DEFENSIVE LINE
Mason Graham DT/DE Michigan
Mason is an excellent run stuffing, shed, and makes a tackle at the line of scrimmage DT. He has those strong hands that are very important for a defensive lineman to have. Mason, when he is using the correct techniques and not overly aggressive trying to make a play by himself, has the franchise, size, strength, and excellent techniques needed to build your defense line play around. He looks on film to be an excellent leader and teammate. Mason’s ability to be an impact player at the next level is without any doubts. That being said, his aggressiveness at times tends to work against him taking himself out of the play and on the ground. Mason has a good understanding of offensive line play and this allows him to get a jump on the offensive line but it also at times allows him to play sloppy and this needs to be addressed. That being said, Mason is the real deal, I have no doubt his impact at the next level will be outstanding. Talent 1.50
Ty Robinson DT/DE Nebraska
Ty reminds me a lot of Redskins/Commanders DL Jonathan Allen and like Jonathan, if you're looking for a defensive player to be the focal point of your Defense Line look no further than Ty Robinson. Ty can play inside or outside in a 4/3 or 3/4 line. He is big, strong, and has a powerful burst that changes the line of scrimmage in his favor off the snap in every down and distance situation. If he plays on the outside he will be what I call a “power rusher” shutting down the run, vacuuming up the sweeps and screens for losses, and giving you 8 to 10 sacks a year. If you play him on the inside he will be like a Metamorphic Rock, shutting down the run, pushing the pocket, disrupting the rhythm of an offense, and in general, causing havoc for the opponent’s offense. Ty is a leader and will be a franchise Defensive lineman for your team. He will make the players around him better through his play on the field and leadership. He will make coaches...better coaches, because of his attention to detail in his play on the field. Ty is one of the best Defensive linemen in this draft. He is a Rock and the more pressure and heat you put on him the less chance opponents have to move him off the line of scrimmage. Talent Grade: 1.54
Walter Nolen DT/DE Ole Miss
Walter is a Defensive Edge Rusher in a Defensive Tackles body. He reminds me a lot of when Former Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Bruce Smith came out in the 1985 Draft. Bruce was over 300 lbs when he came out of college. He was called the Sack Man with 46 career sacks, averaging 11.5 sacks a season. At the end of his NFL career, Bruce was a 260 lb Edge Rusher and the all-time leader in sacks. Walter has nowhere near that type of production but he does have that mentality and if he loses a little weight, and gets into NFL football shape, I think moving him to a defensive end position would benefit him dramatically. Walter has the size, length, body type, and excellent overall athletic talent, of a pure defensive end. He has the explosion off the line of scrimmage like an Edge Rusher too. He does not like to take on blocks and make tackles at the line of scrimmage. What Walter likes to do is get into the backfield, disrupt, and make tackles or sack the QB. I don’t think you going to change him no matter how much you try. So, why bother? Use him inside on passing downs and outside on passing downs. Walter can and will set the edge and make plays against the run, on sweeps and screens because of his excellent athletic talent but put him on the inside, and he gets constricted by the garbage and it lessens his impact. Walter is like a sidewinder heat-seeking missile, firing off the line and honing in on his target and not waiting for his target to come to him. Talent Grade: 1.61
Derrick Harmon DL Oregon
Derrick reminds me of the Chiefs Chris Jones when he came out in the draft. Derrick has the size, explosion, long arms, and strength to dominate on the line of scrimmage. He is made for a 3/4 defense as a Nose Tackle or Defensive End. The fewer players around Derrick the easier it is for him to do his work. Using him in a 4/3 defensive front as a Defensive Tackle stifles his ability and movement to manipulate and fight through the double teams. Derrick is much better at lining up against one player and then exploding off a double team that comes to help out than being hit with a double team right off the snap of the ball. The reason is that he plays up high and gives away his chest to the offensive lineman and loses leverage despite his strength and length. Derrick also struggles to change direction so passing downs would be more impactful coming from one side or the other to force a quarterback out of the pocket with a more directional path to the quarterback to collect sacks. If the team that selects him uses him the same way the Chiefs use Chris Jones he will be as dominating a player with double-digit sacks as Chris has been. Park him on the line as an interior Defensive Tackle in a 4/3 front, and it lessens his impact. Remember good coaching is everything when it comes to using players to their strengths. Talent Grade: 1.61
Cam Jackson DT Florida St
