2026 NFL Draft Defensive Lineman Rankings

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 3/31/2026

1. Caleb Banks

6'6" - 327 lbs

Florida

Big Board Rank: 18

Player Comparison: Jordan Davis

It took me a long time to say that Banks is the better prospetc than Woods in this class but I'm confident now. Banks has the ability to be a brick wall in the middle of the line with his size and strength but his athletic upside is what rose him up my board.

Like Peter Woods and most of this group, Banks doesn't have a pass rush arsenal ready to threaten NFL O-lines yet, but he proved at the Senior Bowl and the Combine that his agility is very good and could be elite for his size.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. Peter Woods

6'3" - 298 lbs

Clemson 

Big Board Rank: 20

Player Comparison: More Athletic Kobie Turner

The frontrunner for the 2026 D-lineman group for almost 2 years, Peter Woods is the ultimate high-floor D-Tackle and has one of the lowest bust-potentials in the entire class.

His performance dipped in 2025 and that's why he's dropped to the #20 prospect on my list but Woods is a prototypical and versatile D-lineman in the NFL who can line up in any position and be a run stuffer with above average pass rush potential due to his experience, hand usage and motor.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3. Christen Miller

6'4" - 321 lbs

Georgia 

Big Board Rank: 24

Player Comparison: Christian Wilkins

Miller is your stereotypical bowling ball in the middle of a defense. He doesn't have the bend or agility to really make a dent in the pass rush but good luck to any Centers trying to block this man.

Miller is currently the best run stuffing Nose Tackle in this class and is already NFL caliber refined in stunting O-lineman at the point of attack. He is a specialist and a monster against the run and if he can get coached up a bit in the art of rushing moves he could become the whole package quickly at the next level.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4. Lee Hunter

6'4" - 318 lbs

Texas Tech 

Big Board Rank: 35

Player Comparison: Kenny Clark

Big Boy. Hunter may be "only" 318 pounds but he plays closer to 330 and can bull rush anyone who stands in front of him. Hunter was part of the elite Texas Tech defensive front in 2025 and was the resident run demolisher.

Hunter will never be more than a Nose Tackle and thus can't add much to a pass rush besides bull rushing the middle. He will need to get better at planting his feet and using his arms to create distance and sniff out the ball carrier as well without Bailey and Height causing the pocket to collapse but his strength and size will be an instant tool for whatever team drafts him in the early-2nd round.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5. Kayden McDonald

6'2" - 326 lbs

Ohio State 

Big Board Rank: 58

Player Comparison: D.J. Reader

McDonald is another run stuffer in this class with bowling ball like qualities. His size is very good and his 2025 film was great but I have concerns on his length and pass rush.

McDonald has a high floor when it comes to being a run stuffing Nose Tackle. In his first and only year as a starter for the Buckeyes, McDonald was perhaps the best in the country as sniffing out a run and tackling the ball carrier behind the lines.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

6. DeMonte Capehart

6'5" - 313 lbs

Clemson 

Big Board Rank: 79

Player Comparison: Darius Alexander

Capehart is another one that has an elite size for the NFL and his experience in college will do him well in gap versatility and the intelligence he has in facing NFL-caliber O-lineman.

Capehart doesn't jump out the page at you for his strength or speed but his intelligence, size and instincts as a D-lineman will either serve him very well and give him a decent 10-year career or keep him at the backup level for as long as he keeps improving his athleticism.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

7. Domonique Orange

6'2" - 322 lbs

Iowa State 

Big Board Rank: 89

Player Comparison: Dalvin Tomlinson

Orange has the most nimble feet of a 320+ pounder in this class with a noticeable pop to his upper body. Orange is a very high-upside and low-downside kind of prospect, he flashes raw power and explosiveness at times while also showing that he will give up early if beaten to the punch.

With Orange, the weaknesses seem to be all mental. He shows a lack of discipline in when tackling, he'll stop his feet if O-lineman get inside and he'll use his speed without using his eyes and getting caught in the backfield. If he can be smarter and allow himself to be coached up, his athleticism at his size could become a real force at the next level.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8. Dontay Corelone

6'1" - 322 lbs

Cincinnati 

Big Board Rank: 102

Player Comparison: J.J. Pegues

Corleone has a narrow field of success when it comes to his NFL-potential and he was great in college but his frame will limit him deeply in the NFL. Corleone plays closer to 340 than his combine-weight and if he wants to truly make a dent in the NFL, will need to lose a lot of weight.

As it is, he is a hulking run defending Nose Tackle with power to stand up most IOLs. His arms are shorter than 32" which may be a problem against longer Guards and his weight and fundamentals will limit his pass rushing ability but he should carve himself a few years career standing up to the middle of offensive lines.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

9. Zane Durant

6'1" - 290 lbs

Penn State 

Big Board Rank: 111

Player Comparison: Shades of Osa Odighizuwa

In the family of Calijah Kancey and Ed Olivers as smaller D-Tackles, Durant is the 2026 version of a quick but effective D-Tackle, albeit in a much dimmer light as his predecessors.

Durant had a brilliant Junior season in 2024 but like most Nittany Lions, fell short in 2025. He didn't seem to have the same motor as last year which is vital for a D-Tackle his size. Likely to be best as a 3-4 Defensive End in the league, Durant should be good at the next level even if he is pigeon-holed into what schemes he'd work in.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

10. Gracen Halton

6'3" - 290 lbs

Oklahoma 

Big Board Rank: 130

Player Comparison: Devonte Wyatt

Halton is one of the late-bloomers of his class but has become one of my "steals" because of his year-to-year progression as a pass rusher and his athletic showing at the Combine.

Halton will need to add some weight o his frame and hopefully it's all muscle because as he is, he'll be limited to a "tweener" defensive end as a finesse rusher. His run defense is good not great for his size too, showing instincts and an ability to look before he acts even if he doesn't yet have the strengthen to stack O-lineman effectively.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

11. Darrell Jackson Jr.

6'6" - 315 lbs

Florida State 

Big Board Rank: 132

Player Comparison: Raekwon Davis

Jackson has the best frame of his class besides Caleb Banks with 4 years experience in the ACC. He also has little production to show for his frame and is more of a betting upside kind of prospect especially when it comes to pass rush, which it seems unlikely will ever develop for him.

Jackson can be a real game changer at the next level but he will have to become more disciplined. MUCH more disciplined. Stop standing up as soon as lineman get a hold of him and work on his footwork. If he can't he'll just be another guy with a huge frame that squandered his potential.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

12. Rayshaun Benny

6'3" - 298 lbs

Michigan 

Big Board Rank: 144

Player Comparison: Maurice Hurst

Benny was a distinguished run stuffer in college but his frame makes me worry that it won't translate to the next level. A good athlete with quick feet, Benny is a project who will need to work on his blocking recognition and footwork.

Benny has the right frame and the right pedigree in the middle of Michigan's defense to be an NFL starter. He will need to work on his fundamentals and take a few years to adjust to NFL lineman but he could become a solid rotational lineman in 2 years or so.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Check out fansonlysportz.com/news for more sports media content posted daily.

Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.

-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak)