Defensive Line Rankings 2027 NFL Draft

101 defensive linemen ranked

DEFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS 2027 NFL DRAFT

The 2027 defensive line is led from the inside, which is unusual - only once before in the seven classes we have graded has an interior player topped this group, and three of this year's top five play inside.

Oklahoma's David Stone is the man at the top, a five-star who added eighteen pounds before his sophomore year and led the Sooners' interior in tackles. Oregon edge Matayo Uiagalelei follows with 52 pressures and six sacks across 726 snaps, a year after leading the Big Ten in sacks. Ole Miss's Will Echoles broke out as a sophomore with pressure production almost no interior lineman in the country matched across 765 snaps, and Miami's Justin Scott reached Bruce Feldman's Freaks List before playing a college snap.

The size of the group is normal - five inside our top thirty-two, as in every year since 2021 - but the shape of it is not.
LAST UPDATED: 11/03/2026

Player Rankings - Defensive Line

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
84

DL/ED
Elias
Rudolph

6-5 205lbs 4.56
DL/ED
UNLV   Mascot
UNLV Mascot
205lbs 6-5 4.56 88 527
64.4
Rudolph is an explosive, very fast edge rusher who has been productive in a rotational role at UNLV. He gets to the quarterback, with three...
81

DL/ED
Loghan
Thomas

6-3 221lbs 4.60
DL/ED
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
221lbs 6-3 4.60 82 496
65.1
Thomas is a speedy, twitchy pass rusher who produces in limited snaps. He has two sacks this season plus one in the College Football...
42

DL/ED
Marquise
Lightfoot

6-5 230lbs 4.58
DL/ED
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
230lbs 6-5 4.58 37 204
79.9
Lightfoot is an explosive, bendy pass rusher who has made good on his first chance to start. His get-off is rare, he flattens to the...
46

DL/ED
Langston
Hardy

6-4 245lbs 4.60
DL/ED
Wake Forest   Mascot
Wake Forest Mascot
245lbs 6-4 4.60 55 315
78.6
Hardy is a quick, productive edge rusher who has made plays at two programs. His first step is rare, he finishes when he gets home, and he...
19

DE/ED
Dom
Nichols

6-5 245lbs 4.82
DE/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
245lbs 6-5 4.82 18 84.7
84.6
Nichols is a quick, long edge rusher who has made the most of a larger role this season. He gets off the ball quickly, reaches the tackle's...
14

DE/ED
Jordan
Ross

6-5 246lbs 4.60
DE/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
246lbs 6-5 4.60 16 70.7
84.9
Ross is an explosive, bendy edge rusher with rare speed off the snap, and his first season at LSU has turned the traits that made him a...
38

DL/ED
AJ
Green

6-6 250lbs 4.62
DL/ED
Louisville   Mascot
Louisville Mascot
250lbs 6-6 4.62 44 270
80.2
Green is a pure pass-rush specialist who won as a rusher as well as anyone in this group, a long, bendy edge who wins the corner with speed...
65

DL/ED
Rylan
Kennedy

6-3 251lbs 4.63
DL/ED
Florida State   Mascot
Florida State Mascot
251lbs 6-3 4.63 61 359.5
74.0
Kennedy has become one of the ACC's most disruptive edge rushers in his first season at Florida State. His get-off is rare, he moves around...
89

DE
Max
Granville

6-3 252lbs 4.52
DE
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
252lbs 6-3 4.52 84 509
63.4
Granville is an exceptionally fast edge rusher who piled up sacks in high school and reached college a year early. Few prospects in the...
8

DE/ED
John Henry
Daley

6-5 252lbs 4.78
DE/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
252lbs 6-5 4.78 13 64.3
85.5
Daley turned in one of the best pass-rush seasons in the country in 2025, leading the nation with 17.5 tackles for loss, generating 51...
9

DL/ED
Boubacar
Traore

6-5 253lbs 4.68
DL/ED
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
253lbs 6-5 4.68 10 48
85.2
Traore is an explosive, athletic edge whose first step lets him win the corner before tackles can set their feet. He has rare timed speed...
71

DE/ED
Dakyus
Brinkley

6-3 255lbs 4.60
DE/ED
Kansas   Mascot
Kansas Mascot
255lbs 6-3 4.60 77 481
68.6
Brinkley is a fast, athletic edge rusher from a family of elite athletes. He has the speed to win around the corner, and he has made plays...

2027 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Line

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2027 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive Line

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.