This year’s defensive tackle group is not the greatest as only one player at the position carries a first-round grade in the 2021 NFL Draft. With that being said there are some players at this position who could be good value picks including Jaylen Twyman of Pittsburgh, Marlon Tuipulotu of USC and Alim McNeil of North Carolina State.
1. Christian Barmore, Alabama
6-foot-5, 310 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: First round
Alabama’s Christian Barmore has been a force during the two years he played for the Crimson Tide, despite seeing limited playing time. In his first year of action which was his redshirt season in 2019, he registered 26 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks while only playing 269 snaps. He was graded out by ESPN that season as having a pressure rate of 20% and 23.5% win rate, both of which would have led the nation. This past season he was named an All-American after recording 37 tackles, eight sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.
What makes Barmore such an intriguing prospect is his pass-rushing potential. For someone 6-foot-5 310-pounds, he shows amazing quickness. He has one of the quickest first steps of any defensive tackle that has come out of college in recent years and shows the closing speed to turn a pressure into a sack. Another positive with him is that he has a nice punch and when using proper technique shows the power to win consistently.
While Barmore shows a ton of potential he is still a very raw prospect. He needs to do a better job of not overextending vs the run which causes him to lose his power. He tends to play a little out of control at times as well, which can get him to get out of position and force him to miss tackles from time to time. One other area he needs to work on is his pass-rushing moves especially when it comes to counter moves.
Overall, Barmore is the only player in the 2021 NFL Draft class with a first-round grade which is due to his potential and pass-rushing ability. He will likely be picked towards the end of the round one and one team that could make sense for him is the Oakland Raiders who have the 17th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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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.
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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.
3. Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh
6-foot-2, 290 pound
2021 NFL Draft grade: Second round
One of the biggest sleepers in the 2021 NFL Draft is Pittsburgh defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman. While Twyman has only been a one-year starter for the Panthers it was quite the year as he became the first interior defensive tackle to lead Pittsburgh in sacks since Aaron Donald in 2013. In somewhat of a puzzling move Twyman decided to opt-out of the 2020 season, for non-Covid related reasons.
What is so exciting about Twyman is his athletic ability. He shows a very good burst off the ball and moves extremely well for an interior defensive lineman. This athletic ability should continue to allow him to be a feared pass rusher in the NFL. He displays nice balance as well and is rarely forced off his feet.
One question with Twyman is how much does he love football. The fact that he opted out of the 2020 season to protect his draft value raises serious concerns about how much he wants to improve and if he will just be happy to get the big paycheck. Twyman also lacks elite size and bulk which makes him somewhat of a liability vs. the run.
There is no doubt Twyman has the potential to be one of the best defensive tackles in the 2021 NFL Draft, with his elite athleticism and ability to get after the passer. However, he is going to have to show he wants to be great to live up to this potential.
4. Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
6-foot-3, 290 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Second round
Despite not being the most productive player in the 2021 NFL Draft, Onwuzurike should be one of the top defensive tackles taken off the board. Onwuzurike was a backup most of his college career only being a starter for the 2019 season. That year he finished with 45 tackles and six tackles for loss. While he decided to sit out the 2020 season, he still earned a trip to the Senior Bowl where he had a solid showing.
The number one trait that stands out with Levi Onwuzurike is how active of a player he is. He shows a nice burst off the line of scrimmage and shows a consistently good motor, Onwuzurike is also a very powerful player for someone who comes in at only 290 pounds.
While Onwuzurike is an active defensive tackle his lack of production in opponents backfield is a concern. He only has been able to record 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks over his three years with the Huskies. One area he could work on is getting off blocks and having better overall pass rush moves.
When it comes to where Onwuzurike will go in the draft he will likely hear his name called at the end of the second round.
5. Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
6-foot-2, 305 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round
A player who is currently being underrated is USC defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu. While Tuipulotu might not have the most impressive stats of any defensive tackle in the 2021 NFL Draft he does make a difference on the field. This past season was his best year and he was named to the All-Pac-12 team.
Tuipulotu shows several traits that should translate well to the NFL. One of these is his impressive play against the run. He does a great job of holding his ground in this area and also shows impressive athletic ability for a player his size. This athletic ability allows him to chase downplays and move well laterally along the line of scrimmage. Despite his limited sack total, he does show a nice burst as a pass rusher as well.
The biggest red flag with Tuipulotu is his history of back injuries. He missed one game in 2019 due to issues with his back and missed most of the 2017 season due to similar issues with his back. Another concern is that he does play a little upright at times which can cause him to lose some of his power. One other issue with Tuipulotu is that he does miss some tackles from time to time.
While Tuipulotu might be drafted later than where he is graded here, if he can stay healthy he should be able to develop into a starting defensive tackle in the NFL.
6. Tommy Togiai, Ohio State
6-foot-2, 300 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round
The 2020 season was a breakout year for Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togia. Over his first two seasons with the Buckeye’s Togiai only recorded 26 tackles, four tackles for loss and zero sacks. However, this past season he was able to account for 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.
The teams that will take a hard look at Togiai are teams that need to shore up their run defense, as this is where Togiai excels. He was used primarily as a nose guard in Ohio State’s defense and to take on double teams consistently, which he did very well. He shows the power to hold his ground vs. these double teams and also uses his hands well.
Unfortunately, Togiai lacks a ton of upside. He does not have the length NFL teams want coming in at only 6-foot-2. He shows only average speed as well which will hurt his ability to get after the passer. One other concern is that he only had one strong season at Ohio State, despite being a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. Despite these limitations look for Togiai to develop into a solid run-stuffing defensive tackle in the NFL.
