2023 Draft Preview – Interior Defensive Line

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April 4, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

This draft preview covers interior defensive line positions, defensive tackles and nose tackles. The Washington Commanders have Pro Bowlers Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne as their starting interior linemen. Payne signed a 4-year, $90 million contract extension in the offseason, while Allen signed his second contract in 2021 for 4 years and $72 million. The team also drafted Phidarian Mathis in the second-round last year. He tore his meniscus in his first game season and spent the year on injured reserve. The Commanders also claimed former Cowboys fifth-round pick John Ridgeway off waivers. He played decently and showed good potential. The Commanders also signed Abdullah Anderson this offseason, while also having young players David Bada and Benning Potoa’e. With all this depth, the interior defensive line is not a top priority in the draft.

Top Prospects

Prospect College Ht Wt Day GP Solo Tckl TFL Sack
Jalen Carter Georgia 6’3″ 310 1 35 44 18.5 6
Bryan Bresee Clemson 6’5″ 300 1 25 28 15 9
Mazi Smith Michigan 6’3″ 326 2 30 39 6 0.5
Siaki Ika Baylor 6’3″ 350 2 37 36 10.5 4.5
Keeanu Benton Wisconsin 6’4″ 317 2 39 44 19 9
Jaquelin Roy LSU 6’3″ 297 2 31 46 13.4 4
Kobie Turner Wake Forest 6’3″ 290 2 13 21 10 2
Calijah Kancey Pitt 6’0″ 275 2 33 52 34.5 16
Gervon Dexter Florida 6’6″ 313 2 36 48 10.5 5
P.J. Mustipher Penn State 6’4″ 329 3 49 68 10.5 3
Keondre Coburn Texas 6’2″ 346 3 41 52 15 6.5
Cory Durden NC State 6’4″ 310 3 50 52 20 11
Cameron Young Mississippi State 6’3″ 315 3 34 36 9 2
Jonah Tavai San Diego State 6’0″ 290 3 44 78 37 25
Jerrod Clark Coastal Carolina 6’4″ 345 3 26 22 13.5 5
Adetomiwa Adebawore Northwestern 6’2″ 280 3 36 67 24.5 12.5

Jalen Carter is the top interior defensive lineman in the draft, way ahead of the next best player. The big red flag against Carter is the 12 months of the probation he received for pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing related to a crash that lead to the deaths of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. Immaturity and large sums of money do not mix well, so NFL teams will want to be cautious about that. From a football viewpoint, he is a terror on the inside and can also play from the edge when needed. He has the potential to be on the same level as Allen and Payne in the NFL.

Bryan Bresee is most likely the second interior defensive lineman to be taken in the draft. He does not have the same amount of game experience as other players on the list, but he is still developing as a player and has a bigger upside than most. Bresee ran 4.86 in the 40-yard dash and 22 reps on the bench press at the combine.

The best of the day 2 picks are Mazi Smith, Siaki Ika, Gervon Dexter, Keeanu Benton, Jaquelin Roy and Kobie Turner. Calijah Kancey may have elevated himself to day 2 by running a 4.67 40-yard dash at the combine.

Smith has the size and strength (34 bench reps) to play either defensive tackle in a 4-3 or a nose tackle in a 3-4. He is also very athletic for his size, having 17 QB hurries and 5 QB hits this year.

Ika is primarily a nose tackle and is a run stuffer. He did get pressure on the quarterback 18 times but did not get any sacks.

Benton really improved over the course of the 2022 season moving up to a day 2 pick. He also showed good ability to get after the quarterback with 28 pressures, including 6 sacks.

Dexter had similar measurables (4.88 and 22 reps) at the combine to Bresee, but his play has been inconsistent during the season, playing great at times and disappearing at times. That is why he probably falls to the third round.

Roy is solid against the run but doesn’t have many pass rushing moves. He did 30 reps at the combine and has a very muscular lower body which makes him a good anchor at the point of attack.

Kancey lacks the ideal NFL size for the inside, but he uses his speed and quickness to penetrate and make plays.

Sources: sports-reference.com and draftek.com