2020 NFL Draft: Top 30 interior defensive line rankings and analysis
The 2020 NFL Draft prospects in the next tier are all very close. They are all players that I think are worthy of early-to-mid round selections. Not much separates them from the following group, hence 2a and 2b. They are all very closely rated, with the first group primarily being a little more well-rounded and prepared to play early in their careers coming straight out of the 2020 NFL Draft.
5. Leki Fotu, Utah
Leki Fotu is quick for a big guy! And he has the power you expect from a player of his size at his position. Not only can he stuff the run by eating blockers as a true nose tackle, but he can jump gaps and get into the backfield.
He packs a powerful initial punch off the snap and has good drive to push blockers back and can extend out and make a tackle. He is so quick when the ball is snapped that he can begin to engage as a zero technique before the center even gets his head up.
Fotu played a few different positions on the Utah three-man front, and at 6-foot-5, 330 lbs and with 34-inch arms, Fotu can win against nearly any lineman. Fotu is an outstanding sleeper in the 2020 NFL Draft and should help any NFL team right away, however they want to play him.
6. Rashard Lawrence, LSU
Rashard Lawrence is a very versatile defensive lineman who was a leader on LSU’s defense. He lined up anywhere between a true nose and shading the outside shoulder of the tackle, and uses his 34-inch arms well regardless of where he lines up.
He displays impressive power and plays with a high motor snap after snap. He isn’t a super explosive athlete but did run an impressive 5.07 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine. Lawrence has great ability to hold his own in the run game, shoot gaps as a pass rusher and has outstanding positional versatility.
I would be comfortable playing Lawrence at either 4-3 defensive tackle spot or anywhere on a 3-4 front. With his blend of length, power and athleticism I think Lawrence is one of the most underrated defensive line prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.
7. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
Neville Gallimore is a very shifty and quick player on the inside of the defensive line, especially for his size. He is a very talented inside pass rusher from Canada, using spins, swims and rips to cut his way into the backfield.
He doesn’t have the power that some of the other top interior defensive linemen do, but he has a relentless motor from snap to whistle and will battle until the play is over. You’d like to see him have a more solid anchor at his size, as he is often rendered ineffective with sustained blocks or double teams if he is unable to clear himself early.
But overall, Gallimore has the size and athleticism to be an effective 4-3 defensive tackle, likely a better three-technique, at the next level. Given his evasiveness and pass-rushing ability, Gallimore should at least be a very serviceable interior rusher on passing downs while he learns and develops into an every-down player. Gallimore shows great flashes of potential on his tape and if he can become more consistent he will be a force in the NFL out of the 2020 NFL Draft.
8. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
At 6-foot-6 and 311 lbs, Raekwon Davis has incredible size and length and uses it to his advantage on the defensive line. Even with his height, he still manages to keep solid leverage and hold his own on the line, even against double teams. He uses his long arms to keep blockers at a distance and then throws them aside to go make a play. When he wins, he usually gets through that process quickly, packing a powerful punch, not letting the blocker get into his body, then getting through or around him into the backfield.
Davis was very productive as a sophomore in 2017 with 10 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks but saw his numbers drop in each of his next two seasons, which may be concerning to some teams. He didn’t impress at the combine, either. So his 2020 NFL Draft stock may be down from what it was projected to be following his sophomore year, but he still has a lot of nice tools to build around and could be a very solid three-tech in the NFL.
9. James Lynch, Baylor
Playing on the end of a three-man defensive front at Baylor, James Lynch would likely take on a similar role as a versatile 3-4 defensive end in the NFL.
Lynch is excellent at shooting gaps and making his way into the backfield. As a senior, Lynch racked up 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. Adding 41 tackles, five pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles and a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, you can see how dynamic and productive he can be.
Lynch isn’t limited to just one position. He can bounce inside and grind as a nose tackle and has very good traits on the edge as well. He uses his hands well and has good get off and bend for a guy that is nearly 300 lbs.
Lynch can play anywhere at all on the defensive line and his versatility should be an asset coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft. I wouldn’t be surprised if his former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule made an attempt to bring Lynch with him to Carolina for the start of their NFL careers.
10. Jordan Elliott, Missouri
From Missouri City, Texas, it’s fitting that Jordan Elliott played for Both Texas and Missouri in college. He wasn’t overly productive in college but found his way into the backfield once he transferred to Mizzou.
That is where Elliott excels, almost looking like an edge rusher moving by blockers on the inside. He has great size and length and uses that to his advantage. He keeps blockers at bay and is a quick-twitch athlete to put a move on and leave the defender in the dust.
Elliott doesn’t have the strongest anchor, struggling against size and strength on the interior when the block hits and engages him. But as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect, Elliott is a very scheme-diverse player that can line up anywhere on the line and make a play.
11. Davon Hamilton, Ohio State
Davon Hamilton is a very strong nose tackle with a powerful base. He can stand blockers up and take on multiple blockers to free things up for his linebackers. He can shoot gaps effectively and is great with his hands to keep his body clean.
He has impressive drive, pushing blockers into the backfield the longer the play goes on. He isn’t an outstanding block shedder, but he moves blockers well enough to find the ball and make a play and is athletic enough to avoid blocks off the snap.
As he played at Ohio State, Hamilton is best suited as a 4-3 defensive tackle that can one or two-gap. I like Hamilton as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect and should be a solid day two selection.