2025 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Defensive linemen

theScore's NFL draft prospect rankings series gives you everything you need to know about the top players on the board. Check back as we break down new position groups leading up to April's draft.

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

EDGE | DL | LB

Graham is a blue-chip talent who seems like one of the safest picks in this draft. The Michigan standout is an impressive athlete who brings some legitimate pass-rush juice to the interior defensive line. His first-step quickness immediately puts opposing linemen at a disadvantage, and he's got a wide array of pass-rush moves to turn to from there. His heavy hands and lightning-quick lateral agility allow for some instant wins on the way to the quarterback. And he's not merely a finesse rusher, either. Graham can also convert speed to power and collapse the pocket with an overwhelming bull rush. Just as important as the pass-rush arsenal itself, he's shown an advanced feel for putting it all together. The power doesn't quite show up as consistently as a run defender, as his size and length can occasionally give him trouble dropping the anchor. But his instincts, motor, and ability to defeat blocks with quickness should still allow him to be a productive player in that regard. Graham is a game-wrecker with Pro Bowl potential.

Harmon put together a breakout season after transferring to Oregon, recording five sacks and leading all interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures, according to PFF. For reference, Mason Graham finished the year with 34. Harmon isn't quite as explosive or agile, and he doesn't yet have a deep arsenal of rush moves, but he plays with incredible natural strength and the hand usage to defeat blocks with ease. Harmon's abilities in the run game are arguably even more impressive. His length and technique allow him to control blocks at the line of scrimmage, and he's got the play strength and anchor ability to consistently hold his ground against double teams. Having only the one year of high-end play could be considered a red flag, but it might also be a sign there's even more to unlock with some development at the next level. Harmon has a chance to be a productive three-down player in any scheme.

Nolen's flashes are as exciting as any defensive lineman in this draft. His unique athletic traits, including explosiveness off the ball and impressive agility for his size, can make him a nightmare for interior offensive linemen to keep under control. His power can also be overwhelming when he plays with good pad level and technique. But the consistency is lacking in that regard. He can occasionally be washed out of a play because of poor hand usage or getting too upright out of his stance. He'll also need a more sound pass-rush plan for consistent wins at the next level. Drafting Nolen early is a bet that he'll put it all together at the next level and turn those flashes of brilliance into regular dominance. Some risk is involved, but the ceiling is a true game-changer on the interior defensive front. That kind of player is always worth the gamble.

Grant, first and foremost, is a force in the run game. He's a massive body in the middle of the defensive line who will not be moved off the ball. But eating up space as a nose tackle is only one part of his game. The Michigan product also demonstrates impressive athleticism for a player of his size. That shows up with his ability to slip blocks and make tackles for loss in the run game and with his sneaky pass-rush skills. He might never be a true three-down player, and that's fine. His ability to shore up the interior against the run carries enough value on its own. But Grant even occasionally collapsing the pocket with a bull rush or challenging interior linemen laterally adds significant value beyond what teams can usually expect out of elite run defenders. That's first-round talent.

Collins will be sold as a run-stuffing defensive tackle. And make no mistake, he can absolutely handle those duties. He's a massive defensive tackle who plays with the power to match. His length allows him control blocks at the point of attack, and he can often be seen throwing his opponent aside to make a play on the ball. It's a lot of fun to watch, and this area of the game alone would give Collins more than enough value at the next level. It also seems possible there's opportunity for more. He's more athletic than you might expect for a player of this size. It hasn't yet translated to any sort of noticeable pass-rush production, but there were flashes that hinted at some untapped potential there. Collins should be an impact run defender either way. If he can add some value as a pass-rusher, he could end up as one of the biggest steals of this draft.

Williams should make his money as a run-stuffing nose tackle at the NFL level. He's got the size, strength, and anchor ability to hold up in the middle and handle double teams. He can be more than a block-eater, though. Williams also has better lateral movement skills than you might expect for a player of his size, and he's shown an ability to stack, shed, and make a play on the ball himself. A lack of true pass-rush traits could limit his role at the next level, even if he did spend a lot of time at the three-technique in Ohio State's defense. But he's not the kind of one-trick pony nose tackle who needs to come off the field on late downs. A powerful skill set also allows him to push the pocket every now and then. Williams is a potential Day 1 starter who should provide an immediate upgrade against the run.

Sanders brings the heat as a pass-rusher. The South Carolina defensive tackle is explosive off the ball and demonstrates quick, heavy hands to swipe away a lineman's punch and slide past him into the backfield. When his initial rush is stalled, he has the counter moves to keep the rep alive. Sanders also shows good balance to fight through contact on the way to the quarterback. The run game is a bit more complicated of a projection. He does flash this ability to get inside his opponent's frame, control blocks, and find the ball. But he can get washed out of a play quickly if he isn't square, and he doesn't currently have the anchor to hold up against the double teams he'd see with full-time work on the interior. Sanders' best fit is likely as an early down five-technique end who kicks inside in passing situations. That kind of role could give him a path to instant impact at the next level.

Turner is a high-energy player who offers some upside in all phases of the game. He doesn't quite have ideal size for an every-down role on an interior, but that might never become an issue considering the physicality and aggression he provides in the run game. The Texas A&M product has powerful hands and demonstrates an ability to stack and shed in one-on-one matchups with offensive linemen. While he doesn't yet have a deep arsenal of rush moves, or a refined plan when it comes to getting after the quarterback, his constant effort and active hands still give him opportunities to get into the backfield. Turner will have to ensure the aggression doesn't spill over into careless penalties, as was too often the case in college. He's got potential as a starting three-technique if he can clean that up and continue to develop his game as a pass-rusher.

Robinson is a powerhouse defensive tackle with a big-time motor. He explodes off the ball with knock-back strength to reset the line of scrimmage and has the ability to defeat blocks and make a play on the ball in the run game. He can also drop the anchor and hold his ground against double teams. Robinson capped his Nebraska career with seven sacks in 2024, easily the most productive of his five college seasons. While he doesn't have an extensive pass-rush repertoire at the moment, his heavy hands allow for some quick wins on the way to the quarterback. And there might be potential for continued improvement in that area. An outstanding combine performance saw him test as the most athletic defensive tackle in this class, according to Relative Athletic Score. A defensive tackle complementing a power play style with a relentless effort and those kind of movement skills will always be worth a gamble. Robinson could provide every-down value with some more development as a pass-rusher.

Peebles is fighting an uphill battle because of his size. It'll be tough to earn every-down work at the next level, but it's also hard to ignore everything he put on tape at Virginia Tech. He's an explosive pass-rusher who gets upfield in a flash, winning with active hands and a good repertoire of rush moves, including an impressive spin counter. His consistent effort also keeps the battle alive even if his first move is stalled. Peebles will need the right fit, as he can't be put in a position where he's taking on double teams at the point of attack. Any sort of run-game value might be too much to ask, but he does play with surprisingly good power, and the leverage battle comes naturally at his size. Even if there's no path to early down work, Peebles can compensate with his ability to get after the quarterback in sub packages. And that's where money is made anyway.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.