2026 Draft: Defensive Tackle

[manxman2601]

A lower priority position this year and one not as impressive as last.. I do like Iowa State's DT prospect Dominique Orange's nickname though: 'Big Citrus'.

 

[Joey007]

A lower priority position this year and one not as impressive as last.. I do like Iowa State's DT prospect Dominique Orange's nickname though: 'Big Citrus'.

Love me some Big Citrus.

He’s come a long way since his freshman year. Lost a lot of P4 offers due to motivation concerns. He really flipped that around during his tenure and is starting to develop into a complete player.

 

[Clonamery]

Definitely not deep.

But I'd be pretty happy if Aaron Graves fell to us on Day 3 for some reason.

 

[manxman2601]

Definitely not deep.

But I'd be pretty happy if Aaron Graves fell to us on Day 3 for some reason.

 

[manxman2601]

Definitely not deep.

But I'd be pretty happy if Aaron Graves fell to us on Day 3 for some reason.

Add Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones and Max Llewellyn and the Iowa lines are worth watching.

 

[Joey007]

Add Gennings Dunker, Logan Jones and Max Llewellyn and the Iowa lines are worth watching.

They’re quietly building another nice batch of trench NFL prospects.

 

[manxman2601]

Please don't get me wrong with this post as I am a big fan of Peter Woods. I think he's an awesome run defender and dominates offensive linemen but does this concern you as a top 10 pick? These are the 2024 sack and pass rush totals of some of the leading DTs in the 2025 and 2026 drafts. In order of pressures.

Derrick Harmon - 55 pressures, 5 sacks
Ty Robinson - 42,6
Darius Alexander - 37,4
Walter Nolen - 35,6
Mason Graham - 34, 5
TJ Sanders - 33,5
Darrel Jackson Jr (2026) - 30,5
Caleb Banks (2026) - 29,4
Zane Durant (2026) - 28,4
Kenneth Grant - 27,3
Omar Norman-Lott - 27,5
Aaron Graves (2026) - 26,7
Joshua Farmer - 26,6
Peter Woods - 13, 3

I think you take my point. Even pure run stuffer types like Jamaree Caldwell (25), Jordan Phillips (16), Alfred Collins (18), Tyleik Williams (20), CJ West (25) had more total pressures.

I know here are people that really like Woods, as I do, and I'm not saying this to be provocative, but if he is going to be a top 10 pick, never mind top 5, I think he is really going to have to up his pass rush production this season. I have only just discovered this so it's not a response to other debates.

Those are the only 3 sacks in his college career and he doesn't have a single pressure this season yet. I must admit, the lack of production in this regard does bother me somewhat.

Two of his most popular comps are Quinnen Williams and Jeffrey Simmons. Here are their final season numbers.

Quinnen Williams - 56 pressures, 10 sacks
Jeffrey Simmons - 34,4.

Food for thought.

 

[manxman2601]

On the other side of the Peter Woods coin, I present exhibit A

 

[manxman2601]

Something else I've just found out about Woods.

 

[mayoclinic]

Like the idea of Woods at 307#.

From Field Yates:

"Woods is a chaos causer. He had just three sacks in 2024 after none as a freshman in 2023, but his game goes far beyond the box score; every opponent O-line had a plan for him on each snap last season."

2026 NFL mock draft: Preseason pick predictions for Round 1

Could Arch Manning go No. 1? Will QBs dominate the first round? Which teams could land playmakers? Field Yates projects next year's opening 32 picks.

www.espn.com

 

[mayoclinic]

Pretty impressive performance by Williams and Barmore yesterday. Add any of Woods, Faulk or Bain and I think you would have a dominant front 4.

A lot depends on Keion White and Josh Farmer. If they show signs of development, then an LB or EDGE rusher like Hill, Sykes, Perkins, Howell or Bailey might be a better complement.

 

[manxman2601]

Peter Woods cut up vs LSU 2025

Form your own opinion. I just don't see a blue chip prospect. There was one great play where he threw an OL to one side to make the tackle and there were some other good plays but I just don't feel he's impactful enough. In his defense, he's being double teamed a lot.
However, let me ask you this. Who would have the greater impact on our team? Mansoor Delane, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, even Jordan Tyson or Peter Woods? I don't think the gap is as wide now as it was pre-season if it exists at all.

 

[mayoclinic]

Agreed.

2024 Woods was rushing off the Edge 40% of the time, showing both the ability to take on double teams and to penetrate, chase people down, etc.

2025 Woods is doing fine taking on double teams, but want more than that.

Waiting to see if things change.

 

[mayoclinic]

Field Yates still high on Peter Woods:



See around the 24:00 mark. Says "he has had an incredible year" so far in 2025.

Interesting, because (1) I love Woods, and have a weak spot for athletic, versatile DTs, (2) I respect the hell out of Field Yates, and (3) I agree with Manx, this year's tape so far doesn't "pop" for me.

 

[manxman2601]

Sadly he's out for an extended amount of time following an operation but I was starting to think about Caleb Banks, Florida being the DT most likely to go highest in the draft.

6'6
334 lbs
35" arms
85" wingspan
5.15 forty

Has had 53 pressures in two seasons at Florida

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

At least he finally gets in the box score

 

[manxman2601]

A'Mauri Washington, Oregon, 6-3, 330lbs

According to Bruce Feldman's Freaks List has a 36.5" VJ.
Elite get off at the snap.
Not a pass rusher (zero CFB sacks), but a penetrating run stuffer.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[mayoclinic]

Wake Forest DT Mateen Ibirogba (#99) has a quick 1st step: