The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real.
Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends.
The group of defensive tackles (separate from EDGE) is a good group. The top tier, unlike other positions, has four names ahead of the pack. McDonald, Banks, Hunter and Woods.
Even in the later rounds, there will be quality defensive tackles throughout, with noteworthy names into Day 3. The middle rounds (2-4) could be the DT sweet spot.
Best available DL in 2026 NFL Draft
| Name | School | HT | WT | Range | Pick | Team |
| Kayden McDonald | Ohio State | 6’2 | 326 | Rd 1-2 | 36 | Texans |
| Caleb Banks | Florida | 6’6 | 325 | Rd 1-2 | 18 | Vikings |
| Lee Hunter | Texas Tech | 6’3 | 318 | Rd 1-2 | 49 | Panthers |
| Peter Woods | Clemson | 6’2 | 298 | Rd 1-2 | 29 | Chiefs |
| Christen Miller | Georgia | 6’4 | 305 | Rd 2-3 | 42 | Saints |
| Dontay Coreone | Cincinnati | 6’1 | 320 | Rd 2-3 | ||
| Zane Durant | Penn State | 6’1 | 290 | Rd 2-3 | 181 | Bills |
| Domonique Orange | Iowa State | 6’4 | 325 | Rd 2-3 | 82 | Vikings |
| Gracen Halston | Oklahoma | 6’2 | 291 | Rd 2-3 | 107 | 49ers |
| Darrell Jackson Jr | Florida St | 6’5 | 330 | Rd 2-3 | 103 | Jets |
| DeMonte Capeheart | Clemson | 6’4 | 320 | Rd 2-4 | 155 | Buccaneers |
| Skyler Gill-Howard | Texas Tech | 6’1 | 290 | Rd 2-4 | 205 | Lions |
| Tim Keenan III | Alabama | 6’2 | 326 | Rd 2-4 | 232 | Rams |
| Chris McClellan | Missouri | 6’3 | 320 | Rd 2-4 | 77 | Packers |
| Albert Regis | Texas A&M | 6’2 | 310 | Rd 3-4 | 81 | Jaguars |
| Kaleb Proctor | SE Louisiana | 6’3 | 280 | Rd 3-4 | 104 | Cardinals |
| Cole Brevard | Texas | 6’3 | 346 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Zxavian Harris | Ole Miss | 6’8 | 330 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| James Thompson Jr | Illinois | 6’6 | 310 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Rayshaun Benny | Michigan | 6’4 | 296 | Rd 3-5 | 250 | Ravens |
| Deven Eastern | Minnesota | 6’4 | 296 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Jackie Marshall | Baylor | 6’3 | 290 | Rd 4-6 | 184 | Titans |
| Damonic Williams | Oklahoma | 6’1 | 323 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Keeshawn Silver | USC | 6’4 | 330 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Brandon Cleveland | NC State | 6’4 | 300 | Rd 4-6 | 229 | Raiders |
| Gary Smith III | UCLA | 6’2 | 340 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Landon Robinson | Navy | 6’0 | 287 | Rd 4-6 | 226 | Bengals |
| Nick Barrett | S. Carolina | 6’3 | 322 | Rd 4-6 | 145 | Chargers |
| Cameron Ball | Arkansas | 6’5 | 324 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Bryson Eason | Tennessee | 6’3 | 315 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Bobby Jamison-Travis | Auburn | 6’4 | 322 | Rd 5-7 | 186 | Giants |
| Tyler Onyedim | Texas A&M | 6’3 | 295 | Rd 5-7 | 66 | Broncos |
| David Gusta | Kentucky | 6’3 | 317 | RD 5-7 | ||
| Jacobian Guillory II | LSU | 6’2 | 318 | Rd 5-7 |
Social Media Reactions to DL selections in 2026 NFL Draft
With the No. 252 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Eagles select Uar Bernard.
NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/vN4msMV2xj— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2026
.@rayshaun_benny you are a Raven ❗ pic.twitter.com/vB7600cBd9
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 25, 2026
Welcome to the #RamsHouse, Tim! pic.twitter.com/PXzcnUY2TM
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 25, 2026
NC State DT Brandon Cleveland is off to Las Vegas after the Raiders selected him in the seventh round (No. 229 overall) of the NFL Draft.
