2023 NFL Draft Prospects: Nose Tackle

2/18/23: In 2022, Carter totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes batted. He missed a few games due to a sprained MCL from a dirty hit versus Missouri. Carter was phenomenal after returning to the field, dominating in Georgia's wins over Tennessee and Mississippi State. He is fast, strong and athletic, plus plays with excellent leverage. However, team sources say scouts have heard around the Georgia program that Carter is not a hard worker and they don't believe he loves football. They also are concerned about Carter's lack of production considering he is super talented and was far more gifted physically than the players he was playing against.

7/5/22: Despite Georgia's crowded defensive line filled with future early-round picks in 2021, Carter flashed as a sophomore with 37 tackles and three sacks. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder showed the ability to get after the quarterback and has real upside as an interior pass rusher. He also has natural strength to get off blocks and pursue to the ball in the ground game. According to team sources, Carter had the second-highest grade on NFL teams' preseason watch list, behind only Alabama edge defender Will Anderson. Carter could be in store for a monster 2022 season and looks like a future high first-rounder.

2/18/23: Smith recorded 48 tackles and .5 sacks in 2022. He is a quality run defender, but he probably will get pulled out of NFL games in passing situations. Hence, Smith might be more of a rotational nose tackle. Still, he is a big-bodied defender who is tough and physical at the point of attack with some ability to cause disruption.

7/5/22: While Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo got all the attention for the Michigan defense in 2021, Smith was a good defender in his own right. He helped plug up interior rushing lanes and was tough to move at the point of attack. In 2021, Smith had 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and four passes batted.

2/18/23: In 2022, Bresee totaled 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He is a solid run defender who needs to improve his pass rush for the NFL. Bresee should have gone back to Clemson to improve rather than enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He dealt with a lot in 2022, tragically losing his younger sister to cancer. Bresee was also not in the best of shape and had some injury issues.

Bresee has upside, but his best season came as a freshman, and sources have not been giving him high grades for the 2023 NFL Draft. Still, this year's draft is weak at defensive tackle, so some team sources feel Bresee might sneak into Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft despite his underwhelming 2022 tape and production.

7/5/22: Bresee (6-5, 300) was impressive in 2020, recording 33 tackles, four sacks, 6.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two passes defended. He totaled 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception in 2021 before tearing his ACL versus N.C. State. Bresee has good size to go along with some quickness and athleticism. He should only get better as he gains experience and develops physically. Bresee has the upside to be a riser.

2/18/23: Ika recorded 23 tackles and two passes batted in 2022. He is a heavy nose tackle who is very tough to move at the point of attack.

7/5/22: Ika is a massive interior defender who has surprising quickness and athleticism to go along with his mass and strength. For a big tackle, Ika showed some ability to pressure the quarterback in 2021, racking up four sacks. He also had 24 tackles. If Ika's production rises as an upperclassman, he could be a riser for the 2023 NFL Draft.

2/18/23: Benton recorded 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2022. He had a good week at the Senior Bowl, showing strength, quickness and physicality.

7/5/22: Benton did not do much in 2019 and 2020, totaling 20 tackles over those seasons, but he played well in 2021, recording 2.5 sacks, 24 tackles and a pass batted. Benton has a quality skill set and upsidem so he could rise as a senior after his year of starting experience.

2/18/23: Pickens collected 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three passes batted in 2022. He was a solid run defender, but not a factor in the pass rush.

7/5/22: Pickens was decent in 2020 with 35 tackles, but he was a breakout performer as a junior in 2021, racking up four sacks, 38 tackles and a pass defended for the Gamecocks. Pickens has good size to go along with quickness and athleticism. He could be riser if he continues to show interior pass-rush ability.

2/18/23: Dexter totaled 50 tackles, two sacks, one pass batted and an interception during 2022. He put together impressive games against Utah and LSU. Dexter also played really well versus Kentucky, collecting seven tackles, .5 sacks, and a diving interception. He is a beast as a run defender and showed more pass-rush ability in 2022. However, he still is not much of a pass rusher for the NFL and will probably get pulled in the sub package.

7/5/22: Even though the Florida defense struggled in 2021, Dexter flashed and played well for the Gators. He totaled 50 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one pass defended on the year. Dexter has good size, length, quickness and strength. He could be poised for big things as an upperclassman.

2/18/23: Crumedy recorded just 15 tackles and two sacks in 2022, but he also didn't see the field until November.

7/5/22: Crumedy recorded 23 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in 2021. He produced more in 2020 with 32 stops and two sacks. Crumedy has functional size to be a tackle or five-technique.

2/18/23: In 2022, Dale recorded 25 tackles and .5 sacks. He didn't show interior pass-rush ability.

7/5/22: Dale has yet to break out at Alabama. The 2021 season was his best year, with 17 tackles and two sacks. He recorded 22 tackles in 2020. Dale has upside, but the time is now for Dale to produce more.

2/18/23: In 2022, Coburn totaled 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

7/5/22: Coburn is a heavy run-stuffing nose tackle. In 2021, he recorded 15 tackles and a sack after recording 24 and 25 tackles during the previous two seasons, respectively. Coburn should lose weight for the NFL.

2/18/23: Young totaled 38 tackles, one sack and a pass batted in 2022.

7/5/22: Young was a solid run stuffer for the Bulldogs in 2021, recording 53 tackles to go along with an interception and two passes batted. Young needs to improve as a pass rusher in his senior year to rise.

2/18/23: Slade recorded 20 tackles and .5 sacks during 2022.

7/5/22: Slade recorded 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes batted as a junior in 2021. If he builds off last year, his first as a starter, he could rise.