Interior defensive group the deepest in the 2025 NFL Draft class, boasting insane top level talent and depth

What is the best position group potentially in the 2025 NFL Draft class? Interior defensive line has a great argument. Whether you are focused on the top of the class or the depth, it’s a tremendous group.

When breaking it down, a top ten list doesn’t seem to do it justice. For a little bonus, here are 17 key names to know. This class has a chance to be special, and one of the deepest we have seen in several years up front.

1. Mason Graham ( Michigan ) - 6030e, 318e

Every year we get players who are dubbed as “easy evaluations” and somehow, some people mess it up. Graham fits that category. A sleek interior penetrator with incredible flexibility and power, you can line Graham up everywhere and he can make an impact. He is also a former high school wrestler, which translates easily on the football field.

The impact Graham had last fall for the Wolverines goes well beyond his box score. He was credited with 36 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. If you pop on the college football playoffs from last season, there may not have been a better player than No. 55 in the Michigan maize and blue.

2. Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati) - 6010e, 320e

Unfortunately, there was recent news of Corleone dealing with blood clots, which leaves his football future up in the air for the time being. On the field, Corleone is fantastic. Dense and built low to the ground, he is almost impossible to block one-on-one. Corleone can penetrate, but also possesses incredible core strength to play through contact.

Over the last two years, Corleone has recorded 84 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles. Corleone does a lot of the dirty work for the Bearcats, allowing the linebacker to run free and clean. Hopefully Corleone can return to the field soon.

3. Deone Walker (Kentucky) - 6060e, 345e

With a virtually identical grade to Corleone, Walker has more upside than any defensive tackle in the 2025 class. Blessed with tremendous size and movement skills, there are going to be some natural comparisons to former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman John Henderson.

Walker put up some big numbers in 2023 for the Wildcats, finishing with 55 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. That is really impressive considering Walker plays with atrocious pad level. Transitioning to the next level, things are going to get a lot harder. Walker will need to play with more consistent pass level, as well as attention to detail in his hand usage.

4. Tyleik Williams ( Ohio State ) - 6024v, 325v

Williams was one of the biggest surprises of players choosing to bypass the 2024 NFL Draft and return to school. There was a good chance that the Ohio State star would have gone in the top 50 selections last April, but he has bigger goals this season. He will hope to build on his 2023 campaign, which included 53 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Continuing to reshape his body should be the continued point of emphasis for Williams. He was in better shape in 2023 and that showed with his consistency and conditioning. When Williams is at his best, he is a ball to chaos. The power he brings to the table is exceptional.

5. Howard Cross III ( Notre Dame ) - 6011v, 288v

There are going to be some major question marks about Cross’ size but man, he’s so good. Cross has tremendous hand usage, as well as being cat quick and flexible to split gaps and make plays in the backfield. Just turn on his Duke game from last season and you will see an unstoppable force wearing No. 56 for the Irish.

Cross put together some outstanding production last season despite playing nose tackle, a position that doesn’t typically do so. After that season that saw him record 66 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks, it’s hard to expect much more. The New Jersey native hopes for an even better encore in 2024.

6. Kenneth Grant ( Michigan ) - 6030e, 339e

The “other half” of the dominant Michigan duo is pretty hilarious to say about Grant, especially with the sheer size he brings to the table. Grant’s overall explosiveness for a man this big is pretty absurd. The upside is immense, but it’s now about becoming a more consistent football player. Grant has the talent to be a big riser this fall.

7. Shemar Turner (Texas A&M) - 6030v, 289v

Turner has been the ultimate chess piece for the Aggies over the last couple of seasons, recording 79 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles. He has been asked to play both defensive end and defensive tackle during his career, but projects best on the interior. Turner is a super smooth athlete who can be a dynamite penetrator on the next level as he adds more power to his profile.

8. DeMonte Capehart (Clemson) - 6043v, 320v

If we just graded the flashes, Capehart would be much higher on this list. He’s a player, however, who just hasn’t played a ton of football. It appears to be Capehart’s turn in 2024 and the production should follow. He has an argument as the most uniquely powerful player on the list.

9. Deandre Jules (South Carolina) - 6037v, 323v

Arguably the best kept secret in the interior defensive line class, Jules was quite good for the University of Pittsburgh last season. He managed to record 24 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks for the Panthers as a part of a rotation. Now with South Carolina, Jules has a chance to make his mark in the SEC with outstanding short area explosiveness for a man his size.

10. Jay Toia (UCLA) - 6021v, 338v

Speaking of can’t move them, that’s Toia in a nutshell. The talented defender is a ridiculously dense defensive lineman who is as powerful, and plays with as much natural leverage, as you will find. You aren’t going to get much sack production from him but Toia is quick enough to split a gap at times. His game is very similar to former Ohio State defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins.

More names to know

The interior defensive line class is extremely talented and deep. You are going to get potential contributors throughout the majority of the 2025 NFL Draft. Here are some other talented defenders to keep on your radar.

Bear Alexander (USC) - 6030e, 313e

For every great rep Alexander has, he disappears for two others. There are some questions about how locked in Alexander is all the time, but when he’s on, he’s on. The nickname Bear fits perfectly during his best plays. The explosiveness and raw power that Alexander brings to the table is something to marvel over.

Jamaree Caldwell (Oregon) - 6010e, 325e

There hasn’t been much chatter about Caldwell, who transferred from Houston to Oregon this offseason. He finished with 27 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks for the Cougars last season. Extremely powerful with a strong base, Caldwell is very hard to move off his spot. The physicality he brings is impressive.

Rylie Mills (Notre Dame) - 6054v, 306v

When you look at Mills physically, he might be one of the more impressive of the list. A former defensive end for the Irish, he is also a really nice athlete on the interior. The flashes are impressive, but Mills needs to finish plays more regularly. He has a chance to rise but needs to put it all together in 2024.

Thor Griffith (Louisville) - 6022v, 315v

Taking advantage of the transfer portal, Griffith made the move from Harvard to Louisville this offseason. Densely built with a low center of gravity, Griffith is a headache playing in the A gap. His first step is really good and is a relentless player, allowing him to create consistent production both in the running and passing game.

Nazir Stackhouse (Georgia) - 6030v, 325v

There’s nothing flashy about Stackhouse, but he just stacks quality reps in the run game. You aren’t going to get much out of him from a penetration production perspective, only recording eight tackles for loss three sacks in four years. His value comes from being a plus run defender, not being able to get moved at the point of attack.

Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) - 6040e, 290e

There’s little questions about Nolen’s athletic ability and upside. He has a nice frame, one that should be able to add substantial more weight without sacrificing athleticism. Nolen is also flexible and twitched up, making for a tough matchup when his get off is consistent. There is just no consistency, playing with a bad base and pad level too often. Nolen is living off of his five-star billing and not as much on what the film currently says.

James Thompson (Wisconsin) - 6045v, 287v

Thompson is one of the best kept secrets in college football, possessing the body type and length to play between even and odd man fronts. The highs are outstanding for Thompson, while the consistency does need to continue to improve. Thompson is an extremely gifted athlete who could be a big riser in this class.