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The Kansas City Chiefs need to focus on rebuilding several position groups this offseason, including their defensive tackle room. With Chris Jones entering his age 32 season and Omarr Norman-Lott recovering from a torn ACL, the Chiefs should consider adding depth through the 2026 NFL Draft.
Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gracen Halton was one of the top performers at this year’s Senior Bowl. He is a uniquely built interior lineman who lacks traditional mass and arm length, but his agility and explosiveness make him an athletic mismatch against guards.
Halton fires off the line with the first step and low pad level to immediately shoot gaps or push the pocket with speed to power. His burst helps him cross the offensive lineman’s face to slip through other gaps. Halton suffers from some stiffness in his hips but finds success flexing and bending at his ankles to corner around linemen.
Halton’s pass rush plan includes club-swims, rips, spins and swims. His motor and hands remain active throughout the play. This allows him to record hustle sacks or gradually soften the offensive lineman’s shoulder to create a favorable rush angle. Halton is one of the few defensive tackles in this year’s class capable of winning instantly or taking a more gradual approach as a rusher.
Halton weighed less than 300 lbs. at the Senior Bowl and measured in with sub-32-inch arms. Some teams remove players with similar measurables from their draft boards entirely, but the Chiefs haven’t shied away from odd body types in the past. Halton’s light frame limits his impact as a power rusher and makes it easier for double teams to corral him.
Halton makes some plays in run defense by slashing into the backfield or redirecting off blocks and showcasing his closing burst. However, his anchor at the point of attack limits his effectiveness on run downs.
The Sooners deployed Halton all across the defensive front. He took plenty of snaps from 0-tech out to 3-tech and saw minimal action as a 4-tech or 5-tech. Halton projects best as a fourth round rotational, penetrating 3-tech who primarily sees playing time on passing downs.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Oklahoma Sooners DT Gracen Halton
Continue reading...
Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gracen Halton was one of the top performers at this year’s Senior Bowl. He is a uniquely built interior lineman who lacks traditional mass and arm length, but his agility and explosiveness make him an athletic mismatch against guards.
Halton fires off the line with the first step and low pad level to immediately shoot gaps or push the pocket with speed to power. His burst helps him cross the offensive lineman’s face to slip through other gaps. Halton suffers from some stiffness in his hips but finds success flexing and bending at his ankles to corner around linemen.
Halton’s pass rush plan includes club-swims, rips, spins and swims. His motor and hands remain active throughout the play. This allows him to record hustle sacks or gradually soften the offensive lineman’s shoulder to create a favorable rush angle. Halton is one of the few defensive tackles in this year’s class capable of winning instantly or taking a more gradual approach as a rusher.
Halton weighed less than 300 lbs. at the Senior Bowl and measured in with sub-32-inch arms. Some teams remove players with similar measurables from their draft boards entirely, but the Chiefs haven’t shied away from odd body types in the past. Halton’s light frame limits his impact as a power rusher and makes it easier for double teams to corral him.
Halton makes some plays in run defense by slashing into the backfield or redirecting off blocks and showcasing his closing burst. However, his anchor at the point of attack limits his effectiveness on run downs.
The Sooners deployed Halton all across the defensive front. He took plenty of snaps from 0-tech out to 3-tech and saw minimal action as a 4-tech or 5-tech. Halton projects best as a fourth round rotational, penetrating 3-tech who primarily sees playing time on passing downs.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Oklahoma Sooners DT Gracen Halton
Continue reading...
