Top Interior Defensive Lineman (DT / 5T)- 2026 NFL Draft Preseason Watch List

John B. Everett
Aug 16
7 min read

Updated: Sep 2

The quality of the 2026 defensive tackles and 5Ts (3-4 DE) pales in comparison to the prospects that NFL teams hauled from last year’s draft. There is neither the top end quality nor the depth that characterized the 2025 IDL class. But that does not mean there are not any IDL that look like potential starters or important depth pieces in the NFL next year. There is likely to be two or three IDL who will be selected in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Top of the Class

1. Peter Woods / Clemson

Woods is entering his third year as the starter but only the second year as the starter as an IDL (Woods played out of position at EDGE last year). Woods has prototypical size (6’3”), mass (315 lbs), frame, and length for IDL. 2023 Freshman All-American. Quick twitch displayed at the snap. Moves surprisingly gracefully for a man so large – light on his feet with good lateral agility. Naturally strong and powerful and can push the pocket with leverage and strength. Recorded the first three sacks of his career last year while playing EDGE and still needs development as a pass rusher as an IDL.

2. Darrell Jackson / Florida State

Jackson is a huge man (6’5” / 337 lbs) who has the size and strength to shut down inside running lanes and combines that with a powerful bull rush to overwhelm the guards and centers lined up across from him. Jackson has recorded 6.5 career sacks with three of those coming last season. Another solid season should make Jackson a likely first-round selection next April.

3. Dontay Corleone / Cincinnati

“The Godfather” has started the last three years in Cincinnati and has 9.5 sacks combined over his career. Average height (6’1”) with an outstanding frame and mass (335 lbs). Plays with very good natural leverage. Extremely strong and powerful who is very difficult to unroot in short yardage situations. Requires double teams on a regular basis to move him in the run game. Long arms are not fully utilized – shoots hands but with little shock and generates limited movement. Limited pass rush ability other than a powerful bull rush. Corleone should grade out as a Top 50 prospect in next April’s draft.

4. Landon Robinson / Navy

Prospects from the service academies rarely garner much interest from the scouting community for a variety of reasons including very few (if any) blue-chip prospects enroll in the academies, the service academies operate non-traditional offenses, and the prospects from the Army, Navy, and Air Force have a service commitment that often scares away NFL teams. But Robinson may buck that trend. Robinson lacks the desired size (6’0” / 287 lbs) but is a great athlete displaying tremendous first step quickness, very good lateral agility, and a good closing burst on the ball carrier. Robinson is likely to grade out as a high second round pick next year with another good season in Annapolis.

5. Domonique Orange / Iowa State

Orange has emerged as a player that must be accounted for prior to each play, lest he wreaks havoc on your play call. Orange has great size with outstanding mass, a huge frame, and very good length. Orange, who plays “0” technique and lines up on the center’s nose, is a very effective run stopper who needs to develop more pass rushing moves other than a bull rush. Very little production from his pass rush and only has one career sack. Will need to become a better pass rusher if he wants to be more than a two down NT in the NFL.

6. Rayshaun Benny / Michigan

Benny has spent the three previous seasons in Ann Arbor serving as an understudy to first-round draft picks Mason Graham (#5 overall to Cleveland) and Kenneth Grant (#13 overall to Miami) and has finally risen to starter status. Benny has NFL desired height and length (6’4”) and acceptable mass (296 lbs). Benny plays with excellent leverage and displays a quality burst to close on the ball carrier. Benny has 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three deflected passes in part-time duty over the last three years at Michigan.

7. Bear Alexander / Oregon

Opinions will be split amongst the scouting community on whether their team should draft Alexander or not. On the positive side, Alexander is a tremendous athlete who looks the part of an NFL interior lineman (6’3” / 302 lbs) and he has 3.5 career sacks in part-time duty over his career. He is extremely quick twitched up at the snap – maintains leverage, shoots hands, and wins first contact. Alexander originally signed with Georgia out of high school but subsequently transferred to USC, where he became a starter but only played 21 snaps against Michigan and subsequently decided to redshirt and then transferred to Oregon. The perception in some circles is that Alexander quit on his team in the middle of a game. Others look at his immense talent level and have decided that Alexander is worth the risk. Opinions are destined to diverge on Alexander when he enters the 2026 NFL Draft.

8. Zane Durant / Penn State

Durant is headed into his second year starting at DT for the Nittany Lions and third year being a major contributor and has steadily improved throughout his career. Durant is an undersized IDL lacking both height (6’1”) and mass (294 lbs). Shoots out low at the snap and wins with leverage and power. Strong and push the pocket. Quick twitch displayed at the snap as he typically initiates contact. Durant needs to improve his strength but he is a very effective pass rusher who should be able to contribute in sub-packages as a rookie.

Other Names to Monitor:

· DeMonte Capehart / Clemson. Capehart has been a solid contributor as a rotational IDL but more will be expected of him as a starter this year. Capehart has ideal measureables – 6’5” / 315 lbs – and flashes terrific strength and athleticism, at times, but needs to become more consistent.

· Tim Keenan / Alabama. Keenan is beginning his third year as a starter and he provides a strong, steady hand in the middle of the defensive line and excels in stopping the run. Keenan has very good size (6’2” / 320 lbs), plays with excellent bend, and is extremely strong. Keenan has 3.5 career sacks and improving his production will increase Keenan’s draft value.

· Deven Eastern / Minnesota. Eastern will be starting on Minnesota’s offense for the third straight season and has proven to be durable and reliable. Eastern (6’6” / 320) has premium size and is most effective against the run. Eastern recorded his only two sacks of his career last season. Eastern may be limited to playing only on running downs unless he can prove to be more impactful in the pass rush.

· Gracen Halton / Oklahoma. Halton stepped into a starting role last season and immediately provided the interior pass rush that had been missing under coach Brent Venables. Halton finished the 2024 season with 30 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Halton (6’2” / 292 lbs) has the prototypical skills of a gap penetrating 3T. He will not fit in all defensive systems but will pique the interest of teams needing to generate a better interior pass rush.

· Caleb Banks / Florida. Banks has been producing for the Gators for the last three seasons but burst upon the national scene when he recorded 21 tackles / 4.5 sacks / one forced fumble / one deflected pass in 2024. Banks possesses excellent size (6’6” / 330 lbs) and has a huge wingspan that he uses to disrupt the QB’s vision. Banks may get a look as a 5T in an odd front or as a down lineman in an even front in the NFL. Banks could rapidly ascend draft rankings with another solid season in Gainesville.

· Akheem Mesidor / Miami, Fl. Mesidor is a sixth-year senior who has battled injuries that have forced him to miss time, most notably during the 2023 season, and needs a full season of health to get drafted in the mid-rounds. When Mesidor is healthy he generates consistent pressure up the middle – he has 22 sacks recorded in four seasons. Mesidor lacks some desired size and length (6’3” / 280 lbs) and is best being used to apply pressure to the QB. Mesidor needs to improve his strength and defending the run but he is one of the best interior pass rushers in college football.

· Zxavian Harris / Ole Miss

Harris has been a major contributor to one of the SEC’s best defenses but will be expected to take on an expanded role this season in Oxford after Princely Umanmielen (Carolina) and Walter Nolen (Cardinals), amongst others, are now playing in the NFL. Harris has fantastic size (6’7” / 320 lbs) and could play as a DT in an even front or play 5T in an odd front. In part-time duty over the last two seasons, Harris has recorded 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. More will be expected out of Harris this fall.