Our 2026 NFL Combine preview series continues, as we explore each position group ahead of the big event. In this article, we are examining the draft’s interior defensive line prospects that should be on the radar of Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
In case you’ve missed any of this series, so far, we have already previewed:
- 7 quarterbacks
- 10 running backs
- 7 wide receivers
- 10 tight ends
- 10 offensive tackles
- 10 interior offensive linemen
Note: Interior defensive line prospects are up first in on-field drills and will take the field on Thursday, February 26.
Team need
Despite missing Alim McNeill for a chunk of the
season and Levi Onwuzurike for the entire year, the Lions were very deep at defensive tackle in 2025 due to the play of Tyleik Williams, DJ Reader, and Roy Lopez. While Reader and Lopez are free agents, the Lions have returned McNeill to full health, and Onwuzurike looks on track to return in 2026.
McNeill and Williams are expected to start in 2026, and Onwuzurike is the ideal player for the Lions’ 4i role, but the Lions could use depth (re-signing Reader and/or Lopez are legitimate options) and may need to invest in a player who can play 4i, with Onwuzurike’s health status unclear, and Tyler Lacy still developing.
What skills to watch for during on-field drills
When watching the interior defensive line players run through drills, there are a few important skills to identify:
- Balance through the hips
- Hand placement (especially evident with bag work)
- Do they play with their head up/eyes on target?
- Do they keep their weight over their feet?
- Are their feet quick?
- How is their lateral movement?
- Do they shuffle their feet or cross-step?
Setting the table
This class lacks any elite defensive tackles, but could still see as many as five taken in the first round, depending on how things fall. Overall, this class is very deep with run stuffers and nose tackles, but that’s not traditionally the type of player who is drafted high in the first round.
As a result, with the Lions’ only having a moderate need at defensive tackle, it may be hard to justify them considering drafting an IDL prospect at No. 17. However, they could be interested if any of the top five prospects below fall to pick No. 50, and/or the upside prospects who can play at 4i.
Upside gambles
Peter Woods, 3T-4i, Clemson (6-foot-3, 315)
Woods entered the season not only as the top defensive tackle on many analysts’ draft boards, but also as the No. 1 overall player. Unfortunately, like most Clemson players in this class, 2025 was a disaster, and their 2024 tape is a better representation of their skill sets.
Clemson deployed Woods all over their defensive line, giving him reps from nose tackle to edge, though he’s been most effective inside at the 3-technique. As the Tigers looked for answers throughout the season, they shifted Woods to nose tackle even more than in previous seasons (45% compared to 30%), despite him slimming down to play the 3T. Overall, that hurt his consistency and exposed some weaknesses in his game. That being said, in a class full of run-stuffing nose tackles, his pass-rush prowess does show up.
Woods has explosive foot quickness and can be elusive inside, with a high-running motor and violent hands. He has a solid balance and understands leverage, but is more of a brawler than an anchor point on the line. His lateral quickness is special, allowing him to cover a large pursuit range and work his attack with his teammates. While he is capable of 1- and 2-gapping, he doesn’t win early in his reps, and if he’s not first in landing his punch, he can be controlled. While landing first helps him gain an advantage, he still needs more pass-rushing tools in his bag.
Caleb Banks, 1-3-5T, Florida (6-foot-6, 335)
Banks, a Detroit native, played only three games in 2025 due to a foot injury, but he showed his persistence in working back from injury and balled out at the Senior Bowl. With a rare frame that he uses to his advantage, Florida deployed him up and down their line, giving him reps at the 0, 1, 3, 4i, and 5-techniques. He’s still developing parts of his game, but he’s also likely nowhere near his ceiling.
With an explosive first step, Banks’ size and quickness can overwhelm offensive linemen. He possesses powerful, active hands, utilizes his length (35-inch arms) to close distances, and aggressive speed to gain early advantages. He needs to gain more consistency in his technique, can get caught too high at times, and could use some better conditioning to stay on the field longer, but the overall package is special.
Elite run defenders
Kayden McDonald, 43 NT, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 326)
McDonald took over for Tyleik Williams (Lions 2025 first-round pick) this season, and while he is only a 1-year starter, he’s a steady and reliable clone in many ways. While this obviously makes him a schematic fit, the question for Detroit will be: do they have a role for such a similar player?
