Way Too Early 2027 NFL Draft Prequel

[beachcomber]

I'm also with Boltjolt. I'm not feeling it with Zaven Collins.

yep, prolly more of a hedge acquisition, and rotational depth than any kind of a starter, his value is as a run defender, and of which me suspex is good insurance post Khalil if the case, could be good vet locker room presence as well, and considering we have some youth in our Edge group, consistent defender that contributes to STs, durable, could also be a double edged hedge against the both of Mack 'n Perryman, good size to set the edge, also makes sense as if we are looking for two edge defenders, to get one from FA

[Boltjolt]

yep... prolly an ED3 for us.... would you give him $6m/year ?? (I would)

Id hope for better to be honest. He is backup material at best. But if thats what you are looking at, maybe but id still look for better. Collins doesnt move the needle for me. Frankly i dont think he is as good as DuPree. Collins has 12 sacks in 5 years. 27 QB hits in 5 years. He isnt a havoc maker.
Odafe Oweh who was considered a bust before we got him in his 5 years has 30.5 sacks and 79 QB hits. Collins is way behind the 8 ball.

[DerwinBosa]

Damon Wilson

good burst/get off w/the quickness, speed rusher, may lack desired/required physicality, production should be sufficient/proficient going forward, good closing speed, day two/ED3 that could pick up where Odafe left off, serviceable run defender/tackler, prolly not worth our first, and likely not there for our second, not on the field for too many run downs, pretty much just a NASCAR accoutrement

Clev Lubin

profiles as need pick that will likely have desired production, and generally gets it done, Dallas Turner compare, can set the edge, mental acuity noted, disruptive, tad undersized and w/shorter arms, day three/round four prospect w/decent floor, not too much upside, competent/holds his own against the run, technician, adequate/ED4 material, disciplined/assignment solid, rotational edge rusher, good solo tackle rate, decent tackler overall, and pretty solid across the board against run/pass, don't fall for his pressure stats, albeit he is worthy of most anyone's watchlist, would prolly spell Kennard for us

Boubcar Traore

speed rusher w/production on the cusp of consideration, good length, torn ACL, supercharger/star potential, explosive w/decent bend/dip, developmental sub pkg prospect, day three/round five gambit, candidate to return to school for the '027, high upside, good tackle rate, prolly 'nother NASCAR candidate, prolly goes off the board round 2.... come 2028

You're a tough grader. Lol.

I'm going to wait and watch these guys before I speculate on where they will go in the draft. But I have read that this is a very deep, impressive class of edge rushers.

I've never heard of Boubcar Traore. That's a very interesting name I probably won't forget, though. Lol.

[Boltjolt]

Idk where to put this , and I don't listen to him but I think some here do. This isn't the same Matt Miller the former QB.

But apparently ESPNs Matt Miller who was a draft analysis and Fantasy football organizer of soke sort,.....is a POS.
Under investigation for not paying FF money to people and charities pocketing it himself, only paying those who threatened to call ESPN on him. Among other things. Screwed alot of people out of some dough.

So he gets in this accident. I just heard about it,.... loses an arm, fractures a femur which sux for him, and has a go fund me. Some people mad about that.
You just never know about people. Does ESPN just not pay well enough or are people just very greedy?

Terrible accident but many aren't feeling sorry for him. Some think he did it on purpose because he was going to get caught soon but ffs, nobody runs their car into a semi on purpose lol

[DerwinBosa]

An article from The Athletic's Dane Brugler on the top defensive tackles in the nation.

2027 NFL Draft preseason positional rankings: Defensive tackles

You need only watch the defensive lines at Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Oregon to get a sense for the top draft-eligible defensive tackles in college football.

There might not be a Jalen Carter or Mason Graham in the group — a clear and obvious top-10 pick. But the early-round potential at the position is much deeper than that of last year’s class.

(Note: An asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL teams currently have on file for each player, per league sources.)

1. Will Echoles, Ole Miss (6-2, 309)*

Best traits: Active and well-rounded defender

The lasting takeaway from Echoles’ tape was all the different ways he can impact the game. On one play, he uses both upfield and lateral quickness to penetrate the backfield. On the next, he showcases his instincts to shut down the run lane. And then on another, he shows off his upper-body strength and violent hands to shed contact and find the football.

