Defensive tackle is the single best position group in the 2016 NFL Draft. That’s saying something since the first tackle might not even be a top-10 pick in the first round. The depth of this class is so impressive, though. It’s possible we could see 15 defensive tackles picked in the first two rounds of the draft.
2016 NFL Draft defensive tackle rankings: The draft’s best unit
Two Alabama players in A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed help make this the best class this year.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
With such a good group without an obviously elite talent, there can be some discussion about who is the best prospect. For me it’s A’Shawn Robinson of Alabama. To really understand Robinson’s game, you have to understand what Alabama asked him to do. Robinson’s role in the defense was to occupy space and maintain gaps to open things up for his teammates. He played his role on the vaunted Alabama defense well. Robinson is a monster against the run thanks to his power and length. He has good vision, too, which helps him locate the ball and stop the run.
His Alabama teammate Jarran Reed is even better as a pure run stuffer. He has more experience than Robinson at lining up over the nose and handles himself well against double teams. Playing two seasons, he was productive finishing with 112 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Reed doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, so that’s why he’s slotted as the third-best defensive tackle in the class.
Between the two Alabama players is Sheldon Rankins of Louisville. Robinson and Reed can occupy a ton of space, but Rankins is the type of tackle who excels at getting skinny and shooting through gaps. For teams looking for an Aaron Donald-style defensive tackle, Rankins is the closest to it this draft.
Chris Jones of Mississippi State was a late riser among draftniks because many finally realized he was often misused in college. He got lined up over the nose too often, and that’s not his game. He’s a fairly athletic defensive tackle with length and power. Some teams may view him as a 3-4 end.
This group features a few good nose tackle prospects for those 3-4 teams. The mega-powerful Andrew Billings of Baylor fits the mold as a pure nose who is active versus the run. Kenny Clark of UCLA is also capable of playing the nose, but he can move around better than Billings. Austin Johnson of Penn State looks the part, and he can get off blocks. But he gets pushed around a little too often for someone as big as he is.
Vernon Butler is another player who has risen during the offseason process. He’s has a good short-area burst to generate separation and pocket disruption. He’s ready to go against the run, and has been working hard throughout the offseason to get better against the pass.
The enigma of the class is Robert Nkemdiche of Ole Miss. From a pure talent standpoint, he should be considered the top player at his position. But he was wildly inconsistent during his career, which saw him spend too much time at end early. He flashed dominance at times in 2015, especially against Alabama. He’s a good athlete for the position, handles double teams, shows good closing speed and unreal change of direction for a tackle. He’s so inconsistent, though, you wonder if he’ll ever be able to fully put things together as a pro. He also has a few off-field issues that will completely scare some teams off.
Day 3 gem: There is not a lot of flash to D.J. Reader of Clemson. He’s just a massive individual who takes up space, plugs gaps and starring as a two-down player. He’s not going to ever offer much as a pas rusher, but grabbing him on Day 3 will make some nose-needy team happy.
Overall position grade: A+
| 1. A'Shawn Robinson, 6’4, 312 pounds, DT, Alabama |
| 2. Sheldon Rankins, 6’2, 303 pounds, DT, Louisville |
| 3. Jarran Reed, 6’4, 313 pounds, DT, Alabama |
| 4. Chris Jones, 6’6, 308 pounds, DT, Mississippi State |
| 5. Robert Nkemdiche, 6’4, 296 pounds, DT, Ole Miss |
| 6. Vernon Butler, 6’3, 316 pounds, DT, Louisiana Tech |
| 7. Kenny Clark, 6’3, 310 pounds, DT, UCLA |
| 8. Andrew Billings, 6’2, 310 pounds, DT, Baylor |
| 9. Jonathan Bullard, 6’3, 283 pounds, DT, Florida |
| 10. Austin Johnson, 6’4, 323 pounds, DT, Penn State |
| 11. Jihad Ward, 6’6, 295 pounds, DT, Illinois |
| 12. Maliek Collins, 6’2, 300 pounds, DT, Nebraska |
| 13. Javon Hargrave, 6’1 3/8, 309 pounds, DT, South Carolina State |
| 14. Sheldon Day, 6’2, 285 pounds, DT, Notre Dame |
| 15. Adolphus Washington, 6’4, 290 pounds, DT, Ohio State |
| 16. Hassan Ridgeway, 6’3, 320 pounds, DT, Texas |
| 17. D.J. Reader, 6'3, 325 pounds, DT, Clemson |
| 18. Adam Gotsis, 6’5, 282 pounds, DT, Georgia Tech |
| 19. Anthony Zettel, 6’4, 284 pounds, DT, Penn State |
| 20. Willie Henry, 6’2 3/4, 303 pounds, DT, Michigan |
| 21. Matt Ioannidis, 6’4, 285 pounds, DT, Temple |
| 22. Nile Lawrence-Stample, 6’1, 302 pounds, DT, Florida State |
| 23. Destiny Vaeao, 6’4, 298 pounds, DT, Washington State |
| 24. Vincent Valentine, 6’3, 320 pounds, DT, Nebraska |
| 25. Antwaun Woods, 6’0, 329 pounds, DT, Southern California |
| 26. Quinton Jefferson, 6’3, 289 pounds, DT, Maryland |
| 27. Darius Latham, 6’5, 305 pounds, DT, Indiana |
| 28. Connor Wujciak, 6’2 1/2, 291 pounds, DT, Boston College |
| 29. Luther Maddy, 6’2, 283 pounds, DT, Virginia Tech |
| 30. Cory Johnson, 6’2, 292 pounds, DT, Kentucky |
| 31. Delvon Simmons, 6’5, 295 pounds, DT, Southern California |
| 32. Joel Heath, 6’5 1/2, 293 pounds, DT, Michigan State |
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