Cole’s Corner: 2022 Defensive Tackle Prospect Rankings

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14. P.J. Mustipher – Penn State

Mustipher is a large run stopper in the middle of the defensive line. He is powerful and has some solid push. In order to be more productive and not just a body absorbing space, Mustipher needs to work on pad level so that he does not get moved as easily. Mustipher also needs to develop more consistency with his play. He will fit best as a developmental 4-3 defensive tackle.

Player Comparison: Leki Fotu

Projection: 5^th – 7^th Round

Best Fits: Cleveland, Minnesota, Jacksonville (Wild Card – Seattle)

13. Jermayne Lole – Arizona State

Lole is a run stuffer and a solid tackler. He has excellent leverage and agility. Lole’s stout build makes him a tough bull rusher. His lack of length allows interior offensive lineman to latch on easily and he can struggle with disengaging. Lole will fit best as a 4-3 DT but could even play in a 3-4.

Player Comparison: Tommy Togiai

Projection: 4^th – 5^th Round

Best Fits: Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Carolina (Wild Card – Las Vegas)

12. Otito Ogbonnia – UCLA

Ogbonnia is a true run stuffer that plugs up the middle with nice size and length. He is not a pass rusher and also not very disruptive. He has had some flashes of productivity, but nothing to count on regularly. Ogbonnia fits best as a 3-4 nose tackle, where he can occupy some attention in the middle, allowing talented edge rushers and blitzing linebackers to get in the backfield.

Player Comparison: Maliek Collins

Projection: 4^th – 5^th Round

Best Fits: Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles Chargers (Wild Card – Seattle)

11. Thomas Booker – Stanford

Booker is a 6’3” interior lineman who drops levels well, allowing him to get excellent leverage. Booker has some nice speed and does very well on stunts when he can actually get around the edge. Despite getting nice leverage at times, he lacks the necessary push to drive offensive linemen back. Due to his strength and weaknesses, the team that drafts Booker should try to get him closer to the edge. He will operate best as a 3-4 defensive end or defensive tackle.

Player Comparison: Kingsley Keke

Projection: 3^rd – 4^th Round

Best Fits: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Seattle (Wild Card – New York Jets)

10. Zachary Carter – Florida

Carter is a versatile player that can play up and down the line. He has great get-off at the time of the snap and then shoots gaps. He is primarily a pass rusher, yet still adequate against the run. He does lack a consistent motor and I feel like he leaves more to be desired. If he can up the motor in the NFL, then he could be impactful on every down. On early downs, Carter would be best as a 4-3 defensive end. On third or fourth and long, it would then make sense to move him inside.

Player Comparison: Jalyn Holmes

Projection: 3^rd – 4^th Round

Best Fits: Indianapolis, Dallas, Cleveland (Wild Card – Tennessee)

9. Perrion Winfrey – Oklahoma

Winfrey might be overvalued in this class by many out there. He is a solid talent who can play almost any position on the line aside from nose tackle. He has fast straight away speed and creates havoc in backfield. Winfrey does have a relentless motor. Winfrey still could use plenty of coaching on his hand counter moves and his pass rush moves in general. Until those are refined, it might limit his productivity, keeping him from being a true first round talent. Winfrey will likely be best as a 4-3 DT.

Player Comparison: Sheldon Day

Projection: 3^rd – 4^th Round

Best Fits: Jacksonville, Carolina, Dallas (Wild Card – Buffalo)

8. Haskell Garrett – Ohio State

Garrett is a fascinating prospect because he was dominant in 2020. In the 2021 season, he did not produce at the same level without Tommy Togiai lined up beside him. He is a quick twitch pass rusher with plenty of moves at his disposal. He is great at finding gaps quickly when going 1v1. He has enough power to stop the run and a top tier motor. Where he struggles is when a team keys on him and doubles. Garrett then has a difficult time fighting through the double or even disengaging. He also will bring a team a ton of toughness. If he is placed at defensive tackle in a 4-3 base, next to a big and powerful run stopper, then his production might be quite high.

Player Comparison: Jonathan Allen

Projection: 2^nd – 3^rd Round

Best Fits: New Orleans, Carolina, Las Vegas (Wild Card – Cleveland)

7. John Ridgeway – Arkansas

Ridgeway is a very large defensive tackle with a nasty demeanor. He dominates center 1v1 and would be best known as a pocket pusher. He can really drive offensive lineman right into the backfield. He is very effective on early downs as a run stopper. He lacks lateral mobility and I would like to see his counter moves improve. Ridgeway could not only be a 4-3 DT but also fit as a 3-4 NT.

Player Comparison: Tyler Lancaster

Projection: 2^nd – 3^rd Round

Best Fits: Green Bay, Seattle, Cleveland (Wild Card – New England)

6. Matthew Butler – Tennessee

Butler is a quick pass rushing defensive tackle with some great bend. On film he seems to always display some excellent and consistent effort. Butler will need to be a bit more physical in order to make an impact against the run. He is best suited for a 4-3 as a defensive tackle.

Player Comparison: Sheldon Richardson

Projection: 2^nd – 3^rd Round

Best Fits: Carolina, Kansas City, Minnesota (Wild Card – Las Vegas)

5. Phidarian Mathis – Alabama

Mathis is a long interior defensive lineman with versatility. He is one of the better linemen in this class at shedding blocks and immediately launching into a tackle. He is actually best as a pass rusher but still sufficient against the run. I would like to see Mathis be even more physical. He could either be a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE/DT.

Player Comparison: Calais Campbell

Projection: 2^nd – 3^rd Round

Best Fits: Baltimore, Buffalo, Jacksonville (Wild Card – New Orleans) 

4. Travis Jones – Uconn                         

Jones is a force at 330 pounds and asserted himself as a run stopper that can still apply pressure on a quarterback. He eats up a bunch of space and pushes the pocket quite well. Jones has admirable work ethic on the field and that will likely continue to the NFL. He is not very quick which could possibly limit him as an every down player. Jones would be best as a 3-4 nose tackle.

Player Comparison: Linval Joseph

Projection: 2^nd Round

Best Fits: Green Bay, Pittsburgh, New England (Wild Card – Los Angeles Chargers)

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