7. Alim McNeil, North Carolina State
6-foot-2, 320 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
One of the more productive nose tackles in college football the past two seasons has been North Carolina State’s, Alim McNeil. Over the 2019 and 2020 seasons, he has recorded 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. While these numbers might not sound all that impressive for a defensive tackle for a play who was always lined up in a zero-technique they are very impressive which is the main reason he was named a second-team AP All-American.
McNeil is a force vs the run as he does a great job of tying up blockers and has the quickness to slide off blocks. He also shows good extension when firing out of his stance which helps him control the offensive lineman assigned to block him. While he might not be a big threat vs. the pass he does have a fast first step, especially for someone 320 pounds. In terms of his NFL potential, he should be able to make it as a 3-4 nose tackle or two-gap defensive tackle.
8. Jay Tufele, USC
6-foot-3, 305 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
While Jay Tufele only played two years at USC he established himself as one of the best defensive linemen in the PAC-12. He was named USC’s defensive lineman of the year in both 2018 and 2019 and ended his career with 41 tackles and 4.5 sacks. As a prospect, he shows good strength and moves well for someone over 300 pounds. He also has a quick first step which allows him to make plays in the backfield.
The biggest concern with Tufele is his football IQ. He has trouble diagnosing plays at times and is not very good when asked to read and react. There have also been some overall questions about his maturity level by NFL scouts. In terms of NFL fit, he would likely fit best in a one-gap defensive scheme where he will be just asked to attack gaps.
9. Marvin Wilson, Florida State
6-foot-3, 319 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
No player has seen his stock drop as much in the past year as Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson. Going into the season he was regarded as a possible top-10 pick, but now carries a fifth-round draft grade. Part of the reason his stock has fallen so much is that he looked unmotivated most of the 2020 season. He also has battled injuries the past couple of seasons and did not have a great Senior Bowl.
When motivated Wilson does show flashes to be a starting-caliber defensive tackle in the NFL. When watching his 2019 film he showed a good motor, and the ability to use his hands well when engaged with a blocker. He displayed the ability to be a complete defender that year as well as he held his ground well when playing the run and also led Florida State in sacks with five. If Wilson can go to a coach that can keep him motivated Wilson could find himself starting in the NFL, however, if that is not the case he could find himself out of the league in two years.
10. Tyler Shelvin, LSU
6-foot-3, 346 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
Teams looking for a 3-4 nose tackle will be paying the most attention to LSU’s Tyler Shelvin. Shelvin has two traits that will attract attention from these teams which are size and strength. Coming in at 346 pounds he is one of the bigger defensive linemen in the draft and has the size to take up multiple blockers. He has the strength to do this as well, as he is very hard to move off the ball.
The team that drafts Shelvin has to expect next to nothing from him as a pass rusher. He does not have the speed to be a threat rushing the passer and also has trouble getting off blocks. Another and possibly a bigger issue with him might be his overall discipline. He was suspended for two games in 2018, due to weight issues and also battled academic issues in 2017. If put in the right system he could be someone who earns a starting spot.
11. Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M
6-foot-4 315 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
2020 was a breakout season for Texas A&M defensive tackle Bobby Brown III. Going into the season he only had three tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks for his career. However, this past season he was able to account for 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. His top asset is his impressive strength as he is routinely able to bull-rush his man into the backfield. He also has the size NFL teams crave coming in at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds.
While Brown has the natural tools to get drafted he is more of a developmental defensive tackle at this time. This is partly due to his lack of football intelligence. He seems lost on the field at times and also has trouble diagnosing blocking schemes. He lacks much variety as a pass rusher as well as he is only able to win with power currently.
12. Darius Still, West Virginia
6-foot-1, 285 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
A disruptive defensive tackle a team will be able to get late in the 2021 NFL Draft is West Virginia’s Darius Still. Still has registered 22 tackles for loss over the last two years and was named an All-American this past season. What will cause him to fall in the draft is that he is on the shorter side and doesn’t show elite quickness or strength. He should be able to make it as NFL backup defensive tackle.
13. Carlo Kemp, Michigan
6-foot-3, 286 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
An athletic defensive tackle who should be available at the tail end of the 2021 NFL Draft is Michigan’s Carlo Kemp. Kemp is explosive off the ball and also has the agility to threaten offensive guards. Overall, he is better vs. the pass than the run at this point in his career. The biggest reason he has trouble vs. the run is he lacks the bulk and overall strength to hold up against bigger offensive guards. He is also not helped by the fact he plays with a high pad level at times.
14. Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech
6-foot-4, 278 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
Louisiana Tech’s Milton Williams has been one of the most productive players in the C-USA over the past two seasons, having registered 10 sacks. He has also put up some strong testing numbers including a 4.63 40-yard dash and 32 reps on the bench press. Unfortunately, he does look somewhat sloppy on the field and will likely settle in as a backup defensive tackle in the NFL.
15. Khyiris Tonga, BYU
6-foot-3, 321 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Seventh round
A player who was helped last season by playing a weak schedule is BYU defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. While he looked good on film last season when going up against teams like Troy when matchup against NFL-caliber players he doesn’t have the same impact. Overall, Tonga is a strong player with good strength but lacks much explosiveness and flexibility.
16. Josiah Bronson, Washington
6-foot-3, 300 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Seventh round
A developmental defensive lineman a team may take a chance on towards the end of the draft is Josiah Bronson of Washington. While Bronson never put up much production at Washington finishing his college career with only 42 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss he does have some traits that make you think he could develop into a player who makes an NFL roster. These traits include good size, the ability to deliver a nice pop with his hands and above-average athletic ability for someone his size.
Players with free agent grades
17. Jordon Scott, Oregon
18. Mustafa Johnson, Colorado
19. Ta’Quon Graham, Texas
20. Quinton Bohanna, Kentucky
21. Tedarrell Slaton, Florida
22. Naquan Jones, Michigan State