The 2025 NFL Draft shook up the IDP fantasy landscape. Some rookies walked into perfect spots for immediate production, while others found themselves buried behind veterans, waiting for their shot. Most fall somewhere in between.
Talent still reigns supreme in dynasty formats – but landing spots and draft capital can tip the scales when evaluating similarly skilled players. A great situation can fast-track a player’s value, while a poor fit can slow their rise.
In this article, we’ve ranked eight rookie defensive tackles based on their talent, opportunity, and long-term upside to help you navigate their dynasty fantasy outlooks.
Tier One
Mason Graham, Cleveland Browns
DLF’s No.1 dynasty rookie DT is in a tier of his own because he possesses the most complete profile of any DT in this class. While Graham’s arm length falls short of the ideal, his combination of raw power, explosive get-off, and advanced hand technique suggests he will be an elite run defender with the potential to grow into a high-impact pass rusher early in his NFL career. His 10.1% pressure rate, which ranked in the 91st percentile among all draft-eligible DTs, hints at his upside as a disruptive force.
A monster in the middle.@UMichFootball DT Mason Graham is ranked No. 4 on @MoveTheSticks‘ Top 50 Prospects for a reason 😤
📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/700CZoOJxj— NFL (@NFL) March 30, 2025
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz generally favors a rotation of three to four players at defensive tackle, but in 2024, veterans like Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris regularly logged over 60% of defensive snaps. Graham brings more talent and upside than any defensive tackle Schwartz has coached in Cleveland, which, combined with his draft capital, means he could challenge Maliek Collins to lead the group in snaps.
Don’t be disappointed if Graham fails to deliver first-year numbers reminiscent of 2023 Kobie Turner or 2024 Braden Fiske. That said, with Myles Garrett and Collins demanding attention up front, Graham is well-positioned to post solid IDP stats as a rookie — and could develop into a must-start DT by his sophomore year.
Tier Two
Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh Steelers
Don’t despair if you miss out on Graham in your fantasy drafts—Harmon will be available in later rounds and offers incredible potential as a pass rusher. His relentless competitiveness, incredible first step, and advanced array of pass-rush moves helped him earn a 16.8% pressure rate in 2024, which ranked in the 97% percentile among all draft-eligible DTs.
DERRICK HARMON TO THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS
“They call him Cam Heyward 2.0
He’s an incredible defensive tackle” ~ @ToneDigz #PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/WaWytqiLlw
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 25, 2025
DLF’s No.2 dynasty rookie DT missed a whopping 26.7% of his tackles last year and must prove he can overcome that issue. It’s the most glaring shortcoming stopping Harmon from becoming a real asset against the run.
The Steelers released Larry Ogunjobi, creating a perfect void for the versatile Harmon to fill in Teryl Austin’s defense. Assuming Keeanu Benton and Cameron Heyward continue to play a similar snap share and align as they did in 2024, there are 500-650 snaps available in a rotational role that splits time between B-gap and over-tackle assignments. That’s exactly how Harmon was used by Oregon in 2024—by far his most productive year in college.
Walter Nolen, Arizona Cardinals
Nolen may not match the athleticism of the top prospects on this list, but he compensates with raw power, heavy hands, and relentless effort. DLF’s No 3 dynasty rookie DT is a stout run defender who can hold his ground against double teams, which, combined with his draft capital, should help him earn early playing time as a rookie.
Researching how High School production for Interior DL predicts NFL success:
Walter Nolen is firmly in the Elite Zone
As a senior in HS, he amassed 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 27 hurries, 17 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, & 3 pass breakups (5A Level)
He was rated the #2… pic.twitter.com/Gu7J09PXC2
— Eagles Eric (@EaglesXsandOs) April 4, 2025
That said, Nolen’s role on passing downs may be limited at first. His 9% pressure rate in 2024 placed him in the 86th percentile among draft-eligible defensive tackles, but his pass-rush technique remains a work in progress and needs refinement to become more effective at the next level.
The Cardinals added Calais Campbell and overpaid for Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency, but both veterans are past their peak. Nevertheless, it is likely Nolen will join Nick Rallis’ four or five-man rotation in his rookie year and will have to wait his turn before potentially earning a larger role from 2026 onwards.
Tier Three
Omarr Norman-Lott, Kansas City Chiefs
Norman-Lott may be undersized and lack the draft pedigree of others ranked below him, but his pass-rush upside makes him a strong option in sack-heavy fantasy formats. No draft-eligible defensive tackle matched his eye-popping 19.4% pressure rate in 2024.