Like Williams in 2024, McDonald was PFF’s No. 1 rated run defender in 2025, leading college football in grade and “stops” (run plays that resulted in a “loss” for the offense). His tape is littered with examples of him anchoring against blocks, deploying a heavy punch, then violently shedding and making tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. His quick play recognition and explosiveness at the snap allow him to reset the line of scrimmage and generate a high level of production for an interior player. While constantly in pursuit mode, McDonald offers little pass-rush potential as his technique is still developing, and he often falls short of his target.
Lee Hunter, 43/34 NT, Texas Tech (6-foot-3 1/2, 320)
Hunter has Alim McNeill-like positional flexibility, working at the 0/1 and 3T at high levels—while also showing the skills to kick out to 4i—, and can live in both 1- and 2-gapping schemes. His aggressive pursuit in pass rush and as a run defender will appeal to NFL teams.
A dominant run defender (PFF’s No. 8 graded run defender), Hunter eats single blocks, anchoring his gaps, and consistently relocating linemen with bend, leverage, and power. With great lateral range and change-of-direction skills for a big man, he’ll catch linemen off guard, leading to him manipulating gaps with his bull rush and swim move. While he’s flashed pass-rushing skills, his push can be inconsistent, and when he gets too high, he will lose ground, but a few technical tweaks can correct these issues.
Christen Miller, 43 NT, Georgia (6-foot-4, 305)
Miller is a reliable, high-energy interior lineman who played multiple positions in Georgia’s heavy rotational (and highly talented) defensive front. He is capable of playing in 1- and 2-gap schemes, but his game best translates as a 43 nose tackle, though he is undersized for that role by NFL standards and will struggle versus double teams.
With a quick first step, strike-first power, and the ability to quickly diagnose plays, Miller sheds blocks well and will run down ball carriers, leading to him checking in as PFF’s second-highest graded run defender. Miller is still developing his skills—he doesn’t always play with fluidity and balance—but he flashes pass-rush potential, though he often falls short of his targets.
4i solutions
Rayshaun Benny, 4i/3T, Michigan (6-foot-3, 296)
Benny has been a steady riser throughout the season, capped off by a great Senior Bowl, and the Lions will likely hope he lasts until Day 3. While he was a multi-year contributor at Michigan, he had only 1 year of starting experience, as he rotated behind 2025 top-13 picks Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. While many teams will view Benny as a 3T, he would thrive in the Lions scheme as a 4i, a role he flashed at in 2024.
Tied for the eighth-highest run-defending grad from PFF with Hunter, Benny has aggressive hands, quick feet, and the strength to break down and shed blocks quickly. He does a nice job of using his length to stay detached—illustrating 2-gapping range—allowing him to be a productive pass rusher. At the 4i, his pass-rush explosiveness was highlighted, but the push inside to a 3T role last season seemed to dull things down. This could be because his anchor was inconsistent when he got too high in his stance, but he was also susceptible to double teams, which caused him trouble.
Kaleb Proctor, 4i/3T, SE Louisiana (6-foot-1 1/2, 275)
A small school playmaker, Proctor is an elite athlete who is best when allowed to stay on the move. While very undersized for an NFL 3T (a position he hopes to play in the NFL by adding more weight), he said at the Shrine Bowl that he’s willing to contribute anywhere he can on the field.
Proctor possesses an impressive first step, short-area navigation, and shoots gaps with explosion and creativity (his double swipe move is nasty). He has unlimited lateral range, can bend the edge, is an aggressive attacker with fast hands, can shed blocks vs. passive blockers, and has a nose for the football. He’s one of the best pass rushers in this class, and his game against LSU illustrates how his skills can translate against a higher level of competition. His weight concerns show up when trying to anchor vs. power blocks, which could make him role dependent until he adds more strength.
Tyler Onyedim, 3T/4i, Texas A&M (6-foot-3 1/2, 290)
After three seasons of playing the 5-technique at Iowa State, Onyedim transferred to Texas A&M, moved inside to the 3T in 2025, and thrived. He would still occasionally kick outside in pass-rushing situations, where he could use his previous experience to his advantage.
Overall, Onyedim is an underrated athlete who is explosive at the snap, shoots gaps with quickness, and sheds blocks with churning feet and active/powerful hands. displaying lateral range. While he lacks the mass for a bull rush, he has a nice range of pass-rushing moves, but would benefit from adding more counters to his game. He’s a strong run defender and edge setter, but power blockers can move when at the 3T, as he is still raw for the position.
