As the 2026 football season draws near, it's time to take an early look at the top interior defensive line prospects eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
There's plenty of first-round potential in this class of interior defenders, with Oklahoma's David Stone at the top of the list, with his combination of strength, explosiveness and athleticism for his size. The same is true of Oregon's A'Mauri Washington, who heads into the 2026 college football season as the top nose tackle prospect in the country.
Miami has a pair of promising players in this group, as both Ahmad Moten Sr. and Justin Scott could push for first-round consideration by the end of the year, while Texas Tech's A.J. Holmes Jr. could join them.
As we get ready for the start of a new football season, here's an early look at how I stack the board for the top interior defensive linemen eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft:
| RANK | PLAYER | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|
1. |
David Stone |
Oklahoma |
2. |
A'Mauri Washington |
Oregon |
3. |
Ahmad Moten Sr. |
Miami (FL) |
4. |
A.J. Holmes Jr. |
Texas Tech |
5. |
Will Echoles |
Ole Miss |
6. |
Justin Scott |
Miami (FL) |
7. |
Anthony Smith |
Minnesota |
8. |
Bear Alexander |
Oregon |
9. |
Francis Brewu |
Notre Dame |
10. |
Jayden Jackson |
Oklahoma |
