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
72 99 64
83.1
2

Trey
Moore

LB
/ED
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
62 86 69
80.6
3

Suntarine
Perkins

LB
/ED
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
72 68 63
83.1
4

Mitchell
Melton

LB
/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
56 75 74
65.2
5

Princewill
Umanmielen

LB
/ED
Nebraska   Mascot
Nebraska Mascot
42 76 63
81.6
6

Rara
Dillworth

LB
/ED
Baylor   Mascot
Baylor Mascot
58 55 60
60.0
7

Gabe
Jacas

LB
/ED
Illinois   Mascot
Illinois Mascot
65 78 64
80.0
8

Keanu
Koht

LB
/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
56 51 48
43.7
9

Samuel
M'Pemba

LB
/ED
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
70 54 41
51.3
10

Lee
Hunter

DT
UCF   Mascot
UCF Mascot
57 66 71
74.1
11

Kelvin
Gilliam Jr.

DL
Virginia Tech   Mascot
Virginia Tech Mascot
58 48 56
44.9
12

Tunmise
Adeleye

DE
Texas State   Mascot
Texas State Mascot
69 59 57
65.1
13

Bryce
Carter

DE
Virginia   Mascot
Virginia Mascot
61 47 45
39.3
14

Tywone
Malone Jr.

DT
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
40 50 52
50.0
15

Keeshawn
Silver

DL
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
72 65 56
55.1
16

Clayton
Smith

DL
/ED
Arizona State   Mascot
Arizona State Mascot
50 58 66
66.1
17

Korey
Foreman

DL
/ED
Fresno State   Mascot
Fresno State Mascot
53 61 79
74.9
18

Jonathan
Jefferson

DT
SMU   Mascot
SMU Mascot
36 62 70
65.4
19

Damon
Payne Jr.

DL
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
67 50 60
60.9
20

Dylan
Brooks

DE
Kansas   Mascot
Kansas Mascot
83 62 50
73.0