2021 NFL Draft defensive tackle rankings: Jaylen Twyman is underrated
By John Blair
2. Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
6-foot-3, 305 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Second round
One of the most dominant defensive tackles in college football last year was Iowa’s Daviyon Nixon. Nixon led all FBS interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss with 13.5 and finished fourth overall in the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks. This was quite a season for someone who was a first-year starter.
The first thing that sticks out with Nixon is how athletic he is. He shows a good burst off the line of scrimmage and also has the agility to make plays down the line of scrimmage. These traits allow him to be a feared pass rusher which is what has NFL scouts so excited.
https://twitter.com/HawkeyeFootball/status/1339262881674780673
While Nixon is a very good pass rusher he is not the type of player who will be a great run-stuffing defensive tackle. This is due to him being slightly on the smaller side and not having a ton of upper body strength. The fact he was only a one-year starter might scare some teams off as well, although he did put up good production as a backup. One more concern is that he is still raw and will need some time to reach his potential.
A team looking for a pass-rushing defensive tackle will likely consider Nixon at the end of round one of the 2021 NFL Draft. His best fit in the NFL will be in a one-gap defense that allows him to get penetration in opponents’ backfields and not have to consistently tie up blockers.