Especially with the upcoming release of NCAA Football 25, it feels like there’s even more excitement surrounding the College Football season this year. Subsequently, that also builds up the hype for the 2025 NFL draft class and this year’s crop of prospects has some very intriguing defenders in it heading into the fall.
Here, we’ll dive into the top three defensive players at each defensive position based on NFL Mock Draft Database’s Consensus Big Board. Every prospect’s strengths and areas of improvement will be touched on as well as their overall and position ranks on NMDD as of July 12 and their 2024 stats.
While each prospect discussed is draft-eligible, most are underclassmen, meaning they could opt to return to school in the winter instead of declaring for the NFL.
Mason Graham, Michigan
Overall Rank: 9th DL Rank: 1st
2023 Stats: 36 total tackles, 3 sacks, 7.5 TFL
Size: 6’3″ 318 lbs
Strengths: There’s a lot to like about Graham’s game as he could rival Jalen Carter as the best defensive tackle prospect in the last few years. The Wolverine is quick off the ball and has impressive movement skills to get penetration when slanting and be an effective pass-rusher, especially on line games.
Also, he’s strong and physical at the point of attack to hold his ground versus one-on-one blocks as a run defender and is solid at absorbing contact to avoid getting washed out of the gap versus double teams or combo blocks.
Areas of improvement: Graham does have a habit of standing up out of his stance, which could cause him issues against the run and when bullrushing at the next level. Additionally, he’s still learning how to use his hands and often will get caught with them down by his waist.
Deone Walker, Kentucky
Overall Rank: 10th DL Rank: 2nd
2023 Stats: 55 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12.5 TFL
Size: 6’6″ 348 lbs
Strengths: Walker has a basketball background which shows up in his movement skills as he’s fairly nimble for a near 350-pounder. That’s a big reason why he was a productive pass rusher as the Kentucky product has a nice swim move that he can win with. He also uses that to defeat blocks versus the run and is hard to move when solo-blocked.
Areas of improvement: While he is an effective run defender against most college offensive linemen, Walker does tend to play high which got exposed against combo blocks when playing against better competition. Also, he could afford to slim down to improve his conditioning as the Wildcat appeared to run out of gas quickly last year.
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Overall Rank: 22nd DL Rank: 4th*
2023 Stats: 53 total tackles, 3 sacks, 10 TFL
Size: 6’3″ 327 lbs
Strengths: Williams has impressive upper body strength to win and stand up offensive linemen at the point of attack. That helps him shed blocks against the run and collapse the pocket when bull-rushing. He also has a handful of finesse moves he can win with as a pass-rusher like a hand swipe, stick, swim and rip moves for a good arsenal.
Areas of improvement: Consistency was an issue for the Buckeye last season as he would disappear in the middle of games which could be tied to a conditioning issue. His block recognition is also a work in progress as he’d often get caught off guard against down blocks and double teams.
*NMDD lists Georgia’s Mykel Williams as a defensive lineman but at 265 pounds, he’s more of an edge, making Tyleik Williams the next true defensive lineman on the site’s rankings.
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Overall Rank: 2nd EDGE Rank: 1st
2023 Stats: 28 total tackles, 10 sacks, 14.5 TFL
Size: 6’5″ 242 lbs
Strengths: As a physically gifted pass-rusher with impressive movement skills, bend and length, the sky is the limit for Pearce. He has a quick get-off and can win with pure speed around the edge while also being able to turn speed to power when rushing the passer. He also appears to have long arms and a good frame to develop at the next level.
Areas of improvement: The Tennessee product’s pass rush skills still need some refinement–specifically, his use of hands–as he currently is very reliant on winning with his natural gifts rather than technique. Pearce also needs to prove himself as a run defender after primarily being used as a third-down rusher last season.
Abdul Carter, Penn State
Overall Rank: 12th EDGE Rank: 2nd
2023 Stats: 48 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5.5 TFL
Size: 6’3″ 259 lbs
Strengths: Primarily playing as an off-ball linebacker last season, Carter showed some good movement skills that should help him as a pass-rusher out on the edge. He has some burst off the line to win with speed and a solid dip-rip move.
Areas of improvement: The Nittany Lion is a tough eval at this stage in the game with the position switch. This season will primarily be about proving himself as a defensive end/edge defender and refining his skills in the trenches. That makes him a volatile prospect who could ascend to the top spot at the position or fall on draft boards between now and the spring.
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Overall Rank: 14th EDGE Rank: 3rd
2023 Stats: 50 total tackles, 10 sacks, 15 TFL (at Purdue)
Size: 6’4″ 280 lbs
Strengths: Scourton certainly looks the part with his impressive size and sturdy build with little bad weight. He also has impressive movement skills and quickness for his size while showcasing a nasty spin move as well as the ability to win with power as a pass rusher. The Aggie also gets under pullers and can be disruptive against the run when slanting.
Areas of improvement: The Purdue transfer was playing slightly out of position as a standup outside linebacker last season so it will be interesting to see how Texas A&M uses him. Skill-wise, he does lack some bend to turn tight corners at the top of the rush and could afford to be more physical when setting the edge.
Harold Perkins, LSU
Overall Rank: 15th LB Rank: 1st
2023 Stats: 75 total tackles, 13 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD, 5.5 sacks
Size: 6’1″ 220 lbs
Strengths: With an impressive blend of size, athleticism and physicality, Perkins has the potential to be a good pro if he stays as an off-ball linebacker. He uses his hands and takes the fight to blockers against the run, helping him shed blocks against tight ends. He also has good eye discipline in zone coverage to locate threats coming into his area.
