The most crucial players in every team's line of defense are the defensive tackles. They are also the strongest players on the team. They typically align themselves parallel to the offensive guards of the opposing team. The squad benefits from another position dubbed a "nose tackle" that performs similar duties. However, the NFL is the only place where this position is primarily used.
This specific position has a lot of outstanding players. And there are still a lot of outstanding players competing at defensive tackle right now. Here then is our ranking of the top NFL defensive tackles available today.
Stella Lotulei
Photo: billswire.usatoday
Star Lotulelei is unquestionably among the finest defensive tackles in the NFL this season. He now competes for the Buffalo Bills team. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of Utah. He also played football in his earlier years at Bingham High School in Utah. He was first chosen by the Carolina Panthers with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Prior to joining the Bills in 2018, Star Lotulelei played for the Panthers from 2013 to 2017. In 2013, he qualified for the PFWA All-Rookie team. Additionally, he was deserving of a spot on the First All-Team. 2012's American He twice made the All-Pac-12 first team during his time playing collegiate football. He also received the Morris Trophy in 2011.
Aaron Donald
Photo: skysports
Aaron Donald is a professional American football player who is presently a member of the Los Angeles Rams. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of Pittsburgh. During his early years, he also participated in athletics for Penn Hills High School. He was first chosen by the NFL Los Angeles Rams with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Since then, he has developed into a crucial member of the group.
Aaron Donald has already made it to six Pro Bowls. He has also so far earned a berth on the All-Pro First Team four times. He has also already won the NFL Defender of the Year award twice. And most recently, in 2018, he rose to the position of NFL sack leader. He had previously been named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014. He also received the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2013.
Akeem Spence
Photo: sbnation
Akeem Spence, one of the best players in the NFL today, is currently a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars team. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of Illinois. During his early years, he also participated in athletics for Fort Walton Beach High School. He was first selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in round four of the 2013 NFL Draft as their 100th pick.
Akeem Spence has experience playing for a number of NFL clubs, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Detroit Lions. He most recently became a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. He has made over 193 tackles thus far in his active football career. He also had roughly three fumble steals, a forced fumble, and another fumble.
Johnathan Hankins
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Johnathan Hankins, one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL, is a current member of the Oakland Raiders football team. Over the course of his collegiate football career, he played for Ohio State University. He also participated in youth league play for Southeastern High School in Detroit (MI). In the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected him with their 49th overall pick.
From 2013 through 2016, Jonathan Hankins was a member of the New York Giants. He then participated in 2017 with the Indianapolis Colts. And he ultimately signed up with the Oakland Raiders in 2018. In 2012, he was selected to the All-American First Team. He earned a spot on the First Team All-Big Ten that same year as well. He has made over 268 total tackles and 13 layoffs in his career to date.
Brandon Mebane
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Brandon Mebane, an American football player, is presently one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL. He presently represents the Los Angeles Chargers. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of California. During his early years, he also participated in sports for Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Brandon Mebane with the third overall selection in the 85th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons there before transferring to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016. In 2007, he was given a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie team. And he won the Super Bowl during the 2013 NFL season. In his current active career, he has over 440 tackles and 17.5 layoffs.
Linval Joseph
Photo: thevikingage
Linval Joseph, one of the NFL's top defensive tackles in 2021, is currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings team. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of East Carolina. During his early years, he additionally performed for Santa Fe, Florida High School. He was first selected by the New York Giants in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.
After spending three seasons playing for the New York Giants, Linval Joseph joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. During the 2011 Super Bowl, he won. In addition, he has already earned a position in the Pro Bowl thrice. He has also guaranteed himself a spot on the first team of the C-USA. She also earned him a berth as an All-C-USA Honorable Mention in 2008. He presently has 24 sacks and more than 525 tackles to his name.
Marcel Dareus
Photo: bleacherreport
One of the top defensive tackles in the NFL and the world, Marcell Dareus, is a given. He presently represents the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of Alabama. During his early years, he additionally performed for Huffman High School. He was first chosen by the Buffalo Bills as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Two times now, Marcell Dareus has guaranteed himself a spot in the Pro Bowl. He was also selected to the First All-Pro Team in 2014. In 2011, he also became a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team during his college football career. In 2010, he also earned a selection on the inaugural All-SEC team. The BCS National Championship and the MVP of the BCS National Championship were both established in the same year.
Deforest Buckner
Photo: oregonlive
DeForest Buckner, one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL today, is a member of the San Francisco 49ers football team. He had previously played collegiate football for the University of Oregon. During his early years, he additionally performed for the Punahou school. He was first chosen by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, as the seventh overall choice.
DeForest Buckner very recently qualified for the Pro Bowl in 2018. In 2016, he also earned a berth on the PFWA All-Rookie team. Additionally, he was selected for the First All-Team Pac-12 in 2015. He also won the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in that same year. He was also guaranteed a position on the second team of the 2014 Pac-12 champions and All-Pac-12.
Fletcher Cox
Photo: bleacherreport
Fletcher Cox is one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL and is renowned for having one of the best WAGs. He presently represents the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He had previously played collegiate football for Mississippi State University. Additionally, when he was younger, he played for the Mississippi high school Yazoo City.
In 2017, Fletcher Cox recently won the Super Bowl. Additionally, he has already earned a spot in the Pro Bowl five times. He has also guaranteed himself a spot on the 2018 All-Pro First Team. He has so far earned three spots on the All-Pro Second Team. And in 2011, he was named to the All-SEC First Team as well as the All-American First Team. In 2012, he was added to the PFWA All-Rookie team.
Geno Atkins
Photo: bengals
Geno Atkins is without a doubt one of the NFL's top defensive tackles right now in 2021. His current team is the Cincinnati Bengals. He had previously played college football at the University of Georgia. He additionally provided entertainment for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida throughout his academic career. He was first chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round, 120th overall, of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Geno Atkins has already been selected to the Pro Bowl eight times. He has also twice ensured his spot on the All-Pro First Team. In 2011, he also qualified for the second All-Pro team, earning a position there. In 2007, he was a member of the All-SEC first team during his college football career. Over 377 tackles, 75 sacks, and 5 bags are to his credit so far in his career.
