2026 BEST RATED TACKLING DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
The tackling grade scores how reliably a defender finishes plays: tackles made against tackles missed, with extra weight for stops behind the line and penalties for whiffs that turn into long gains. For a defensive lineman it is mostly about finishing in the backfield. Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh) and Chase Young (Ohio State) rarely let a ball carrier out of their grasp.
The table ranks this year’s draft-eligible defensive linemen by tackling grade, alongside pass rush, run defense, coverage and overall rating.
