Just one college football game remains this season, and the NFL playoffs are in full swing. Most prospects have finished putting out tape in their college careers, so it’s time to officially unveil my updated position rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Today I’m ranking my top 10 defensive tackles, or interior defensive linemen. Last year’s class is shaping up to be an all-timer in terms of depth (and it’s one I was very excited about at the time). This one isn’t quite to that level, but it is a deep group with some first-round prospects and plenty of options on Day 2. Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington would’ve been my DT1 in this class, but he returned to school for his senior season.

If you’d like to check out my other updated position rankings, you can do so below:

• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Offensive Tackles
• Interior Offensive Linemen
• Edge Rushers
• Linebackers
• Cornerbacks

1: Peter Woods, Clemson

A five-star recruit from Alabama, Woods hit the ground running as a true freshman in 2023, racking up 26 tackles and a forced fumble and earning some freshman All-America accolades. As a sophomore, he had 26 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors despite playing out of position as an edge rusher. In 2025, Woods moved back to the interior, posting 30 tackles, two sacks, and a pass defensed, garnering first-team All-ACC recognition.

Standing at 6-3, 315 pounds, Woods is such an explosive athlete for his size. He has uncanny quickness and fluidity to his movements, earning a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for his combination of power, speed, and agility. That athleticism shows up on the field, as Woods can make offensive linemen look silly trying to block them. He fires off the snap with a suddenness that catches blockers by surprise, thundering into them or dancing around them before they can react. His hands are strong and he has the length to dictate contact on the interior, stunning linemen with his initial punch before getting into his moves.

Woods has incredible lower-body strength, anchoring against double teams and producing a powerful bull rush. He makes some incredible plays against the run, with consistent backfield production throughout his college career and solid fundamentals in that phase. When rushing the passer, he utilizes advanced hand fighting techniques and his plus short-area quickness to execute moves and combos that leave offensive linemen grasping air — if he doesn’t just shove right through them.

Though he got a lot better in this area in his junior season, Woods is still developing his pass-rush bag. Right now, he has a few go-to moves, but he isn’t terribly creative beyond his basic work. If he can add more refinement in this area, he has the type of athleticism that will make him that much more devastating. Additionally, his production in general isn’t yet to the level of physical tools. The hope is...