NFL teams are increasingly prioritizing defensive tackles who can disrupt the passing game, leading to larger contracts and higher draft positions for interior defensive linemen.
The Philadelphia Eagles\' defensive tactics in their Super Bowl LIX victory over Kansas City highlighted this trend, with rotational defensive tackle Milton Williams recording two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the championship game.
Williams subsequently signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New England Patriots, becoming the highest-paid player in franchise history despite starting only seven games and playing just 48% of defensive snaps last season.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles pointed to the importance of interior pressure, stating: \"We all watched the Super Bowl, right? You want to have waves of pass rushers.\"
The 2025 NFL Draft is projected to continue this trend, with over 30 defensive tackles expected to be selected. Michigan\'s Mason Graham is slated to go fifth overall to Jacksonville in Mel Kiper Jr.\'s latest mock draft.
Interior defensive linemen recorded their highest combined total of sacks and pressures (2,595) last season since tracking began in 2017, accounting for 33.3% of the league\'s sacks. This percentage has steadily increased from 31.2% in 2016.
Top contracts reflect this shift with Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs leading all defensive tackles at $31.7 million per year, followed by Christian Wilkins of the Las Vegas Raiders at $28 million and Alim McNeill of the Detroit Lions at $24 million.
The role of defensive tackles has evolved from primarily being run-stuffers to players who must pressure quarterbacks and be athletic enough to contain mobile passers.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper lists 31 defensive tackle prospects with draftable grades, though one veteran defensive line coach told ESPN he sees only \"three to four in the first round\" but notes \"the class is deep.\"
\"I just think the ability to wreck a game,\" Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said at the NFL combine. \"These guys that are elite up front push in the middle of the pocket, making the quarterback move, get off the spot. There\'s a premium on those guys.\"
\"When you get a 3-technique who can beat a guard very quickly, you put pressure at the quarterback\'s lap as soon as he\'s dropping back,\" Houston Texans coach Demeco Ryans said. \"You feel like sometimes that impacts the quarterback a lot more than the edge rushers who have to run the hoop, so to speak, around the tackle.\"
\"Winning the two yards behind the center has been the most critical space that you can really impact the football game,\" Poles said. \"[Defensive tackles] create a shorter edge. So if you can win that two yards, the edge rushers can win more consistently.\"