2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: DT

In case you're wondering, because I was, I believe #72 is Garrett Dellinger from LSU, who goes 6-5, 322 and played in the SEC. 

.@GamecockFB DT T.J. Sanders is known for his speed, but Good Lord did he convert that speed to power on this rep

WHEW pic.twitter.com/59VVZlicdg

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 28, 2025

I think someone needs to take the blocking pad away from grandpa and guide him to the blue tent...my goodness. 

#Kentucky DT Deone Walker is in fact, strong as hell #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/csNMLyGter

— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) January 28, 2025

OL are so out-athleticized now, it's comical and unfair.

Walter Nolan is expected to go anywhere from 12 to 40. I know fans love the big guys, but I think Flores needs interior pass rush more than space eaters. Another guy in this mold is Oregon's Derrick Harmon. He was 6-5, 320 but dropped 10 lbs this year and was a revelation. DJ has Nolan going 17th and Harmon going 30th. 

Walter Nolen has reportedly been “unblockable” early on into Senior Bowl practices.

Nolen has reportedly been “drawing”Aaron Donald and Ed Oliver comparisons, due to his dominant power and elite athleticism.

Many NFL scouts reportedly believe Nolen’s abilities are “up there”… pic.twitter.com/EcUMbirc9W

— Rookie Watch (@RookieWatxh) January 29, 2025

Jordan Phillips out of Maryland is another guy I have been reading up on. I really like him and fits what we need. Hes young (RSO)

Very powerful frame and natural leverage at the point of attack
Wrestling background is evident in his hand usage and leverage vs. double teams
Quick and potent first step with surprisingly lateral mobility for such a dense frame

Get him in the 3rd round. He's ideal for what we are looking for.

TJ Sanders is a pure athlete at defensive tackle.

He’s a twitchy, explosive DT at 6’4, 284lbs and wreaks havoc against both the run and pass. 60 pressures, 10 sacks, and 54 stops in the last two seasons at South Carolina.

Top 50 player for me right now. pic.twitter.com/f4zVSQsarB

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 3, 2025

In a 2 round post Senior and Shrine Bowl mock draft, @nfldraftscout has the @Vikings selecting DT Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss with the No. 24 overall pick.

“Filling gaps on both lines will be a major focus of the Vikings' offseason regardless of their decision at quarterback,… pic.twitter.com/wnAI3WeLlO

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) February 3, 2025

purplefaithful wrote:
https://x.com/TPPSkol/status/1886436341484859477

Nolen would be a great fit for us. I'd take him over Kenneth Grant.

MaroonBells wrote:

Nolen would be a great fit for us. I'd take him over Kenneth Grant.

Nolen is less than 300 pounds & I'm concerned that he'll be a liability in the run defense. For that reason, I would prefer Grant or the Oregon IDL, Derrick Harmon.

Knucklehead wrote:

Nolen is less than 300 pounds & I'm concerned that he'll be a liability in the run defense. For that reason, I would prefer Grant or the Oregon IDL, Derrick Harmon.

I agree with both of you. I think Nolen fits what Flores wants up front, but IMO we need to get bigger and more physical along both our lines. Grant isn't just a big space eater, but he's also a guy who can move, collapse the pocket and get after the quarterback a little. I think the Vikings would draft Nolen given the choice between the two players. I'd probably give the nod to Grant.

Knucklehead wrote:

Nolen is less than 300 pounds & I'm concerned that he'll be a liability in the run defense. For that reason, I would prefer Grant or the Oregon IDL, Derrick Harmon.

I like Harmon just as much as Nolen. I think Grant might be too big to be an every down player. Inside pass rush is our biggest weakness IMO, while we ranked 2nd in run defense. 

I could be wrong, but if you look at the Eagles defensive line as a model, I think we more want Jalen Carter or Milton Williams (also under 300) than Jordan Davis (336). In the playoffs, not counting the Super Bowl, Davis averaged 14 snaps a game. An NFL defense averages roughly 63 snaps per game. I think that's Grant's future. I want more bang from a 1st rounder than a guy who plays less than 25% of the time.

Ideally, you'd add a Davis type player AFTER you have that good push player on the IDL on the roster. It'll be interesting to see how the board falls, we sure wont know how they stacked em.

