2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Nose Tackle



The top 2024 Nose Tackle prospects available for the 2024 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2025 prospect. ** – denotes 2026 prospect.

This page was last updated March 16, 2024. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

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2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

1. Michigan image Kris Jenkins, NT, Michigan
Height: 6-2. Weight: 299.
40 Time: 4.91.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

3/16/24: Jenkins totaled 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 2023. While he never had big sack numbers, he can create consistent pressure on the quarterback. In the ground game, Jenkins is tough, strong and reliable. Pro team sources said they think he could be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

8/19/23: After spending a couple of seasons as a backup, Jenkins earned a starting spot in 2022 and had a strong debut with 54 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two hurries. It would help Jenkins to ramp up his pass-rush production in 2023. Jenkins is the son of former Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.



2. Illinois image Johnny Newton, NT, Illinois
Height: 6-2. Weight: 304.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

3/16/24: Newton totaled 52 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes batted in 2023. Team sources love Newton’s pass-rush ability and production. However, he gets destroyed in the ground game at times and also seems to turn his play on and off. If Newton were more consistent in his effort and run defense, he would be a definite first-rounder for the 2024 NFL Draft. As things stand, he is on the bubble between Rounds 1 and 2. A foot injury kept him from working out at the combine.

8/19/23: Newton made his debut in the covid-shortened 2020 season, recording 1.5 sacks, 23 tackles, one forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for a loss. In 2021, Newton made his presence felt with three sacks, four tackles for a loss and 50 tackles. He was even better for the Fighting Illini in 2022, recording 5.5 sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, 62 tackles, 11 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

Against the pass, Newton is an impressive speed rusher. He is athletic and twitchy at the point of attack with a burst to fire his gap. Utilizing developed strength and active hands, Newton will slap hands off of him and use his speed to dart past blockers. He has a real burst to close, and there is no doubt that Newton is a fast interior rusher.

In the ground game, Newton is strong and tough at the point of attack. He plays low and can hold his ground. The question that team sources have about Newton, and a clear answer may not be provided in 2023, is if Newton can hold up well when going against mass being that Newton has a short, stocky, sawed-off build.



3. Texas image T'Vondre Sweat*, NT, Texas
Height: 6-4. Weight: 366.
40 Time: 5.27.
Projected Round (2024): 1-3.

3/16/24: Sweat did well in games against Alabama and Oklahoma, but in other games, he did not play as well. In 2023, Sweat totaled 45 tackles, two sacks and five passes broken up. He looked heavier compared to 2022 and did not seem to be moving as well. Those things will only reinforce the work-ethic and conditioning concerns NFL sources have. At the Senior Bowl, he flashed at times with overwhelming size, power and quickness, but he also looked extremely heavy.

8/19/23: Sweat is a massive nose tackle who is a beast at the point of attack in the ground game. He had his best statistical year in run support in 2022, recording 29 tackles. Sweat totaled 22 stops total in each of his previous two seasons. He is a big, powerful, strong man who can cause disruption at the point of attack and also generate a push in the pass rush. Off the field, team sources say Sweat a good kid but has some issues with lethargy and likes to party. Sweat possesses a big-time skill set and upside to develop.



4. LSU image Maason Smith**, NT, LSU
Height: 6-5. Weight: 306.
40 Time: 5.01.
Projected Round (2024): 2-3.

3/16/24: Smith was suspended in Week 1 and collected 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defended for his 2023. He did not look like the dynamic interior defender he was before and might need some more post-injury recovery prior to returning back to his earlier form. Smith flashed his old self, but was inconsistent. He should have returned for his junior year to put together a bigger season, as it would have given him a better shot at being a first-rounder in 2025.

8/19/23: Smith was a dynamic freshman for the Tigers in 2021, and the former five-star recruit made an instant impact for them, recording four sacks and 19 tackles. There was a ton of hype coming from LSU that he was poised to have a monster 2022 season, but he suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against Florida State and missed the year. The 6-foot-5, 298-pounder has excellent size and length with the upside to build on his fantastic debut. Smith could break out and dominate in 2023.



5. LSU image Jordan Jefferson*, NT, LSU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 323.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2024): 2-3.

