Defensive Line Rankings 2026 NFL Draft

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LAST UPDATED: 04/30/2025

Player Rankings - Defensive Line

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
13

DE/ED
Braylan
Shelby

6-5 265lbs 4.65
DE/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
265lbs 6-5 4.65 26 103.5
82.9
Shelby displays good lateral movement skills, capable of working his way down the line with decent range when chasing in pursuit. He has...
14

DT
DeMonte
Capehart

6-5 315lbs 4.75
DT
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
315lbs 6-5 4.75 22 96
82.9
Capehart's tape shows flashes of dominance that scream high level potential, but consistency issues and limited playing time muddy the...
15

DE/ED
Derrick
Moore

6-3 256lbs 4.65
DE/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
256lbs 6-3 4.65 35 179
82.9
Moore projects as a high-upside edge defender with the physical tools to become a disruptive force at the NFL level. His combination of...
16

DL/ED
Patrick
Payton

6-5 250lbs 4.65
DL/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
250lbs 6-5 4.65 31 126.8
82.6
Payton projects as a high-ceiling edge rusher with the bend and burst to be a day-one contributor in passing situations. His length and...
17

DT
Bear
Alexander

6-3 315lbs 5.10
DT
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
315lbs 6-3 5.10 48 289.5
82.6
Bear Alexander projects as a versatile defensive lineman with the potential to make an immediate impact in the NFL. His combination of...
18

DL
James
Smith

6-3 296lbs 4.88
DL
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
296lbs 6-3 4.88 28 105.3
82.5
Smith has an excellent motor and shows the stamina to last deep into the fourth quarter. Quick off the snap in the pass rush, Smith has...
19

DT
Zane
Durant

6-1 290lbs 4.66
DT
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
290lbs 6-1 4.66 19 81.5
82.5
Durant's skill set aligns with the role of a rotational 3-technique in a 4-3 scheme, with upside as a sub-package rusher. His elite...
20

DE/ED
R Mason
Thomas

6-2 240lbs 4.62
DE/ED
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
240lbs 6-2 4.62 24 100
82.3
Thomas fits the profile of an immediate impact pass rush specialist who has the tools to develop into an every-down edge defender at the...
21

DL/ED
Cashius
Howell

6-4 245lbs 4.65
DL/ED
Texas A&M   Mascot
Texas A&M Mascot
245lbs 6-4 4.65 21 94
81.5
Howell's profile is that of a high-upside edge rusher with the potential to contribute immediately as a designated pass-rush specialist....
22

DE
Kelby
Collins

6-4 278lbs 4.76
DE
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
278lbs 6-4 4.76 30 123.7
81.0
A savvy, versatile and instinctive edge rusher who did a little bit of everything, Collins was especially effective getting to the...
23

DE/ED
Tyreak
Sapp

6-3 272lbs 4.76
DE/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
272lbs 6-3 4.76 25 103.3
80.2
The stout defender demonstrates NFL-caliber ability to set the edge and disrupt blocking schemes in the run game. Natural power at the...
24

DL/ED
Boubacar
Traore

6-4 240lbs 4.68
DL/ED
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
240lbs 6-4 4.68 42 235
80.0
Traore has an excellent motor and shows the stamina to last deep into the fourth quarter. He has decent enough flexibility to bend the...

2026 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Line

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2026 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Line

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.