Markis Deal, IDL TCU: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Deal was a four-star recruit from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas in the class of 2023

TCU defensive lineman Markis Deal profiles as one of the biggest potential risers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Similar to Alfred Collins last year, Deal possesses average dynamic athleticism and a limited pass rush profile but is loaded with physical traits. What separates Collins from Deal is the former’s prolific run defense tape. Deal is still developing in that area but has the tools to become a top 60 selection.

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Markis Deal, IDL TCU: 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt sophomore nose tackle from El Paso, Texas

Background: Deal was a four-star recruit from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas in the class of 2023. He was the No. 132 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 135 for On3.com. Deal was an unranked four-star recruit for Rivals. ESPN ranked him 190th in the nation with an 82 grade out of 100. As a senior, he produced 41 tackles and seven sacks. Deal was the District 9-6A Two-Way Lineman of the Year as a junior, seeing action on both fronts. He also competed in basketball and track and field. Deal placed sixth as a senior in the 6A Texas State Finals with a 57-6.25 shot put. He was the District 9-6A champion in shot put (55-10.25) and discus (151-11). His brother, Devean, is an edge rusher who transferred to TCU in 2024 after playing several seasons at Tulane.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2024 Baylor and Oklahoma State games

Awards: N/A

Pros: Massive frame, prototypical height and weight, alignment versatility, quick acceleration, arm length, nasty long-arm, knockback in hands, swim move, powerful club to uproot linemen, club-swim, drives eye-catching power through hands, drives centers back into the pocket, engages hands early to lock out defenders, length helps with stacking and shedding blocks, pries up the lineman’s pad level at POA, brick wall vs. one-on-one blockers, power to drive centers back at POA

Cons: High-hipped, lower half on the leaner side, limited dynamic athleticism, lacks explosive burst off the line, lacks explosive first step, inconsistent pad level, too many reps failing to maximize length, limited pass rush plan, never been a high volume pass rusher, hip stiffness limits bend, needs more counters off his bull rush, doesn’t profile as a headline contributor as a pass rusher, hip tightness limits ability to corral quarterback within the pocket, needs to anchor lower at POA, struggles to anchor against duo and angle blocks

Overview: Deal deployed in every available alignment for the Horned Frogs in 2024, with an emphasis on 1-tech and 3-tech. His massive frame with prototypical height and weight and long arms makes him a unique physical talent in the class. Deal won’t carry over all of his alignment versatility to the NFL, but he should freely move from 0-tech out to 3-tech to accommodate various personnel packages. He isn’t a dynamic athlete and lacks an explosive first step, but he rapidly accelerates into contact to snap anchors. Deal’s arm length empowers a nasty long-arm move, but the knockback in his hands is even more threatening. He shoots his hands early in plays to establish his positioning, lock out blockers, or channel power through his limbs to drive linemen into the pocket. Deal outclasses some centers and quickly deposits them in the quarterback’s lap. His pass rush plan also includes club-swims. The redshirt sophomore’s club also proves overwhelming for some linemen. When his aiming point is correct, Deal drives enough power through his club to lift linemen out of their stances and knock them off balance. Several factors limit his pass rush production. First, TCU asked him to loop frequently, which limited his opportunity for quick wins with power and gave him some disadvantageous angles. Second, Deal is still developing a reliable pass rush plan. He needs to master more primary and secondary rush moves and counters to keep his attack alive when his bull rush fades. Third, several physical factors limit his projection as a pass rusher. The Texas native plays with an inconsistent pad level and suffers from hip stiffness that limits his ability to win with tight angles. This stiffness also makes it difficult to mirror and corral the quarterback within the pocket. Deal can improve as a pass rusher by improving his hand usage and timing to maximize his length and power. In the run game, he uses his length to stack and shed blocks at the point of attack. The former four-star recruit’s heavy hands pry up the pad levels of offensive linemen, which mitigates some of the concerns with Deal’s pad level. He resets the line of scrimmage when isolated with centers. Solo blockers rarely succeed at uprooting or displacing Deal, but duo and angle blocks move him off his spot too often. Deal must sink his anchor lower or employ a hip-drop in these situations. Double teams take advantage of his height and weight distribution, which has left him a little leaner in his lower half.

Overall, Deal is a developing run stopper with fewer than 450 defensive snaps in his career. He possesses the physical traits to become a premier nose tackle in either the 2026 or 2027 class, and his flashes of dominance hint at a potential second round selection hidden underneath his inexperience and technical lapses.

Role & Scheme Fit: Developmental nose tackle

Round Grade: Fourth Round

Size: 6'5", 325 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 03-24-25