2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Interior Defensive Linemen
1) JER’ZHAN NEWTON, ILLINOIS
BIG BOARD RANK: 10
Newton, an all-around interior defensive lineman, is productive as both a run defender and a pass-rusher. His overall size is on the smaller side, but his first step and elite hand speed allow him to live in backfields.
2) LEONARD TAYLOR III, MIAMI (FLA.)
BIG BOARD RANK: 33
Big men don’t often get the athlete label as a prospect, but at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, that’s what Taylor is. His pass-rush win rate is one of the highest at his position, making him one of the best — perhaps the best — pass-rushing defensive tackles in the class.
3) BYRON MURPHY II, TEXAS
BIG BOARD RANK: 44
T’Vondre Sweat gets most of the notoriety among Texas’ defensive linemen, but Murphy is also a future pro and showed that this season. He’s not a size monster like Sweat — Murphy is listed at 6-foot-1, 305 pounds — but his quickness and strength at the three-technique position yielded a 91.8 pass-rush grade in 2023. He also made Bruce Feldman’s “College Football Freaks List” for his strength, front squatting 455 pounds and power cleaning 375.
4) KRIS JENKINS, MICHIGAN
BIG BOARD RANK: 48
Jenkins is a powerful player in the middle of a defense. His run-defense abilities give him a very high floor as a projected pro. While his pass-rush production won’t pop out at you, it is improving.
5) BRANDON DORLUS, OREGON
BIG BOARD RANK: 52
Dorlus is a versatile defensive lineman. He has the size and strength to play on the interior, yet a surprisingly quick first step and hands to be a plus pass-rusher. He would be a great fit for defenses that stay multiple in their fronts.