Finding the Rams defensive line “big” help in the draft

12 nose tackle prospects to strengthen the L.A. run defense

Last season, the Los Angeles Rams were a Bottom 10 team defending the run. Even though they made the playoffs and did show improvement over the course of the season, many fans thought a lack of mass at the point of attack made them susceptible to better NFL competition. Flash forward and it looks like the Rams largest defensive tackle is not happy in L.A.

To the Rams favor, in this year’s deep defensive tackle class, options abound. It just depends on how much draft capital you are willing to utilize. While you can never have enough pass rushers, L.A. currently has a handful of players that can get after the quarterback. What the Rams lack is a interior space taker, run clogger, or block eater. Any catchy descriptor you want to use.

Please check out all my TST draft content.

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Little receivers, big rewards

NFL Combine snubs

Fastest prospects at the Senior Bowl

Opening Top 300

Meet the prospects

Kenneth Grant – Michigan – 6’ 4” 331 lb. 33 1/2” arms

Only 21, the true junior is foregoing his final college season. One of the most-telling things about Grant is that he came to Michigan well over 350 lb. and through his work ethic, Wolverine coaches have declared him as one of their top conditioned players. Worked in all 41 games of his college career, with 17 starts. He racked up 69 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 12 passes batted down.

Well put together, compact frame and outstanding move skills. Made the Feldman’s Freaks list for strength and athleticism. He shows power at the point of attack and stellar pursuit speed. Has the lower body mass and overall strength to stand up to the numerous double teams he faces, but could use some work consistently keeping his pad level down and sinking his hips/knees into blockers. He can be dominant when facing 1on1 reps

Certainly a Day 1 selection. To me, his ability to win in both the pass and run game from the nose makes up a true Round 1 pick. Plus he has the versatility to be a three-down chess piece. Even though he’s still in the learning phase of his growth, Grant offers Day 1 readiness with both a high floor and ceiling.

Tyleik Williams – Ohio State – 6’ 3” 334 lb. 32” arms

Joined Ohio State as four-star prospect with over 350 lb. on his frame. Fell in love with the weight room and was named to the Feldman’s Freaks list for strength and athleticism. Although a part of a deep rotation and not becoming a full-time starter until 2024, Williams racked up 137 tackles, 27 for loss, 11.5 sacks, and 10 batted passes over 51 games.

Proportionally-built and keeps low leverage. Understands keys, appears to have the nifty feet to navigate traffic in pursuit, and moves well laterally. Good upper body strength, keeps awareness of where the ball is going and controls/rides blockers to that point, where he can shed and tackle. His arms are shorter than the standard, but strikes are powerful and sure

Well-rounded, plug-and-play prospect. I have him with a Round 2 grade and most experts consider him a probable Day 1. If he can muster up some quarterback pressure, he will be well worth it. Williams did not play as much nose as the other plus-sized prospects, Ohio State moved him around the interior spots.

Deone Walker – Kentucky – 6’ 7” 331 lb. 34 1/4” arms

Soon to be 21 years old, Walker came out after three college seasons. Became a starter as a true freshman and eventually started 36 of 37 games for the Wildcats. After strong freshman and sophomore campaigns, his final season did not continue the trajectory. All said, he recorded 132 tackles, 22 for loss, 10 sacks, and batted six passes.

High ceiling developmental player, he’s massive with great length and strength. Can be a little Jekyll and Hyde. When Walker keeps his pads low and uses that quick first step, he can dominate anyone in front of him. He sets a massive anchor and has the strength to toss aside blockers. But when his first move is to stand up, and it happens too often, blockers get under his high-cut frame and with that base lost, he can be easily moved. His weak areas appear quite fixable with repetition and a strength/conditioning program.

Before the season, his name was bandied about as a Day 1 possibility and now, after a tough season and ordinary pre-draft workouts, many have dropped him to the cusp of Top 100. I’m staying with a Round 2 grade, with Walker’s rare combination of size, length and agility, his potential is just too much to ignore.

Alfred Collins – Texas – 6’ 6” 332 lb., 34 5/8” arms, and 10” hands

Five-star high school recruit, played in a rotation for his first four season’s, 48 games with 12 starts. Totaled 87 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, and six batted passes. Took the extra COVID year and broke out with 14 starts, 55 tackles, 5.5 for loss, one sack, and seven batted passes.

Collins is a dirty work player, setting and defending gaps. Anchor comes from a wide, solid base, big lower half, and plus upper body strength. Does an adequately consistent job of staying low, despite his height. Strong upper body and grip strength to control and then shed blockers. Shocking punch and the push/pull are his go-to moves to shed blockers and wraps up tackles. Good feet and short area agility.