StickierBuns wrote:
DT depth is crazy good in the upcoming Draft: read one guy said there's as many as 24 starter worthy DTs. That doesn't mean 1st round picks, that means guys that either are currently or could in the near future project to starting caliber DTs in the NFL. That's deep.

Yep, just read that. 

Daniel Jeremiah@MoveTheSticks
Last year at this time, I had potential starter grades on 12 DT's. This year I have 24 of them. Ridiculous amount of depth at the position in this draft class.

DT depth is crazy good in the upcoming Draft: read one guy said there's as many as 24 starter worthy DTs. That doesn't mean 1st round picks, that means guys that either are currently or could in the near future project to starting caliber DTs in the NFL. [b]That's deep.[/b]

StickierBuns wrote:
DT depth is crazy good in the upcoming Draft: read one guy said there's as many as 24 starter worthy DTs. That doesn't mean 1st round picks, that means guys that either are currently or could in the near future project to starting caliber DTs in the NFL. That's deep.

Kentis wrote:
Which screams for a trade down, unless we can catch a falling stud in another position of need…

We need a CB as well out of this draft. I would like a trade down because we could get both.

Darius Alexander does EVERYTHING for the Toledo defense.

He’s posted 11 sacks and 83 pressures in the last two seasons along with a 90.3 run defense grade and a 58-yard pick 6 (6’4 304lbs btw) in 2024.

He’s my IDL4 in a STACKED class and I’d take him in the 1st round. pic.twitter.com/QiJWaEkKMQ

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 11, 2025

Kentis wrote:
Which screams for a trade down, unless we can catch a falling stud in another position of need…

We're going to need a slider at WR, OT or TE to induce KC to come up. KC will be pretty desperate for all 3 positions. Veech is a damn savvy guy but his roster is massively top heavy. 

Buffalo might want to double down at WR after a tepid return on Keon Coleman and Shakir playing out of his mind. 

Detroit might need any defender other than S.

Definitely want to accumulate picks in the top 60. Kwesi has shown no hesitation to do so. Buckle up, its gonna be a wild ride.

JustInTime wrote:

We're going to need a slider at WR, OT or TE to induce KC to come up. KC will be pretty desperate for all 3 positions. Veech is a damn savvy guy but his roster is massively top heavy. 

Buffalo might want to double down at WR after a tepid return on Keon Coleman and Shakir playing out of his mind. 

Detroit might need any defender other than S.

Definitely want to accumulate picks in the top 60. Kwesi has shown no hesitation to do so. Buckle up, its gonna be a wild ride.

I have KC as the team that will trade up to our spot. I hope there have already been talks between the two teams about scenarios. If we can get a pick in the 60's, we can grab a DT there. Walker, Collins (My preference), Sanders, Alexander (My second choice) or Turner. All gives toughness and pass rushing ability up the middle. Something we desperately need.

Canthony wrote:

I have KC as the team that will trade up to our spot. I hope there have already been talks between the two teams about scenarios. If we can get a pick in the 60's, we can grab a DT there. Walker, Collins (My preference), Sanders, Alexander (My second choice) or Turner. All gives toughness and pass rushing ability up the middle. Something we desperately need.

Buffalo is an option too. They sit at 30 and might think they're one player away. 

They also have multiple mid rounders. If the Vikings like how day-two stacks up (and it is a very deep 2nd round), they could trade 24 for Buffalo's two 2nds and their two 4ths and rebuild their draft. It's a LONG way to move down, so of course every Viking fan from Plymouth to Preston will pull out their pitchforks, but it's something to think about.

Grant was the highest-ranked Wolverine on Feldman's list, coming in at No. 3. The 6-3, 350-pound defensive tackle has run a sub-5.0 since he's been at Ann Arbor. Ahead of his junior season, Grant pressed a 115-pound dumbbell 34 times on his right side and had a 29-inch vertical jump along with doing a Turkish get-up with a 150-pound dumbbell, according to Feldman.

"Watching KG move is like a work of art," Michigan's director of strength and conditioning Justin Tress told Feldman. "He plays and trains violent and explosive."

Grant was a key part of Michigan's standout defensive tackle rotation from last season, which was a major reason why it won a national title. He had 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Jordan Reid

Five of my favorite player/team scheme fits:

• Emeka Egbuka - Rams
• Kenneth Grant - Vikings
• Azareye’h Thomas - Steelers
• Kaleb Johnson - Bears
• Emery Jones Jr. - Ravens