2026 DL Thread

[rossihunter2]

Travis Jones has been locked into an extension.
Nnamdi Madubuike's future is muddy (at least to those outside the building).

Madubuike's health outlook will guide just how much of a need this position is.

Peter Woods, Caleb Banks are some big names who've already declared at the position.

 

[Argentina Raven]

Creo que es la clase estrella del draft, con jugadores para todos los gustos y niveles.
Si hay una clase capaz de reconstruir una DL y hacerla dominante, es esta.

 

[rossihunter2]

Creo que es la clase estrella del draft, con jugadores para todos los gustos y niveles.
Si hay una clase capaz de reconstruir una DL y hacerla dominante, es esta.

who are your favourites
i've watched 1 game of peter woods and saw some nice traits but wasn't super hyped about him

been intrigued by kayden mcdonald while watching other guys
heard caleb banks is interesting

 

[Argentina Raven]

Woods no matter what
Banks , ibirogba Hunter, keenan, Jackson JR, McDonald, Orange, A'mauri washington

It will ultimately depend on the next coach and the next sporting director.
There are big, heavy players for the current system that prioritizes "holding back," but also smaller, faster players for a more aggressive system focused on forcing turnovers and applying constant pressure

 

[JoeyFlex5]

who are your favourites
i've watched 1 game of peter woods and saw some nice traits but wasn't super hyped about him

been intrigued by kayden mcdonald while watching other guys
heard caleb banks is interesting

Really like Kayden McDonald and Caleb banks

Overall I’m not ecstatic about this DL class, which pisses me off considering how stacked last years class was and we got jack shit from it

 

[rossihunter2]

Really like Kayden McDonald and Caleb banks

Overall I’m not ecstatic about this DL class, which pisses me off considering how stacked last years class was and we got jack shit from it

i've watched a bunch more guys now

These are the guys i've liked so far:
Peter Woods
A'Mauri Washington
Caleb Banks
Christen Miller
Kayden McDonald
Lee Hunter

and then i also liked dominique orange and darrell jackson jr

Banks stands out because he's the only guy who obviously projects as a 3t - a lot of the rest of those guys are NTs (really strong NT class)

 

[JoeyFlex5]

i've watched a bunch more guys now

These are the guys i've liked so far:
Peter Woods
A'Mauri Washington
Caleb Banks
Christen Miller
Kayden McDonald
Lee Hunter

and then i also liked dominique orange and darrell jackson jr

Banks stands out because he's the only guy who obviously projects as a 3t - a lot of the rest of those guys are NTs (really strong NT class)

I haven’t watched Lee hunter. I do like all the guys mentioned but not blown away by them. I don’t see christen miller as a NT but more of a rotational, early down 3tech, like a Daron Payne. Kayden McDonald I feel could move from 0-3 pretty freely with the right development and scheming at the next level. Peter woods and Caleb banks are the clear 3techs and banks might have some 5tech in his arsenal as well.

Also love Domonique orange as a NT, I’d love to see him in Baltimore, mini jordan Davis potential. Amauri Washington an uber athletic NT but I don’t really see him anywhere but NT.

All in all it’s not a bad class, but I think last years class was the one for us to slam dunk a DT and we weren’t able to.

 

[rossihunter2]

I haven’t watched Lee hunter. I do like all the guys mentioned but not blown away by them. I don’t see christen miller as a NT but more of a rotational, early down 3tech, like a Daron Payne. Kayden McDonald I feel could move from 0-3 pretty freely with the right development and scheming at the next level. Peter woods and Caleb banks are the clear 3techs and banks might have some 5tech in his arsenal as well.

Also love Domonique orange as a NT, I’d love to see him in Baltimore, mini jordan Davis potential. Amauri Washington an uber athletic NT but I don’t really see him anywhere but NT.

All in all it’s not a bad class, but I think last years class was the one for us to slam dunk a DT and we weren’t able to.

