Tag Archives: Interior D-line

NFL Draft

Top 10 interior defensive linemen of the 2025 NFL Draft:

Closing the chapter on offensive and defensive line prospects for this draft, we’re taking a look at the interior D-line. Without nearly as strict front dynamics in terms of where players line up on a down-to-down basis, this includes anyone who I project to play from a 0- out to a 5-technique, meaning head-up on the center out to straight over the tackle. I’ll mention where I like them best with some of these, but of course this is no way exclusive for them.

As I asked myself recently how I would stack up the individual positions for this draft class, I basically had IDL and EDGE as 1A and 1B respectively. To me, there are four players worth being selected in the first round and at least the nine other guys discussed here having a claim to be top-100 picks. Yet, even beyond that, there are about 15-18 other names who may make active rosters in a specified role.

Let’s dig into this group:


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NFL Draft, Uncategorized

Top 10 interior defensive linemen of the 2024 NFL Draft:

Finishing up our first month of positional draft rankings, we close the chapter on trench warriors with the interior D-line. This group includes all players on the defensive side of the ball lining up anywhere from a zero- to a four-/five-technique depending on your labelling, although it’s rare to find such a clearly defined alignment roles these days. Just for clarification on how I will reference them:

0 = head-up on the center, 1 or shade = shoulder of the center, 2i = inside shoulder of the guard, 2 = head-up on the guard, 3 = outside shoulder of the guard, 4i = inside shoulder of the tackle, 4/5 = head-up on the tackle

This is a group that includes two incredible prospects worthy of top-20 selections and between five and seven other names that should go on day two. You can find useful players after that, but there is certainly a drop-off and you’re looking at role players or unrefined projects.

Let’s get into the list now:


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NFL Draft

Top 10 interior defensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft:

Following up on my rankings of the top ten interior offensive linemen, we now move back to the defensive side. IDL includes everything from a true zero-technique nose-tackle all the way out to a five-tech defensive end in a 3-4 front.

The days of those big defensive tackles, who are just immovable objects in the middle are over. That was indicated by what we saw from them at the combine, as we had three of the top four times for 300+ pounds D-linemen in the 40 getting set this year.

This group includes several upfield 3-techniques you can find in a 4-3 front, but also have kind of become the new standard of what NFL scouts are looking for, since defenses are rarely in base sets anymore and you are just looking for guys, who can create problems for the opposition by disrupting the play.

Here is the list:

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