2020 NFL Draft: Top 30 interior defensive line rankings and analysis
In tier-2b of the 2020 NFL Draft interior defensive line class, the prospects are still very talented with tons of potential and ability to contribute, they are still just a little more raw as players than those in 2a.
12. Bravvion Roy, Baylor
Bravvion Roy is a true nose tackle who lined up exclusively over the center in Baylor three-man front. Roy thrived as a senior, racking up 61 tackles, 13 for loss and 5.5 sacks. Despite his production, Roy was still not invited to the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine.
At 6-foot-1 and 333 lbs, Roy has a very strong base but seems to lack the length to shed blocks effectively. Roy and the rest of the Baylor defensive line often began the play standing up, which looks very odd on tape but seemed to work for him. This allowed him to really jump into a gap right off the snap and have his arms and hands up and ready to battle.
Roy has enough quickness to be an effective penetrator and has a powerful lower body to drive blockers back, closing the pocket. Despite the combine snub, Roy appears to have what it takes to be an NFL nose tackle. He may need some time to develop, but I really like Bravvion Roy as a sleeper in the 2020 NFL Draft.
13. Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
Khalid Kareem is a big and long defensive lineman at 6-foot-4, 268 lbs and with over 34-inch arms and nearly 11-inch hands. He uses those long limbs very well to fight blocks and to bat balls down.
He isn’t very athletic or explosive, usually winning with power over finesse. He is a solid edge setter in the run game with average block shedding to peel and make a tackle. He excels at shooting gaps and using his power to split defenders and get into the backfield. Kareem’s playing style is more so that of an interior defensive lineman than an edge rusher, but his big frame says otherwise.
I think Kareem could be a serviceable 3-4 or 4-3 DE who excels at anchoring against the run and occasionally using his length as leverage to get into the backfield and make a play. He was a captain at Notre Dame and plays with grit and passion, but his physical limitations might render him a reserve at the next level.
14. Raequan Williams, Michigan State
Raequan Williams has been a very solid and versatile defensive lineman for the Spartans throughout his college career, thriving as a junior with 50 tackles and 10 for loss. Williams has a very impressive blend of size, power and slipperiness.
He is 6-foot-4, 308 lbs and has over 33-inch arms. Even with his height and relatively slim build, Williams is a force when moving straight ahead. He uses his long arms to engage a blocker and can push them straight back into the backfield. I’d like to see him use his length a little more effectively as a block shedder, as he typically struggles to keep or regain leverage on angle blocks.
Williams can be very slippery on his way to the backfield as a penetrator, shooting right by blockers and through a gap. Williams is versatile enough to one or two-gap and can play three-tech or five-tech in an even or odd front. Williams could be a steal in the 2020 NFL Draft, with the makings of a future starter in the NFL.
15. Malcolm Roach, Texas
Malcolm Roach played linebacker and defensive end at Texas before finally settling in on the interior as a tackle. Being so new to the position, Roach is clearly a developmental 2020 NFL Draft prospect inside, but he does show a lot of good traits that teams can build upon.
Roach fires out low and packs a powerful punch at the point of attack. He uses that punch to knock the blocker off balance and then is able to shove them aside and make a play. Roach doesn’t have great length, so that block shedding will have to be manufactured with pop and athleticism.
With his background as a linebacker, it’s not a huge surprise that Roach ran a 4.84 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine, despite getting his weight up to almost 300 lbs. He still has edge skills that carry over from his time at defensive end which will help him against any blocker he faces one-on-one. Roach still lacks an optimal anchor in the run game on the inside, but he can set a solid edge in the run game on early downs and move inside to rush the passer.
Roach is still very raw at the position, but his versatility and athletic upside are very intriguing. A creative defensive coordinator could covet him in the 2020 NFL Draft, in hopes of molding him into an impactful player at the next level.
16. Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
Jason Strowbridge is a little lean for an interior lineman, playing mostly out towards the edge in North Carolina’s odd front. He shows the speed to play out there and backed it up with an impressive 4.89 40-yard dash time at the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine.
