This NFL Draft is loaded with offensive talent at key positions like quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive tackle to the point where defensive prospects aren’t getting the attention they have in recent years.
One analyst is paying attention to the defensive tackle market and says that two prospects are worth keeping an eye on in the draft process.
Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team said that given the explosion of the DT market in the NFL, we shouldn’t be surprised to see some prospects at the position get pushed up the board on draft night, with Texas’ Byron Murphy and Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton being two of the biggest names to watch.
If you’ve been paying attention to the exploding DT market in the NFL, it should be no surprise if some of the top DTs in the NFL Draft get pushed up the board come next Thursday night.
Byron Murphy (Texas) & Johnny Newton (Illinois) are names to watch.
More on @The33rdTeamFB: pic.twitter.com/SSlheUhMWz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 17, 2024
Murphy was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year last season after putting up 29 tackles and five sacks.
Meirov said that the top 15 or top 18 spots are in play for Murphy, which would be a big leap from what we have read in mock drafts over recent months.
Newton was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year last season and is being projected as a 2nd-round pick, but he could see his stock rise as well.
Meirov said teams view him as an immediate starter as a 3-technique.
Defense made a comeback across the league last season and perhaps we put too much stock in the offensive prospects during this draft process.
Nothing anchors a defense quite like a stud defensive tackle, and it’s something every team prioritizes.
Keep an eye out for both these guys on the first night of the draft, because they might be gone faster than you thought.
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