ALL POSITIONS: Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Defensive Backs (coming)

The fantasy season might be over, but in dynasty fantasy football, there is no off-season. This is a fun time of year for your IDP dynasty leagues, as we get to learn about the new incoming rookie class as they make their way through the pre-draft process. In this article, we'll take a look at the incoming defensive tackle group, ranking and discussing their profiles. It's early in the process; these rankings will be fluid. One thing to also keep in mind with these rankings is there’s a bit of IDP and draft projection baked into them. At the very least, it will familiarize you with some of the players as we prepare for the NFL combine. Alight, let's dive in.

*Denotes a player measurement taken from the Senior Bowl

1. Mason Graham, Michigan (6-foot-3, 320 pounds)

2024 Stats (12 games)

• 45 tackles (23 solos)
• 7 tackles for loss
• 3.5 sacks
• 1 pass defended

Mason Graham is widely viewed as the top defensive tackle prospect in this year’s class, coming off the board within the top ten picks in numerous mock drafts. When you put on his tape, it’s easy to see why. Graham’s athleticism is apparent for a big man, as he shoots off the snap with burst and shiftiness to create havoc. To pair with his quick snap get-off, Graham possesses power in both halves and a noticeable pop in his hands when he makes contact. His bullrush is a problem; if he hits opposing linemen first, they are in big trouble fighting from their heels.

Graham is a rock-solid run defender with the ability to anchor down when singled up and against double teams. However, he also flashes plenty of upside as a pass rusher, showing the ability to utilize swim and spin moves on occasion. Graham is a disruptive gap penetrator, but NFL teams will also appreciate his versatility to be utilized along their defensive front.

While Graham does many things well, he sometimes has trouble with his pad level. He can struggle to hold his ground or gets stalled against double teams when he comes out of his stance high. While Graham shows noticeable ability as a pass rusher, his three-and-a-half sacks this year were his most in a season over his three years at Michigan. True-position IDP gamers who select Graham will be hoping this part of his game continues to grow. 

2. Walter Nolen, Ole Miss (*6-foot-3, 293 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 48 tackles (25 solos)
• 14 tackles for loss
• 6.5 sacks
• 3 passes defended
• 2 fumble recoveries

Walter Nolen is a former five-star recruit, featuring an exciting combination of size, strength, balance, and athleticism at the defensive tackle position. Nolen can be a handful off the snap when crashing down on slants, with the ability to work fluidly down the line. As a pass rusher, Nolen utilizes his effective swim move as his go-to. While we IDP gamers would love to see him as an aggressive 3-technique, he’s plenty versatile to play along the front. Whichever defensive coordinator gets to work with Nolen should have fun utilizing him on stunts, as his strength and athleticism make him effective both as a penetrator and looper over the top. 

One key issue that can hinder Nolen is playing with a high pad level out of his stance. When his pad level is too high, Nolen can get stalled, causing him to struggle to shed opposing blockers and/or anchor down against double teams. As a pass rusher, Nolen utilizes his effective swim move well but could be even more of a weapon if he develops the rest of his arsenal to pair with it–he’s not short on ability. 

3. Derrick Harmon, Oregon (6-foot-5, 310 pounds)

2024 Stats (14 games)

• 45 tackles (27 solos)
• 11 tackles for loss
• 5 sacks
• 4 passes defended
• 2 forced fumbles
• 2 fumble recoveries

From a frame perspective, Derrick Harmon is a big dude with ideal length. Harmon successfully pairs his strength and length to gain leverage and get the upper hand to control opposing linemen. Harmon’s game is versatile, as he can be moved along the interior while also showcasing the ability to get upfield quickly for a man his size on stunts. He also flashes reps where he shoots quick and low off the snap to gain ideal leverage when deployed in the A gaps. Per Pro Football Focus, Harmon ranked first among FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures in 2024, proving he can be an issue to deal with as an interior pass rusher.

While he flashed a few nice side steps working laterally on tape, Harmon isn’t the most agile in his lower half. Harmon can also be a bit overzealous when in pursuit after winning reps, which likely led to his 12 credited missed tackles this season. Another issue is Harmon’s big frame can lead to him shooting high out of his stance, causing him to get stood up at the point of attack.

4. T.J. Sanders, South Carolina (*6-foot-3, 284 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 50 tackles (29 solos)
• 7 tackles for loss
• 4 sacks
• 1 pass defended

Off the snap, T.J. Sanders excels with his quick first step and noticeable burst. His ability to be swift out of the gates pairs well with his length in gaining leverage. Athletically, Sanders also shows a nifty sidestep move to get in run gaps and halt progress. As a pass rusher, Sanders features a strong set of mits when going to his swipe and rip moves while also possessing an effective bull rush when his pad level is right. There is a noticeable upside in this part of his game.

Sanders's biggest issue is that he plays with a high pad level far too often. This hinders his ability to gain leverage at the point of attack, and he isn’t fluent at shedding blocks when he’s stalled. Anchoring against double teams is also an issue when he’s too upright.

5. Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee (*6-foot-1, 295 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 18 tackles (8 solos)
• 4 tackles for loss
• 4 sacks

When watching Omarr Norman-Lott, the first thing that jumps out is his explosive get-off out of his stance. Normann-Lott shoots off the snap with an excellent burst and noticeable pop in his hands–a useful combination. To pair with his upper-level athleticism for the position, Norman-Lott also displays a high motor, enabling him a wide pursuit range. He has a legit pass rush upside for a defensive tackle, with his athleticism, burst, power, and ability to run inside games. While the sample size may be small, Norman-Lott had 27 pressures on 140 pass-rush snaps this past season, per PFF–the dude was disruptive.