Cam is a big, strong, powerful, long-arm, pure, push-the-pocket, stuff the run Defensive tackle. There is no “I can be a Defensive End”, in this kid's repertoire at all. His measurements at the Senior Bowl were 6’ 6 ½", 339 lbs. with a 6’11 ¼" Wing span and he wore it well. Cam very simply did the one on one’s with a dominating push, straight back to the quarterback. No fancy moves and with the full knowledge by the offensive lineman that collapsing the pocket and not defeating the man in front of him was all he had on his mind. When Cam, uses his long arms to keep offensive linemen away from his body he is one of the best run-stuffing Defensive linemen in this draft. There is a saying with the scouts in the NFL that most “Experts” and talking heads don’t seem to understand. That saying is, the closer you are lined up to the ball the more valuable that player is. Centers, Defensive Tackles, and Quarterbacks are the most valued positions, and the positions you must have impact players at or your offense and defense will not be good enough to compete in the big games. The exception to that rule would be Left Tackle, we all know how important they are. Cam can be a dominating Nose Tackle or a pure, Defensive Tackle. He could make your defense dominating by freeing up others to make the tackles and sacks and take the glory. I don’t know what round Cam will be selected but I do know, that his talent and value make him an early selection in my book. Talent Grade: 1.64
Kenneth Grant DT/NT Michigan
Kenneth reminds me a lot of former Patriots Defensive Tackle Vince Wilfork. Kenneth is a remarkable athlete. He demands a double team on every down and in every down and distance situation. He is a run-stuffing nightmare for offensive linemen to block. When he is used as a pass rusher it is like watching a Tsunami of waves, crashing through the offensive lineman, hitting the itty-bitty blocking back, and then slamming into the QB who will try frantically to get out of his way. That being said what you get from Kenneth is a run stuffer who most likely will come off the field in pass-rushing situations in spite of his athletic talents. Kenneth will have to lose some weight and build up his stamina to be effective at the next level. He’s listed at 340 lbs and if he gets down to 320 Lbs he will stay on the field longer and get more of a chance to pass rush. Kenneth is exactly the type of defensive lineman you can build your defense around if he loses a little weight and gains stamina. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field and because he demands a double team and that makes the players around him better. Kenneth is a 340 lb Tsunami and trust me, when he’s on the field he owns it, hash mark to hash mark. Talent Grade: 1.67
Deone Walker DT Kentucky
I don’t think there is any doubt about Deone’s potential to be a dominating Defensive lineman for the team that selects him. His size and athletic talent alone suggest that. The problem is, his film in 2024 contradicts his film in 2023 and that is the big concern. Deone has shown on film that he can shed blocks and shed double teams to be disruptive and make plays that many other Defensive linemen are not able to do. He has also shown on film, being handled one on one by Georgia offensive lineman. In that game, he was pushed off the line and thrown around like a rag doll. The question is, did he try to play with injuries in 2024? He showed up against Ole Miss and dominated and played well but there are other games where the only reason you notice him on the field is because of his size. If you look at his 2023 film, Deone is worthy of being selected in the top five of any draft. In fact, off of his 2023 film, I would look at him as potentially being considered as the 1st pick of that draft. This year I would consider him as having 1st round talent that could slip into the 2nd or even the 3rd round depending on his interviews and medicals. If Deone was trying to play through some injuries, he is certainly worth selecting early in this draft. Talent Grade: 1.89
Darius Alexander DT Toledo
Darius is the type of Defensive lineman that could develop into something special. He has the size, strength, and speed, along with excellent athletic talent, and those long arms needed to be an impact lineman. Darius gets an advantage off the line of scrimmage on just about every down and distance, because of his pad level. For a Defensive lineman, to change the line of scrimmage to his advantage, you must come off the line with a pad level equal to or lower than your opponent. If a player can do that consistently, they will be an impact defensive lineman. It is really that simple. The lower the pad level with the ability to keep your feet is the key to winning off the snap of the ball. Darius is one of the best in this draft at keeping his pad level low and keeping his feet and that is where he gets his explosiveness from. Darius has the size, foot, speed, and explosiveness to be used all along the Defensive line. He is stout against the run and does a solid job shedding blocks and making tackles at the line of scrimmage. He will need to get quicker and faster using his hands but this will improve with experience and repetitions for sure. That being said it's his size and explosiveness that sets him apart from other Defensive linemen in this draft. Darius has a high ceiling and with a good work ethic and better attention to detail, could become one of the best linemen from this very deeply talented draft class. Look closely for his name on Rob’s board and don’t be surprised what round he gets selected in. Talent Grade 1.92