Christian Wilkins, Kenny Clark Fall Out of Top 10 DT Rankings by NFL Execs, Coaches

Four players ranked as top-10 defensive tackles in the NFL last year as part of an anonymous survey of league executives, coaches and scouts, have fallen out of the rankings this year.

According to ESPN, Christian Wilkins of the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6 last year), Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers (No. 7 last year), Kenny Clark of the Green Bay Packers (No. 9 last year) and Javon Hargrave of the Minnesota Vikings (No. 10 last year) have all seen their stock drop in the eyes of NFL insiders compared to where they stood during the 2024 preseason.

The survey, which was conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, yielded the following results, as it relates to the 10 best defensive tackles in the league ahead of the 2025 season:

1. Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants)
2. Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs)
3. Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles)
4. Jeffery Simmons (Tennessee Titans)
5. Quinnen Williams (New York Jets)
6. Leonard Williams (Seattle Seahawks)
7. Nnamdi Madubuike (Baltimore Ravens)
8. DeForest Buckner (Indianapolis Colts)
9. Vita Vea (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
10. Cameron Heyward (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Carter, Williams, Vea and Heyward are all new additions to the list this year after being either honorable mentions or among others receiving votes last year.

Expectations were through the roof for Wilkins entering last season, as he signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders on the heels of a nine-sack season with the Miami Dolphins.

However, a foot injury limited Wilkins to only five games during his first season in Vegas, and he finished with only two sacks and two tackles for loss.

An anonymous NFL coordinator suggested to Fowler that Wilkins could be in for a bounce-back season in 2025 if he can stay healthy, saying, "I know he's hurt, but I love this guy. Absolutely a top interior player when healthy."

Like Wilkins, Brown barely played last season, as a knee injury suffered in Week 1 caused him to miss the rest of the campaign.

Brown, who had 103 tackles in 2023 en route to his first career Pro Bowl selection, also has a big fan in an anonymous NFC executive, who said, "When he's healthy, he's near the top. Elite run stopper with some pass-rush upside."

Wilkins and Brown were both honorable mentions on this year's list, while Clark was among those also receiving votes.

Clark started all 17 games last season for a third consecutive year, but his sack total dropped from a career-high 7.5 in 2023 to just one last season.

The three-time Pro Bowler undoubtedly had a down year, but it could potentially be tied to a foot injury Clark suffered in Week 1, as he told reporters that he played through it the entire season.

After totaling 25.5 sacks and earning two Pro Bowl selections over three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers from 2021 to 2023, Hargrave fell off the radar last season, as a torn triceps limited him to just three games.

Hargrave is only two seasons removed from recording a career-high 11 sacks with the Eagles in 2022, and after signing with a Vikings team that also boasts Jonathan Allen up front and both Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel off the edges, he could be in the ideal situation for a return to form.