1. Byron Murphy II
Murphy is a very quick player who is undersized, but his strength even at his size makes him arguably the best defensive tackle in the class. He has elite quickness off the ball and great hands. He does give off Aaron Donald vibes when watching him, even if that comparison is seen as blasphemous. In his best games, he is disruptive in the run-and-pass game. He gets off blocks well and has good awareness to find and wrap up the ball carrier. Whether he uses his great hands or leverage on a bull rush, he practically lived in the backfield this season, and it was rare to see him cede any ground.
His toughest opponent up front was probably Alabama. He was consistently doubled, but when he wasn't on passing downs, he was able to create some penetration against a stout offensive line. He wasn't a major game-changer, but he took up blocks without giving up too much ground and was able to move their QB off of his platform a few times. He probably will not last until 21, but if he does, he would be a great selection if Miami wants a first-round defensive tackle.
2. Johnny (Jer'Zahn) Newton
Newton is a strong, powerful tackle with great hands that help him get off of blocks. He is a bit undersized for the position, but his quick hands and first step help negate that. His swim move is easily the best move in his tool bag and he uses it effectively. He is coming off of a great senior season where he tallied 8 sacks and 28 hurries. He is more of a pass rusher than Wilkins usually is, but is not quite as stout in the run game.
Some deficiencies I noticed on tape were in the Maryland game, his lowest PFF-graded game of the season. He seemed sluggish at times and the effort that was present in most games felt a bit lacking. He was doubled or tripled most of the game and had a difficult time making an impact. He also struggled when he lined up in wider techniques and had to rush against tackles; he is obviously much better at rushing against guards. All in all, Johnny Newton is a talented player who may not be available at 21, but if he is, he should be in consideration due to his great hands and good production.
Next: Round 2 Players
3. Braden Fiske
This is my personal preference, but Braden Fiske is really close to being my DT2. However, due to the talk surrounding his weight and arm length, he will slide into round 2. Fiske is an elite athlete at the position, even better than Byron Murphy. His explosiveness and first step are evident on tape, and he is perfect for a big end or pass-rushing 3 or 5 tech. His arms are short, but he has physical traits you just can't teach. at 6'5" 295lbs, he ran a 4.78 40-yard dash with a 4.37 20-yard shuttle. Those numbers are bonkers. He has shown the ability to rush the passer and showed up well against good linemen this season like projected first-rounder Graham Barton.
The knock on Fiske is that he is light to play as a nose or a 1 tech, and I agree. I think he is better suited as a big end. He reminds me a bit of Justin Madubuike from Baltimore. Maybe Anthony Weaver wants his own version. He will be a great pass-rushing interior lineman to replace Wilkins' production in that area, but he will not replicate Wilkins' production against the run.
4. Kris Jenkins
Kris Jenkins has been touted as the strongest defensive lineman in the class, and there may be some hyperbole involved, but he is a terrific player. I have him ranked just below Fiske due to Fiske's athleticism. If Braden Fiske replaces Wilkins' pass rush, Jenkins replaces Wilkins' ability to suck up double teams against the run. He doesn't have a ton of production on the stat sheet, but he does demand attention from offenses. Jenkins is a physically strong player with a good first step and really nice hand usage.
Jenkins does have shorter arms and does lean a bit for my liking instead of attacking the line of scrimmage, but he is so good with his hands that it negates those concerns a bit. Re-watching the National Championship game, Washington ran a lot of quick passes and runs away from Jenkins, but he was still able to impact the game with his ability to get off blocks when he wasn't doubled. With no true elite run-stopper in the class, Jenkins stands out as one of the best.
5. Ruke Orhorhoro
1st team All-Name team, Ruke Orhorhoro has only been playing football for 7-8 years, which makes him an interesting developmental piece. Ruke has the strength and athleticism to develop into a dangerous defensive tackle. He is tough to block without double-teaming due to his quick first step and great strength.
He will need some development at the next level. If he can't win with speed or power, he won't win. His hand play is not nearly NFL caliber, and his speed in pursuit is lacking. He is a mismatch for most guards or centers, but he has to learn to utilize his hands more. He has a great bull rush since he is so strong, but he needs to develop other methods of getting off blocks to be effective at the next level.
T'vondre Sweat - Texas
Sweat is obviously plummeting down draft boards for off-the-field concerns, including a recent arrest, but he could be an interesting pickup late for Miami depending on how far he falls. There will be teams that don't want anything to do with this guy, and that is perfectly reasonable, but he is the best run-stopper in the class, and it isn't particularly close. His size and strength combination make him a menace when he is on the field. The issue is, he is so big that he is barely on the field. Still, as a developmental player, he is a fun addition in the later rounds if he slips to round 5.
Maason Smith - LSU
This guy has definitely not lived up to expectations, but again, his size and athleticism make him an interesting target late or as a UDFA. He should get drafted, but with his injury history and lack of production, you never know. Smith is massive with good athleticism for his size. He could be a fun developmental prospect.
Khristian Boyd - Northern Iowa
This is a pretty popular sleeper pick for defensive tackles. Boyd played in the FCS, but he didn't look entirely out of place when they played Iowa State early in the season. Boyd has a stout build with good mass. He has a good first step and does a nice job taking on double-team blocks. He is powerful and uses that in his pass rush, but lacks many other intangibles to make himself a good pass rusher. His size and strength make him an interesting prospect on day 3 of the draft if he is around for Miami's pick, and he is commonly mocked by Miami in the later rounds.
Marcus Harris - Auburn
Harris is a guy who has gone under the radar after a solid season for a middling team. He had his best games against good competition in Georgia and Ole Miss and had a run-stopping grade of 87.4 on PFF. He is tough to move and fires off the ball better than many in this class who may be ranked higher. He uses his hands well in the running game but offers limited pass-rushing upside despite a fair amount of sacks this season. He could be a solid run defender and could be worth a late-round flier or UDFA pick-up.