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

Suntarine
Perkins

LB
/ED
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
72 68 63
83.1
2

Gabe
Jacas

LB
/ED
Illinois   Mascot
Illinois Mascot
66 76 62
80.0
3

Mitchell
Melton

LB
/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
54 73 73
65.2
4

Princewill
Umanmielen

LB
/ED
Nebraska   Mascot
Nebraska Mascot
42 76 63
81.6
5

Keanu
Koht

LB
/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
56 51 48
43.7
6

Samuel
M'Pemba

LB
/ED
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
70 54 41
51.3
7

Dani
Dennis-Sutto...

DE
/ED
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
67 80 68
83.0
8

Adepoju
Adebawore

DL
/ED
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
75 68 61
86.4
9

Braylan
Shelby

DE
/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
69 65 68
86.7
10

Demon
Clowney

DL
/ED
Charlotte   Mascot
Charlotte Mascot
53 56 54
61.3
11

Keaten
Wade

DE
/ED
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
74 66 81
72.5
12

Damon
Payne Jr.

DL
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
67 50 59
60.9
13

Elliot
Donald

DL
Pittsburgh   Mascot
Pittsburgh Mascot
61 49 48
46.2
14

Thomas
Collins

DL
Oregon State   Mascot
Oregon State Mascot
53 65 53
78.5
15

Zane
Durant

DT
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
42 75 74
82.5
16

Lee
Hunter

DT
UCF   Mascot
UCF Mascot
58 67 74
74.1
17

Bear
Alexander

DT
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
55 71 64
82.6
18

Kamran
James

DE
/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
61 58 74
74.0
19

Cashius
Howell

DL
/ED
Texas A&M   Mascot
Texas A&M Mascot
65 88 72
81.5
20

Adonijah
Green

DL
/ED
Louisville   Mascot
Louisville Mascot
54 59 42
35.6