Areas of improvement: The LSU product’s instincts are a work in progress as he isn’t quick to key and diagnose plays and has slower run-pass transitions versus play-action. Additionally, he has a habit of not bringing his feet and being too tall when tackling, leading to misses.
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Overall Rank: 34th LB Rank: 2nd
2023 Stats: 62 total tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD, 3.5 sacks
Size: 6’1″ 230 lbs
Strengths: Carter could have been the top linebacker in last year’s draft class as he has impressive movement skills to be a good coverage backer in the NFL. He also shows a high football IQ in coverage to recognize route concepts and pickup threats while playing zone.
Areas of improvement: Defending the run is the Clemson product’s biggest weakness right now. He lacks some strength to take on blocks from offensive linemen, often getting stuck and struggling to disengage. Also, he’ll occasionally fit into the wrong gap and come too far downhill, getting caught in the trash.
Jay Higgins, Iowa
Overall Rank: 43rd LB Rank: 3rd
2023 Stats: 171 total tackles, 5 TFL, 1 INT, 4 PD, 2 sacks
Size: 6’2″ 232 lbs
Strengths: Last year was Higgins’ first year as a full-time starter and he made the most of it with outstanding production. He can run sideline-to-sideline and make plays against the run which is how he racked up so many tackles in 2023. For a modern linebacker, he has a good frame to work with and the movement skills to be productive in coverage.
Areas of improvement: This season, the Hawkeye needs to prove he’s more than a one-year wonder as there will be questions about why it took him four seasons to get significant playing time. Additionally, his ability to stack and shed blocks against the run is questionable, so adding some strength could help boost his stock.
Will Johnson, Michigan
Overall Rank: 1st CB Rank: 1st
2023 Stats: 27 total tackles, 4 INTs, 4 PD
Size: 6’2″ 202 lbs
Strengths: There’s a lot to like about Johnson’s game as he has the movement skills to be effective in man coverage to go along with the instincts and eye discipline to excel in zone coverage. His combination of route recognition and short-area quickness allows him to drive on receivers and make plays on the ball, evidenced by the numbers above.
Areas of improvement: The Michigan product’s tackling could use some work as he often doesn’t break down in space and uses high pad level, leading to misses. He also could afford to add some strength to be more effective in press coverage, force re-routes and execute the more physical aspects of the position.
Travis Hunter, Colorado
Overall Rank: 3rd CB Rank: 2nd
2023 Stats: 30 total tackles, 3 INTs, 5 PD
Size: 6’1″ 185 lbs
Strengths: Seeing as Hunter is a two-way player who lines up at receiver, it’s no secret that he has impressive hands and ball skills overall. Additionally, that allows him to be an instinctual corner with good route recognition as he clearly understands what to look for when opposing wide receivers are about to break.
Areas of improvement: At just 185 pounds, the Buffalo is thin for NFL standards and needs to bulk up. That’ll help him become more impactful versus the run and hold up against physical route-runners. Right now, he’s also susceptible to getting boxed out by bigger pass-catchers which adding some mass with also help with.
Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Overall Rank: 7th CB Rank: 3rd
2023 Stats: 31 total tackles, 3 INTs, 10 PD
Size: 6’0″ 190 lbs
Strengths: The ball skills are impossible to ignore with Morrisson as he’s logged nine picks and 14 passes defended over the last two years. He’s impressive in man coverage with the movement skills to cover an opponent’s No. 1 receiver, labeled as a “day-one starter with the potential to develop into a true lockdown corner,” by NFL Draft Buzz.
Areas of improvement: The biggest issue with the Golden Domer is he lacks NFL length and size which could become a problem against larger receivers in the NFL. That’s also going to cause him trouble in press coverage and as a run defender, which will be hard to overcome and may cap his draft stock.
Malaki Starks, Georgia
Overall Rank: 19th S Rank: 1st
2023 Stats: 52 total tackles, 3 INTs, 7 PD
Size: 6’1″ 205 lbs
Strengths: First-round safeties are hard to come by these days but Starks has a chance to break the mold as he can do a little bit of everything. His movement skills and speed allow him to cover the slot in man coverage or avoid getting beat as a free safety, and he’s a willing run defender who isn’t afraid to come downhill and lay some wood.
Areas of improvement: The Georgia product’s aggressiveness against the run can come back to bite him as he will get caught coming too far downhill versus play-action passes and trick plays like a flea flicker. He often gets caught with his eyes in the backfield and has a habit of biting on head fakes and jab steps when covering the slot as well.
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Overall Rank: 33rd S Rank: 2nd
2023 Stats: 61 total tackles, 1 INT, 5 PD
Size: 6’2″ 205 lbs
Strengths: Winston is a versatile safety who can line up in the box or as the deep defender. The Draft Newtork’s Ryan Fowler described him as “a long, rangy and physical safety with the eyes and instincts to make plays from sideline-to-sideline” as well as a willing run defender and sure tackler.
Weaknesses: With just one year of starting experience and high-level play, the Penn State product needs to show that he’s more than a one-year wonder and can continue to be an impactful defender on a larger sample size. Also, his pad level is inconsistent which could lead to issues in the NFL despite being a sure tackler last season.
Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
Overall Rank: 41st S Rank: 3rd
2023 Stats: 42 total tackles, 1 INT, 2 PD
Size: 6’2″ 215 lbs
Strengths: Nwankpa is more of a box safety and has good size to play that role at the next level. His frame suggests he has the ability to match up with tight ends at the next level with some added size, and his tackling improved as the season wore on last year to blossom into an effective run defender at the next level.
Areas of improvement: As referenced above, the Hawkeye is a little lean and could afford to bulk up. Also, he’s another one-year starter which shows up in his instincts and processing skills as his “technical comfort, anticipation, initial attack angles, and situational adaptability” are areas for improvement, according to Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network.