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1010XL Draft Guide: 2024 Defensive Tackle Rankings

todayFebruary 28, 2024

Background

Welcome to the latest edition of our 2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings! All the football heads at 1010XL/92.5 FM have gathered to preview the upcoming draft in April. Today, we’ll be focusing on defensive tackles.

Here’s how our internal panel of experts ranked* this year’s class.

*Subject to change. Final rankings will be released in a full Draft Guide in March. 

Here’s more information on our consensus top-five prospects.


Byron Murphy II, Texas

Our consensus rank: 1 | National consensus rank: 2

Bio: Murphy was a four-star recruit out of DeSoto High School and originally committed to Baylor before flipping to Texas. He was a rotational player for two seasons before becoming a starter in 2023, when he registered 8.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.   

Player comp: Sheldon Rankins

Strengths: Burst, balance, power

Weaknesses: Frame, finishing, consistency


Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, Illinois

Our consensus rank: 2 | National consensus rank: 1

Bio: Newton was a three-star recruit out of Clearwater Central Catholic High School. He originally committed to Maryland before flipping to Illinois. Newton appeared in every game as a true freshman and became a starter as a sophomore. As a junior and senior, he combined for 22.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks to earn consecutive first-team All-Big Ten accolades. Newton was also named a consensus All-American, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. 

Player comp: Sheldon Richardson

Strengths: Power, versatility, fluidity

Weaknesses: Frame, length, burst


Darius Robinson, Missouri

Our consensus rank: 3 | National consensus rank: 3

Bio: Robinson was a three-star recruit out of Canton High School, where he played outside linebacker, defensive tackle and tight end. He committed to Missouri and was a rotational player in his first three seasons, accumulating just 1 sack and 34 total tackles in that span. Robinson broke out as a senior with 3.5 sacks in 2022, then returned for a fifth season and switched from defensive tackle to defensive end, which freed him up to get 8.5 sacks and first-team All-SEC honors. 

Player comp: Denico Autry

Strengths: Power, frame, versatility

Weaknesses: Fluidity, burst, age


T’Vondre Sweat, Texas

Our consensus rank: 4 | National consensus rank: 4

Bio: Sweat was a three-star recruit out of Huntsville High School, where he played football and basketball. He committed to Texas and played in every game as a true freshman. Sweat statistically improved every year through his fifth-year senior season in 2023, when he was named a unanimous All-American, first-team All-Big 12, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. 

Player comp: Dexter Lawrence

Strengths: Frame, power, football IQ

Weaknesses: Pass rush plan, burst, conditioning


Kris Jenkins, Michigan

Our consensus rank: 5 | National consensus rank: 5

Bio: Jenkins, the son of four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Sr., was a three-star recruit out of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. He committed to Michigan and played in one game as a freshman, then every game as a sophomore, and became a full-time starter as a junior. During his 2023 senior season, Jenkins helped the Wolverines win the national championship and earned second-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors.

Player comp: Tyson Alualu

Strengths: Power, versatility, football IQ

Weaknesses: Burst, fluidity, consistency


Follow along as we rank each position group leading up to the draft!

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Offensive Tackles

Interior Offensive Linemen

Tight Ends

Cornerbacks

Safeties

Edge Defenders

Defensive Tackles

Inside Linebackers

Written by: Gus Logue


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todayFebruary 28, 2024