BEST RATED DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN COVERAGE 2026 NFL Draft

2026 BEST RATED DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN COVERAGE

Defensive linemen with the ability to drop back and be effective in coverage have become a multifaceted weapon on defense. In the college scene, individuals like Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), albeit more of a hybrid player, and Chase Winovich (Michigan) have exhibited that defensive linemen can, indeed, be potent in pass coverage, providing that unexpected layer of defensive intricacy.

Delve into the data below to identify current college defensive linemen making waves with their noteworthy skills in pass coverage. Engage with various statistics, including passes defended, interceptions, and coverage grades, to appreciate the strategic depth these versatile linemen bring to their defensive units, blurring traditional positional expectations.

2026 Defensive linemen ranked by COVERAGE

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING PASS RUSH RUN DEFENSE Rating
1

David
Bailey

LB
/ED
Stanford   Mascot
Stanford Mascot
73 100 65
85.1
2

Trey
Moore

LB
/ED
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
62 85 68
78.8
3

Suntarine
Perkins

LB
/ED
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
73 68 63
85.5
4

Kalil
Alexander

LB
/ED
Texas State   Mascot
Texas State Mascot
50 86 64
82.5
5

Keanu
Koht

LB
/ED
Vanderbilt   Mascot
Vanderbilt Mascot
67 60 57
66.0
6

Mitchell
Melton

LB
/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
58 79 78
74.0
7

Rara
Dillworth

LB
/ED
Troy   Mascot
Troy Mascot
58 55 60
73.0
8

Princewill
Umanmielen

LB
/ED
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
42 76 62
79.5
9

Gabe
Jacas

LB
/ED
Illinois   Mascot
Illinois Mascot
67 80 65
84.4
10

Samuel
M'Pemba

LB
/ED
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
78 60 46
70.0
11

Derrick
Moore

DE
/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
69 90 73
86.4
12

Patrick
Payton

DL
/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
48 71 70
81.0
13

Clayton
Smith

DL
/ED
Arizona State   Mascot
Arizona State Mascot
52 61 68
74.0
14

Kelby
Collins

DE
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
83 69 77
79.6
15

Elliot
Donald

DL
Pittsburgh   Mascot
Pittsburgh Mascot
69 56 51
68.0
16

Darnell
Jefferies

DL
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
70 53 59
65.0
17

Jehiem
Oatis

DL
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
80 80 80
75.0
18

Christen
Miller

DL
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
77 76 88
86.4
19

Damon
Payne Jr.

DL
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
71 53 63
74.0
20

Adonijah
Green

DL
/ED
Louisville   Mascot
Louisville Mascot
75 72 53
63.4