More here: https://t.co/7cFbUQQ3Rg pic.twitter.com/TSPGYDdWRD
— The Wolfpacker (@TheWolfpacker) April 25, 2026
We have drafted DT Landon Robinson with the no. 226 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/mcoQxYT9nG
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 25, 2026
Bears trade up to select DT Jordan van den Berg with No. 213 overall pick in 2026 NFL Drafthttps://t.co/6lQN7XNMND pic.twitter.com/3aHg6yisoJ
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 25, 2026
With the 210th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, we select DE Gabriel Rubio. pic.twitter.com/dZBfq9wA6r
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 25, 2026
Welcome to the 404, @ThompsonAnterio! pic.twitter.com/vq9tgn3WCs
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 25, 2026
Let’s get it @SkylerHoward0 pic.twitter.com/7bqw3aup5c
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 25, 2026
Welcome to the squad, Bobby Jamison-Travis 💪 pic.twitter.com/81FGwubVBM
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 25, 2026
The Titans select Baylor DT Jackie Marshall with the 184th pick of the Draft. pic.twitter.com/KJNIoGo8H7
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) April 25, 2026
With the 181st pick in the NFL Draft the Buffalo #Bills select DT Zane Durant!
Welcome to Buffalo! #BillsMafia #GoBills pic.twitter.com/5cgTjnFAfy
— Smitty Talks Bills (@NickSmitty3) April 25, 2026
Adding power to the trenches with DeMonte Capehart 💥 pic.twitter.com/t0iPFoIE51
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 25, 2026
With the #145 pick, the Chargers select Nick Barrett⚡️ #NFLDraft2026 | #Boltup pic.twitter.com/ttC1jIWTLd
— Chargers Lead (@ChargersLead) April 25, 2026
The #49ers select DT Gracen Halton from Oklahoma at No. 107 pic.twitter.com/Ac2D8V5JjB
— Sleeper49ers (@SleeperSF49ers) April 25, 2026
Cardinals DT Roy Lopez is in Mexico City to announce their pick of DL Kaleb Proctor 😤 @nflmx
NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/bDzbPYpCiO— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2026
WELCOME TO THE JETS DARRELL JACKSON JR. 💪 pic.twitter.com/ye8llDSohQ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 25, 2026
DOMONIQUE ORANGE HAS BEEN DRAFTED BY THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS #skol pic.twitter.com/TA2KzZfTMg
— SuperHawkeyeFan (@superhawkeyefan) April 25, 2026
Another Aggie to Jax!
With the 81st pick in the 2026 #NFLDraft, the @Jaguars select, Albert Regis. pic.twitter.com/FqIsrCzHdD
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) April 25, 2026
Welcome to Green Bay, Chris! pic.twitter.com/r4npGgOSEk
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 25, 2026
DRAFTED✅
Congratulations to Tyler Onyedim from @AggieFootball on being drafted by the @Broncos in the 2026 #NFLDraft#ShrineBowlPRO | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/OpddAfrx4L
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) April 25, 2026
Gracen Halton is the best available DL according to ESPN’s draft tracker.
Com a escolha número 49 do draft, o Carolina Panthers escolhe o DT Lee Hunter (Texas Tech). pic.twitter.com/2sAvPFJ4PT
— On The Clock (@OnTheClockBR) April 25, 2026
Christen Miller headed from Athens to NOLA 😤 pic.twitter.com/hXr1hTCmf6
— Outta Pocket with RGIII (@OuttaPocketRG3) April 24, 2026
With the No. 36 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @HoustonTexans select Kayden McDonald.
NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/fgzBQprHNb— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
The moment for Caleb Banks 🐊 pic.twitter.com/7XfJiAT9J6
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 24, 2026
New @Chiefs DT Peter Woods’ family had color coordinating outfits 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CeEcBEFdZ9
— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
2026 NFL Draft How to Watch
The 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network– available on Fubo), The Las Vegas Raiders will likely select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.