Which dominating defensive linemen will the Rams add in the 2025 NFL Draft?

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams' defensive front, plenty of pass rushers know how to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Even as the team parts ways with outside linebacker/defensive tackle Michael Hoecht, several young edge rushers are eager to take over his workload. Players like Keir Thomas, Brennan Jackson, and Nick Hampton all hope that this is their year. But the team also parted ways with some stout run stuffers.

Who will take over their workload?

Well, the team is not without big-bodied, burly defenders. The team signed one of the NFL's best in NT Poona Ford, who will get his reprieve from young Jack Heflin. And the Rams can slide DL Tyler Davis, Larrell Murchison, Braden Fiske, and even Kobie Turner into the role throughout a game.

But what of the Rams' chances of landing a top-tier defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft? Exactly how loaded is the interior defensive lineman position in terms of NFL starters who are up for grabs? The Rams drafted DT Kobie Turner in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had a draft grade of 6.15. The team also added DE Dejuan Johnson with the final pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had a draft grade of 5.85 in his draft profile.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, 19 rookie IDL prospects have a draft grade greater than 6.15. 29 defensive linemen boast a draft grade greater than 5.85. That is nearly an entire round of the NFL Draft of just interior defensive linemen. That is a huge number of talented prospects:

While it's uncertain whether the Rams will wade into the fray to select one of the top defensive linemen in this draft, the front office has plenty of time and picks to dabble in defensive linemen at some point in time. So, who might the Rams have in their sights? To be perfectly honest, the rookie prospects are quite talented, even beyond the Top-10 prospects.

For a change of pace, let's pivot from the most lauded prospects to those who fall in the second tier. I've listed out the interior defensive linemen who fall in the range of 11-20 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Because they are not the most discussed, they should still be on the board through Day 2 and perhaps even early in Day 3 of the draft. So let's find out a little bit about them:

• Cam Jackson - 6.21 | DT | Senior | Florida - Standing 6-foot-6 and tipping the scales at 328 pounds, Cam Jackson will be popular from his size and power alone. While not a proficient pass rusher, Jackson can give opposing offensive linemen fits when trying to scheme against him in blocking assignments. A bit raw and less effective than expected, some coaching and patience can yield tremendous results.
• JJ Pegues - 6.21 | DT | Senior | Mississippi - A former tight end who flipped to defensive lineman, J.J. Pegues is an outstanding option for a defensive lineman. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 309 pounds, Pegues is stout enough to slide anywhere along the defensive front. He has solid pass rush moves and masters the ability to tackle ball carriers for a loss.
• Ty Hamilton - 6.20 - DT - Senior | Ohio State - 6-foot-3, 299-pound defensive lineman Ty Hamilton checks all the boxes in terms of a solid interior defensive lineman. A rookie who has demonstrated steady progress and development, Hamilton is very effective at stuffing the run and even boasts an impressive pass rush.
• Deone Walker - 6.20 -DT - Junior | Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker is another man-mountain who offers up power in a huge defensive lineman package. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 331 pounds, he simply needs to be on the defensive front to cause havoc. He dominated in 2023 in recording 7.5 quarterback sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. He was less effective in 2024, but he proved his ceiling to be quite high.
• Warren Brinson - 6.18 -DT -Senior | Georgia - Another SEC defensive lineman, Warren Brinson, is a versatile defender who can slide into whatever role is needed on the defensive line. A former teammate of QB Stetson Bennett, Brinson is big enough to anchor the defensive line at nose tackle, but agile enough to slide elsewhere to bolster run defense or pass rush needs. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds.
• Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - 6.18-DT- R-Junior | Georgia - It's unusual for two college players from the same position to be so closely graded in terms of draft profiles, but Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is the second Georgia defensive lineman. He is an entirely different type of player than Brinson. TID stands 6-foot-5 but only tips the scales at 276 pounds. As such, he is more about athleticism and potential than bona fide production. Ingram-Dawkins is raw, but gifted. He possesses natural ability and instincts, needing coaching and patience to reach his optimal potential.
• Darius Alexander - 6.17 -DT- Senior | Toledo - Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander has the 'feel' of a Les Snead selection, if for no other reason than he is likely less scouted, and therefore has had to be more productive to get noticed. That means passion, and that means he will check the boxes. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 315 pounds, there is nothing small-school about Alexander. He brings it all: Run-stuffing, pass rush, and blocker-gobbling. He is especially effective at getting his hands up to deflect passes and has a pick-six to his credit in 2024. He is the real deal, and the Rams would be lucky indeed to have him fall to Round 3.
• Ty Robinson - 6.17 - DT- Senior | Nebraska - Nebraska Cornhuskers are not as revered in NFL circles as in the past, but defensive lineman Ty Robinson could restore some of that past luster to his Alma Mater. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 285 pounds, Robinson loves to play with power and physicality to win the day. Benefiting from six seasons of NCAA football, Robinson matured to a point where he could be a plug-and-play defender in the NFL. And his 2024 production supports that projection, as he racked up 37 tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, and 7.0 QB sacks.
• Omarr Norman-Lott - 6.16 -DT- Senior | Tennessee - While 6-foot-2, 291-pound Tennessee defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott does not match other rookies on this list in terms of size, he brings surprising quickness and penetration to the defensive line, causing chaos to offensive schemes like a Tasmanian Devil to a Looney Tunes cartoon. Noman-Lott was most effective rotating in for specific down-and-distance scenarios. He brings a very effective pass rush, but with some coaching and weight room work, he could fill a three-down lineman role.
• Aeneas Peebles - 6.14 -DT- Senior | Virginia Tech - Last but certainly not least on this DL draft sampler is Hokies DL Aeneas Peebles. In many mock drafts, Peebles ultimately becomes the best player available for the Rams. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 282 pounds, Peebles may appear to be undersized. That is, until you see him in action. He is a passionate workaholic, a defender who never gives up on a play or takes a play off. He checks all of the critical boxes for run-stuffer, blocker-gobbler, and pass rusher. In many ways, Peebles is extremely similar to Rams' Kobie Turner, and that could be why I would love to see him on the Rams roster.

Now, keep in mind that these players are the 11th-20th defensive linemen up for grabs in this year's draft. When the Rams drafted Wake Forest NT Kobie Turner, he was the 10th-ranked defensive lineman, and the Rams scooped him up in Round 3.

Keep in mind that I targeted later-round prospects, as 10 rookie defensive linemen prospects are considered better than anyone listed above. If you want the Rams to upgrade their run defense, adding one or more of the players listed above to the Rams roster would be a great step in that direction. And these are just 10 defensive linemen.

This is a deep DL draft. And that makes this a great draft for the Los Angeles Rams. As always, thanks for reading.

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