{"id":868050,"date":"2026-04-17T00:34:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868050\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T00:34:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T00:34:07","slug":"lions-are-only-team-cincinnati-defensive-tackle-has-met-with","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868050\/","title":{"rendered":"Lions Are Only Team Cincinnati Defensive Tackle Has Met With"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Lions<\/a> could find a defensive tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft that has overcome adversity and is a gritty football player. <\/p>\n

Cincinnati Bearcats defensive tackle Dontay Corleone overcame blood clots in 2024 to put himself in position to take his game to the next level. <\/p>\n

Initially, he thought his playing career was over, but realized through support from the Universiy that he still had an opportunity to continue playing footbal. <\/p>\n

Speaking with On SI draft analyst Justin Melo<\/a>, Corleone, who is nicknamed “The Godfather,” shared insights about his game and noted the Lions are the only team he has met with. <\/p>\n

\u201cI met with the Detroit Lions. I had a formal interview with the Lions at the NFL Combine. I\u2019ve pretty much shut it down,” said Corleone. “I haven\u2019t done any private workouts or anything like that. I\u2019m getting healthy. I think teams know and understand that. They\u2019ve also been scouting me<\/a> for a long time. They know who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many scouts highlight his strength and space-eating size. His work as a pass-rusher needs to be enhanced at the next level. <\/p>\n

He is the 30th ranked defensive tackle of draft analyst Dane Brugler. He was forced to miss the final two games of the 2025 season because of left ankle injury. <\/p>\n

He has not participated in visits since he re-aggravated the injury during practice at the East-West Shrine Bowl. <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m learning a lot more about how to get to the quarterback. I\u2019m always just working on becoming a more complete player and that obviously means rushing the passer. I just need to play my game at a high level,” Corleone tells Melo. “I\u2019m looking forward to getting into an NFL locker room with a guy who can help me take those next steps. You know, if I get into a locker room with say Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, a guy of that caliber, I know I can pick his brain and ask him for pointers on rushing the passer.”<\/p>\n

Veteran DJ Reader met recently with the New York Giants. The team could still bring him back, but Reader may have played his last down for Detroit. <\/p>\n

Tyleik Williams is expected to take a step forward in 2026. The team did miss out<\/a> on bringing back Roy Lopez, as he returned to the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. <\/p>\n

If Corleone is still available at the right spot, he currently projects as being a solid backup defensive tackle. <\/p>\n

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