A defensive tackle’s tackling grade scores finishing in a crowd: wrapping up a back who has already been slowed, getting the quarterback down on an interior pressure, and not missing when he has penetrated. Quinnen Williams (Alabama) and Derrick Brown (Auburn) both graded out near the top here.
The table ranks this year’s draft-eligible defensive tackles by tackling grade, alongside pass rush, run defense and overall rating.
| RANK | Player | Pos | Team | TACKLING | PASS RUSH | RUN DEFENSE | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
DT |
|
74 | 74 | 66 |
79.9
|
|
2 |
|
DT |
|
74 | 63 | 68 |
74.1
|
|
3 |
|
DT |
|
68 | 64 | 74 |
78.0
|
|
4 |
|
DT |
|
63 | 67 | 78 |
78.8
|
|
5 |
|
DL /ED |
|
61 | 76 | 74 |
58.6
|
|
6 |
|
DT |
|
61 | 76 | 75 |
81.2
|
|
7 |
|
DT |
|
60 | 79 | 74 |
83.1
|
|
8 |
|
DT |
|
58 | 86 | 64 |
85.1
|
|
9 |
|
DT |
|
57 | 58 | 63 |
74.0
|
|
10 |
|
DT |
|
56 | 64 | 74 |
83.1
|
|
11 |
|
DT |
|
53 | 57 | 68 |
74.0
|
|
12 |
|
DT |
|
46 | 77 | 86 |
78.4
|
|
13 |
|
DT |
|
44 | 66 | 78 |
72.8
|
|
14 |
|
DT |
|
40 | 84 | 70 |
88.1
|
|
15 |
|
DT |
|
35 | 45 | 49 |
45.0
|