Christen Miller definitely has traits to develop as a pass rusher beyond just a 1tech - he's got that lateral quickness - but the moves and plan are nowhere close to where you'd want them to be for him to come in as an interior pass rusher straight away

Washington's the NT who looks the most likely to develop into an interior rushing threat from the nose - i think he's going to test like a freak

Lee Hunter has some of that lateral wiggle too

the draft is a lot thinner in guys who are legit 3techs (rather than NTs who you can occasionally shift out to 3t)

i really wish caleb banks didnt miss so much time this year because i think he could have made a real case to be a top 15 type talent (then again, maybe that's what gets him to baltimore idk)

 

[JoeyFlex5]

Christen Miller definitely has traits to develop as a pass rusher beyond just a 1tech - he's got that lateral quickness - but the moves and plan are nowhere close to where you'd want them to be for him to come in as an interior pass rusher straight away

Washington's the NT who looks the most likely to develop into an interior rushing threat from the nose - i think he's going to test like a freak

Lee Hunter has some of that lateral wiggle too

the draft is a lot thinner in guys who are legit 3techs (rather than NTs who you can occasionally shift out to 3t)

i really wish caleb banks didnt miss so much time this year because i think he could have made a real case to be a top 15 type talent (then again, maybe that's what gets him to baltimore idk)

Banks looks like a guy who becomes a classic ravens pick. Like this guys good, not a top 10 kinda guy but slips through the cracks as we get past the blue chip stage of the draft and positional runs happen, then boom he falls in our laps and everyone’s like “they did it again”

 

[Dom McRaven]

Bump.

 

[rossihunter2]

revisiting some of the top DL in the class and it was interesting coming back to them all

i've got a clump of 3-5 guys that i keep messing around on the order of:

Christen Miller is a guy who i think could have been a ton more productive if he'd been aligned at 3t more - lateral quickness and explosive first step and power - think he might project better at 3t - right now he's my DT1

Peter Woods is such an explosive and fluid mover - but despite the tools just doesnt win enough in the pass game and gets washed too easily in the run game - dont think the 2025 defensive scheme was a good fit for him (or TJ Parker tbh) but still frustrating to see his best football not in his final year in college

Kayden McDonald - not much lateral ability but he's just so violent and powerful - makes it hard to project much pass rush beyond refining a dominant bull rush but the explosive power off the ball is exciting

Lee Hunter - bendy and good first step as well as good anchor and mass - the most natural of the NTs as a pass rusher but more fluid than explosive

Caleb Banks - the highs are the highest in the class by far but his pad level is so consistently upright that he's also by far the least consistently impactful - might have a 3 play sequence where he gets washed easily, then has some pocket push, then throws some outrageous pass rush move for a clean win

 

[Argentina Raven]

Every time I watch videos of Woods, I don't understand why people don't like him more.
He's 20 years old, constantly double-teamed, and if he's in a one-on-one matchup, he generally wins. Pairing him with Jones is already insane, and if we can add Madbuike, wow.
In this draft, I'd add two defensive-minded players and complete the roster with a veteran
.

 

[JO_75]

The downside to the Chiefs missing the playoffs is being in position to take Chris Jones' replacement. I could see them nabbing Woods or Banks at 9 which would suck. I'd take either one of them at 14 but both may not make it to us given whose picking in front of us.

Look for Michigan DL Rayshaun Benny as a potential pick for us as he was there at Michigan with Minter.

 

[Argentina Raven]

Another player who doesn't get much attention is Zxavian Harris of Ole Miss, 6'8", 330 lbs, 34" arms, versatile across multiple fronts, he's really interesting

 

[rossihunter2]

Another player who doesn't get much attention is Zxavian Harris of Ole Miss, 6'8", 330 lbs, 34" arms, versatile across multiple fronts, he's really interesting

domestic violence in 2024, DUI and police car chase in 2023
would be surprised if he's on most teams' boards

 

[Argentina Raven]

domestic violence in 2024, DUI and police car chase in 2023
would be surprised if he's on most teams' boards

It's no wonder it didn't receive attention. Lol

 

[rossihunter2]

i just dont agree with this take at all
he was very good for sure but not even close to best DT game in the last 4 years - he had a normal game except when he was lined up against the freshman LG who was completely outmatched and everyone in that Florida defence dominated