2021 NFL Draft Preview: Defensive tackle sleepers and Broncos fits
Apr 13, 2021, 6:33 AM
The Denver Broncos have built a defense that many are projecting to beat a top-five unit in 2021. Their starters are quite strong, but they could always use better depth, and that’s where the 2021 NFL Draft comes in.
The position of defensive tackle has changed over the years. Yes, there are still big-bodied players in the middle who have a primary job of stuffing the run and eating up double teams. However, teams are on the lookout for defensive tackles who can stand strong against the run but also provide the quickness at the snap to create interior pressure. The 2021 class features plenty of players with varying skill sets that every team should be interested in acquiring.
In this article, I will look at the market for the position. I’ll also write about sleepers at the defensive tackle position and some players who could fit what the Broncos need in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Market Watch
There are two defensive tackles who should be first-round picks, and the first one off the board should be Daviyon Nixon from Iowa. Nixon plays with natural violence and when he’s hot, he can play like an unstoppable force.
He’s got a motor that runs hot, and Nixon has nasty intentions for his opponent at the snap. Nixon loves to get upfield and disrupt the passer, but that can sometimes be used against him on run fakes or pump fakes. He wasn’t consistent in college, and that’s the biggest knock on his game. He’s not overly quick or overly strong but he’s a sound player who can improve with better coaching.
Christian Barmore from Alabama is one of my favorite players in this draft class and I have him graded as a late first-round pick. He started off 2020 slow, but the way he finished during the College Football Playoff was truly special.
Barmore is 310 pounds of pure ferocity in the middle of the defensive line. He wins with power, but he does have flexibility to maneuver around blockers. Barmore only had one season as a starter and has played less than 800 snaps of college football. I believe that he’s only shown us the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his ability as a starter, and his upside makes him one of the most intriguing players in this class.
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Sleepers
Levi Onwuzurike (Washington) is one of the top sleepers because of his variety of pass-rushing moves. It’s rare to see a defensive tackle who can stack moves the way that Onwuzurike can. He uses his hands well and that hand-fighting helps him get around would-be blockers. Even though he’s most known for his moves, Onwuzurike can use power, as well. His bull rush and high motor are skills he possesses that stand out on film. Unlike other players in this article, Onwuzurike is not position versatile and will be a scheme-specific player.
Darius Stills (West Virginia) had a breakout season in 2019, but he failed to match that production in 2020. He is short (6-foot-1) and squatty (285 pounds), making him tough to move off the point when he anchors. Stills has the initial quickness to slip by unsuspecting blockers and get after the quarterback. That quick first step helps him disrupt blockers and the timing of the play, plus he’s got good burst to the ball-carrier. Stills wins with quickness, but he needs to do a better job of using his hands to disengage from offensive linemen. He will be an early pick on day three of the draft.
Mustafa Johnson (Colorado) is a local prospect worth keeping an eye on. He had a breakout season in 2018 with 7.5 sacks, but over the last two years he has only 7.5 sacks combined. Johnson’s game isn’t about stuffing the run, but he can penetrate the line and get to the quarterback quickly. He’s only 6-feet tall and at 290 pounds Johnson may have to be moved across the line to find the proper home in the NFL. I like how he quickly uses his hands upon engagement, and Johnson is the type of player who can be difficult to get your hands on. In the later rounds, or if he falls undrafted, some team could get a valuable rotational player.
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Broncos Fits
Based on what the Broncos need, a defensive tackle isn’t high on the priority list. Because of the depth they’ve already built through the draft and free agency, I think they need to be looking for depth or developmental prospects at the position. It’s best to find a position-versatile player who can play both inside at tackle and outside at end.
Isaiahh Loudermilk (Wisconsin) is the perfect player to take on a chance on as a day three pick. He has the size and length, measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 293 pounds. Loudermilk has no problem using his length to create a naturally large tackle radius, and he has a knack for gathering in ball-carriers within his reach. He is still learning the nuances of the position as he was a 3-sport athlete in high school, starring in baseball and basketball as well.
Loudermilk is a ‘tweener and may not best fit at defensive tackle, but he’s not a natural fit at defensive end either. I believe that adding some strength in an NFL weight program and teaching him better leverage techniques could make him a force in the middle of the defensive line. With a legendary defensive line coach like Bill Kollar, it would make a ton of sense to add Loudermilk on the final day of the draft and then let him get to work.