Player Profiling: NFL Defensive Tackle Rankings

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Ranking the best overall defensive tackles the league has to offer.

You know the routine, so let's get into it.

1. Kevin Williams (MIN)

Can you believe this player was booed by Minnesota fans when he was drafted with the 17th pick?

Williams has incredible power and acceleration that allows him to break off of any block thrown his way. His ability to stop the run, along with his consistent pressure, forces almost every team to double this guy.

If they don't, then their quarterback is in for a long day. His size deceives his overall ability to attack offenses in so many ways (he has fundamentally perfected the position).

Williams' success is backed up with playmakers like Pat Williams and Jared Allen, but his overall game has become one of the most impressive in any young player.

I am so impressed with his power, explosiveness, and ability to blow up plays.

His youth combined with his overall football skill is very rare to find in players, and his leadership role has become noticed.

2. Albert Haynesworth (WAS)

Haynesworth is one of the biggest bodied tackles with amazing strength. He can move blockers anywhere he wants and explode into the backfield at will. He seems to come up with big plays at the line of scrimmage, which helps everyone else on defense fall into place nicely.

With that said, he has yet to play an entire season healthy and left a great situation in Tennessee for the moolah. Nothing against Washington, but I believe right now Tennessee is an overall better organization for preparing players to the best of their abilities to win an NFL Championship.

I just feel that Tennessee is a better team for talents to become more mature and focused toward the true success of football. I am not taking anything away from Haynesworth's game (I have him ranked two!), but I would feel more confident in his level of consistency, reliability, and determination if he still played for Jeff Fisher.

Although the big numbers in Haynesworth's stats and paycheck might look nice, he needs to prove he can take on a much more serious and reliable role in Washington for an entire season.

His productivity the past two years has been remarkable, but I am just not completely sold on him being much more productive than his time in Tennessee (that doesn't mean he won't play well, just not the absolute proven at the position).

3. Kris Jenkins (NYJ)

Jenkins has the best raw strength I have seen. He can move an entire pocket by himself, along with the opponents trying to block him. He is a perfect size and skill for the 3-4 defense, and Ryan should help bring out the absolute best in him (which could elevate his game to a Defensive Player of the Year Award).

His knowledge is some of the best, and he brings a hard hitting, no-stopping aggression to the line. He can get off the ball extremely well, and I wouldn't argue if you ranked him above Haynesworth or even the No. 1 spot.

4. Casey Hampton (PIT)

Hampton is a small tackle from his height, but a huge one from his weight. Hampton has underrated strength and amazing awareness. He has a nose for sniffing out any running play up the middle and does a good job of setting the outside guys up to make a play.

He can explode through a majority of blockers in the league, and has the speed to destroy a play if he can beat guys with just one move. He has become a reliable player for the Steeler franchise and has been consistently productive.

A hard working, hard playing player with as much talent and skill as any tackle makes Hampton an often overlooked, but effective player.

5. Pat Williams (MIN)

This is the biggest defensive lineman in the league. Williams will literally eat anyone who comes into the gap he is assigned. His strength and knowledge disrupts many offensive plays. He can knock over more than one lineman at a time while trying to make a play toward the ball carrier.

His speed and acceleration are not as strong as his counterpart Kevin, but his power, strength, size, and IQ make him one of the biggest playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.

6. John Henderson (JAC)

To me, Henderson is the scariest tackle today. He busts his head and gets others to hit him in the face to get pumped before games. His strength and pure athletic power make him one of the most dangerous players already.

His attitude and leadership displayed every week put him over the top as one of the absolute best. He is one of the biggest, baddest dudes to play tackle, and has the big play ability that can spark any defense.

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