2025 NFL Draft DL Preview
An early look at the 2025 DL class.
Football is one in the trenches at every level.
While defensive line prospects aren’t usually highly regarded, the 2025 class features seven interior DL players in the early consensus board’s top 30.
DL prospects come in all shapes and sizes while serving in different roles for their respective teams. Let’s take a look at some of the early top prospects at the position, along with a few other players I have yet to grade, but are firmly on the preseason watch list.
1. Mason Graham, Michigan
(6’3”, 318 pounds)
If you want a player with accolades, size, and ability who still possesses upside, then Mason Graham should be your DL1.
Graham was a freshman All-American in 2022 before earning second-team All-American and first-team Big Ten honors last season. He was also named the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP after a dominant performance against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
What makes Graham so special is his dominance in the run game. He plays with great pad level, excellent play strength, and solid extension to control the point of attack. He also flashes good short-area quickness and a swim move to take winning angles off of the snap.
As a pass rusher, Graham can still generate pressure, but still has upside. He could more consistently find success with his bull rush given his skill set, and could work on finding a few more pass-rush moves. His limited length could also make it harder for him to consistently disengage at the NFL level.
Still, Graham’s dominance in the run game and upside as a pass rusher should make him one of the top overall prospects in the 2025 class.
Want to learn more about Mason Graham? Subscribe to the Draft Talk newsletter for an All-22 deep dive on Wednesday.
2. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
(6’3”, 327 pounds)
I wasn’t prepared to like Tyleik Williams as much as I did. But the Ohio State prospect shows signs of being an absolutely dominant player in the trenches.
Williams was a freshman All-American in 2021, and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2023. He’s racked up 19 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and nine pass breakups over the past three seasons.
What consistently stands out with Williams is how strong and effective he is at the point of attack. He launches his hips and gets extended when engaging, then uses his play strength to shock and shed blockers to disengage when able to make a play on the ball carrier.
There’s also some solid movement skills and short-area quickness in Williams’ game. He has some decent hand usage as a pass rusher, but lacks the explosiveness and get-off to be a threat off the edge. Explosiveness will be one of Williams’ biggest opportunities to develop next season, as long as it doesn’t impact his play strength.
Ohio State is going to have a dominant defense in 2024, and I fully expect Williams to play a big part in it.
3. Deone Walker, Kentucky
(6’6”, 348 pounds)
I’ve been shocked to see Deone Walker consistently ranked as DL1 by most national media outlets.
As of right now, I just don’t see it.
Sure, I can see the upside with a prospect like Walker. A 6’6”, 348-pound lineman who can move in space and flashes crazy potential. However, the flashes are way too far apart, and he’s an extremely raw player that needs to take a big jump on film in 2024.
Walker has good play strength, even when engaging with high pad level. That strength also allows him to swallow up ball carriers from all kinds of angles. He also flashes good lateral agility and quickness, especially for his size.
However, there are too many frustrating moments on film. He doesn’t emphasize getting extended enough against the run, his pad level is constantly too high, and there are too many times where he tries an ineffective spin move.
This grade may seem a bit harsh, but standards should be high for a player being considered a top-10 pick. And I don’t think he’s there yet.
4. Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
(6’1”, 284 pounds)
It’s pretty jarring going from watching 300-plus-pound defensive linemen to Howard Cross III. That’s not a bad thing, though.
Cross flies around on tape, and was particularly difficult for Duke to handle last season. He was a second-team All-American by multiple outlets in 2023, racking up 66 total tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.
An explosive and disruptive lineman, Cross flies around the field. He can fly off the snap while possessing good bend and short-area quickness to be a threat as a pass rusher. He also has some very good hand usage to disengage against blockers, and the motor to keep fighting through plays until the whistle.
It’s Cross’ size and length that will hurt him at the NFL level. Opposing offenses didn’t have a problem displacing Cross in the run game when he was unable to penetrate, and he lacks ideal length to consistently disengage and wrap up ball carriers.
Cross will require a very specific role in the NFL, but it’s one where he could be a solid contributor.
5. Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
(6’4”, 290 pounds)
The Texas A&M Aggies wanted Walter Nolan to be a versatile piece across the defensive line. I don’t think that was the best way to utilize his skill set.
Nolen finished 2023 with four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss last year. Prior to playing for the Aggies, he was a 5-star recruit and the second-ranked player by 247Sports in the 2022 recruiting class.
On tape, Nolen showed good strength and extension, particularly on his bull rush. He had some solid short-area quickness and bend to keep blockers guessing as well in the pass, but wasn’t the most explosive when playing on the edge.
Hand usage, pad level, and leg drive at the point of attack are all areas where Nolen could improve. The bigger question is whether Ole Miss wants him to add weight and kick him inside, or have him drop it to become a potential EDGE for the Rebels.
The Other Guys
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Truthfully, the limited time I spent paying attention to Kenneth Grant while watching Grant has me feeling like he should be in the top five of this list. He’s massive (6’3”, 339 pounds), powerful, and can bulldoze through offensive linemen. I think he could fly up these rankings in 2024.
Landon Jackson, Arkansas
A first-team All-SEC selection in 2023, Landon Jackson racked up 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He’s a lengthy lineman at 6’7” and 282 pounds, and will primarily operate as a defensive end with the capability of being kicked inside. He’s one of the more intriguing prospects I’m looking forward to watching.
Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Gone are the days of Cincinnati churning out top-end draft prospects, but Dontay Corleone is someone to monitor. He’s a powerful, compact lineman capable of exploding off the snap to force the issue for opposing offenses.
Bear Alexander, USC
Off name alone, Bear Alexander deserves a mention on this list. He was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2023 after transferring from Georgia. Despite the Trojans’ defensive reputation, Alexander is someone to monitor.
Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
Turner played alongside Walter Nolen last season, but was the more productive player. He had 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks last season, and plays a similar outside-in role for the Aggies. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on how the team utilizes him under new head coach Mike Elko.