Breaking Down the Top Defensive Line Prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror and the combine just having been wrapped up, it’s time to take a look at the prospects for April’s NFL Draft. Although this year’s NFL Draft may not have the same flash as years passed, where we see QBs and WRs filling out most of the spots in the first round, that does not mean that there won’t be players that can’t make immediate impacts for the organizations that take a chance on them. To me, the 1st round talent in this year’s draft skews heavily towards the defensive side of the ball. For the casual fan, your team drafting an interior defensive lineman early in the draft may not excite you as much as a new QB or Heisman winning RB. However, players like Chris Jones, Aaron Donald, Jalen Carter, etc. are examples of defensive lineman that helped the team that drafted them reach the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. That being said, here are my top defensive lineman in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.:

1. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan – 6’3” , 320 lbs

Career Stats: 108 Combined Tackles, 18 TFLs, 9 Sacks, FF, FR

The 2024 Unanimous All-American and 2023 National Champion should be the first interior DL taken off the board come April. Although he did not participate in the 2025 NFL Draft Combine, the strength, skill, and relentlessness of Graham is present the second you watch his film. The former state wrestling champion is exceptional against the run. The combination of incredible technique and strength allows Graham to shed blocks and both fill gaps in the running game and attack the QB in the pass game. The high motor and consistent improvement of Graham should land him in the top 10 of this year’s NFL draft. 

2. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss – 6’3” , 305 lbs

Career Stats: 114 Combined Tackles, 26 TFLs, 11.5 Sacks, FF, 3 FRs

Like Graham, Nolen became an All-American in 2024 after transferring to Ole Miss from Texas A&M. Although not as polished as Graham, Nolen was more productive in college in large part due to his pure athleticism. Slightly smaller than the prototypical interior defensive lineman, Nolen was able to find success creating pressure against slower guards and tackles. Aside from the lateral quickness, Nolen’s explosiveness off the ball allowed him to overpower his opponents. Combining his natural quickness with the strength he displayed off the ball will be a DC’s dream at the next level as they will be able to move him all around the line and get creative with stunt packages. Although I still expect to see Graham go first, I would peg Nolen as a player with a top 15 ceiling in the upcoming draft. 

3. T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina – 6’4” , 290 lbs

Career Stats: 109 Combined Tackles, 18 TFLs, 9.5 Sacks

T.J. Sanders collegiate career looks a little different than the first two DL I listed for this year’s draft. Sanders didn’t see the field much as a freshman but started to really develop as a player his redshirt sophomore season. Perhaps the best part of Sanders’ game is the explosiveness at the point of attack. His long arms and strong hands allow him to create an initial push that has allowed him to become very efficient at affecting the pass as well as the zone run game. Where Sanders trails the other top DL is in the power and man run game. Sanders has shown struggles against teams that run vertically at him as opposed to wide zone.

4. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan – 6’4” , 340 lbs

Career Stats: 69 Combined Tackles, 12 TFLs, 6.5 Sacks, INT, 3 FRs

Probably the player with the least experience on this least is Kenneth Grant. Grant got the benefit of playing alongside Mason Graham the last two seasons and thrived in his role as a true Nose Tackle interior lineman. The main reason Kenneth Grant is so high on my board despite the lack of productivity compared to his counterparts is his sheer size and shocking athleticism. Grant weighs in at over 330 lbs and stands 6’4” but that’s not all. Grant is expected to run a sub 5.0 40 yard dash at Michigan’s Pro-Day. Guys this big and can move this fast don’t come around very often and don’t last very long on draft night. As a player Grant was exceptional in the passing, both with pressing the QB and clogging passing lanes with his hands. Although he lacks consistency both against the pass and the run, the tools are there for a team to turn Grant into the next dominant DT.

5. Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State – 6’3” , 325 lbs

Career Stats: 136 Combined Tackles, 28 TFLs, 11.5 Sacks, FF, FR, TD

Tyleik Williams was a four-year starter in Columbus and crucial to the 2024 National Championship run. At close to 330 lbs, Williams is probably the best run stopping DT in the 2025 class. The combination of his length, size, and strength helped Williams become one of the nation’s premier run stoppers. Although not as polished of a pass rusher as some of his classmates, Williams was still able to use his physicality to flat out bully smaller centers and guards. His lateral quickness and quick reaction allow him to read and react to blocking schemes on the fly. Conditioning and over aggressiveness may be a concern for teams but anytime in the market for a run stuffing DT will be foolish to pass on Williams. 

6-10: Derrick Harmon (Oregon), Alfred Collins (Texas), Omar Norman-Lott (Tennessee), Darius Alexander (Toledo) , Ty Robinson (Nebraska)