Even more encouraging is his hyperactive play style. If his effort is any indication, Echoles loves playing the run just as much as he enjoys chasing the passer. He put several highlights on his 2025 tape, but this rep against Oklahoma was my favorite:

Must improve: Pass-rush counters

With his instincts and physical traits, Echoles knows how to deconstruct blocks and will his way to the football. While that works against equal or lesser competition, the next step in his development will be patching together pass-rush plans with built-in counters to find success versus any level of blocker. His talent is evident, which suggests an encouraging floor for him at the next level. But his ceiling will depend on his technical developments, specifically with his counters.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

The top high school recruit in Mississippi three years ago, Echoles chose the Rebels (over Alabama, Auburn and several other SEC programs) and separated himself as the top defensive player at Ole Miss last season. Echoles’ impact consistently showed on the 2025 tape, as well as on the stat sheet — he finished with double-digit tackles for loss, plus ranked top five on the team in total tackles and second in sacks.

Echoles has a natural feel for the game and uses his physical traits to put himself in position to make plays. His disruptive and diverse skill set reminds me of Derrick Harmon, the 21st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2. A’Mauri Washington, Oregon (6-3, 319)

Best trait: Explosive power

Ranked No. 4 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” last summer, Washington teases natural power and rare burst for a player his size. Consistency was an issue for him throughout last season, but Washington has the talent to gain early advantages.

Gennings Dunker was a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in April, but Washington gave him all kinds of trouble during their 2025 matchup. This clip shows Washington’s explosiveness off the ball and ability to shoot his hands and hips to immediately leverage the point of attack:

Must improve: Playing more freely

Washington is blessed with all kinds of talent. His impact last season was more sporadic than steady, however, which is not uncommon for a first-year starter learning on the fly. At times, it appeared that he was thinking too much instead of relying on his natural ability to counter and win with secondary moves. Scouts want to see him play with more freedom in year two as a starter.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

At this time last year, Oregon had to replace a pair of early-round draft picks at defensive tackle and faced several question marks on its D-line. But Washington quickly moved from “unproven” to “asset” in 2025, and his flashes of talent are why he starts the season as my top-ranked senior at the position.

Can he take that next step in his senior year and be more of an impactful presence? Last season, he finished with just 4.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 against FCS Montana State in the season opener. The tape and traits matter much more for his NFL evaluation as stats can be misleading (the clip above won’t show up in the box score), but his efficiency and consistency could determine if he is a slam-dunk top-25 pick or more of a top-50 selection next April.

3. Justin Scott, Miami (6-4, 305)*

Best trait: Explosive big-man skills

Scott arrived in Coral Gables with a ton of hype and showed exciting flashes as part of the starting rotation in 2025. He has the play strength expected of a prospect his size, but his explosive nature jumps out in a way that makes him unique. Because of his heavy hands and movement potential, Scott has a very high football ceiling.

Indiana center Pat Coogan, a Tennessee Titans draft pick in April, had trouble handling Scott in the national title game. On this rep, the Miami defensive tackle immediately controls the point, drives Coogan into the backfield and then violently sheds to make a stop for minimal gain:

Must improve: Pass-rush process

Right now, Scott’s run instincts are further along than his pass-rush instincts. Though explosive, he needs to be more consistent with his snap anticipation to maximize his ability to shoot gaps. His hands are forceful as a pass rusher, but he’s not yet skilled in terms of maneuvering in hand-to-hand combat.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

A native of the Chicago area, Scott was considered the top defensive tackle (and one of the top 10 recruits overall) in the 2024 recruiting class. After originally committing to Ohio State, he flipped to the Hurricanes and was the prize of Mario Cristobal’s 2024 class.

Is Scott still learning how to streamline his immense talent into more consistent production? No question. But the NFL salivates for explosive big-man traits — and Scott has those to offer. It won’t be surprising at all to see his disruptive ability warrant first-round consideration with another year of starting experience under his belt.