Omarr Norman-Lott (@LottOmarr) using power, leverage & extension on the long arm. Sheds the blocker & gets the sack! #PassRush #RockyTop @recruit916 pic.twitter.com/GRxD2nPWjq
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) September 8, 2024
The concern, however, is volume—those numbers came on limited snaps. Norman-Lott was a rotational player throughout his five-year college career, never logging more than 301 snaps in a single season. The big question is whether his efficiency will hold up with a larger workload in the NFL.
Fortunately, he landed in an ideal spot with the Chiefs. Chris Jones will dominate snaps, pressures, and sacks, but the depth chart behind him is wide open following Tershawn Wharton’s departure. Neither Jerry Tillery, Mike Pennel, nor Marlon Tuipulotu have proven reliable options at the pro level.
Kenneth Grant, Miami Dolphins
If your fantasy format places a premium on tackle production, Grant belongs in tier three. Otherwise, he’s better suited as a late-round flyer—or someone to let other managers take a chance on. Despite being the second DT selected in the 2025 NFL Draft with the 13th overall pick and DLF’s No 4 dynasty rookie DT, the former Michigan man is more one-dimensional than many of his peers.
At 331 pounds, Grant projects as a powerful run-stuffer who can collapse the pocket with sheer strength. However, he lacks the explosive first step and burst to consistently penetrate as a pass rusher. His 8.2% pressure rate ranked in the 83rd percentile among draft-eligible DTs.
That said, you can’t knock his hustle.
Dolphins fans — introducing your new DT Kenneth Grant pic.twitter.com/EQ2LyqKX8N
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) April 25, 2025
Fortunately, Grant landed in a favorable situation. While Zach Sieler is expected to lead the Dolphins’ defensive tackle group in both snaps and pressures, Grant represents a clear upgrade over Benito Jones. With Calais Campbell no longer in the mix, the rookie should have a real opportunity to carve out a meaningful rotational role early on.
Tier Four
Tyleik Williams, Detroit Lions
Despite what he has going for him—impressive burst, power, and first-round draft capital—Williams’ short arms, inconsistent pad level, and raw pass-rush technique limit his near-term upside. Even with his growth as a run defender in 2024, he’s unlikely to make a big impression early on. His 5.8% pressure rate, ranking in the 65th percentile among draft-eligible DTs, was another red flag.
Problems with underlying metrics aside, the biggest issue may be opportunity. With Alim McNeill, D.J. Reader, and Levi Onwuzurike all ahead of him on the depth chart, Williams may struggle to crack the rotation. He’s a wait-and-see option in redraft formats and a bench stash in dynasty leagues with deep rosters.
Darius Alexander, New York Giants
Alexander brings top-tier run-stopping ability to the table with a sturdy base, sharp instincts for sniffing out rushing lanes, and heavy hands. If he can improve his pad-level discipline, he has the potential to far exceed his current ranking—and even outperform some of the defensive tackles taken in the first two rounds.
His RAS highlights his impressive athleticism.
Darius Alexander is a DT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.16 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 170 out of 2022 DT from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/3FNbLkVXE2 pic.twitter.com/Rq8ABdqVPv
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 1, 2025
Though his lower draft capital might cap initial expectations compared to others on this list, Alexander’s landing spot couldn’t have been better. The Giants desperately needed a reliable complement to Dexter Lawrence, and the rookie has a real shot to earn that role. Surpassing, or at least making a dent in the playing time of Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Elijah Chatman in Shane Bowen’s defense is entirely possible for Alexander, whose 2024 pressure rate ranked in the 92nd percentile among draft-eligible DTs.
TJ Sanders, Buffalo Bills
Don’t confuse Sanders’ low ranking on this list with the notion that he lacks what it takes to become a fantasy contributor. His pass-rush plan is underdeveloped, but he sheds blocks with ease, possesses good strength for the position, and has a non-stop motor.
So many things that standout…there’s no doubt you will for the @BuffaloBills
You were made for Sundays, @Tj_Sanders24 🤙 pic.twitter.com/cxdo1kg5UR
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) April 25, 2025
Sanders ranked in the 96th percentile among all DTs in 2024 with a 13.6% pressure rate, offering an insight into how disruptive he can be. If Sanders can continue to refine the fundamentals required to become an impactful pass rusher in the NFL, he could surprise many.
Earning sufficient snaps in the Bills’ rotation to become fantasy-relevant won’t be easy while Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones are on the roster, but this is a dynasty-focused article. Jones is set to become a free agent in 2026, and Sanders has the talent to replace him.
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