High-floor run stopper. Has the size, length, and enough athleticism to be a versatile piece along the whole front. Although not a particularly gifted pass rusher, he does keep his eyes in the backfield, times his jumps, and gets his hand arms up to obscure passing lanes. The best quote about his game, “he makes the linebackers behind him better.”

Jamaree Caldwell – Oregon – 6’ 2” 332 lb. 32” arms

Began his journey with a couple of Juco stops before spending a couple seasons at Houston. Posted solid Pro Football Focus numbers while with the Cougars. Finished up with a final season at Oregon. Over 34 college games, he charted 68 tackles, 16.5 for loss, and 8.5 sacks.

Classic nose tackle frame, squatty with a big, wide bottom half. Sets a solid anchor and hand fights well. While his pass rush production has been limited, Caldwell pairs sneaky athleticism with a hot motor, so there is potential to improve. He does lack length, but if lined up against someone comparable, he can turn get-off and strike ability into the power to compress the pocket.

Caldwell played both outside and inside. He showed well at the Senior Bowl and lost 10 lb. for the Combine, where he looked fluid for such a big man in field workouts. Will benefit greatly from a pro strength/conditioning program. Has always played as part of a rotation and appears to lose technique/pad level later in games or after too many consecutive reps. I have him rated as a Round 4 pick in a deep DT class.

Nazir Stackhouse – Georgia – 6’ 4” 327 lb. 32 1/2” arms

Steady Freddy-type player who has hasn’t dominated, but has proven to be a versatile, consistent, and durable piece in a top SEC program. Posted 54 starts over five seasons and contributed 96 tackles, nine for loss, and three sacks.

Thickly cut frame creates a power player who utilizes his strength to control the point of attack. Holds up very well against double teams, but needs work on shedding blockers rather than locking/controlling them (maybe a scheme thing). Lacks the overall athleticism and quick first step to get a lot of penetration, but can move laterally to follow the ball. Has not been used as a pass rusher, mostly uses a bullrush and hot motor. Likely limited to nose tackle, as a pro, until he can improve his pass rush skills.

As a later selection, late Round 6/early Round 7, you can’t go wrong with a player from Georgia, they’re always well-schooled, have responsibility discipline and are ready to compete on Day 1. Stackhouse fits that model. A two-down nose tackle to plug gaps and lock up blockers to keep the linebackers clean to make plays.

Cam Jackson – Florida – 6’ 6” 328 lb. 34 1/8” arms

Started his career with three seasons at Memphis, one as a starter. Began to show off his potential in final two seasons at Florida. Chipped in 69 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, and four batted passes while in the Sunshine State.

Monstrous physical traits. Likely limited to nose tackle work because of labored get-off. Understands how to use his length to advantage, but because of his height/ high-cut frame, needs work to consistently keep his pad level down and set a wider, more stable base. Good run defender, who can play off blocks. Shows the potential to compress the pocket when lands his punch and bullrushes with leverage. Has natural power, but would really benefit from a strength/conditioning program.

When he puts it all together, Jackson flashes as a dominator, but needs substantial polish. He’s a two-year starter in the SEC. I rate the big man as late round (late 6th/early 7th) developmental prospect. Can he harness his physical traits and grow into his game?

Yahya Black – Iowa – 6’ 6” 336 lb. 35” arms

Soon to be 23 year-old started the final 27 straight games of his Iowa career. For all 54 games he appeared in, Black tallied 117 tackles, 15 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and nine passes defended. Pro Football Focus graded him at 81.0 for run defense in 2024 and credited him with 26 pressures.

Physical specimen with great length. Black knows how to use those long arms and does a very good job of stacking and shedding. He gets those arms extended and clamps on to blockers. He’s not a gap shooter, he wants a phone booth fight in his gap(s). His play is almost spy-like, he does push the pocket, but isn’t a real deep penetrator. He follows keys and keeps awareness of the ball to shed and pursue tackles. Has the lower body mass and strength to set a strong base and stand up to double teams, sometimes with pure anchor and on others he fends them off with his length.

I rate Black as a mid-6th round player. He’s not very athletic and doesn’t have good get-off. He played in a responsibility-driven defensive scheme, tasked to take on blockers and let the linebackers and safeties clean up. He has good film against solid running teams. Iowa moved him around, but kept him between the tackles.