4. David Stone, Oklahoma (6-3, 315)*

Best trait: Five-star talent

As with Scott, there isn’t much mystery to what made Stone a five-star recruit out of high school. He offers size, power and movement ability that’s impressive for his frame. Stone launches out of his stance to create pressure with various push-pull or bull-rush techniques. The raw tools are there for him to become a high-level run defender and pass rusher.

When he plays with a full tank and stays on time, Stone is not a fun player to block.

Must improve: Turning flashes into consistency

If you grade to the flashes, it is easy to get excited about Stone and his talent. But the gaps in between are frustrating. In the NFL, being big, strong and athletic in the trenches isn’t enough — the best players separate themselves with technique and know-how. Stone is a better prospect than player right now, meaning his potential is off the charts, but he is still figuring out how to maximize those gifts.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

One of the highest-recruited defensive tackles in the 2024 class, Stone returned home to the Sooner state after prepping at IMG Academy in Florida. After seeing limited action as a freshman, he was part of Oklahoma’s deep defensive line rotation last season as a sophomore, starting twice and averaging 33 snaps per game (eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 2025).

Stone is one of the more intriguing “wait and see” draft-eligible prospects in the country. It is fair to project a jump in his on-field impact this season, but how much of one? He has dominant potential.

5. Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami (6-3, 311)

Best trait: Coordinated agility

Lining up primarily as a one-tech or shaded nose, Moten explodes off the ball with the athletic force to win in different ways. He can get hung up in crowded spaces, but his initial quickness gives him an advantage to get upfield or work laterally around roadblocks.

Moten played his best in the national championship game against Indiana, including a handful of “whoa” reps that showcased his big-man coordination against the run and pass.

Must improve: Upright play style

A common theme on Moten’s tape was his inclination to pop upright, creating disadvantages for himself when he didn’t win at the snap. When his hips and pads get high, he can be too easily knocked off balance by angle blocks or displaced by double teams. At just a hair over 6-foot-3, Moten is tall, although better consistency with his leverage will be something scouts are watching on his senior tape.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

A former three-star recruit out of Cardinal Gibbons in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Moten was ranked near the bottom of the Hurricanes’ 2022 recruiting class. However, he gradually improved over his first few years and enjoyed a breakout redshirt junior season with 9.5 tackles for loss. Though he didn’t receive as much praise as Miami’s edge rushers, Moten was a disruptive part of the Hurricanes’ path to the national title game.

After his strong finish to the 2025 season, some scouts expected him to go pro, but he returned to Miami for his fifth season. He will compete to be the first senior drafted at his position and a potential top-40 pick.

Top 25 senior defensive tackles

1. Washington
2. Moten
3. Bear Alexander, Oregon (6-3, 311)
4. DJ Hicks, Texas A&M (6-3, 288)
5. Anthony Smith, Minnesota (6-6, 279)
6. A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech (6-2, 300)
7. Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech (6-2, 287)
8. Devan Thompkins, Alabama (6-5, 290)
9. Horace Lockett, UCF (6-5, 362)
10. Mateen Ibirogba, Texas Tech (6-3, 301)
11. Jaray Bledsoe, Mississippi State (6-4, 290)
12. C.J. Fite, Arizona State (6-1, 311)
13. James Smith, Ohio State (6-2, 294)
14. David Oke, Arkansas (6-2, 287)
15. Tyrique Tucker, Indiana (6-0, 302)
16. Trey Pierce, Michigan (6-1, 303)
17. Keanu Tanuvasa, BYU (6-3, 300)
18. Hero Kanu, Texas (6-4, 317)
19. Daniel Lyons, Florida State (6-3, 285)
20. Cody Sigler, Auburn (6-2, 303)
21. Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Florida (6-6, 305)
22. Jason Onye, Notre Dame (6-4, 294)
23. Joe Hjelle, Indiana (6-2, 314)
24. Tomiwa Durojaiye, South Carolina (6-4, 290)
25. Marquis Gracial, Missouri (6-3, 307)

Top 10 draft-eligible underclassmen

1. Echoles
2. Scott
3. Stone
4. Tavion Gadson, Kentucky (6-4, 302)
5. Eddrick Houston, Ohio State (6-3, 295)
6. Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma (6-2, 310)
7. Jide Abasiri, USC (6-5, 285)
8. Francis Brewu, Notre Dame (6-1, 285)
9. Dominick McKinley, LSU (6-6, 300)
10. Michai Boireau, Ole Miss (6-5, 350)

[beachcomber]

took a look at both the Miami DTs, as figured there might be something there given how good their ends were, and.... personally wouldn't ante up for the neither of 'em, and.... that's not to say they won't ball, just not sure I'd put them in the round one conversation, as personally have them slotted day three until proven otherwise, and which could well be the case.

