DL Rankings - 2021 Draft Class

Ranking the defensive linemen

1. Christian Barmore, Alabama (6-foot-4, 310 pounds, no 40 time, Round 1): He’ll likely become the Crimson Tide’s eighth defensive lineman drafted in the top two rounds since 2016. The others were Jarran Reed, A’Shawn Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Quinnen Williams and Raekwon Davis.

“Barmore isn’t Quinnen — or Marcell (Dareus, third pick in 2011 draft)-level good,” said one scout. “Better physical gifts than Jonathan Allen, but not close to as good a technician or as an overall player. He’s more gifted than Dalvin Tomlinson. Barmore resides in that Jarran Reed/A’Shawn Robinson/Raekwon Davis group that’s a notch below those big three from the ‘Bama tree.

“I saw Barmore the same way people looked at Davis as a sophomore when he put up (8½) sacks. Then he had two off years after that.”

The Philadelphia native redshirted in 2018, started one game in ’19 and started five of 12 games in ’20, notching eight sacks.

“It depends when you watched him,” a second scout said. “He was just a guy at the beginning of the season compared to what you watched the last three games. That’s what everybody’s digging on. Why all of a sudden did the light go on? He seems to play with more energy as a pass rusher than he does playing against the run.”

Finished with 63 tackles, 15½ for loss, and recorded 10 sacks.

“Somebody will probably reach on him because there aren’t any of these guys,” a third scout said. “I think you’re going to take some lumps with him. He doesn’t have a ton of experience. He’s not a finished product. Best thing he does is rush inside.”

Several teams expressed concerns about what they say is his resistance to coaching and structure at Alabama.

“He’s benefiting from the guys who played there,” said a fourth scout. “He’s just a big (guy) who doesn’t make plays. At ‘Bama, they rotate guys like 80/20 or 70/30. This guy, it’s like 50/50, where he’s in and out of the game.”

2. Levi Onwuzurike, Washington (6-foot-3, 290, 4.87, Round 1 or 2): Miscast playing in the ‘A’ gaps in the Huskies’ 3-4 defense.

“He’s a movement-oriented guy who plays (hard),” said one scout. “I’m not sure he isn’t a better player than Barmore. He’s the guy I’m most excited about.”

Redshirted in 2016, subbed in ’17, started four games in ’18, started 12 games in ’19 and opted out in ’20.

“Undersized guy who tries to rely on being an athlete and plays in gaps,” said another scout. “But he’s not that talented to be that kind of guy. He had like two sacks in the Pac-12 for a guy who’s supposed to be a pass rusher.”

Finished with 95 tackles (16 for loss) and seven sacks.

“I have a bias against undersized guys that don’t play big at the point of attack,” a third scout said. “It’s such a big man’s game.”

Managed 29 reps on the bench press.

“(I) like him,” a fourth scout said. “He gets off the ball. He is an attacking-style player. He is a leader. He works hard. He had an Achilles injury in high school, but he’s been able to manage through that. Got good closing speed. He can pressure the quarterback from all different angles. Probably like Tyrone Crawford.”

Helped his high school team in Allen, Texas, win three state titles. Showed up at the Senior Bowl, practiced one day, remained in Mobile (Ala.) all week but didn’t practice again.

“It was disappointing,” a fifth scout said of his brief stint in Mobile. “Just expected more.”

3. Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt (6-foot-5, 285, no 40, Round 2 or 3): Compared by one evaluator to Jason Pierre-Paul.

“He’s super talented,” said another scout. “His production doesn’t match his talent. He needs a lot of work. He can move. Plays hard. He’s tough. They didn’t do him any favors by playing mostly a three-man front. He wasn’t on the edge much. He’s really matured into a guy you like. Then he tore his Achilles.”

The injury occurred in mid-January during a workout.

“I love him, but he’s going to drop,” a third scout said. “He’s out of the top 100. Fourth round.”

The Irving, Texas, native started 29 of 44 games, finishing with 125 tackles (31 for loss) and 12 sacks.

“He’s way better than Barmore,” said a fourth scout. “He would have been No. 1 without the injury.”

Led the group in arm length (35¼ inches).

