The NFL draft is just over two weeks away. We are at the time of year where evaluators have watched all the players and now it is just a matter of stacking up their boards. Looking at each position and deciding who you like best relative to the others.
While I look at all of these players through the lens of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there are some that I like more than others who might not fit the Bucs needs as much. So this is not a list of best fits, but just my rankings of players. However, based on what they are as players, it’s easy enough to draw conclusions as to who the best fits would be in Tampa.
With that said, here are my 2026 NFL draft defensive line rankings.
Honorable Mention: Landon Robinson – Navy
While Robinson didn’t make my top ten, he is worth talking about here. He’s an incredible athlete who was very productive last year with 6.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. My fear with him is his size. You won’t find many defensive tackles who are 5’11 and 290 lbs, even at the college level. But if you’re willing to bet on athletic traits and good tape, I like him more than a lot of the bigger names who didn’t make my list.
10) Chris McClellan – Missouri
Power, power and more power. If you’re looking for a run stuffer then this is a great option. He also had 6.0 sacks last season, so there are flashes of pass rush upside to like. I wish he had a little more mobility so defensive coaches could move him around more, but if you are looking for just a wall in the middle then this is a good option.
9) LT Overton – Alabama
Overton came into the year with first round buzz which never made sense to me. He’s a bit of a tweener having played everywhere from nose tackle to edge in college. Ultimately, I see him as a defensive end in a 3-4 system. He isn’t a great pass rusher, but he has good power and mobility to be a strong run defender in the NFL.
8) Domonique Orange – Iowa State
Orange plays a simple game, but I love it. He plays with both power and leverage, which makes him a real problem for blockers. He also uses his hands well to throw blockers off. This translates to a very good run defender.
7) Caleb Banks – Florida
Banks might be the most talented defensive linemen in the entire draft. At 6 ‘6 and 330 lbs he has great power to work with. He’s also a plus athlete who can play all over the defensive line. He flashes strong ability to cut through offensive lines, but he just isn’t nearly consistent enough with that to put him higher than this.
6) Cole Brevard – Texas
This name is a bit under the radar, but in terms of space eaters then it doesn’t get much better than this. Texas listed him at 6 ‘3 and 346 lbs and he looks every bit of that. His box score stats won’t impress, but this is a black hole in the middle of the defense that forces blockers to gravitate towards him. I expect him to go late on day three, but don’t be shocked if we look at him as the next DJ Reader five years from now.
5) Kayden McDonald – Ohio State
I really like McDonald as a run stuffing nose tackle in a 4-3 defense. It’s an easy projection that will make an impact at the next level. He doesn’t impress me with his pass rush ability and I wish he was just a little more mobile than what he is, but if you are looking for this type of player then he’s going to be a really good one.
4) Keldric Faulk – Auburn
Faulk is the most “what do I do with this guy?” prospect in the draft. Many list him as an edge rusher, but I just don’t see the agility to thrive there. He is more of a true defensive end who really shouldn’t be asked to play in space. Faulk is a very good run defender. And while he isn’t much of a pass rusher right now, I do see some flashes to make me think he could get their in time.
3) Christen Miller – Georgia
Power, effort and skill are the calling cards of Miller. He can be a 4-3 nose tackle or a 3-4 defensive end. Regardless, he will be a strong run defender in the NFL. He has also shown the hand usage to be able to make an impact as a pass rusher. He might never be great in this area, but he can give you something as a pass rusher on top of his plus run defense.
2) Lee Hunter – Texas Tech
Sometimes you watch a player and they instantly remind you of other players you’ve seen over time. With Hunter, that player was former Minnesota Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph. While Hunter isn’t quite the athlete that Joseph was, they are both powerful run stuffers with active hands. I really like him as another 4-3 nose tackle in this class and as someone with a little more pass rush juice than some of the other guys on this list.
1) Peter Woods – Clemson
There aren’t many high profile 3 technique defensive tackles in this draft, but Woods is the name worth talking about. He’s a good athlete who can stack and shed as a run defender as well as rush the passer. While his final season at Clemson was a bit underwhelming, I still like what he has put on tape over the last two years.
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