2027 NFL Draft Preseason Rankings - IDL

The 2027 IDL class may offer three prospects who project as first-round picks next spring and the overall depth is solid with at least another three prospects earning top 100 preseason grades. 

1. Will Echoles / Ole Miss

2025 Statistics

68 tackles / 5 sacks / 11.5 TFL / 5 Deflected Passes

Echoles (6'3" / 315 lbs) is coming off a season where he was arguably the best IDL in the nation as a well-rounded run-stuffer and an impactful interior pass rusher. Echoles has tremendous twitch and is extremely agile for his size. Now draft-eligible, Echoles looks locked in as a top 20 selection next spring.

Area for Improvement - Although Echoles is naturally strong and sturdy, he too often tries to win with quickness and finesse. Echoles needs to focus on his responsibilities and free-lance less as a junior.

2. A' Mauri Washington / Oregon

2025 Statistics

33 tackles / 1.5 sacks / 4.5 TFL / 8 Passes Defensed

Washington (6'3" / 330 lbs) may be the premiere run-stuffer available in next year's draft - when he sinks his hips and anchors, he is nearly impossible to unroot or neutralize in the middle of the line. Washington also possesses a very powerful bull rush and he can put the IOL on skates and walk him back to the QB.

Area for Improvement - Washington is best used in a rotation where he can be kept fresh. Washington may need to trim down and get in better shape to contribute more in the NFL.

3. David Stone / Oklahoma

2025 Statistics

42 tackles / 1.5 sacks / 8 TFL / 1 Passed Defensed

Big things are projected for Stone (6'3" / 315 lbs) this coming season. The former 5-star recruit has teased with an elite combination of size, length, power, twitch, and quickness to become a Jalen Carter-type difference-maker inside this season.

Area for Improvement - Stone began to show his potential late last year but all he has shown is flashes. Consistency and reliability are areas to prove himself this fall.

4. AJ Holmes / Texas Tech

2025 Statistics

38 tackles / 4.5 sacks / 9 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 1 Fumble Recovery / 4 Deflected Passes

Holmes (6'3" / 300 lbs) is an uber-quick interior pass rusher whose twitch, burst, and lateral agility makes him a handful inside as a pass rusher. Holmes has a non-stop motor and is a tireless worker. Holmes filled in after Skyler Gill-Howard (Lions) was lost for the season and continued development is needed as a senior.

Area for Improvement - Holmes lacks some desired size and girth and can get washed out of plays by a powerful IOL. Holmes will never be a power player but anchoring better would assist his run defense inside as a senior.

5. Jordan Hall / Georgia

2025 Statistics

12 tackles / 0 sacks / 2 TFL 

Hall (6'4" / 320 lbs) is a similar type player to David Stone as a former mega-recruit who has more hype than production through limited use during his first three seasons in Athens. Hall has flashed a fantastic combination of size, power, and agility but needs to display those qualities in larger doses this fall.

Areas for Improvement - Hall has had to wait his turn to start for the previous two seasons and has had limited reps. Hall is raw and needs work on keeping his pads down and improving his hand fighting ability.

6. Keanu Tanuvasa / BYU

2025 Statistics

25 tackles / 2 sacks / 4.5 TFL / 3 Deflected Pass

Tanuvasa (6'4" / 300 lbs) entered the 2026 NFL Draft before withdrawing his name and deciding to return to Provo for his senior season. Tanuvasa is an extremely twitchy athlete who plays with a low center of gravity - he tends to win leverage battles inside. Tanuvasa has an outstanding motor, light feet, and chases hard in pursuit.

Areas for Improvement - Tanuvasa needs to improve his core strength and hand fighting ability to disengage blocks quicker and more efficiently.

7. Mario Landino / Indiana

2025 Statistics

32 tackles / 5 sacks / 6 TFL / 3 Deflected Passes

Landino (6'4" / 288 lbs) is an undersized, uber-quick IDL with fantastic initial twitch, an impressive first step, and a lightning-quick closing burst on the QB in the pocket. Landino has a great motor and rare range for an IDL.

Area for Improvement - Landino lacks some desired size and strength for shutting down the inside run. Landino will be entering his first-year as a starter and he will not have the luxury of being balls-to-the-wall on every down and will need to manage his stamina more actively this season.

8. Ahmad Moten / Miami, Fl

2025 Statistics

31 tackles / 4.5 sacks / 9 TFL 

Moten (6'3" / 300 lbs) is scheduled to start as an IDL this season after pinching in as the primary backup last season for the national runner-ups. Moten is more developed as a pass rusher than as a run stuffer but shows promising upside as an interior run defender. 

Area for Improvement - Moten needs to improve his hand use to disengage blocks and deflect passes at the LOS more effectively.

9. Tyrique Tucker / Indiana

2025 Statistics

40 tackles / 6 sacks / 12 TFL / 2 Deflected Passes

Tucker (6'0" / 307 lbs) is entering his second season as a starter on the IU DL after following coach Cignetti to Bloomington from James Madison three years ago. Tucker plays with an extremely low center of gravity that makes him nearly unmovable at the LOS, at times. Tucker is very quick and has an impressive burst to close on the QB in the pocket.

Area for Improvement - Tucker lacks desired height and length and can get glued to blockers, at times, who can get into his body and control him. Needs to develop better speed-to-power conversion to improve the effectiveness of his bull rush.

10. James Smith / Ohio State

2025 Statistics

28 tackles / 2.5 sacks / 6.5 TFL / 1 Deflected Pass

Smith (6'2" / 314 lbs), a transfer from Alabama where he started last year, is a powerfully-built interior run stuffer who plays low to the ground and is a physical force that forces double teams to neutralize against the run.

Area for Improvement - Aside from a powerful bull rush, Smith offers little as a pass rusher due to minimum burst and range.

Watch List - CJ Fite / Arizona State, Bear Alexander / Oregon, Hosea Wheeler / Baylor, Trey Pierce / Michigan, Jayden Jackson / Oklahoma, Justin Scott / Miami, Fl, Marquis Gracial / Missouri, Xzavier McLeod / Georgia, Alex VanSumeren / USC, and Kemari Copeland / Virginia Tech.