2026 Draft: Defensive Tackle

Username said:

Chris Simms did his DT rankings. He's very high on the class, says it's confusing how overlooked and undervalued the prospects are. His ranking are:

1) Kayden McDonald
2) Christen Miller
3) Caleb Banks
4) Dominique Orange
5) Lee Hunter

I'd swap 2 & 3, even allowing for injury concerns, and probably 4 & 5, but they are the same 5 players I'd have in my top 5. However, there's about another 6 or so DT's that I wouldn't argue with being in anyone's top 5

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Clonamery said:

I don't think any serious person is overlooking DT. Simms thinks he's a film savant and smarter than everyone.

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Username said:

I'm not sure that's fair to be honest.

There are only two DT's ranked as first rounders in the consensus big board, at 29 and 31. There are only 8 ranked in the top 100.

This is a position group that has been pretty key to a number of recent Superbowl winning teams, and it's a strong class, certainly far stronger than the OT class which has 6 projected first rounders on the consensus board

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Clonamery said:

Simms is insufferable and that's being fair.

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Username said:

I find him ok. Far less insufferable that a lot of other NFL media personalities, but to each their own

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And now, the guy I just won’t shut up about. Of all the small-school prospects I’ve watched in this year’s process, Southeastern Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor shot out of my laptop and got right in my face more than any other. In 2025, the 6’2”, 291-pound Proctor totaled nine sacks, 39 pressures, 18 solo tackles, 22 stops, and two tackles for loss. If you’re worried about strength of competition, hit the tape tweet below, and watch his two sacks against LSU.

Oh. And then, he completely killed it at the combine.

Case closed.

I’ve had a thing for smaller defensive tackles that goes all the way back to John Randle, and has served me well in evaluation from Grady Jarrett through to that Aaron Donald guy. Proctor could be the next in line. The gap quickness is off the charts, and that plays well in an NFL where stunts and line games are more important than ever, because defenses want more and better ways to mess with protections and create pressure without blitzing. Proctor has no real bad weight on his frame, and adding another 10 pounds of muscle might prevent him from getting washed out by the occasional double-team, but it’s not an epic problem — Proctor was double-teamed on 168 of his 564 snaps last season, and his ability to knife through doubles was evident.

If you get Proctor on the second day of the draft, and you turn him loose as a one-gap penetrator and move tackle with some spice on the edges as well, he’s going to be a force.

As always, tape don’t lie.

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manxman2601 said:

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dliverey44 said:

Jared Wilson played for Texas last year? LMAO

Those reps looked like some from Wilson this year at LG

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DaBruinz said:

Which is why I am concerned about the shift back to Center...

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