Top DL Prospects (2026 Draft)

The second half of the trenches! It’s important too so get off my case. I need to say something before we begin. I am classifying David Bailey as an edge who can also play LB, as he did for 3 seasons prior to joining Texas Tech. Arvell Reese said he is a LB at the combine. For that reason, I will rank Bailey with the defensive line, and Reese with the LBs. Even though I know Reese could be in both categories. Now that we got through that, let’s see who’s first. (I wonder??)

1.    David Bailey (Edge) Texas Tech)

Surprise, surprise. Well, not really. David Bailey is the best pass rusher in the draft. I don’t care that he rushed purely for one year, that should be almost more telling. Bailey has the best jump off the line in his class. Out of anyone. He has stupid power, an insanely deep pass rushing toolset, and has legitimate bend and speed on the edge. Bailey sheds his blocks well, disrupts plays and the ball, and has a relentless motor. Sure, he can’t necessarily hold the anchor and needs to refinement in play recognition, but Bailey is going to be the first defender taken off the board. Most likely to the Jets. Mark my words.

2.    Reuben Bain Jr. (De/Edge, Miami)

Moving right on to Rueben Bain Jr., he falls just below David Bailey in the defensive linerankings. Bain is an absolute unit. He is big and athletic, has real strong hands and some nice intuitive pass rushing skills. He needs a deeper toolset, but he isn’t inept when his first move is gone. He can bend around the edge despite his size, fights through blockers, and has a real motor to finish it all off. Some people show some concern about his overall speed and finishing tackles, but I think that’s not the biggest concern. He will be a valued addition to any team.

3.    Kayden McDonald (DT, OSU)

Now this guy is a true giant. McDonald is a true anchor across center and demonstrates that on tape. He drives people downfield and out of the play, with general ease. Try moving a mountain. That’s basically what you’re dealing with. Plus, he’s decently athletic for his size and a dirty hand pop at the point of attack. McDonald is another one of those guys that needs more in his bag. Once Plan A goes, he is kind of unsure what to do. He needs more pass rushing techniques to utilize in game. He also has shorter arms as well, which doesn’t help with his larger frame. However, I think he can add moves to his pass rushing skillset and can develop the skills needed to be a dominant NFL DT.

4.    Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)

Peter Woods is one of those guys who is kind of all over the field. He is quick for his size and that shows on tape. He can move laterally so well and is fast basically in everything he does. But not where he loses control, he just does everything faster it seems. His first step? Fast. His hands? Fast. His sheds? Fast. To top it all off, he’s got quite a competitive spirit, hardly ever giving up plays no matter the situation. Again, he needs some more pass rushing tools. He needs to be disciplined in his gaps and not be overly aggressive, but Woods is a solid add to your defensive line room. His presence will be felt in time.

5.    Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)

I have one guy I really like in each position. Last year, I had Jaxon Dart, Nick Emmanwori, and Will Johnson wee my favorites in their position. Interestingly enough, they’re all most likely going to have careers for a while. Well, allow me to introduce you to Lee Hunter. Hunter was fun to watch on tape. He exploded off the line with a low pad level, often beating his opposition to a preferred hand placement. He shows real drive and power in his step, can anchor well, and is very much gap integral. He is usually not one to blow assignments. He is run and pass rush effective and is just a large body coming at you quicker than expected. Like most people coming out of college, he needs to expand his pass rush skills, making them more versatile and deeper for the NFL. He is not super-fast and can get tall when he’s tired. That’s really it for the negatives. I’m already praising whoever picks Hunter.