Justin Scott

'nother day three rotational prospect offering potential interior disruption, Kawann Short compare, linear game that comes up short in the run game, utility IDL w/sub package value, production and tackling rate not pluses, intangibles don't stand out, good get off @LOS, underwhelming role player that tempts w/flashes

Ahmad Moten Sr

violent hands, creates chaos in offensive backfield, explosive first step, David Onyemata compare, solid first step + closing speed, more pass rusher than run stopper, not sure he's worth first round draft capital, underwhelming tackle rate is a concern, again 'specially @the cost of first round capital, profile does not reset our Dline as it now stands, rotational player that may be overvalued

and as I oft have the other three in my round one specs, am guessing Brugler is giving the underclassman (Echoles) the benefit of the doubt over the other two (Stone), and bit of an intrigue that he thinks A'Mauri might be top 50 just as well as top 25, the former of which would obviously put us in the mix ??

the other guy of note is Anthony Smith, albeit and again personally see him more of a DE than any IDL.... (dude has solid production off the edge)

[beachcomber]

Scouting Grade big board (top 172)

X) David Stone, LaNorris Sellers, A'Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiagalelei

1) Trey'Dez Green, Kelley Jones, Will Echoles, Anthony Smith
2) Mark Fletcher
3) Boubacar Traore, Iapani Laloulu, Ben Roberts
4) McKale Boley, Nyck Harbor, Teitum Tuioti, Evan Tengesdahl

NFL Draft Labs big board (top 100)

X) David Stone, Matayo Uiagalelei, LaNorris Sellers, A'Mauri Washington, Trey'Dez Green

1) Kelley Jones, William Echoles, Anthony Smith
2) Nyck Harbor, Iapani Laloulu, Teitum Tuioti, Evan Tengesdahl, Boubacar Traore

First & Ten big board (top 375)

X) A'Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiagalelei, Kelley Jones, David Stone

1) William Echoles, Trey'Dez Green, Ben Roberts
2) Iapani Laloulu, Evan Tengesdahl, Mark Fletcher, LaNorris Sellers, Anthony Smith, LJ Martin, Boubacar Traore
3) Teitum Tuioti, Keon Sabb
4) McKale Boley, Earnest Greene, Jermaine Mathews Jr
5) Nyck Harbor

[beachcomber]

X) LaNorris Sellers, David Stone, A'Mauri Washington, Trey'Dez Green, Matayo Uiagalelei

1) William Echoles
2) Teitum Tuioti, Evan Tengesdahl
3) Iapani Laloulu, Anthony Smith, Keon Sabb
4) Jermaine Mathews Jr, Mark Fletcher, Kelley Jones, LJ Martin
5) Nyckoles Harbor, Brett Norfleet, Boubacar Traore
6) Earnest Greene, Knijeah Harris, McKale Boley
7) Raylen Wilson, Ben Roberts
8) Rod Moore

and not necessarily where I think they'll come off the board, just where I'd have them slotted in terms of draft priority....

