT rankings reflect a shift toward versatility. You’ll notice that almost all the top guys—Graham, Grant, Nolen—can slide across the line. They can play over the nose, they can play the 3-tech, and some (like Walker) have even stood up on the edge. This flexibility is gold for defensive coordinators like Brian Flores or Mike Macdonald who want to disguise where the pressure is coming from.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Draft Nerds
If you’re trying to figure out how your team should handle this class, here’s the reality:
- Don't overvalue sack numbers. For a DT, disruption is production. Look at how many times Mason Graham forced a QB to scramble into an edge rusher's arms. That doesn't show up in the box score, but it wins games.
- Focus on the "First Step." The guys who are going to succeed at the next level are the ones who are moving before the offensive guard has even processed the snap. Watch the "get-off."
- Check the conditioning. A lot of these 330-pounders look like Hall of Famers for the first 15 snaps and then disappear. The truly elite ones, like Kenneth Grant, can play 50 snaps without needing an oxygen tank.
The depth here is so good that you can find a starting-caliber defensive tackle well into the third round. If your team passes on an interior disruptor in a class this loaded, they might be regretting it for a long time.
Keep an eye on the medical reports as we get closer to the summer. These big frames take a lot of punishment, and "trench health" is often the difference between a bust and a cornerstone. For now, Mason Graham is the bar, and everyone else is just trying to clear it.
Check your team's current roster for interior depth. If they're aging at the DT position, this is the year to strike early and often. Take a look at the "Freaks List" or PFF’s advanced pressure rates for the mid-tier prospects like TJ Sanders or Alfred Collins to find the best value picks.