2026 Draft: Defensive Tackle

[One-If-By-Sea]

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

Draft two DTs. Both late round, or one late round andone UDFA.

 

[mayoclinic]

A 3-Tech and a 1-Tech who can penetrate, e.g., Skyler Gill-Howard and Jordan van den Berg.

 

[Username]

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

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

 

[Clonamery]

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

Simms is insufferable and that's being fair.

 

[Username]

Simms is insufferable and that's being fair.

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

 

[Clonamery]

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

That's fine but I don't forget when someone ****'s all over Brady the player.

 

[manxman2601]

TEs or Travis Burke are my favourite 3rd round picks, but Kaleb Proctor is getting right up there for me.

 

[mayoclinic]

Doug Farrar loves Kaleb Proctor:

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.

5 small-school NFL Draft prospects who can have a big impact on defense

Malachi Lawrence, Kaleb Proctor, and Chris Johnson are among the small-school defensive players in the 2026 draft class with NFL starting potential.

www.sbnation.com

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

 

[dliverey44]

Jared Wilson played for Texas last year? LMAO

Those reps looked like some from Wilson this year at LG

 

[DaBruinz]

Jared Wilson played for Texas last year? LMAO

Those reps looked like some from Wilson this year at LG

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

 

[dliverey44]

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

Concerns me as well, also the fact that he played primarily in a 2 pt stance in the 2nd half of the season. He did have good tape as a Center while at Georgia though, so maybe our concerns will be for naught.