[beachcomber]

Ashton Hampton

good measurables/metrics, good spatial awareness/recognition skills, boundary corner, day two gambit, sticky in coverage, physical @LOS, sound tackler, press corner w/length & speed, questions 'bout recovery speed for the if and when beaten, little grabby @times, disruptive @catch point, seemingly good to great fit in Chargers defensive backfield, would take him ahead of Kelley Jones, and would bump Cam Hart down the depth chart, prolly a late round three/comp pick value, can handle slot receivers/TEs as well, lateral redirection bears watching, processes w/the quickness, triggers quickly in run support as well, good solo tackle rate, better in zone than man, still bit of a developmental underclassmen whose technique can still be coached up, STer too

Jamari Sharpe

can play on an island, forced four fumbles, plays downhill against the run and delivers the thud, maintains composure/doesn't panic in coverage, bit grabby @top of routes, good recovery speed, 'nother boundary CB2, has NFL size/speed, route anticipation questioned, smart/heady player, better in zone than man, 'nother day two gambit, 187 lbs doesn't scare me off, and may add draft value to his slotting, solid tackle rate, Christian Gonzalez mention, bit of a playmaker, sure tackler, rangy in coverage, 'nother guy who seems like a very solid addition to our defensive backfield

Nick Marsh

desired boundary X wideout, strong hands A+ w/the Herbatron, polished technique, healthy market share and YAC(ontact), underwhelming contested catch rate, lacks physicality in blocking dept, day two gambit, 11.2 yards depth of target (down from 15.8 previous season), productive, passive run blocker, need pick @position where we don't have a need, sometimes lacks focus @catch point/drops could be an issue, or is he another Z receiver for us, ineffective in contested catch situations, question as to whether he's physical enough for an X receiver, route running can be clunky/rounded, separation skills in question, day three/fifth round talent that is slotted much higher by most pundits/draftniks, might be fast/productive enough for McDaniel, albeit not sure he's physical enough for Big Jim, produced despite being defensive focus, catch rate below 60 percent, developmental prospect that will no doubt get a Hoosiers bump, overvalued temptation for some

[beachcomber]

Trey'Dez Green

pass catching TE, has some hops, red zone option/threat, would prolly cost us our first, and if still on the board for that matter, blocking technique/strength need upgrade for any inline duties, could benefit from more attention to detail, gives effort as blocker, albeit technique requires refinement, developmental mismatch/tilts the field matchupwise, adds 3D element to grid as field shrinks, like his intangibles and seems like he would be good complement w/Oronde, spells Njoku in time, if still on the board will warrant heavy consideration as future superCharger, shutdown/out by Alabama

Jamari Johnson

dual threat inline TE, good hands, rare burst, gets open deep, produces when it counts, big play ability that can stretch field, technique can be coached up, ankle injury, former QB, overshadowed Kenyon Sadiq @times last season according to one pundit, like Trey'Dez, may not be on the board come round one for us, remains to be seen if he can grab larger market share post Sadiq, from Inglewood, 'nother talent that would be hard to pass on, still has ceiling/upside, can dislodge some DEs, RAC & separation skills are likely McD most wanted traits, even lead blocker on some run plays, more than decent in pass pro as well, get off sometimes lacks the quickness, some have questions, albeit most won't come season's end, don't think he'll be in play for us after our SB run

Trevor Lauck

shot putter/basketball background, foot speed/arm length may have him move inside, Alaric Jackson compare, disciplined technician as blocker, physical, may not have desired athleticism to play OG for McD, since when is 6'5" too small, think he sticks @tackle, which makes the investment a wee bit high for a swing tackle @tm, good avg starter @tackle for teams that more value IOL, darn fine looking prospect, first round worthy, 'specially given the position value @OT, provides value as underclassman, solid pick for someone

[Boltnut]

You're a tough grader. Lol.

I'm going to wait and watch these guys before I speculate on where they will go in the draft. But I have read that this is a very deep, impressive class of edge rushers.

I've never heard of Boubcar Traore. That's a very interesting name I probably won't forget, though. Lol.

Exactly! Way too early to declare one way or another on any of these prospects.
I liked Clev Lubin's tape... my personal opinion is that he's a Day 2 pick (2nd or 3rd round).
But that will change... as soon as he starts stacking more tape.

The only guys I've watched a lot of tape on (last year)... are A'Mauri Washington and Matayo Uiagalelei.
IMO, Washington will be a mid/late 1st round pick... and Uiagalelei will be a 2nd round pick... I actually like Lubin better.
But all of that may change... based on this year's tape.

[dmac_bolt]

I’m gonna follow this thread and I admire the initiative, but I can’t even begin to think about it