The Detroit Lions are excited about the potential of their pairing inside along the defensive line next season that features Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams. McNeill will be a full season removed from the torn ACL suffered late in 2024, and Williams is expected to take a big leap in production going into his second season after being the team's first-round pick in last year's NFL Draft.
Depth at the position is currently a bit of a question mark with DJ Reader and Roy Lopez scheduled to hit free agency in March. Levi Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo and Chris Smith are currently the depth at the position on the roster, but that could change via free agency in March. Lopez was a particularly good fit in Detroit's defense last season and could be a candidate to re-sign.
Like we talked about with the edge position, this is a stacked defensive line class and that includes the interior defenders. Even if the best player available at No. 17 isn't an interior defender, there's plenty of depth at the position that early contributors can be found well into Day 2.
Top 5 defensive tackles to watch at the Combine:
1. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, 6-3, 326
McDonald is a strong and stout interior defender who will make his biggest impact initially against the run. McDonald had rare tackle production for an interior defender with 65 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss for the Buckeyes last season. He has the ability to be a more productive pass rusher (3.0 sacks in 34 college games) with more technique work.
View photos of the defensive line prospects who were invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Duke DL Vincent Anthony Jr. (7)
Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey (31)
Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (4)
Arkansas DT Cameron Ball (5)
Florida DT Caleb Banks (88)
Michigan DL Jaishawn Barham (1)
South Carolina DL Nick Barrett (93)
Michigan DL Rayshaun Benny (26)
Clemson DL DeMonte Capehart (19)
NC State DL Brandon Cleveland (44)
Cincinnati DL Dontay Corleone (2)
Auburn DL Keyron Crawford (24)
Ohio State DL Caden Curry (92)
Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (33)
Penn State DL Zane Durant (28)
Tennessee DL Bryson Eason (20)
Minnesota DL Deven Eastern (91)
Utah DL Logan Fano (0)
Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk (15)
Texas Tech DT Skyler Gill-Howard (0)
Florida DL George Gumbs Jr. (34)
Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton (56)
Mississippi DL Zxavian Harris (51)
Texas Tech DL Romello Height (9)
Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell (9)
Northwestern DL Aidan Hubbard (91)
Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter (2)
Boston College DL Quintayvious Hutchins (15)
Illinois DL Gabe Jacas (17)
Florida State DT Darrell Jackson Jr. (6)
Auburn DL Bobby Jamison-Travis (97)
Oklahoma DL Marvin Jones Jr. (97)
Tennessee EDGE Joshua Josephs (19)
Alabama DT Tim Keenan III (96)
UCF DL Nyjalik Kelly (9)
UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence (51)
Iowa DL Max Llewellyn (48)
USC DL Anthony Lucas (6)
Baylor DL Jackie Marshall (0)
Missouri DL Chris McClellan (7)
Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald (98)
Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor (3)
Georgia DT Christen Miller (52)
Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore (8)
Texas DL Trey Moore (8)
Texas A&M DL Tyler Onyedim (11)
Iowa State DL Domonique Orange (95)
Alabama EDGE LT Overton (22)
Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker (3)
LSU DL Patrick Payton (6)
Southeastern Louisiana DL Kaleb Proctor (2)
LSU DL Jack Pyburn (44)
Texas A&M DL Albert Regis (17)
Wisconsin DL Mason Reiger (22)
Florida DL Tyreak Sapp (94)
UCLA DL Gary Smith III (58)
Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas (32)
Western Michigan DL Nadame Tucker (11)
Oklahoma DL Damonic Williams (52)
Duke DL Wesley Williams (97)
Clemson DT Peter Woods (11)
Missouri EDGE Zion Young (9)
2. Peter Woods, Clemson, 6-3, 310
Woods is a versatile defender with room to grow at just 20 years old. He was the only player in college football to record multiple games with a sack and rushing touchdown in 2025, which speaks to the athleticism for his size. Woods is Clemson's first All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins and he reportedly benched 225 pounds 34 times while at Clemson.
3. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, 6-3, 320
His big, long frame (6-foot-9 wingspan) could allow him to play several different roles along the interior of an NFL defensive front. Hunter is a dominant run defender with a lot of upside as a pass rusher as he adds to his pass-rush tool bag with continued technique work. He recorded 31.0 tackles for loss in 39 games the last three seasons.
4. Caleb Banks, Florida, 6-6, 335
Banks missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, so the medicals in Indianapolis will be important for him. He had a good week at the Senior Bowl, which turned a few heads. Banks shows off nimble feet and a quick first step for a player his size which could translate to more sack production in the NFL as he gets stronger and refines his technique.
5. Christen Miller, Georgia, 6-4, 310
He lined up all over Georgia's defensive front. Teams will value that kind of versatility. Miller has a quick first step and recorded the 10th best run defense grade by Pro Football Focus among all defensive linemen this past season.
View photos of NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's first ranking of his Top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 1 QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
No. 2 RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
No. 3 EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
No. 4 EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
No. 5 LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
No. 6 EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
No. 7 WR Makai Lemon, USC
No. 8 CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
No. 9 WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
No. 10 S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
No. 11 OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No. 12 OT Spencer Fano, Utah
No. 13 OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
No. 14 CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
No. 15 WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
No. 16 CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
No. 17 EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
No. 18 EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
No. 19 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
No. 20 WR Denzel Boston, Washington
No. 21 TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
No. 22 LB CJ Allen, Georgia
No. 23 OT Blake Miller, Clemson
No. 24 OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No. 25 S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
No. 26 DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
No. 27 EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
No. 28 OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
No. 29 OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
No. 30 CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
No. 31 CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
No. 32 WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
No. 33 DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
No. 34 DT Peter Woods, Clemson
No. 35 EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
No. 36 WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
No. 37 DT Christen Miller, Georgia
No. 38 EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
No. 39 DT Caleb Banks, Florida
No. 40 QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No. 41 OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
No. 42 LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
No. 43 RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
No. 44 WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
No. 45 WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
No. 46 WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
No. 47 LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
No. 48 WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
No. 49 OL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
No. 50 WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Combine sleeper to watch: Chris McClellan, Missouri, 6-3, 315
McClellan looks the part of an NFL defensive tackle with a good combination of power and quickness. He recorded 48 tackles from the interior for the Tigers last season with 8.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. Teams will do more work on him coming out of the Combine.
Lions' need at the position: Moderate.
It really depends on what the team does in free agency, either re-signing Lopez or Reader or finding another veteran. McNeill, Williams and Onwuzurike are a solid three to start with, given Onwuzurike is healthy coming off a lost 2025 season.
This is a good draft to go looking for depth if the right player matches the spot in Day 2 or Day 3.
Key stat: Detroit allowed the second fewest rushing yards after contact last season (1.077). Their 2.41 average yards allowed after contact ranked No. 1 in the league.
