Tag Archives: Interior Defensive Linemen

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

Top 10 interior defensive linemen of the 2023 NFL Draft:

Finishing up our conversations on the top linemen inside and out on both sides of the ball, we end on the best interior defenders. While plenty of these prospects have flexibility in terms of alignment, based on main position, this list includes anything from a true zero-technique nose-tackle all the way out to a base D-end in a 3-4, lining up at five-technique straight across the offensive tackle.

This group includes what many consider the most talented all-around player in this draft. After that, I believe there are two more guys worthy of going in the first round, along with another three names I have second-round grades on and a kid who will go some time on day two I would think, largely dependent on how teams value a fairly narrow role. After that, there are a couple of names I value higher than consensus rankings and I think you can find useful pieces for certain roles way down the line potentially, but in terms of complete players that will play on all three downs, the board drops off pretty dramatically.

Here’s what it looks like to me:


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NFL Draft

Top 10 interior defensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft:

Finishing with these players in the trenches, we are looking at the interior defensive line. This group includes everything from players, who will primarily line up head-up on the offensive tackle to straight over the center. I will always mention with specific alignment I believe fits the individual players best, although with many hybrid fronts we see in the NFL, most guys will be moving around – especially on passing downs.

This group has been called one of the weakest ones throughout the draft process and when I compare it to some of the classes we have seen these last several years, I certainly don’t think it matches up with them. At best, I believe two of them will be drafted in the first round and I wouldn’t be totally shocked the first one comes off in the late twenties. However, I think there could be some valuable players on day two and even beyond that. Four of my top five prospects I would classify as three-techniques (so shaded to the outside shoulder of the guard), but after that there are several names, who will play head-up or shaded to one side of the center.

Make sure to check out my video breakdown of the top interior offensive linemen!

But now let’s get into this list:


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