A.J. Holmes Jr. DL Texas Tech |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Average timed speed limits his range outside the tackle box
• Missed five tackles this season, too many for an interior starter
• Pass rush leans on power, and his counter moves are still developing
• Was a part-time starter at Houston, with 16 starts in three seasons

Scouting Report: Summary

Holmes has become one of the most productive interior pass rushers in the country in 2026. He has eight sacks and 37 pressures in eight games, wins with heavy hands and a low pad level, and pairs the rush with a sound run game, anchoring against down blocks and holding his gap. He was a second-team All-American in his first season at Texas Tech, and his jump this fall has matched the preseason billing. He has also been durable, playing all eight games and more than 380 snaps.

His production has also come in big moments. He had a sack and a forced fumble in the 2025 Big 12 title game win over BYU, two sacks against Arizona State this October and two more in the loss at Cincinnati. Joey McGuire called him the best defensive tackle returning in college football and said in the spring that he can disrupt an entire practice. Texas Tech is 7-1, and he has started every game in the middle of its front.

However, he is not a twitchy athlete. His timed speed is average, so his range outside the tackle box is limited, and he has missed five tackles this season. His pass rush leans on power more than a developed plan, so teams will want to see a counter when the first move stalls. He was also a part-time starter for three seasons at Houston before his breakout, so his best football has come in the last year and a half. His best tape has also come in a rotation that keeps him fresh, at under 50 snaps a game.

Overall, Holmes is a powerful, productive interior defender who can anchor on early downs and push the pocket on third down. He projects as a second-round defensive tackle and an early starter, with the upside of a three-down interior lineman if the rush plan keeps growing.