Top 3 Defensive Line Prospects and a Player You Should Get Familiar With
- Duke Doyle
- Jan 4
- 4 min read
Whenever it comes to watching the boys upfront play, I get fired up. I’m a firm believer that football games are won in the trenches, and that’s why I can’t get enough of defensive line play. These guys set the tone, disrupt offenses, and make life miserable for quarterbacks. With the NFL Draft around the corner, I’ve been diving into this year’s crop of defensive line prospects. In this article, I’m breaking down my top three picks and highlighting one player you should get familiar with.
Abdul Carter- Penn State: 6’3”, 259 lbs
Carter’s athleticism is his biggest standout trait, especially in today’s NFL, where speed rushers are taking over. With a 4.48 40-yard dash, he has the burst to fly off the edge and beat blockers with pure speed. On top of that, he’s explosive and brings a ton of force when engaging with blockers, making him a problem at the line of scrimmage. What makes him even more valuable is his versatility—his speed allows him to drop back in coverage, keeping offenses guessing and giving teams more options for creative defensive schemes. As a pass rusher, Carter knows how to disrupt plays. He’s got solid counter moves, especially when working the outside, and his speed helps him contain dual-threat quarterbacks.
That said, there’s still room for growth. Run defense is one area where he can improve, he sometimes overcommits and takes himself out of plays. His size and speed are great, but stronger offensive linemen can push him around at times. While he has a decent arsenal of rush moves, he tends to rely on his speed and leverage too much, dropping his hands, which won’t fly against top-tier linemen. Building up his strength and refining those rush moves could take him to the next level.
Mason Graham- Michigan: 6’3”, 320 lbs
Graham’s versatility is a major strength he can line up both inside and outside, which makes him a great fit for teams that like to mix up their defensive fronts. He’s got a relentless motor and a violent play style that jumps off the tape. He’s always around the ball, flying all over the field and making plays on both pass and run downs. Graham is a physical tackler with great leverage in one-on-one battles, and he brings a ton of energy every snap. For a guy his size, he moves well. His quick first step helps him blow up plays in the backfield, and his agility makes him a natural when running stunts or line games. On top of all that, his handwork is solid he’s great at shedding blockers and holding the line against the run.
There are a few areas where he can improve. He sometimes relies a bit too much on his raw strength, which can make him predictable for experienced offensive linemen. Expanding his pass-rush moves would help him stay effective throughout a game right now, he leans heavily on his bull rush and spin, which defenses can adjust to. While he moves well overall, his lateral quickness could be sharper. He occasionally has trouble adjusting to quicker runners or outside plays. With some fine-tuning in those areas, Graham has the potential to become a real game-changer on the defensive line.
James Pearce Jr.– Tennessee: 6’5”, 243 lbs
Pearce Jr. is explosive off the edge, with the kind of speed that gives him a great jump off the line of scrimmage. His flexibility and length make him dangerous in tight spaces, allowing him to turn sharp angles while maintaining his speed as he chases down quarterbacks. He’s got a relentless motor, always finding his way to the ball, and his 4.49 speed helps him pursue both QBs and ball carriers with ease. On top of that, he knows how to convert his speed into power, using it to knock tackles off balance. Pair that with his strong hand usage, whether ripping through blocks or executing swim moves, he’s tough to handle. His versatility is another big plus; Pearce Jr. can line up in a three-point stance or as a stand-up rusher, making him effective in both 3-4 and 4-3 defensive schemes.
There’s still some work to be done in certain areas. At his current weight, he struggles a bit with balance through contact. Strong, experienced tackles can knock him back or redirect him at the point of attack. Run defense is another area to improve, he sometimes has trouble setting the edge or holding his ground in his lane. Additionally, his hand placement could use some fine-tuning. At times, his hands are too high or wide, which gives linemen an advantage. Sharpening these aspects of his game will help Pearce Jr. reach his full potential as a disruptive edge rusher.
The Player You Should Get Familiar With is...Mike Green- Marshall: 6’4”, 248lbs
Green’s motor and persistence really stand out as he never gives up on plays and is always around the ball. At 6’4” with a 4.57, 40-time his athleticism is hard to miss. He’s got violent, strong hands off the line that help him shed blockers quickly. His explosiveness is another big strength, he generates power and has a nice bend when he takes on contact. He’s also got some smooth rush moves, like his swim and spin, while keeping his balance through all of it. One of his best traits is his timing, he’s good at reading the snap count and getting that early jump, which helps him make the most of his explosiveness.
But there are a few areas for improvement. In run defense, he sometimes gets too focused on trying to sack the QB and doesn’t always fill his lane or stay aggressive if the play goes the other way. When he faces double teams or bigger blockers, he can get a little less aggressive at the point of attack. He also relies a bit too much on his athleticism at times, which can be a problem against more technically sound linemen. Tightening up his fundamentals would make him even tougher to block and a more consistent force on the field.