With his 6-foot-4 and 275 lb frame combined with his over 32-inch arms and over 10-inch hands, Strowbridge can physically play anywhere on the defensive line. He has a good blend of power and athleticism, allowing him to pack a quick and strong initial punch at the point of attack.
He is quick enough to shoot gaps and has the hands to battle away blockers. While he isn’t overly powerful on the inside, Strowbridge can set a strong edge and stand his ground in the run game.
Strowbridge seems to be a bit a tweener for me, somewhere between a 4-3 base end and a 3-4 five-tech. Either way, Strowbridge shows enough potential to warrant a mid-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and should see some playing time early in his career while he grows into his role at the next level.
17. Broderick Washington Jr., Texas Tech
Broderick Washington Jr. was a three-year starter at Texas Tech and is a thick and powerful player. Washington has a high motor and plays with grit every snap he’s on the field. He has a solid anchor with a powerful base, able to hold his ground, eat blockers and drive blockers back into the backfield when one-on-one.
He isn’t the most athletic lateral mover, but he is very smart with great feel and vision for where the openings are and where the play is going. He packs a powerful punch with his strong hands and is effective with many different alignments on the defensive front.
Broderick Washington Jr. is one of the guys that may not have the big upside to make him a heralded 2020 NFL Draft prospect, but he brings the toughness, effort and enough ability to contribute anytime, anywhere for your football team.
18. McTelvin Agim, Arkansas
McTelvin Agim is a very effective penetrator who produced at a high level in the SEC. He has the power to take on blockers and the quickness to avoid them on his way to the backfield.
Agim has good length and strong hands to shed blocks and is a solid tackler once he gets to the ball carrier. Agim can sometimes get swallowed up by bigger blockers if he is unable to keep them out of his body, not unexpected as he played defensive end prior to 2019.
Agim’s explosiveness and prowess as a rusher make him a great candidate to be a one-gapping 4-3 defensive tackle prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft, especially on third down until he can fully learn the ins and outs of playing inside.
19. Benito Jones, Ole Miss
Benito Jones really fires off the ball as a nose tackle. His eagerness and high motor lead to some early wins, but also can allow him to be easily taken out of the play. If he can keep his distance from blockers and keep his body clean, he can be rather evasive with swims and rips to penetrate into the backfield.
As more of an explosive, penetration-based tackle, Jones lacks the long-play anchor needed to really hold his own in the run game as a nose tackle. He should not be used as a true zero-tech, 3-4 nose as he was at Ole Miss, but should be effective as a 4-3 tackle, shading the shoulder of the center and shooting the gap on the snap.
Jones definitely has a role coming out of the 2020 NFL Draft, at least as a third-down interior rusher and the potential to be an every-down 4-3 DT down the line at the next level. Jones improved each and every season at Ole Miss and should continue to learn and grow in the NFL.
20. Larrell Murchison, NC State
Larrell Murchison does a lot of great things as a defensive lineman. As long as he isn’t closely engaged by a block, Murchison is a real playmaker. He uses his length well to keep blockers out of his body and has great instincts to find the ball and make a play.
He has a great motor but has a tough time coming off of blocks. Murchison does have good size and athleticism and is quick to avoid blockers. He has good explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and uses his hands well to slash his way into the backfield.
Murchison played in a three-man front at NC State and could fit at a 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 three-technique defensive tackle in the NFL.
21. Tyler Clark, Georgia
Tyler Clark is a downhill-playing defensive lineman who filled many different alignments at Georgia. Clark is always moving forward. Whether he jumped the snap and is slipping through a hole or taking on a blocker and looking to shed and make a play, Clark is usually in control. That is always a great trait to have as an interior defensive lineman.
He isn’t crazy athletic, but he shows flashes of explosiveness on occasion when shooting gaps. Typically, Clark is seeking contact. He thrives when engaged with a block, driving them back and being able to effectively shed and make a play. His production was decent as a senior for the Bulldogs, but he doesn’t seem to have quite the upside that some other prospects do.
Nonetheless, I still like Clark in the 2020 NFL Draft. He will be a very solid depth option right away and could hold his own on the field in a variety of roles as a rookie in the NFL.