Tim Smith – Alabama – 6’ 1” 334 lb. 32 3/4” arms

Played in 64 games with 33 starts, could have come out last year, but took the extra COVID year. Four-star recruit was part of the ‘Bama rotation since his freshman year, play time and production increasing every year. Smith chalked up 124 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, and batted two passes.

Not a dominating presence, Smith is steady and well-schooled in how to play defensive line. Not a plus athlete, he wins with power and technique. Accurate inside striker with his punch and good grip strength makes for strong stacks/shed ability. Good wide base. Likely not athletic enough to be a pass rushing threat, he does have the feet and motor to play anywhere on the interior. A lunch pail warrior who makes others around him better.

Another well-rounded, tough SEC player. Durable, high floor prospect with big game experience and is ready to play right away. Although I originally rated him as undrafted, Smith really raised his draft stock with strong Senior Bowl workouts. He impressed scouts by consistently winning with power in 1on1 reps and team settings.

Elijah Simmons – Tennessee – 6’ 1” 334 lb. 32 3/4” arms

Sixth-year senior who never broke through as a starter, while he saw action in 55 games, he only logged eight starts. Fought nagging injuries and missed notable time in both 2021 and 2023 due to ailments. For his career, he made 59 tackles, seven for loss, split a sack, and batted three passes.

Named to the Feldman’s Freaks list. Strongest player on the team. Stellar quickness and overall athleticism for his size. Has the get-off and low center of balance to shoot gaps as well as the wide base and anchor to hold them, Still quite raw, considering his six years in school. Needs technique work on striking with his hands and tossing aside blockers, he certainly has the strength

Another undrafted grade, but with a lot of upside. Had a strong showing at the Combine, very nimble and light-footed for his size. First off as a pro, Simmons needs an upgrade in conditioning. Never put in more than 150 reps in a season and his film shows him subbed out after 2-3 plays. A positive note is that his film also shows strong play against top college opponents in those few reps.

Jay Toia – UCLA – 6’ 2” 342 lb. 32 1/2”

Originally signed with crosstown rival USC and went spring workouts before moving out. His time at UCLA spanned four years and 50 games with 36 starts. Toia clogged the middle for two Top 10 NCAA run defenses (2nd-2023, 6th-2024) in his final two seasons. He registered 91 tackles, nine for loss, three sacks, and four batted passes.

Squatty build with big, powerful lower half. Toia eats up double team’s with a wide base and low center of gravity. Appears content to be monolith in the middle. Not a great block shedder and he doesn’t have the length to latch on and torque. In 1on1 situations, he’s a flurry of action, throwing punches and clubs with abandon. In this scenario, he can create penetration, but hasn’t proven to be able to close the deal as a pass rusher. Always hustling and pursuing.

Although I only give Toia a free agent grade, he could an interesting developmental option. He’s a good run-stopper already, just needs work on shedding blockers and getting his hand strikes under control. He actually has fairly nimble feet for his size.

Joe Evans- UTSA – 6’ 2” 337 lb. 34” arms @ Shrine Bowl

Another sixth-year senior. Played his first three seasons at LSU, before transferring to UTSA for three. Suffered a season-ending knee injury early in his third year at UTSA. Evans participated in 45 games and 32 over his six seasons and tabulated 69 tackles, 8.5 for loss, and four sacks.

First step quickness and jolting punch. Stays low and able to push 1on1 blockers backwards. Good move skills for big guy. UTSA moved him around the defensive front, but he doesn’t have enough moves to be a pass rush threat, Often gets his weight too far forward and losses balance to the ground. Adequate lateral movment.

Biggest longshot of the group. Named to the Shrine Bowl. but still rehabbing knee. Watched an interview and he looks in solid upper body shape. Undrafted prospect with a good pedigree.

Who fits the Rams needs?

Start with this question, Do the Rams really need to spend assets on a top prospect at nose tackle when later options may fill the need? It’s not a stretch to say that if L.A. wants any of the top four on this list, they would have to throw their #26 at it.

Current NFL defensive trends are steering towards two-deep coverages and lighter boxes. This adds value to the old-school two gapping nose tackles, doing the dirty work of clogging the middle and being able to force and hold up on double team blocks.

If the role is to fill is to plug gaps and keep the linebackers clean to make plays, it would be a much smarter move to use early picks on playmakers. None of these nose tackle prospects is a particularly skilled pass rusher and although a few certainly have the traits and potential, getting quarterback pressure will have to be developed.

Do fans think the Rams should draft a monolithic force on their interior or look for a well-rounded prospect with pass/run capabilities?