Ranking the top 20 NFL defensive tackles for 2022
Defensive tackle features ten players with All-Pro potential and could steal the show from the edge rushers during the 2022 season
Aaron Donald stands alone as the best defensive tackle in the league. However, the NFL has no shortage of impressive interior defensive linemen. The position features ten players with All-Pro potential and could steal the show from the edge rushers during the 2022 season. Here are the league’s 20 best interior defensive linemen entering the year.
I organized this list by factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers. Please note that I classified Arik Armstead and J.J. Watt as edge rushers. You can find more information on them here.
There are two 2021 rankings below each defensive tackle. The first shows where I ranked the tackle among players at their position during the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each interior defensive lineman landed on my top 200 players project last summer.
I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.
*Indicates rookie player
NFL 2022: Top 20 Defensive Tackles
Tier 1: The All-Time Great
1. Aaron Donald, IDL Los Angeles Rams
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 1
2021 Top 200 Rank: 1
There’s not much for me to add to the conversation surrounding Donald and his historic run. The 31-year-old might’ve contemplated retiring after winning the Super Bowl, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down. In 2021, the seven-time consecutive First-Team All-Pro finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting and amassed double-digit sacks for the sixth time.
Donald led all interior defensive linemen with 86 pressures last year, nearly 20 more than second place. He kept his motor running hot during the playoffs, tallying 23 pressures and 3.5 sacks in four games. Donald made two or three plays down the stretch to seal Super Bowl LVI for the Rams.
Tier 2: Perennial All-Pro Candidates
2. Cameron Heyward, IDL Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 3
2021 Top 200 Rank: 32
3. Chris Jones, IDL Kansas City Chiefs
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 2
2021 Top 200 Rank: 26
Tier 2 features the players who constantly compete for second place along the interior defensive line. These are proven All-Pros and franchise cornerstones who change the foundations of their organizations.
Heyward earned four All-Pro selections in the past five years, including three First-Team All-Pro nods. Jones has also bolstered his resume during that time, claiming Second-Team All-Pro honors three times. The 28-year-old Chief is the NFL’s second-best pass rushing defensive tackle behind Donald, but his consistent struggles as a run defender keep him from passing Heyward.
Jones began 2021 playing out of position at defensive end before eventually moving back to defensive tackle. Despite being handicapped by his coaching staff through the first few weeks, Jones totaled 65 pressures (third-most among defensive tackles) and nine sacks.
Heyward doesn’t have the same quickness and pass rushing arsenal as Jones. He largely relies on a destructive bull rush to displace opponents, but that one move is the ace he needs to contribute as a rusher. Heyward produced 61 pressures and ten sacks in 2021 to complement his stout run defense, which contributed to his 89 tackles.
Tier 3: Potential All-Pro Candidates
4. Jonathan Allen, IDL Washington Commanders
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 10
2021 Top 200 Rank: 105
5. Kenny Clark, IDL Green Bay Packers
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 12
2021 Top 200 Rank: 149
6. Vita Vea, IDL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 5
2021 Top 200 Rank: 48
7. DeForest Buckner, IDL Indianapolis Colts
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 4
2021 Top 200 Rank: 34
8. Jeffery Simmons, IDL Tennessee Titans
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 11
2021 Top 200 Rank: 118
9. Grady Jarrett, IDL Atlanta Falcons
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 6
2021 Top 200 Rank: 71
10. Christian Wilkins, IDL Miami Dolphins
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
We’re already down to Tier 3, but these are still elite players. Everyone in Tier 3 is capable of earning an All-Pro selection. However, these seven players suffer from inconsistent play more often than their peers in Tier 2. NFL teams view players in this tier as franchise cornerstones they can build around on defense.
I contemplated including Allen in Tier 2. He’d shown flashes of high-level play in 2018 and 2020, but things finally clicked for the 27-year-old in 2021. Allen finished second among interior defensive linemen with 67 pressures and recorded a career-high nine sacks. He’s developed into a pass rushing menace.
Simmons, Vea, and Wilkins are three relatively young linemen who are entering their primes. They all have different styles, but that trio and Allen are the future of their position.
