With the college bowl season in full swing and I continue to dig deep into my draft prep, I thought I would take the time to go over some of the potential prospects at the interior defensive line position. This is one of the most crucial but unpraised positions in football. They do the heavy lifting to open things up for the rest of the defense. Keep in mind, this is just who I have watched to this point so far. As I watch more game film and prospects, I will update this list accordingly.
Derrick Brown, Auburn Tigers (6’5” / 318 lbs.)
Brown is widely considered as one of the best interior defensive linemen prospects in the country. General Managers, scouts, and coaches for teams that need help in the trenches will definitely be paying close attention to Brown throughout the draft process. Derrick has the size, power, and strength that stands out, but he is also an extremely quick and athletic one-gap penetrator who routinely makes plays in the backfield. While his strength and power are hard to handle, it’s his quick first step that instantly puts offensive linemen in uncomfortable positions.
In the NFL, that instant impact is a game-changing skill that scouts look for. Even the best offensive linemen have trouble with blocking Brown as his hand use is very good, he knows how to keep them from locking on to him and how to use them in both the run and passing game. While very talented, Derrick could be even better with improved technique and pad level. He doesn’t offer a lot in the open field or in chase mode, but that’s not what he will be asked to do. Those things are correctable and should be a focal point of improvement, during these All-Star games, NFL Combine and his pro day.
Benito Jones, Ole Miss Rebels, (6’1” / 329 lbs.)
Another SEC big man that can disrupt a game single-handedly. He has improved his impact each season and I see that translating very well at the next level. He will be one of the top interior defensive line prospects in the NFL Draft. This improvement even comes in the face of teams game-planning specifically for him. I don’t usually make comparisons, but I see a lot of Jurrell Casey in his game. Put him in the right system and he’s a wrecking ball!
A compact but powerful player, who can provide a pass rush from the interior, improving each season despite the extra attention. Benito can line up as one-gap nose tackle or as a three-technique tackle and be equally effective at either position.
Leki Fotu, Utah Utes (6’5” / 335 lbs.)
He’s a space-eating, run-stopping monster that reminds me of Vita Vea a lot. He has very good penetration with his excellent first step. Fotu has good hand usage to deter blockers but needs to develop secondary moves. He also needs to improve his leverage and reaction skills. He has elite upper body strength and uses his hands as clubs, that most can’t handle. Leki has a high motor and has surprisingly good pursuit skills.
He’s best suited for a team looking for a one technique pass rusher. His ability to get up the field is desired, but his lack of secondary moves, leverage, and inability to get off double teams at times is concerning. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to like and most of his issues are correctable, so teams needing that plug in the middle will likely take the chance on him.
Raekwon Davis, Alabama Crimson Tide (6’7” / 312 lbs.)
An intriguing prospect, who is best suited as a 3-4 defensive end, but can play inside at defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme. Davis can hold up in the gaps versus the run but excels when he uses his length and lower body strength. There will be a lot of concern with two consecutive seasons of drop off in production after he had a career-best, sixty-nine tackles, ten tackles for a loss, eight and a half sacks in his sophomore season.
Raekwon has shown the skill to be an elite defensive tackle but is this lack of production due to the talent that has surrounded him? Scouts will love the size and upside but will question if he has legit talent.
Robert Winsdor, Penn State Nittany Lions (6 ’4” / 285 lbs.)
While he is undersized at 285 lbs, he is all hustle, and plays with tremendous effort. Windsor needs to get stronger to be able to play in the trenches. He has above-average hand use and will flash pass rush potential from the interior. Windsor excels at shooting gaps and being a disruptive force but needs improvement when anchoring against the run. Robert has a high football IQ and according to his coaches, analyzes all plays thoroughly. While he’s not one of the drafts top prospects, he is one of the better values.
Thanks for reading my article and if enjoyed it, you can read more of my articles at dynastyfootballfactory.com. You can also follow me on social media, on Twitter at Hollywood@DFF_DWin, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub I’m user KingTitan1 and you can tune in each week and listen to the podcasts, IDP Nation that I co-host, on a number of different platforms. Feel free to hit me up with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
