Home Draft Profiles 2026 NFL Draft Profile: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati

Cincinnati defensive lineman Dontay Corleone is moving up several NFL Draft Big Boards including the Buccaneers / via Instagram

2026 NFL Draft Profile: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati

Bucs Report Staff

February 22, 2026

The 2026 NFL offseason is here and that means it’s time for mock drafts, draft profiles and everything that goes with them. So without further ado, here’s one of many Draft Profiles for the 2025 NFL draft.

Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati

HT: 6’1
WT: 336 lbs

Accolades:

First-team All-Big 12 (2024)
First-team All-AAC (2022)
2× Second-team All-Big 12 (2023, 2025)

Video:

Pros:

Elite athleticism for his size: This guy isn’t just strong; he’s incredibly agile for a defensive lineman. He’s clocked 18 MPH and ran a 4.68 pro shuttle – proving he moves like a much smaller player.
Master of leverage: At 6’1, Corleone uses his frame to his advantage. He explodes off the line with a low center of gravity, consistently getting under blockers’ pads and turning his compact build into a powerful tool in the trenches.
Unmovable anchor: Double teams? No problem. He digs in, bends his knees, widens his base, and effectively cements himself to the turf, refusing to be driven off his spot.
Explosive quickness: Don’t let his 335 pounds fool you – Corleone is deceptively quick. His 1.71-second 10-yard split and 7.44-second three-cone drill show his ability to burst through gaps and slide laterally with surprising speed, especially against zone runs.
Impeccable hand usage: His hand placement and timing are super precise. He’s quick to shoot his hands into blockers’ chests, control the point of attack, and maintain a clean stance when two-gapping.
Instant play recognition: Corleone reads the game like a veteran. He anticipates down blocks, immediately shifting his eyes to secondary threats and engaging pulling guards or climbing linemen before they can establish position.
Dominant contact balance: He’s nearly impossible to bring down. Running backs often try to bounce off him, only to find themselves still wrapped up. He absorbs contact effortlessly, staying upright and engaged through all the chaos.: Effort isn’t an issue for Corleone. He competes on every single snap, showing genuine pursuit. While he might not chase down everyone from behind, he excels at quickly redirecting on screens and cutbacks, never taking a play off.

Cons

Conditioning Concerns: He’s been known to carry excess weight, reportedly over 350 pounds at times, which can hinder his quickness and explosiveness. His future team will need to keep a close eye on his physical conditioning.
Limited Pass Rush Moves: His pass rush relies heavily on initial quickness and a bull rush. If these don’t work immediately, he often struggles to disengage or apply pressure, indicating a lack of a diverse pass-rush arsenal.
Short Arm Length: His 31 5/8-inch arm length makes it tough for him to extend and shed blocks effectively. Once offensive linemen get into his frame, he has difficulty creating separation and breaking free.
Stance and Leverage Issues: He occasionally stands up too quickly out of his stance. This compromises his bull rush power and gives opponents, especially on double-team blocks, an advantage in uprooting him.
Significant Medical History: There are notable medical concerns, including past blood clots in his lungs, a knee injury in 2022, and a lower-body injury that limited him to just 10 games in 2025. These will require a thorough medical evaluation.

Summary:

Dontay Corleone looks like he could be a really valuable rotational defensive lineman, with the potential to even snag a starting spot in the right scheme. He’s that kind of player who elevates everyone around him, drawing attention and grinding out the less glamorous work in the trenches. While his production took a dip in 2025, which might raise a few eyebrows, his four years of solid game film and three All-Conference nods clearly show his capabilities when he’s at his best. Any team aiming to beef up their run defense would be thrilled to get a player with his genuine physical talent and the experience to jump in and make an impact right away.