Five defensive tackles went in the first round last season, and ten went in the top 65. <\/p>\n
Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is a first rounder this year, but in terms of talent and upside, there are only a few worthy of a top 50 spot. <\/p>\n
Here’s the CFN ranking of the best defensive tackles in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
![\"Ohio](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c12259fc32e18f8c451ec09e2f7a766a.jpeg\"\/)
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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (98) celebrates a fumble recovery with cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. (7) after stripping the ball from Illinois Fighting Illini running back Ca’Lil Valentine (5) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 11, 2025.\u00a9 Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
(\u00a9 Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)2026 NFL Draft: CFN’s Defensive Tackle Rankings, Key Sleeper, and Best ValueBest Value Prospect<\/p>\n
Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
He’ll fall because he’s under 300 pounds, but his quickness will be a problem in pass-rushing situations as part of a rotation. He’ll likely be a rarity – a Day 3 pick who’ll not only stick, but play a role.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
Top Sleeper Defensive Tackle<\/p>\n
Dontay Corleone<\/a>, Cincinnati He doesn’t look the part – too short, too stout, not a pass rusher, but you’re not knocking this guy over. There is concern about a frightening blood clot issue before the 2024 season, but he played the last two years at an All-Big 12 level.<\/p>\n Will Go Too Early<\/p>\n Caleb Banks, Florida Advertisement<\/p>\n Best of the Rest Defensive Tackles\u00a0 Darrell Jackson Jr.<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 10 There\u2019s a chance someone loves his combination of tools enough to take him late on Day 2. Huge, he takes up a ton of space, but he\u2019s not a great pass rusher and can be moved a bit.<\/p>\n Domonique Orange<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 9 Very productive for a very long time, he\u2019ll be a good value late anchor with the size and toughness to be a solid part of a rotation against the run. Don\u2019t ask for anything in the backfield – let him eat things up.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n DeMonte Capehart<\/a><\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 8 Stocky, he doesn\u2019t get moved off his base. He might not quite fit the idea of a next-level anchor for an NFL defense, but he has enough quickness for his bulk to show up large against the run.<\/p>\n Zxavian Harris<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 7 There\u2019s so much to like about his potential, but between injury concerns and a few off-the-field incidents, he might slip. <\/p>\n A giant, he\u2019s still able to operate with enough strength to hold up as an eater for the ground game. There might not be a true fit, but he\u2019ll work in a variety of ways in a rotation.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Christen Miller<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 6 Solid more than sensational as an NFL prospect, and that\u2019s not a knock. He\u2019ll move, and he\u2019ll find his way into opposing backfields, but it\u2019ll be his job to take up two blockers and let everyone else work.<\/p>\n Gracen Halton<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 5 Smallish, he has to find the right scheme that takes advantage of his lightning-quick athleticism. There\u2019s no true position for him, but put him next to a monster of an anchor and turn him loose.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Lee Hunter<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 4 Not quite as quick as you might like for a modern-day defensive tackle, he fits as one of the only true anchors among the top tackles. He can get behind the line, but his role at the next level will go beyond his stats.<\/p>\n Caleb Banks<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 3 Big, but with the ability to carry his weight on his frame, he looks the part of a big NFL defensive tackle. <\/p>\n The big question is his durability, missing most of last season with a foot injury. As long as he\u2019s healthy, he\u2019ll be a great part of a rotation.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Peter Woods<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 2 A little light but super quick, he\u2019s stronger than bulky with his upside as an athletic option next to a Coke machine in the interior. A part of a puzzle, but he\u2019ll be a very reliable piece.<\/p>\n Kayden McDonald<\/p>\n CFN DT Rank: 1 The frame isn\u2019t quite ideal, and he could use a little work overall, but he\u2019s the best defensive tackle in the draft, and it\u2019s not particularly close. <\/p>\n He\u2019s not tall, but he\u2019s a rock against the run with the quickness to get into the backfield on a regular basis. <\/p>\n No, he might not be the anchor of your defense, but he\u2019ll be a devastatingly productive part.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Related: 2026 NFL Draft Edge Rusher, Defensive End Rankings: CFN\u2019s College Football Perspective<\/a><\/p>\n This story was originally published by College Football News<\/a> on Apr 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL Draft<\/a> section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This isn’t the year for defensive tackles. If you want a great one, you either have to trade…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":870244,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4955,227,3126,1487,32413,1489,22841,7,4728,2201,49,48,56,1446,117957,53228,19342],"class_list":{"0":"post-870243","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-2026-nfl-draft","9":"tag-cincinnati","10":"tag-defensive-lineman","11":"tag-defensive-tackles","12":"tag-demonte-capehart","13":"tag-dexter-lawrence","14":"tag-dontay-corleone","15":"tag-football","16":"tag-illinois-fighting-illini","17":"tag-kayden-mcdonald","18":"tag-ncaa","19":"tag-ncaa-football","20":"tag-new-york-giants","21":"tag-ohio-state","22":"tag-pbu","23":"tag-tfl","24":"tag-zane-durant"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116433698503675500","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=870243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/870244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=870243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=870243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=870243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
One of the most productive defensive tackles in college football over the last four years might be there for the taking as an undrafted free agent. You want an anchor? Here you go.<\/p>\n
If he’s 100% healthy, look out. He’s huge, has all the tools, and is tough as nails with the way he battles on when he can, but he missed most of last year with a foot problem. Considering he might be the second tackle off the board, there’s a risk.<\/p>\n
(In alphabetical order, with the projected draft round in parentheses)
Nick Barrett, Texas A&M (4); Rayshaun Benny, Michigan (5); Zane Durant<\/a>, Penn State (4); Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M (2); Albert Regis, Texas A&M (4)<\/p>\n
College: Florida State
Projected Draft Round: 3
Height\/Weight: 6-6, 315
2025 Stats: 45 tackles, 1 sack, 3 PBU <\/p>\n
College: Iowa State
Projected Draft Round: 4
Height\/Weight: 6-2, 322
2025 Stats: 18 tackles, 1 PBU <\/p>\n
College: Clemson
Projected Draft Round: 4
Height\/Weight: 6-5, 313
2025 Stats: 21 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL, 2 PBU <\/p>\n
College: Ole Miss
Projected Draft Round: 4
Height\/Weight: 6-8, 330
2025 Stats: 58 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PBU <\/p>\n
College: Georgia
Projected Draft Round: 2
Height\/Weight: 6-4, 321
2025 Stats: 36 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 11.5 TFL, 1 PBU <\/p>\n
College: Oklahoma
Projected Draft Round: 3
Height\/Weight: 6-3, 293
2025 Stats: 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 FF <\/p>\n
College: Texas Tech
Projected Draft Round: 3
Height\/Weight: 6-4, 318
2025 Stats: 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 10.5 TFL, 1 FF <\/p>\n
College: Florida
Projected Draft Round: 2
Height\/Weight: 6-6, 327
2025 Stats: 6 tackles, 1 TFL <\/p>\n
College: Clemson
Projected Draft Round: 2
Height\/Weight: 6-3, 298
2025 Stats: 30 tackles, 2 sacks, 3.5 TFL, 1 PBU <\/p>\n
College: Ohio State
Projected Draft Round: 1
Height\/Weight: 6-2, 326
2025 Stats: 65 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 TFL, 2 FF <\/p>\n