6 Defensive Tackles Worth Watching For Eagles In The Draft
It is NFL Combine week, which means it is finally not too early to discuss the draft. Eagles fans have been fortunate to not even have time to think about the draft, with the Eagles in the middle of a run to the Super Bowl. But now that the Eagles have lifted the trophy and we have partied down Broad Street, we can divert our attention to the draft and who the Eagles will add to their Super Bowl-winning roster.
One position we know they will likely be looking at is Defensive Tackle. They could still re-sign Milton Williams, which would change how much they need a DT. But in the likely event that Milton Williams does walk, DT will be near the top of their needs.
Howie Roseman has been the Eagles GM/ President of Football Operations since 2010. There was one year he was banished by Chip Kelly, but he was in charge of the other 15 drafts in that time. Over those 15 drafts, he has taken 3 DTs in the 1st round, and 10 total in the draft. It is clearly a position the Eagles value highly.
With the Eagles pick at 32, their options will be limited. Mason Graham, who is by far the top DT in the draft, is not going to be there. But here are some names you should keep an eye on.
Here Are 6 Defensive Tackles To Know In The 2025 NFL Draft
Walter Nolen- Ole Miss
Nolen is a bit of a pipe dream. Most mock drafts have him going earlier than the Eagles pick at 32. But some mocks have him falling as low as 24. That is striking distance for a trade. It seems unlikely he will get there, but no one thought Quinyon Mitchell would make it to the Eagles last year.
Nolen has explosive traits and a high motor. He is capable of being a game wrecker vs both the run and the pass, with 6 Sacks last season and 26 Run Stops. Some scouts ding him for playing a bit out of control, over-pursuing, and taking himself out of plays. But you would rather have someone you need to reign in, than someone you need to rev up.
Nolen next to Carter would be a nightmare for opposing teams. In college, he was winning by pure physical traits, but if Clint Hurtt could refine his pass-rush moves, you could have a Superstar DT to pair with Jalen Carter.
Kenneth Grant- Michigan
At 6ft3 and 343 lbs, Grant is a massive man. You would think that would make him more of the NT mold like Jordan Davis, where he is a run stuffer. But Grant can get after the QB, proven by his 6.5 sacks in the last 2 seasons. There is work for him to do as a pass rusher, but it is easy to see him developing.
He is the type of guy who will likely pop at the combine. For a big guy, he moves exceptionally well. By this time next week, he could be out of reach after people fall in love with his traits.
He can be an immediate star as a run stuffer and has the potential to grow into an impact pass rusher. Playing next to Carter would help. But many might see him as another Jordan Davis, and prefer someone who can more immediately impact the game as a pass rusher.
Derrick Harmon- Oregon
If you are looking for a pass rusher to replace what Milton Williams gave the Eagles, Harmon could be the guy. He led all DTs going into this draft with 55 total pressures and 43 hurries. He also had 7 QB hits and a shiny 17.6% win rate as a pass rusher. His 7.1% run-stop win rate also ranks near the top of the league.
Harmon is 6ft5 and 310 lbs. He is what you might refer to as a people mover. He also brings the type of versatility the Eagles love, being able to hold up in multiple fronts and from multiple spots on the line. One NFL Executive compared him to Cam Heyward, “but bigger” when talking to NFL.com.
Tyleik Williams- Ohio State
If you want pure power, Williams is the way to go. In high school, he broke a 19-year-old Shot Put record. That strength transferred to the Football field where he was one of the best run stuffers in the league, with an elite 7.8% Run Stop Rate.
When Williams got to Ohio State, he was 360 Lbs and needed to lose weight. By year 3, he had slimmed down to an explosive 326 lbs.
Consistency is an issue, and he can benefit from some coaching up, but the potential is through the roof. Right now he is already a great run defender, but he has the power to be a great bull rusher against the pass too, and he even flashes some finesse occasionally.
It is worth he played a ton of snaps in college, so we know he is capable of being more than a rotation guy despite his massive size.
TJ Sanders- South Carolina
If you are looking to replace Milton Williams, why not draft a guy drawing comparisons to Milton Williams? Like Williams was coming into the NFL, Sanders is a bit undersized but makes up for it with explosive traits.
Sanders had 11 sacks in college, including 5 in each of his past two seasons. His pass rush win rate of 12.6%, and his run stop win rate of 8.8% both rank near the top for DTs in college last season.
Put him next to Carter, maybe he could have similar success to Milton Williams. He might be the most refined pro-ready pass rusher of this group and was the most productive in college. What he lacks in size he makes up for in tools and skill. Put him next to Carter, maybe he could have similar success to Milton Williams.
Darius Alexander- Toledo
The Eagles had luck once drafting from Toledo, so why not make it a trend? Alexander is an athletic freak and his analytics were elite across the board. He ranked near the top for all DTs in both Pass Rush Win Rate and Run Stop Win Rate and had 11 sacks and 6 batted passes in the past 2 seasons.
Like with Mitchell last year, the concern is the level of opponent he went up against. But also like Mitchell, he got the chance to show off at the Senior Bowl vs better opponents, and he popped. He might even be an option in Round 2 for the Eagles. So if they do not go DT in round 1, maybe they come back around to at Dt at pick 64.