“I think he’s a 3-4 (defensive end),” said a fifth scout. “He’s similar to (Carlos) Basham. He plays really hard. He’s an awkward type athlete. It’s like he’s always falling down, but he always keeps coming, keeps coming. He fights.”

4. Osa Odighizuwa, UCLA (6-foot-1½, 282, no 40, Round 3): Redshirted in 2016 before starting 27 of 43 games from 2017 through ’20.

“Really stout,” said one scout. “They could not block this guy at the Senior Bowl. His brother (Owa) played in the league.”

The Giants drafted Owa (6-foot-3½, 264, 4.59) in the third round in 2015. He played 18 games without a start, didn’t register a sack and was out of football after July 2018.

“(Osa) doesn’t have a great history of production, but he did look good at the Senior Bowl,” the scout continued. “He was more of a power guy than a movement guy there, but he could be a 1-technique for some (teams). He’s not a 330-pound slug nose, yet he wins with power.”

Finished with 120 tackles (27½ for loss) and 11½ sacks.

“He’s small, but he plays really hard,” said a second scout. “He’s a really good athlete. They beat him up, but he keeps fighting. He’s got to be on the move. (UCLA did) a lot of shifting with him, which he has to do. You just can’t have him ever be a front-line guy. You’d love him as a backup because he plays so hard and he’s athletic. You just question how big he can get.”

Three-time state wrestling champion from Portland, Ore.

5. Jay Tufele, USC (6-foot-2, 305, 5.01, Round 3): From Salt Lake City, Tufele redshirted in 2017, started 18 of 25 games in 2018 and ’19 and opted out in ’20.

“He’s legit,” one scout said. “He’s got size and strength to hold the point. Two-down player. Stays square. He’ll be your fourth defensive tackle. Needs to work on pass rush. The more you watch, the more you like this guy and admire how he plays. He’s good stopping the run.”

Played 3-technique, but some teams feel he can also handle the 1-technique.

“With this list, it wouldn’t surprise me if he went in the third round,” said a second scout. “He ran well and benched 30 (reps).”

Finished with 65 tackles (11 for loss) and 7½ sacks.

“Inconsistent guy,” a third scout said. “He flashes. Jumps out of gaps. Lacks body control. Gets moved around a lot.”

6. Milton Williams, Louisiana Tech (6-foot-3, 284, 4.67, Round 3): Put on one of the best shows on the pro-day circuit, stunning assembled scouts in Ruston, La., with a scalding 40, a 38½-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump, a 4.33 short shuttle and a 6.96 3-cone. All five marks were No. 1 at the position.

“That was absurd,” said one scout. “Unbelievable. But … he plays like a workout warrior, not a football player. Limited instincts and block recognition. Gets washed (out) at the point of attack. Has to be on the move. Limited pass-rush plan and moves.”

Lightly recruited out of Crowley, Texas. Redshirted in 2017, hardly played in ’18 and started all 23 games the past two years.

“Carolina took Vernon Butler from there late in the first round (in 2016), and he never did anything,” said a second scout. “This kid is better than Butler. He’s got everything you’re looking for, but he doesn’t play hard. He flashes, then he takes three or four plays off. But (after) the (pro-day) workout, somebody’s got to grab him in the second.”

Has the shortest arms (31½) among the top 12 at the position.

“We don’t know where to put him,” a third scout said. “He’s kind of an end, a 5-technique. He’s a great kid, and if he’s willing to work at it, he has a lot of traits to potentially develop. He could be the surprise of this class.”

Finished with 106 tackles (19 for loss) and 10 sacks.

“Of this crew, (it) wouldn’t surprise me to see him go in the third,” a fourth scout said.

7. Tyler Shelvin, LSU (6-foot-2, 350, 5.41, Round 3 through 6): Opted out in 2020, leaving him with a meager 21-game, 14-start career.

“He’s the wild card just because nobody knows what he’s going to do,” said one scout. “Someone has a chance to get a good player later in the draft. He looked OK (at pro day). Pro days aren’t really for him. It’s not his strength.”

Started at the nose during LSU’s FBS championship run in 2019.