3/16/24: The big and strong nose tackle Jefferson impressed team evaluators with his play in 2023. The Navarre, Florida product was a tough run defender in the middle of the defensive line for the Tigers. He collected 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks and pass defended in 2023. As junior, he recorded three sacks and 31 tackles. Jefferson has good size for the NFL and could be a physical interior defender as a pro. He had a quality week of practice at the Senior Bowl.



6. Clemson image Ruke Orhorhoro*, NT, Clemson
Height: 6-4. Weight: 295.
40 Time: 4.89.
Projected Round (2024): 2-3.

3/16/24: In 2023, Orhorhoro recorded 25 tackles, five sacks and a pass defended. He was a solid defender for Clemson. Orhorhoro showed impressive speed and worked out well at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

8/19/23: Orhorhoro recorded 23 tackles, five passes batted and four sacks in 2022. He was a solid rotational defender for the Tigers. Orhorhoro took advantage of the opportunity of Bryan Bresee going out with injury in 2021 to have a solid season. Orhorhoro totaled 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks that year. While Orhorhoro might be a rotational backup, NFL teams like his potential and have him with a favorable projection entering his junior season.



7. Duke image DeWayne Carter, NT, Duke
Height: 6-2. Weight: 302.
40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round (2024): 3-4.

3/16/24: Carter was tough player for the Blue Devils in 2023. He did a solid job in run defense while recording 39 tackles and one sack. Carter showed more pass-rush production in 2022 when he had 5.5 sacks. He recorded 4.5 sacks in 2021. Carter also totaled seven forced fumbles over 2021-’22. Carter is a sleeper who could be a nice value pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.



8. Florida State image Fabien Lovett, NT, Florida State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 314.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

3/16/24: In 2023, Lovett had 22 tackles and three passes batted. He also dealt with injuries.

8/19/23: Lovett flashed in 2021 with 28 tackles and two sacks. In 2022, he was held back by injury and only played in six games, recording 10 tackles with a sack and forced fumble. Lovett looked heavier in 2022, and that seemed to have cost him some explosion off the ball. Lovett needs to put together a productive senior year to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.



9. Mississippi State image Jaden Crumedy, NT, Mississippi State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 323.
40 Time: 4.97.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.

3/16/24: The Bulldogs had Crumedy for five seasons, and he was a solid defender for them. In 2023, he recorded 35 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Over the previous four years, Crumedy totaled six sacks. Crumedy is a nose tackle who will have to earn playing time as a pro by being a tough interior run defender. He had a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.



10. Texas A&M image McKinnley Jackson, NT, Texas A&M
Height: 6-1. Weight: 331.
40 Time: 5.26.
Projected Round (2024): 5-7.

3/16/24: Jackson is a heavy nose tackle who did a nice job as a run stuffer for the Aggies in 2023. He put up 27 tackles and three sacks on the year. For the NFL, Jackson is a heavy nose tackle who will probably come off the field in the sub package. He had a respectable week of practice at the Senior Bowl.



11. Auburn image Justin Rogers, NT, Auburn
Height: 6-3. Weight: 346
Projected 40 Time: 5.33.
Projected Round (2024): 6-FA.

3/16/24: In 2023, Rogers totaled 17 tackles and one sack. He is a heavy lane plugger at the point of attack. Team sources said Rogers practiced well at the East-West Shrine, but he did not play with the same motivation in college and has issues with keeping his weight in check.

8/19/23: Rogers was a rotational contributor at Kentucky before transferring to Auburn for his senior year. With the Wildcats in 2022, he recorded 36 tackles and .5 sacks. Rogers needs to show more pass-rush ability with the Tigers.



12. Auburn image Marcus Harris, NT, Auburn
Height: 6-3. Weight: 295.
40 Time: 5.03.
Projected Round (2024): 6-FA.

3/16/24: Harris was a decent defender for the Tigers in 2023, recording 40 tackles, seven sacks, one forced fumble and one pass batted. He had two sacks in each of the previous two seasons. Harris faces some limitations, including a lack of length and weight, for the next level.



13. Georgia image Zion Logue, NT, Georgia
Height: 6-6. Weight: 314.
40 Time: 5.14.
Projected Round (2024): 7-FA.

3/16/24: Logue was a rotational backup player for the Bulldogs. He notched 17 tackles and .5 sacks in 2023. That was after he recorded 16 tackles and zero sacks in 2022. Logue will have to compete to be a backup nose tackle in the pros.



2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P