2024 NFL draft prospect rankings: Defensive tackles

Editor's note: The Union-Tribune's Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 defensive tackles, plus "bonus" players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agents:

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— 1. Jer'Zhan Newton (Jr., Illinois, 6-foot-2, 304 pounds)

Newton was likely a Day 2 selection had he entered the draft after his sophomore season, when he led the nation's no. 1 scoring defense in tackles for loss (14), quarterback hurries (11), sacks (5.5), and fumble recoveries (two). The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year may be undersized for some teams, but he's been a disruptive force the last two seasons against the run and pass. He was a team captain in 2023, while also leading the country in blocked kicks with four. Newton (foot) underwent surgery in January to repair a partial Jones fracture in his foot and has been limited with his participation in the draft process. Projected: Round 1

— 2. Byron Murphy (Jr., Texas, 6-1, 297)

Murphy is a former four-star recruit who shares a similar skill set and physical traits with Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Justin Madubuike. As a true junior, he's one of the highest-ceiling d-linemen in this draft class, plays with great balance and features an explosive first step. Murphy's elite strength and athleticism earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman's annual college football "Freaks List" in 2023. Projected: Round 1

— 3. Kris Jenkins (Sr., Michigan, 6-3, 299)

His father is former NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Sr. His uncle Cullen Jenkins also played defensive line in the NFL. Both enjoyed careers lasting at least a decade. Jenkins' sack totals won't impress anyone, but he routinely faced a double-team, so there's still upside at the next level, especially if he can spice up his pass-rush repertoire. His premium athleticism (No. 6 on Feldman's list), NFL bloodlines and abilities as a run defender give him a very high floor as a pro. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 4. T'Vondre Sweat (Sr., Texas, 6-4, 366)

The Outland Trophy winner features an immovable base against the run and is capable of collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher. Sweat eats blocks like, well, I'm assuming everything else on his plate. Conditioning will be a concern, as will a recent DWI arrest, but Sweat is nimble on his feet for someone pushing 370 pounds. You simply can't teach his size. Projected: Rounds 2-4

— 5. Michael Hall Jr. (So., Ohio State, 6-3, 290)

Hall is considered undersized for the interior, but the former four-star recruit has proven capable of handling the responsibility due to his elite strength and athletic ability. The Buckeyes utilized him at every position on the D-line. Hall has the movement skills to be a productive pass-rusher in the pros, but he'll need to develop a better plan with his hands. He's still just 20 years old. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 6. Braden Fiske (Sr., Florida State, 6-4, 292)

The Western Michigan transfer wins with strength and athleticism. Fiske is explosive off the ball considering his size and is developing a solid pass-rush repertoire. His hand usage is a work-in-progress, which is a bit concerning considering he's a sixth-year senior (he's 24 years old), but an impressive performance during Senior Bowl practices and in Indianapolis at the combine has significantly boosted his draft stock. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 7. Ruke Orhorhoro (Sr., Clemson, 6-4, 294)

Originally from Nigeria, Orhorhoro moved to the United States at the age of 9. He excelled at basketball before switching to football in his junior year of high school. Orhorhoro possesses the power to move the pocket and can shed blockers consistently to get to the ball carrier as a run defender. He'll need to develop a pass rush move other than the bull rush in the NFL, where he can't just overpower most linemen. The right defensive-line coach will be crucial in helping Orhorhoro reach his immense potential. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 8. Darius Robinson (Sr., Missouri, 6-5, 285)

Robinson has the ability to play inside or outside thanks to his strength and length. His bull rush is a dominant weapon regardless of where he lines up, he's an asset against the run and teams won't be able to single-block him with a tight end. He plays stiff at times, and doesn't feature elite athleticism, but he showed growth as a pass-rusher at the Senior Bowl. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 9. Brandon Dorlus (Sr., Oregon, 6-3, 283)

Dorlus is a plug-and-play pass rusher from the interior, with an array of pass-rush moves, but he's kind of a tweener. He primarily played off the edge for the Ducks, but his athleticism won't translate there in the pros. Still, he's a high-floor, high-character player who can contribute right away. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— 10. McKinnley Jackson (Sr., Texas A&M, 6-1, 326)

Jackson is a stout, powerful, surprisingly athletic interior defender. He's a natural fit as a nose tackle and was a standout during Senior Bowl practices. The two-time team captain is a bulldozer who thrives on hustle plays, but he'll need to develop go-to counter moves as a pass-rusher if he wants to stay on the field for third downs in the pros. Projected: Rounds 4-5

— BONUS: Leonard Taylor (So., Miami, 6-4, 303)

Taylor was one of the top recruits at his position coming out of high school. He's an explosive interior defender who can overwhelm opponents when he's on his game. He has a pro-ready build, but needs to play with more discipline and awareness to unlock superstar mode. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— BONUS: Maason Smith (So., LSU, 6-5, 306)

Smith is a physically gifted prospect who leans more on athleticism (No. 17 on Feldman's list) than fundamentals or technique. The former five-star recruit was a freshman All-American in 2021 before tearing his ACL at the beginning of the 2022 season. There's a lot of upside here, but it may take time to develop. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— BONUS: DeWayne Carter (Sr., Duke, 6-3, 305)

Carter was a three-time team captain who saw a dip in pass-rush production as a fifth-year senior for the Blue Devils. He's an anchor against the run though and consistently won his one-on-one matchups throughout the week of practices in Mobile. Projected: Rounds 3-5

— BONUS: Mekhi Wingo (Jr., LSU, 6-1, 295)

Scouts are concerned with his length, but Wingo has used his quickness and low center of gravity to his benefit for three seasons as a starter in the SEC — with LSU and Missouri. Projected: Rounds 3-5

— BONUS: Tyler Davis (Sr., Clemson, 6-2, 301)

There are durability concerns after suffering biceps, knee and ankle injuries in college, but the former four-star recruit is an anchor against the run and capable of pressuring the quarterback when healthy. Projected: Rounds 4-5

— BONUS: Jordan Jefferson (Sr., LSU, 6-4, 317)

The West Virginia transfer is a solid run defender with an NFL-caliber spin move. Jefferson plays too tall at times, which causes him to struggle with leverage off the snap as a pass-rusher. This could limit him to an early-down role if he doesn't fine-tune his technique. Projected: Rounds 6-7

— BONUS: Khristian Boyd (Sr., Northern Iowa, 6-4, 317)

Boyd dominated the Shrine Bowl and his impressive 38 bench press reps at his pro day would've been second-best at the combine. These are the types of things an FCS/small-school prospect needs to do during the draft process to get noticed. He features an explosive first step and has proven disruptive against the run. There's a lot to work with here. Projected: Rounds 6-7