Christian Barmore has a chance to take the DT1 throne in the 2021 NFL Draft
In the last two years of the draft — 2019 and 2020— a defensive tackle has been selected in the top 10 of the NFL. Quinnen Williams (third to the New York Jets) and Ed Oliver (ninth to the Buffalo Bills) were both top-10 picks in 2019 and in 2020 Derrick Brown was selected seventh overall by the Carolina Panthers. This, however, is not the norm. Look out for Alabama’s Christian Barmore to make some noise in the 2021 NFL Draft class.
In the 7 years prior to 2019, no defensive tackle was selected in the top-10 of their respective class. Several players were able to come close to cracking the code — Dontari Poe (11th in 2012), Danny Shelton (12th in 2015), and Vita Vea (12th in 2018) among others.
Defensive tackle isn’t a flashy position like quarterback and defensive end, but they play a vital role on defense. They are your anchor in the run game and they help you close the pocket on the quarterback; if you can get a guy who can both, well that’s just the treat. In this year’s class, there is one, perhaps two prospects who effect both facets of the game.