Seahawks Draft: Ranking DT Prospects
With less than two weeks remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks will soon be on the clock with the fifth overall pick and hold 10 total selections, presenting a prime opportunity to bolster their roster with young talent.
After ranking 31st in the NFL in run defense a year ago and making wholesale changes along the defensive line in free agency, landing instant contributors at defensive tackle stands out as a top priority for Seattle heading into the draft.
As part of my annual prospect rankings, here's where each of the top defensive tackle prospects from the 2023 class falls on my top 300 with quick scouting reports and reported visits with the Seahawks if applicable.
*Players are listed in order by position with overall ranking in parenthesis.
Tier One - First-Round Talent
1 (4). Jalen Carter, Georgia
Reported Visit: Top-30 Official
A consensus All-American and two-time national champion, Carter possesses an immense amount of talent as a run defender and pass rusher with the capability of playing at a high level in any scheme. But with off-field issues as well as work ethic and conditioning questions, he's not without red flags and could be off of several team's boards in the top 10.
2 (26). Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Injuries held Bresee back at the college level, including a torn ACL in 2021, limiting him to 51 tackles and nine sacks in three seasons. However, he has excellent athletic traits at north of 300 pounds and excels at penetrating gaps, giving him the upside to still develop into a disruptive top-tier interior pass rusher who proves more productive in the NFL. Medicals and scheme fit could determine where he lands in April.
© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
3 (29). Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
A freak athlete at 280 pounds, Kancey ran a sub-4.70 40-yard dash at the NFL combine after earning First-Team All-American honors with 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as a junior in 2022. His lack of size could scare some teams off, but his film showcases a dynamic interior game wrecker whose quickness and slipperiness create problems for guards and centers worthy of a potential first-round selection.
Tier Two - Second/Third-Round Talent
4 (55). Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
A massive immovable object in the trenches, the 317-pound Benton created major problems for Big Ten opponents aiming to run the football against the Badgers. What has truly bolstered his stock, however, has been his marked improvement as a pass rusher from multiple alignments with refined counters. More than just a run stuffer, teams will covet his all-around game and toughness.
5 (63). Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida
Built like an end with a muscular, lean frame, Dexter quietly put together a stellar three-season career for the Gators, producing 125 tackles, five sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and two interceptions while manning the middle of their defense. He often won with his athletic and physical tools rather than technique and battled leverage issues at 6'6, so he will need to take to coaching to reach his high ceiling at the next level.
6 (73). Mazi Smith, Michigan
There's nothing flashy about Smith's game, as he didn't make the splash plays expected of an all-conference performer, finishing with fewer than five tackles for loss and minimal sack production. But when he plays with proper leverage, he can set a firm anchor in cement against double teams and present a brick wall to stifle opposing run games as a massive nose tackle and appears to have untapped rushing potential.
© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
7 (80). Siaki Ika, Baylor
A 350-pound behemoth in the middle, Ika offers incredible power along with surprising nimbleness and quickness for a player of his size, as evidenced by his 23 quarterback pressures and four sacks in 2021. A force in the middle defending the run with underrated rushing ability, he looks like a day one starter in the NFL at nose tackle as long as he can clean up his fundamentals.
Tier Three - Day Three/Undrafted Talent
8 (123). Zachh Pickens, South Carolina
Dominant in spurts, Pickens has the size (6'3, 305 pounds) to physically overpower interior blockers and possesses intriguing athletic traits that made him one of the top recruits in the country. But those skills didn't translate to consistent production and as a likely day three pick, teams will have to find a way to unlock his best more often to develop into a starter in time.
9 (151). Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina
Originally a tight end for the Chanticleers, Clark gained 90 pounds and slid to nose tackle, quickly developing into an efficient two-gapper whose athleticism shows up at 345 pounds splitting gaps. To succeed in the league, technical aspects of his game such as shoddy footwork and hand usage will need to be sharpened to hold up against NFL offensive linemen, but the upside is there to be an eventual starter.
10 (156). Byron Young, Alabama
Possessing a thick lower half and powerful upper body, Young can be difficult to move lining up in multiple alignments in the trenches as a run defender and won with raw power and quality counters as a rusher at Alabama. He didn't test well at the combine and athletic limitations likely will drop him into day three, but his experience and sound fundamentals could lead to a starting job early in his NFL career.
