Steelers Now
From Steelers Now:
We are now less than one week away from the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, and with that in mind, it’s time to rank the top defensive tackles in this class — an area where the Pittsburgh Steelers have been heavily invested.
The running back and interior defensive line positions are the real headliners of this draft cycle, which should be music to Steelers fans ears considering the current and future needs on the roster. In a year in which I gave out an alarmingly low amount of true first-round grades, there are two players that earned that distinction based on film study alone. But even stretching beyond that, the depth of this class is incredibly rich.
Regardless of whether you’re a team in search of a nose tackle or three-technique or a pass rush specialist instead of a run plugger, there are plenty of options to choose from. From the Steelers perspective, that’s intriguing because of how Keeanu Benton’s versatility allows them to keep an open mind to the different possibilities.
There are a couple of guys on this list that are undervalued contributors that I’m higher on than the general consensus. For further context, each of these dozen players are inside my top-100 2025 NFL Draft big board.
1) Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Penetrating three-technique with a tantalizing blend of burst, lateral agility and grown man strength at 21-years old. Nolen’s athleticism permits him to make frequent plays away from his gap assignment and has the raw power to detonate guards backwards into the backfield. His hands are constantly active, yet lack refinement given his size but the upside is truly tremendous with he himself being the only one standing in the way of that high ceiling.
2) Mason Graham, Michigan
Gap-shooting three-technique who is a real blur off the ball with a supreme understanding of how to cross-face of opposing blockers standing in his way. There’s a level of technical proficiency to Graham’s game that must be appreciated, starting with how he steadily plays low to the ground with a firm grasp on how to shoot his hands to land the first strike. His tape shows a player guilty of getting bounced over gaps on occasions versus the run but teams will look past that for the pass rush acumen.
Mountain of a man in the middle who can surprise you by swimming over blockers and is way more sudden than anyone should ever be at 6-foot-3, 331 pounds. Grant’s reputation as a run defender precedes him with destructive hands to drub offensive lineman, although his flashes as pass rusher against USC/Ohio State are quite interesting. Despite being commonly billed as a two-gapping plodder, better pad level should lead to more powerful wins getting after the quarterback.
Alignment versatile defensive lineman with a quality all-around skill set, starting with his wide base and long limbs that...
