How deep is the defensive tackle position in the 2025 NFL Draft? That's an oft-asked question I'm going to answer below. But of course your team may not be interested in a defensive tackle this April, so it's important for me to run through the entire 2025 class, position by position, to lay out the depth at every spot on the field. A bit of a spoiler -- edge rusher, running back, and even offensive tackle are very good too. Below you'll get the rankings of the position groups, based on my own evaluations in my scouting gradebook, not our CBS Sports consensus prospect rankings -- an important distinction.I've ranked based on number of prospects within my Top 100 for every position except running backs. For them, I've counted names from the Top 150 instead of the Top 100 because of the positional value boost every other position gets besides running backs in my scouting gradebook. Naturally, they have lower grades than the other positions, so extending the list of "eligible" running backs to 150 seemed like the sensible choice.And, I'm with the masses -- I don't like the quarterback class.Now, let's get to it!
Top 32 grades: Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori, Kevin Winston Jr. These safeties are rock-solid. I have top half of the first round grades on Starks and Emmanwori and genuinely believe Winston would've been widely considered a first-round prospect at the position had he stayed healthy. His tackling in 2023 was nearly Brian Branch-esque. That good. Notre Dame's Xavier Watts is a gifted ball hawk, and there are other quality mid-round types with three-down appeal like Wisconsin's hulking safety Hunter Wohler, Texas' Andrew Mukuba, and Virginia's Jonas Sanker. Not a banner class of safeties. A class with two marquee talents and a grouping of steady prospects.
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11. Interior Offensive Line
I don't remember a guard class as thin as this one, although it could ultimately get a boost from some collegiate tackles who transition inside at the next level. The center class might be even worse, with only Georgia's Jared Wilson in my Top 100. This is not the year to go looking for an early-career starter at either of those positions, and the non-explosive combine from Alabama's Tyler Booker damaged the reputation for the guard spot in this class.10. Linebacker
The off-ball linebacker group is notably top-heavy, and Campbell and Schwesinger are almost identical, sleek and springy rockets to the football. I didn't love Walker on film as an off-ball linebacker as much as an edge rusher, but he doesn't have prototypical edge size. The sleeper in this collection? Cal's Teddye Buchanan, who had a magnificent combine and is always around the football thanks to his athleticism and smarts. Notre Dame's Jack Kiser is one of the most fundamentally sound run-defenders I've ever scouted.9. Quarterback
I prefer the upside of Milroe to the steadiness of Shedeur Sanders, the latter of which I have graded just outside my Top 32. As for Ward, I view him like former Jaguars great David Garrard, who often got the job done with slightly above-average traits and a sprinkle of improvisational skill. The other quarterbacks I have inside my Top 100 are Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart and Louisville's Tyler Shough. From afar, this is much more like the 2019 and 2022 quarterback classes than any others since 2016.8. Tight End
I like this tight end class. I don't adore it. And frankly, I'm higher on some obscure names like Texas Tech's Jalin Conyers, Notre Dame's Mitchell Evans, South Carolina's Joshua Simon, and Alabama's C.J. Dippre and lower on one highly touted prospect from Michigan, Colston Loveland. Overall, this is one of the deeper tight end classes we've seen in recent memory and Warren is a special prospect at the position because of his physical prowess after the catch and how spectacularly he tracks the football.7. Safety
Top 100 prospects: 7Top 32 grades: Malaki Starks, Nick Emmanwori, Kevin Winston Jr. These safeties are rock-solid. I have top half of the first round grades on Starks and Emmanwori and genuinely believe Winston would've been widely considered a first-round prospect at the position had he stayed healthy. His tackling in 2023 was nearly Brian Branch-esque. That good. Notre Dame's Xavier Watts is a gifted ball hawk, and there are other quality mid-round types with three-down appeal like Wisconsin's hulking safety Hunter Wohler, Texas' Andrew Mukuba, and Virginia's Jonas Sanker. Not a banner class of safeties. A class with two marquee talents and a grouping of steady prospects.