NFL Draft Positional Needs: Interior Defensive Line

There are few positions in the league that get less glory than defensive tackles. Whether it’s nose tackles occupying offensive lineman, or tackles stuffing the run in a 4-3, they just don’t typically make the highlight reel plays that fans love.

That doesn’t mean that they’re any less significant however, and without a good defensive line it’s difficult to win very many games. It all starts on the inside, and because of that many teams are looking to add younger talent at defensive tackle. Just who will be bolstering their defensive line during the draft?

NEED: 3-4 NOSE TACKLE

Houston Texans
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Shaun Cody (8th year) (DE),  Earl Mitchell (3rd year), Ra’Shon Harris (2nd year)

Houston’s front seven was one of the best in the league in 2011, but the loss of Mario Williams dealt the Texans quite a set back. Defensive end will certainly be a need, but nose tackle needs to be addressed as well. Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense doesn’t necessarily need a huge nose tackle like most schemes do, but with Williams’ departure it’d be worth considering someone with a little more bulk.

Defensive end Shaun Cody was Houston’s starting nose tackle, and Earl Mitchell saw considerable time at nose tackle as well. Neither one played poorly; however it was clear both are far more comfortable playing at defensive end. Ideally the Texans can acquire a true nose tackle so they can both return to their natural position.

Indianapolis Colts
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Brandon McKinney (7th year),Antonio Johnson (6th year), Drake Nevis (2nd year), Ricardo Matthews (3rd year), Fili Moala (4th year), Ollie Ogbu (2nd year)

Much of the focus of the Colts’ rebuilding process has been on the offensive side of the ball. Specifically, their quarterback of the future, Andrew Luck, has been the talk of the town since before the 2011 season was in the books. In actuality, the biggest changes in Indianapolis will be on the defensive side of the ball, where the Colts will be transitioning to a 3-4 defense.

No 3-4 defense can function without a nose tackle, and right now Indianapolis is severely lacking in that area. They signed Brandon McKinney as a stop gap, but he won’t be more than a middle of the road starter at best. Furthermore, McKinney is the only true nose tackle on the roster. Quarterback may be the first area the Colts address, but nose tackle should become the focus quickly after.

Kansas City Chiefs
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Kelly Gregg (13th year), Jerrell Powe (2nd year), Anthony Toribio (3rd year)

Since switching to a 3-4 defense three years ago, the Chiefs have had a revolving door at nose tackle. After using a different starter there three years running, Kansas City enters the fourth year of the transition with the task of adding a quality nose tackle as one of their top priorities.

Although there’s some debate as to whether he’s a better fit in a 3-4 or 4-3, one player that keeps being mentioned as a big possibility for the Chiefs here is Dontari Poe. While he’s not a prototypical nose tackle, it’s conceivable that’d he’d be a good fit there. He’s raw however, and the real question may be whether or not Kansas City is willing to wait on him to develop.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Casey Hampton (12th year), Ziggy Hood (4th year), Steve McClendon (3rd year), Corbin Bryant (2nd year), Al Woods (3rd year), Kade Weston (3rd year)

Casey Hampton was once one of the top nose tackles in the game, but he’s now pushing age 35 and is a shadow of his former self. Ziggy Hood is a talented player but better suited at defensive end, so Pittsburgh is clearly on the market for a nose tackle.

Steve McClendon is a little known player that has gone from an undrafted player to someone who could be a good rotational player for the Steelers, but he’s far too raw to be relied upon alone. Look for Pittsburgh to address nose tackle sooner than later in the draft.

NEED: 4-3 DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Carolina Panthers
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Ron Edwards (12th year), Sinoe Fua (2nd year), Terrell McClain (2nd year), Frank Kearse (2nd year), Jason Shirley (4th year)

Carolina drafted both Sinoe Fua and Terrell McClain in the third round of the 2011 draft, but the early returns on those two suggest that the Panthers will need to address the position even earlier in 2012. Fua had a decent rookie season, but McClain looked outmatched throughout the year.