Against the run, Norman-Lott can be inconsistent, struggling to anchor down and getting knocked off balance. This issue could limit his early-down work early on. He also had limited snaps during his collegiate career, as Norman-Lott averaged just 231 snaps/season over his two years at Tennesee. The lack of snap volume is a little concerning, but his effectiveness is apparent when he's on the field.

6. Kenneth Grant, Michigan (6-foot-3, 339 pounds)

2024 Stats (12 games)

• 32 tackles (18 solos)
• 7 tackles for loss
• 3 sacks
• 5 passes defended
• 2 fumble recoveries

Kenneth Grant is an imposing figure. Grant is a big, powerful man who moves well for a player of his stature. With his sheer size and power, Grant is a handful to deal with one-on-one in the trenches–he commands additional attention. Grant is built to anchor the middle, with his ability to take on blocks with leverage to gain control, and has all the strength to anchor down against double teams.

As a pass rusher, Grant shows an impressive bullrush and the ability to convert speed to power for a man his size. However, right now, he’s a more effective run defender than a pass rusher. For us IDP gamers, the biggest worry with Grant is how much time he spends at nose tackle, as eating blocks could limit his production.

7. Darius Alexander, Toledo (6-foot-3, 304 pounds)

2024 Stats (12 games)

• 40 tackles (17 solos)
• 8 tackles for loss
• 3.5 sacks
• 1 interception
• 4 passes defended

Darius Alexander is a smaller school prospect generating plenty of buzz. Alexander possesses a nice combination of size and athleticism, pairing nicely with his ideal length as he measured in with 34’’ arms recently at the Senior Bowl. Alexander’s agility for a big man enables him to work laterally across the face of opposing linemen while utilizing his swipe, arm over, and swim moves to win–his pass-rush upside is intriguing. Teams can get creative deploying Alexander along the defensive front, and he has noticeable appeal as a gap-penetrating 3-technique.

While Alexander’s athleticism is a key trait, his snap get-off can be inconsistent. There are times when he’s quick off the jump and others when he looks delayed. Alexander’s pad level can also be erratic. Playing high affects his ability to anchor down, as he cedes leverage to opposing blockers at the point of attack. 

8. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (6-foot-3, 327 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 46 tackles (16 solos)
• 8 tackles for loss
• 2.5 sacks
• 1 pass defended

Tyleik Williams is a big, strong dude with good athleticism for a man his size. When Williams’ snap timing and get-off are on point, his bullrush is a problem. Against the run, Williams has adequate power to hold his ground and anchor down against double teams. If Williams lands first at the point of attack, he uses his power and leverage to shed and dispose of opposing blockers.

One key issue with Williams is that his overall play can look hot and cold. There are times when he fires out of his stance and rallies to the ball, while others when his get-off is slow, and he’s late to the party. While Williams showcases ability as a pass rusher, he had a career-worst pass-rush grade of 60.5 in 2024, per PFF. 

9. Deone Walker, Kentucky (*6-foot-7, 340 pounds)

2024 Stats (11 games)

• 37 tackles (13 solos)
• 5 tackles for loss
• 1.5 sacks
• 2 passes defended
• 1 fumble recovery

Deone Walker is a mountain of a man. His massive frame and power make him a difficult fixture to displace one-on-one. With power and long 34-5/8’’ arms measured at the Senior Bowl, Walker can anchor down and shed blockers to make plays against the run. Walker moves pretty well for a man of his stature, featuring an effective swim move he utilizes both against the run game and as a pass rusher. Walker was also versatile enough to be shifted along the defensive font in different roles during his time at Kentucky.

Walker's pad level is a big issue. When he plays high and gets stood up out of his stance, it neutralizes his power and tools to win and gain leverage at the point of attack. Walker reportedly played through injuries this past season, which could be why his production dipped from 13 tackles for loss and seven-and-a-half sacks in 2023 to just five tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks in 2024. There are plenty of up-and-down plays with Walker, making him a tough evaluation.

10. Ty Robinson, Nebraska (*6-foot-4, 296 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 37 tackles (21 solos)
• 13 tackles for loss
• 7 sacks
• 4 passes defended
• 1 forced fumble

Ty Robinson is just a fun player to watch go to battle. He’s a big, powerful dude, playing the game with relentless effort. His pairing of power, pop in his hands, and high effort make him a handful to deal with when he gains leverage and pushes the pocket. Robinson can impact the game as a run defender and pass rusher, as seen by his six sacks and 42 pressures (3rd amongst FBS IDL) this season, per PFF. 

While we can appreciate Robinson’s effort and aggressiveness, his aggression can lead to reckless angles when it comes to finishing plays. Robinson shows a solid get-off out of his stance but comes out with a high pad level too often. Playing too upright limits his effectiveness and hinders his ability to anchor down against double teams.

Other Names to Know

• Alfred Collins, Texas
• Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
• Joshua Farmer, Florida State
• JJ Pegues, Ole Miss
• Jordan Phillips, Maryland
• Shemar Turner, Texas A&M

Final Thoughts

Thanks for reading, and hopefully, you enjoyed an early look at this intriguing incoming group of rookie defensive tackles. Be on the lookout for articles covering the other position groups, as my buddy Joesph Haggan, and I look to bring more insight on this IDP rookie class leading up to the draft.