“You’ll have to have some real conversations about him. I would take him,” said a second scout. “He plays at 345, 350. Comes in heavier during the offseason. His weight is his biggest issue.”

After redshirting in 2017 to become academically eligible, the Lafayette, La., native was limited to six games in ’18 due to discipline and weight issues. Two teams said they removed him from consideration because of those reasons.

Finished with 48 tackles (4½ for loss) and 1½ sacks.

“He is a classic 3-4 base nose tackle,” a fourth scout said.

8. Alim McNeill, North Carolina State (6-foot-2, 317, 4.99, Round 3 or 4): Third-year junior.

“He can hold point,” said one scout. “He’s strong. He’ll start in the league.”

Started at tight end, running back and linebacker as a prep in Raleigh, N.C.

“He’s kind of interesting,” said a second scout. “Former running back, and he is athletic. He’s got good feet and is a good bender. He shows you he can play hard, but he kind of runs out of gas. Weight and conditioning are issues.”

Declared a year early. Started 18 of 35 games at nose tackle in a base three-man front, finishing with 78 tackles (17½ for loss) and 10 sacks.

“He’s like Javon Hargrave,” said a third scout. “He’s a pure nose tackle. He’s short, but he’s thick and he’s athletic.”

9. Daviyon Nixon, Iowa (6-foot-3, 313, 4.89, Round 3 through 6): Executives from three teams said he had been removed from their draft boards because of off-field issues. Four other teams indicated they had modest to major concerns.

Nixon played one season at a junior college, redshirted at Iowa in 2018, played extensively in a rotation in ’19 and started at defensive tackle in ’20. He earned unanimous all-America honors and was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

“He’s got long arms (35⅛),” a second scout said. “I thought he flashed disruption. I just thought he was inconsistent. He uses his length well at times to shed. He has strength to take on the double-team. The instincts were average; he fell for some fakes.”

Finished with 74 tackles (19 for loss) and 8½ sacks.

10. Marlon Tuipulotu, USC (6-foot-2, 317, 5.37, Round 3 or 4): Backed up in 2017 before starting at nose tackle from 2018 through ’20.

“True ’50’ front nose tackle,” said one scout. “He’s a big, strong, tough guy who brings attitude to your (defensive) line room. I just don’t see a guy that can generate sacks.”

Played 33 games, starting 29. Finished with 104 tackles (15 for loss) and 8½ sacks.

“At the Senior Bowl, he was on the ground a lot,” another scout said. “He did a lot of dancing at the line. Didn’t really show much push.”

Born in New Zealand, he grew up in Gardena, Calif., before spending his high school years in Independence, Ore., where he was a state wrestling champ as a senior.

“Plays hard, has zero pass rush,” a third scout said. “Straight-up nose tackle.”

11. Marvin Wilson, Florida State (6-foot-3½, 310, 5.09, Round 4): Joined the Seminoles as the No. 1-ranked player in Texas (Houston), but never played to those expectations.

“He’s not as good as Eddie Goldman or Tim Jernigan coming out,” said one scout. “He’s had weight problems in the past. He’s a top-heavy kind of guy. Inconsistent stamina. He is an alpha dog, but he’s very limited as a rusher and he will wear down early.”

Missed seven games in 2019 and ’20 with thumb and leg injuries. Had a poor week at the Senior Bowl.

“Look, you see flashes,” a second scout said. “He does have ability. But he’s a big guy who can’t rush. He’s just a first- and second-down guy.”

Said a third scout: “He is stiff. He’s really strong. He played hard — really hard. He has some leadership. He looked like a backup 3-4 nose.”

12. Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M (6-foot-4, 321, 5.04, Round 4): Made a strong impression at his pro day in the vertical jump (33), broad jump (9-5) and the 40. His hands (10½) were the largest of the top 15 defensive tackles.

“He’s the most talented of the nose tackles,” said one scout. “Mega-talented. He can play nose and sub in. Nothing major, but he’s got some maturity things he’s got to improve on.”

“He does have some raw ability, but you’ve really got to work to see it,” said a second scout.

Third-year junior from Arlington, Texas. Started 19 of 35 games, finishing with 57 tackles (10½ for loss) and six sacks.