11 (168). Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma
In contrast to Young, Redmond tested well at the combine, but his athleticism didn't lead to consistent quality play in the Big 12. Opposing guards bullied him at times in the run game and he didn't exhibit the twitch expected splitting gaps as a run defender. He did have 6.5 sacks in his sophomore season and offers more refinement in that regard, making him a rotational rushing candidate right away.
12 (169). Jaquelin Roy, LSU
With limited starting experience for the Tigers, Roy has yet to harness his pass rushing game with only four sacks in his college career and he has room to develop taking on blocks as a two-gapper. But he plays a physical, energetic style of football that will appeal to teams and if his flashes of pass rushing upside become more consistent, he could be a day three prospect with starter potential.
13 (187). DJ Dale, Alabama
A multi-year starter for the Crimson Tide, Dale lacks juice as a pass rusher and though he held up physically in the SEC, stronger guards at the next level could be a problem for him in the trenches at only 302 pounds. He's a stout run defender and plays with quality technique, so a rotational role could be in the cards for him as a rookie with a high floor and relatively low ceiling.
© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
14 (194). Cameron Young, Mississippi State
Reported Visit: Virtual
For teams seeking reinforcements defending the run on early downs, Young could be an intriguing day three target due to his physicality and ability to one and two-gap in multiple alignments. His lack of punch as a pass rusher with only one sack in his entire college career likely will limit his role, however, pushing him towards the final rounds and potentially even undrafted ranks.
15 (217). Keondre Coburn, Texas
Far quicker than he looks, the 332-pound Coburn shoots out of his stance and consistently wins the leverage battle by playing with a low center of gravity and delivering punishing blows to the blocker's frame. His stubby 31 1/2-inch arms create built-in issues for him and could scare some teams away, but in terms of football talent, he's a solid day three prospect with plug-and-play capabilities.
16 (220). Brodric Martin, Western Kentucky
A productive nose tackle in Conference USA, the 330-pound Martin held his own as a run defender in two seasons with the Hilltoppers and showed off a much-improved pass rush with 22 pressures and two forced fumbles as a senior in 2022. He remains a project after spending most of his college career at Northern Alabama, but could have one of the higher ceilings of this year's nose tackle class.
17 (228). Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State
A multi-year starter for the Sun Devils, Silvera has above-average quickness for an interior defender and brings extensive experience playing nose tackle with him to the NFL. With that said, while he's a high-energy player who can make plays against the run, he never emerged as much of a pass rushing presence in the Pac 12 and may not have enough size or physicality to play nose in an odd front.
18 (238). Robert Cooper, Florida State
Reported Visit: Top-30 Official
Playing through an injury that required surgery, Cooper's production suffered as a senior for Seminoles. But in two earlier seasons, he registered at least 39 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, showcasing the capabilities to be more than simply a space eater in the trenches. With 26 pressures in 2021, there may be more than meets the eye with this prospect as a potential day three steal at nose tackle if healthy.
19 (241). Jonah Tavai, San Diego State
Production-wise, Tavai has a stat line of a higher draft choice, as he amassed 18.5 sacks in his final two seasons with the Aztecs. But at under 290 pounds with sub-30 inch arms, he's undersized to play regular snaps inside and his athletic testing numbers underwhelmed, making his fit off the edge questionable as well. He's a tweener with good football skills who may be worth a late day three flier.
20 (250). PJ Mustipher, Penn State
Gaining significant weight to better equip himself physically for nose tackle, Mustipher sacrificed some of his quickness and agility. But he plays faster than he tested at the NFL combine and exhibits consistent hustle tracking the football, allowing him to make plays most nose tackles can't, and could be ready to contribute on day one as a rotational defender with enough untapped upside to start down the road.
21 (282). Calvin Avery, Illinois
Reported Visit: Top-30 Official
An underrated contributor for the Illini's top-ranked scoring defense, the 345-pound Avery plugged up the middle as a stout run defending nose tackle. While he's not a great interior pass rusher, he did generate a respectable 15 pressures on 202 passing snaps as a senior last season, so he could offer some intriguing value as a late round flier or undrafted free agent.
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