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The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine week is upon us, with on-field drills and exercises slated to start on Thursday, with the kickers, linebackers and defensive line groups scheduled to take the field.
The Green Bay Packers need to bolster the interior of their defensive line and luckily for them, this year's class has quite a few talented options that will give them plenty of opportunities to upgrade that room.
This was a tough task, narrowing it down to seven defensive tackles for Packers fans to keep tabs on this week, since there are so many options that fit what the Packers need.
At 6-2, 322 pounds, Cleveland is a stout defensive tackle who can control his gap. He's powerful and has a quick first step to fire off the ball. This past season, he recorded career-highs in tackles for loss (seven) and run stops (21). The NC State defensive tackle has active traits to make splash plays behind the line of scrimmage. I have it on good authority that the Packers like Cleveland and with a good week, he could cement himself as a favorite to be a Day 3 target for the Packers.
Jackson is a powerful defensive tackle. At 6-5, 328 pounds, Jackson has the girth to clog up running lanes. He roots in against double teams and is going to keep linebackers clean. During the past two seasons, Jackson has recorded seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 44 pressures and 47 run stops. It will be fascinating to see how the son of Darell Jackson, a long-time Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, tests this week. With a strong showing, you could almost pencil in Jackson as the pick for the Packers at 52.
Power, power and more power. Big Citrus is going to clog up running lanes. The former four-star recruit is stout at the point of attack and has the strength to blast through the line of scrimmage to disrupt the action. Over the past two seasons, Orange has recorded 33 run stops and five tackles for loss. The Iowa State defensive tackle has some upfield juice for a player who weighs 328 pounds. Orange was No. 25 on Bruce Feldman's Annual Freaks list and could be one of the top testers at the position. Orange is squarely on the short list of players who could be targets for the Packers with the 52nd overall pick.
The South Carolina defensive tackle enjoyed a breakout campaign of sorts this past season, recording six tackles for loss, two sacks and 28 run stops. At 6-3, 315 pounds, he’s a stout defensive tackle and flashes violence in his hands to deconstruct blocks and constrict running lanes. He put together a strong Senior Bowl Week and with another strong showing this week, Barrett could be one of the top defensive tackle targets for the Packers on Day 3 of the draft.
At 6-3, 315 pounds with 34-inch arms, McClellan owns an NFL-body. He's an active player with good initial quickness off the snap. He has the lateral quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt the action in the backfield. The Missouri defensive tackle recorded 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 39 pressures, and 50 run stops during his two seasons with the Tigers after transferring from Florida. If the Packers Miss out on Jackson Jr or Orange, they could turn to McClellan in the third or fourth round.
At 6-3, 313 pounds, Ball is a stout run defender. There is no off switch for his motor. The Arkansas defensive tackle plays with good energy. Over the past two seasons, Ball has recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and 44 run stops. It will be fascinating to watch him at practice this week to see if he can showcase some pass-rush juice, after he recorded a career-high 21 pressures this past season. Like Barrett, Ball had a strong showing down in Mobile during the Senior Bowl. With another strong showing this week, Ball could be a top target at defensive tackle for the Packers on Day 3 of the draft.
The Minnesota native is stubborn at the point of contact and is hard to move off his spot. The Minnesota defensive tackle has a GPS for the football and recorded a career-high 20 run stops this season. He weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 6-5, 301 pounds, after playing closer to 320 this past season. It will be fascinating to see what his weight is this week and how he tests on the field. Just like Cleveland, I have it on good authority that the Packers like Eastern.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 7 defensive tackle prospects for Packers fans to watch at the combine
Continue reading...
The Green Bay Packers need to bolster the interior of their defensive line and luckily for them, this year's class has quite a few talented options that will give them plenty of opportunities to upgrade that room.
This was a tough task, narrowing it down to seven defensive tackles for Packers fans to keep tabs on this week, since there are so many options that fit what the Packers need.
Brandon Cleveland, NC State
At 6-2, 322 pounds, Cleveland is a stout defensive tackle who can control his gap. He's powerful and has a quick first step to fire off the ball. This past season, he recorded career-highs in tackles for loss (seven) and run stops (21). The NC State defensive tackle has active traits to make splash plays behind the line of scrimmage. I have it on good authority that the Packers like Cleveland and with a good week, he could cement himself as a favorite to be a Day 3 target for the Packers.
Darrell Jackson Jr, FSU
Jackson is a powerful defensive tackle. At 6-5, 328 pounds, Jackson has the girth to clog up running lanes. He roots in against double teams and is going to keep linebackers clean. During the past two seasons, Jackson has recorded seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 44 pressures and 47 run stops. It will be fascinating to see how the son of Darell Jackson, a long-time Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, tests this week. With a strong showing, you could almost pencil in Jackson as the pick for the Packers at 52.
Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Power, power and more power. Big Citrus is going to clog up running lanes. The former four-star recruit is stout at the point of attack and has the strength to blast through the line of scrimmage to disrupt the action. Over the past two seasons, Orange has recorded 33 run stops and five tackles for loss. The Iowa State defensive tackle has some upfield juice for a player who weighs 328 pounds. Orange was No. 25 on Bruce Feldman's Annual Freaks list and could be one of the top testers at the position. Orange is squarely on the short list of players who could be targets for the Packers with the 52nd overall pick.
Nick Barrett, South Carolina
The South Carolina defensive tackle enjoyed a breakout campaign of sorts this past season, recording six tackles for loss, two sacks and 28 run stops. At 6-3, 315 pounds, he’s a stout defensive tackle and flashes violence in his hands to deconstruct blocks and constrict running lanes. He put together a strong Senior Bowl Week and with another strong showing this week, Barrett could be one of the top defensive tackle targets for the Packers on Day 3 of the draft.
Chris McClellan, Missouri
At 6-3, 315 pounds with 34-inch arms, McClellan owns an NFL-body. He's an active player with good initial quickness off the snap. He has the lateral quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt the action in the backfield. The Missouri defensive tackle recorded 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 39 pressures, and 50 run stops during his two seasons with the Tigers after transferring from Florida. If the Packers Miss out on Jackson Jr or Orange, they could turn to McClellan in the third or fourth round.
Cameron Ball, Arkansas
At 6-3, 313 pounds, Ball is a stout run defender. There is no off switch for his motor. The Arkansas defensive tackle plays with good energy. Over the past two seasons, Ball has recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and 44 run stops. It will be fascinating to watch him at practice this week to see if he can showcase some pass-rush juice, after he recorded a career-high 21 pressures this past season. Like Barrett, Ball had a strong showing down in Mobile during the Senior Bowl. With another strong showing this week, Ball could be a top target at defensive tackle for the Packers on Day 3 of the draft.
Deven Eastern, Minnesota
The Minnesota native is stubborn at the point of contact and is hard to move off his spot. The Minnesota defensive tackle has a GPS for the football and recorded a career-high 20 run stops this season. He weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 6-5, 301 pounds, after playing closer to 320 this past season. It will be fascinating to see what his weight is this week and how he tests on the field. Just like Cleveland, I have it on good authority that the Packers like Eastern.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 7 defensive tackle prospects for Packers fans to watch at the combine
Continue reading...