The Panthers can probably look at Fua as a long term starter, but McClain made it all too clear that he won’t be any more than a depth player. Carolina needs to add at least one starter here, and someone like Fletcher Cox in the first round would be just that.

Denver Broncos
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Justin Bannan (11th year),Marcus Thomas (6th season), Kevin Vickerson (7th year), Sealver Siliga (2nd year)

Denver had a great defense in 2011, but it took a hit with the loss of Broderick Bunkley. Ryan McBean, a defensive end who’s also plays tackle, will be suspended for the first portion of the season due to violating the league’s drug policy.

The Broncos added Justin Bannan, and he figures to be start at one tackle spot, but he’s not enough to make the position a non issue. Denver still will need to add a pass rushing defensive tackle to build on 2011’s defensive success.

Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Jurrell Casey (2nd year), Karl Klug (2nd year), Sen’Derrick Marks (4th year), Shaun Smith (8th year), Leger Douzable (5th year), Zach Clayton (2nd year)

At first glance the Titans seem pretty well of at defensive tackle, but they’re actually in the middle of a transition there. Jurrell Casey and Karl Klug are both quality young players, but both Sen’Derrick Marks and Shaun Smith are likely going to be gone by 2013, and maybe sooner.

That leaves Tennessee with one good starter in Casey and a great rotational player in Klug, but not much else. Leger Douzable isn’t likely to be more than a stop gap, and the Titans will be looking for at least one more defensive tackle to add to their rotation.

St Louis Rams
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Kendall Langford (5th year), Trevor Laws (5th year), Darell Scott (3rd year), John Henderson (2nd year), Cornell Banks (3rd year)

The Rams cut both their 2011 starters at defensive tackle this offseason, and added Kendall Langford to presumably start at one tackle spot in 2012. They also signed Trevor Laws, but he won’t be more than a rotational player.

Jeff Fisher loves developing athletic freaks into defensive linemen, so you have to think he’s extremely intrigued by Dontari Poe. The Rams may be too high in the first round to draft him, but if Fisher thinks he can help Poe reach his potential he just may pull the trigger. 

NEED: INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE DEPTH

Cleveland Browns
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Phil Taylor (2nd year), Ahtyba Rubin (5th year), Scott Paxson (3rd year), Kiante Tripp (2nd year)

Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin are a solid starting duo at defensive tackle for the Browns. Taylor and Rubin are young Cleveland, so doesn’t need to worry about their starters on the interior of the defensive line.

The talent really drops off after those two however. Scott Paxson and Kiante Tripp are both young, but aren’t really developing any. The Browns shouldn’t feel very confident in either one in the event that a starter goes down, so they’ll need to find some quality depth to add to the defensive line.

New York Jets
Defensive tackles currently on roster: Sione Pouha (8th year), Kenrick Ellis (2nd year), Matt Kroul (3rd year)

It’s not often that concerns about a player being deported from the United States would factor into a team’s offseason plan, but unfortunately that’s the case for the New York Jets and Kenrick Ellis. If he’s convicted of the felony charges he’s facing, he’ll be facing deportation, leaving the Jets without any depth at nose tackle.

Hopefully Ellis will remain in the league, but his trial won’t begin until May. That leaves the Jets with no real choice but to try and find a back up plan in the case that Ellis is convicted and deported.

Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive Tackles currently on roster: Cullen Jenkins (9th year), Mike Patterson (8th year), Antonio Dixon (4th year), Cedric Thornton (2nd year)

After suffering a seizure in the Eagles’ 2011 training camp, defensive tackle Mike Patterson was diagnosed with a tangle of blood vessels in his brain. He was able to play in 2011 and recently had surgery to correct the problem.

The issue shouldn’t continue to be a problem anymore, but it’s still concerning. Philadelphia’s depth at defensive tackle isn’t great anyway, and having some extra insurance for Patterson would be a wise move.