2025 NFL Draft: Top Interior DL Rankings – Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant & Walter Nolen Headline Elite Class

The 2025 NFL Draft features one of the deepest interior defensive line classes in recent memory, headlined by Michigan’s Mason Graham, a projected top-five pick. The value of dominant IDL talent has never been higher, with teams like the Philadelphia Eagles proving that success starts in the trenches. In today’s NFL, the ability to generate pressure with just four rushers is critical for defending high-powered passing offenses, and this class is loaded with players who can collapse the pocket and control the run game.

The rankings below present a tiered breakdown of the top interior defensive linemen using our Football Scout 365 grade scale. Each tier provides insight into where these prospects stand ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, based on a combination of film evaluation and analytics. Our grading process mirrors that of NFL front offices, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of each prospect’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact potential at the next level.

2025 NFL Draft: Interior Defensive Line Rankings

Elite - Top 5-10 Picks (1st Round)

A rare, high-impact prospect with the potential to be an instant NFL star.

1) Mason Graham | Michigan | Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 318 lbs

Player Comparison: Quinnen Williams

Analysis: Graham is a dominant interior force with elite leverage, violent hands, and explosive first-step quickness. His ability to penetrate gaps and shed blocks makes him a disruptive presence in both the run and pass game. While his arm length isn’t elite, his technique, power, and motor make him an ideal fit in multiple defensive schemes.

High-End Starter Potential - 2nd/3rd Round Projection

Players in this tier have the tools to become high-level starters early in their NFL careers.

2) Kenneth Grant | Michigan | Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 340 lbs

Player Comparison: Jordan Davis

Analysis: Grant is a massive, athletic defensive tackle with impressive quickness for his size and dominant run-stopping ability. His power and first-step quickness allow him to collapse the pocket, but he must refine his pass-rush plan and pad level. He fits best as a nose tackle in a 3-4 or a 1-tech in a 4-3, where he can clog lanes and disrupt the interior.

3) Walter Nolen | Ole Miss | Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 304 lbs

Player Comparison: Leonard Williams

Analysis: Nolen is a powerful and explosive interior defender with quick hands and violent upper-body strength, allowing him to dominate blockers. His speed-to-power conversion makes him a disruptive bull rusher, but he must improve his leverage and hand placement. Best suited as a 3-tech in a 4-3, with the versatility to play 4i or 5-tech in odd fronts.

4) T.J. Sanders | South Carolina | Ht: 6'4" | Wt: 290 lbs

Player Comparison: Not Available

Analysis: Sanders is a long, athletic interior lineman with an explosive first step and fluid movement skills that allow him to generate consistent pass-rush pressure. He thrives as a penetrating 3-tech but struggles against double-teams and must improve his run defense. If he refines his technique and adds strength, he has high-end starting potential.

5) Derrick Harmon | Oregon | Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 310 lbs

Player Comparison: DaQuan Jones

Analysis: Harmon is a versatile defensive lineman with size, strength, and technique to be a force against the run. He can anchor against double teams, shed blocks, and generate interior push, though he lacks elite pass-rush ability. Best suited as a 2i-tech in an even front but capable of playing multiple positions along the defensive line.

6) Darius Alexander | Toledo | Ht: 6'4" | Wt: 310 lbs

Player Comparison: Not Available

Analysis: Alexander is a powerful and athletic defensive lineman with elite run-stopping ability, violent hands, and strong leverage control. His quick get-off makes him disruptive, but his inconsistent motor and lack of pass-rush production are concerns. He fits best as a 3-tech in a 4-3 or a rotational DT in a 3-4 scheme.

Mid-Level Starter Potential - 4th/5th Round Projection

These players project as solid rotational contributors with the potential to develop into quality starters.

7) Omarr Norman-Lott | Tennessee | Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 315 lbs

Player Comparison: Maurice Hurst

Analysis: Norman-Lott is an explosive interior pass rusher with a quick first step and violent hands. He has the ability to pressure the pocket but struggles with block recognition and consistency in the run game. Best suited as a penetrating 3-tech or a sub-package pass rusher.

8) Alfred Collins | Texas | Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 320 lbs

Player Comparison: Dalvin Tomlinson

Analysis: Collins is a dominant run-stopper with elite size, violent hands, and tremendous power. His ability to anchor against double-teams makes him an early-down asset, though his pass-rush upside is limited. Best suited for a gap-control scheme as a 3-4 DE or run-stuffing DT in a 4-3.

9) Joshua Farmer | Florida State | Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 318 lbs

Player Comparison: Not Available

Analysis: Farmer is a strong, versatile lineman with quick hands and lateral mobility. He fits best as a rotational 3-tech or 4i-tech but needs to refine his first-step quickness and ability to handle double teams. Has the raw power to develop into a quality starter.

10) Tyleik Williams | Ohio State | Ht: 6'3" | Wt: 315 lbs

Player Comparison: Not Available

Analysis: Williams is a powerful, thickly-built nose tackle who excels in a two-gap system as a run defender. His strong anchor and heavy hands allow him to control the interior, but his pass-rushing impact is limited. Best suited as a one-tech in a 4-3 or a zero-tech in an odd front.