2020 NFL Draft: Top 30 interior defensive line rankings and analysis

The final grouping of interior defensive linemen for the 2020 NFL Draft either are very one dimensional players at this point in their careers and need a lot of time to develop or they lack the ceiling desired of a draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

22. John Penisini, Utah

John Penisini is a leverage-based pocket pusher and run stuffer. At 6-foot-1 and nearly 320 lbs, Penisini uses his low center of gravity and powerful base to stand up and push back blockers.

He has big and powerful hands that he uses to engage a block, stand it up, then disengage and grab the ball carrier. He isn’t all that athletic laterally, but he can show flashes of explosion off the snap. His lower body strength makes him an immovable force, but he doesn’t offer a whole lot beyond that at this point.

He should be a late-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and will serve as a solid depth option as an even or odd base nose tackle.

23. Garrett Marino, UAB

Garrett Marino is a very quick and shifty penetrator on the inside but lacks the size and power to be an every-down interior defensive lineman. Marino is quick out of the blocks when the ball is snapped, giving him an advantage at the point of attack.

He has a nice set of pass rush moves as an interior lineman, with swims, spins and counters to help him get home. He is a powerful player when he can move downhill and control things, but definitely lacks a desirable anchor in the run game.

If Marino does become an every-down player at some point out of the 2020 NFL Draft, it will likely be as an odd front five-tech who excels at gapping his way into the backfield, or quickly beating blockers head up off the snap. He could move inside in a more even front on passing downs, and will likely find a role as an interior, situational pass rusher early in his career, whether he is drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft or not.

24. Darrion Daniels, Nebraska

Darrion Daniels is a big-bodied run-stuffer in the middle of the defensive line. Daniels spent four years at Oklahoma State before deciding to spend his last season of eligibility at Nebraska with his brother.

Daniels spent most of his time between two other brothers, Khalil and Carlos Davis as a 6-foot-3 and 340 lb nose tackle on the Husker defensive front. Daniels has a strong base given his size and can move pretty well for such a big guy.

Daniels uses his length to keep blockers away when trying to get around them and to pull them in when driving through them or standing them up. Daniels wasn’t all that productive at either school, faced some injury issues throughout his career and may need to lower his playing weight if he wants to have the stamina to play consistent downs in the NFL.

Daniels did slim down to 311 for the 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Combine, so he may have checked that box. If Daniels can prove to be a reliable, every-down player (or at least every rushing down) he should find a role at the next level.

25. Josiah Coatney, Ole Miss

Josiah Coatney was a three-year starter at Ole Miss who saw his production drop as an upper-classmen after an impressive sophomore debut season with the Rebels.

Coatney is an athletic and versatile defensive lineman who uses his length to his advantage. He is an effective penetrator, getting a good first jump and keeping the blockers away from his body until he is able to break away and make a play. He doesn’t always get a great jump, though, and that is when he can become ineffective against bigger, stronger blockers, especially at the next level.

Coatney has some things he needs to work on, but his size, athleticism and potential are enough to warrant a pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

26. Khalil Davis, Nebraska

Khalil Davis and his twin brother Carlos are both exceptional athletes, with a background in track and field and running eye-popping 40-yard dash times (4.75) for their size (6-foot-1 and 308 lbs).

Khalil was much more productive as a player and has more promise as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect. Despite being such a wide and thick body, Khalil is a very impressive athlete. He often gets off the snap very well and can beat the blocker to the punch. He excels when he can beat to blocker to the gap and slice right through. He is an effective lateral mover but gets bogged down when closely engaged with a blocker, lacking the length to effectively shed and make a play.

Neither Davis really jumps off the screen at me, but Khalil could find a place as a one-gapping tackle in a 4-3 scheme or even as a 3-4 defensive end, given his athletic upside.

27. Mike Panasiuk, Michigan State

Mike Panasiuk is a big defensive tackle who earns his keep as a block-eating, powerful anchor in the run game, with drive to push the pocket on passing downs. He can occasionally get home at the quarterback with three sacks as a senior, but his penetration typically includes the blocker coming with him.

He totaled 10 tackles for loss in 2019 with the ability to shed the block and make a play or even make the tackle through the contact of the block. Despite his size and power, Panasiuk is not mired to the nose tackle position, with a future on early downs as a 4-3 defensive tackle shading the center or a guard.

28. Robert Windsor, Penn State

Robert Windsor is a tackle who plays with long arms and strong hands. His game is getting his hands on his opponent and his arms extended so he can dictate at the point of attack. If he is able to get in this position, he is able to quickly disengage and make plays.

Windsor was fairly productive at Penn State, racking up 78 tackles, 15 for loss and 10 sacks over his final two seasons. Windsor definitely knows his body and knows how to use his length to his advantage, but he is rendered ineffective when he isn’t able to get that quick separation. He doesn’t have the play strength to hold up when he isn’t in control. He has a weak anchor that is not effective at block eating in the run game.

Windsor will have to get stronger if he wants to play on the inside in the NFL, but does bring something to the table as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect.

29. Robert Landers, Ohio State

Robert Landers didn’t get a whole lot of playing time at Ohio State and failed to light up the stat sheet when he was out there. However, Landers does show some flashes of potential.

He has an explosive first step with great strength to fight through late blocks into the backfield. It is when he is engaged with a blocker that he struggles to make an impact. He has a good motor and does his best to fight through blockers, but too often he gives up leverage during his attempt to shed a block and ends up on the ground.

He two-gapped a lot at Ohio State, but as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect, his future at the next should be as a gap-shooting one-gap tackle who excels at getting off the ball and into the backfield.

30. Carlos Davis, Nebraska

Carlos Davis and his twin brother Khalil are both exceptional athletes, with a background in track and field and running eye-popping 40-yard dash times (4.82) for their size (6-foot-2 and 313 lbs). Despite his athleticism, Carlos doesn’t have a very high ceiling as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect.

Carlos lacked the production that his brother did throughout their Nebraska careers, and the tape shows why. Carlos has NFL size, but severely lacks the powerful anchor needed at the next level. He’s slow off the snap and gets pushed around rather easily once a blocker engages him.

Carlos can be effective when able to use his athleticism on little stunts and quick, deceptive gap shoots, but overall, I don’t see Carlos Davis being more than a one-gapping depth option in the NFL.