13. Tommy Togiai, Ohio State (6-foot-1½, 296, 5.00, Round 4 or 5): Declared a year early after backing up in 26 games in 2018 and ’19 and starting seven games at nose tackle in ’20.

“His problem is he looks like a 3-technique, but he plays like a 1-technique,” said one scout. “He’s powerful and has some straight-line speed. He is not a pass rusher at all. Decent run player. He’s an undersized first- and second-down nose. Great kid. Plays (hard). They tried to get him to stay in school. He is really strong, but he’s barely 300 pounds.”

Showed his power with 40 reps on the bench, equaling the high for the position.

“He plays really hard, but he’s undersized,” said a second scout. “Some of these undersized guys are going to get mashed inside at this level.”

The Pocatello, Idaho, native finished with 49 tackles (8½ for loss) and three sacks.

14. Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh (6-foot-1½, 301, 5.43, Round 4 or 5): Played at about 285-290 in 2019 when he registered 10½ sacks. Opted out of 2020, then showed up weighing 301 at pro day and ran a subpar 40. On that same day, he benched 40 times.

From Washington, D.C., he redshirted in 2017. Played 13 games (one start) in 2018 before starting all 13 games in ’19.

“Interesting guy,” said one scout. “He has some pass-rush ability. But (in 2019), you have to remember they had two edge guys who put pressure on the quarterback. He had 10½ sacks, but they were mostly cleanup sacks. When the guy moved up in the pocket, he splattered him.”

Finished with 57 tackles (13½ for loss) and 11 sacks.

“He’s got good short-area quickness,” said a second scout. “Problem is, he’s not a very big man and he can’t run. Best thing he does is inside rush. Pretty good rotational guy.”

15. Khyiris Tonga, Brigham Young (6-foot-2, 325, 5.09, Round 5): Hindered by his arm length (31 inches), shortest of the top 20 defensive tackles.

“Excellent two-gapper,” said one scout. “His problem right now is he tries to kill people. Instead of just reacting off the blocks, he plays through the block and tries to put the guy on his tail. He might be the best of the nose tackles. He plays hard. Somebody just has to teach him that you just have to tackle the guy, not kill the guy.”

Managed 35 reps on the bench. Ran well for his size. A three-year starter, the West Valley, Utah, native finished with 130 tackles (15 for loss) and 7½ sacks.

Other top defensive linemen: Ta’Quon Graham, Texas; Chauncey Golston, Iowa; Tedarrell Slaton, Florida; Marquiss Spencer, Mississippi State; Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas; Kenny Randall, Charleston; Darius Stills, West Virginia; Naquon Jones, Michigan State.

The Skinny

Unsung hero

Chauncey Golston, Iowa: Played base left end in the Hawkeyes’ 4-3 defense, but his main attraction to NFL teams would be as an inside pass rusher on third down. Produced 12 sacks in four seasons, stood out at the Senior Bowl and had a strong pro day. Very long arms (34¾), biggest hands (10⅞) at the position and a 4.82 40 time. Rushed effectively with speed and power at the Senior Bowl.

Scouts’ nightmare

Marquiss Spencer, Mississippi State: He has good size (6-foot-3½, 301) and exceptional speed (4.87). Played portions of five seasons under multiple coaches and in multiple schemes. Bounced back from a torn ACL in 2018 to start 22 games the past two years. If a GM likes Spencer, he could make every excuse in the world for him because he had so little continuity in Starkville, Miss.

Scout to remember

Don Klosterman: He played quarterback in the NFL and CFL. He scouted and directed a flock of teams in the AFL. He served successfully as an NFL general manager with the Baltimore Colts and Los Angeles Rams. As GM of the USFL Los Angeles Express in 1984 he signed Steve Young. His scouting pals knew him as the “Duke of Del Rey” for his sartorial splendor. A native of LeMars, Iowa, he was the 12th of 15 children. In 1957, his football career with the Calgary Stampeders ended due to a skiing accident in Banff, Alberta, that required eight operations. Klosterman died in 2000 not long after suffering a heart attack. He was 70.

Quote to note

AFC executive: “A lot of colleges don’t bulk people up anymore. They keep them in that 275- to 280-pound range and leave them on the edge.”