Simmons finished fifth among interior defensive linemen with 62 pressures in 2021. He also tallied 8.5 sacks. However, a disproportionate amount of his production (nine pressures and three sacks) came in a game against the Rams. Simmons will rank higher when he’s capable of evenly producing at a superstar level throughout the season.
It’s also worth mentioning that Simmons flashed again in the playoffs, tallying three sacks against Cincinnati.
Vea and Wilkins wreak havoc as run defenders, but they’ve both developed into threats as pass rushers. This past season was a breakout year for Wilkins. He nearly doubled his 2020 production across the board. Meanwhile, Vea set a career-high in pressure rate and sacks. He’s arguably been Tampa Bay’s most valuable defensive lineman since joining the team.
Even after six years in the NFL, Clark is still 26 years old. The former 27th overall pick was fairly quiet in 2019 and 2020 after looking like a future All-Pro early in his career. He came roaring back onto the scene in 2021 as the Packers granted him more snaps in the B-gap and over the tackle. Clark’s 64 pressures ranked fourth among interior defensive linemen.
Jarrett’s play last year reflected Atlanta’s struggling defensive front. The Clemson product had his worst campaign since at least 2016. Jarrett managed just 36 pressures after producing 46 in 2019 and 53 in 2018 on fewer snaps. We’ll see if the 29-year-old can recover his Second-Team All-Pro form.
Buckner’s 2020 season might be the best by any member of Tier 2. That year, the former 49er tallied 53 pressures and 9.5 sacks and earned First-Team All-Pro honors. He’s the only player in Tier 3 ever to reach that height. While Buckner was still a high-level defender in 2021, his play took a step back as the Colts kicked him outside more often.
Tier 4: High Impact Starters
11. D.J. Reader, IDL Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
12. David Onyemata, IDL New Orleans Saints
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 15
2021 Top 200 Rank: 159
13. Calais Campbell, IDL Baltimore Ravens
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 13
2021 Top 200 Rank: 154
14. Christian Barmore, IDL New England Patriots
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 4 players don’t usually compete for end-of-season awards, but they’re high-end performers who generate significant production for their teams. Depending on the situation, these players could classify as franchise cornerstones, although they don’t consistently fall into that category. Tier 4 interior defensive linemen possess limited upward mobility, except for Barmore.
Barmore fell into Bill Belichick’s lap in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His base stat line isn’t very impressive. The 23-year-old played about 600 defensive snaps and recorded 1.5 sacks and 46 tackles. However, he also amassed 48 pressures, the ninth-most among interior defensive linemen, most of whom played 200 or 300 more snaps.
Barmore’s upside as a young pass rusher makes him an easy choice for Tier 4.
Onyemata missed six games in 2021 for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. When available, he’s served as a well-rounded, above-average contributor for the Saints over the past two years. A full preseason gives Onyemata a strong shot to replicate his breakout 2020 campaign in 2022.
Reader played a massive role in Cincinnati’s success during the team’s Super Bowl run. B.J. Hill, Larry Ogunjobi, and Reader were instrumental in creating a dead zone in the middle of Cincinnati’s defense. That trio, led by Reader, made it difficult for teams to run between the tackles and freed up Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard to hunt quarterbacks.
As he rapidly approaches his 36th birthday, Campbell remains one of the league’s most efficient linemen. After an injury-shortened 2020 season, Campbell mustered 31 pressures in 2021 and regained his disruptive ability as a run defender. The Ravens will likely limit the three-time All-Pro’s snaps moving forward, but they’re glad he’s back for his 15th season.
Tier 5: Inconsistent High Impact Starters
15. Javon Hargrave, IDL Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
16. Fletcher Cox, IDL Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 8
2021 Top 200 Rank: 93
17. Leonard Williams, IDL New York Giants
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 9
2021 Top 200 Rank: 104
18. Dexter Lawrence, IDL New York Giants
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 14
2021 Top 200 Rank: 157
19. Akiem Hicks, IDL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 16
2021 Top 200 Rank: 165
20. Poona Ford, IDL Seattle Seahawks
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 18
2021 Top 200 Rank: 185
Tier 5 interior defensive linemen are still high-impact starters capable of dominating and altering games week-to-week. Several of these players are former Tier 2 and 3 veterans aging out of their primes, while others are above-average starters who lack All-Pro potential. Tier 5 players have high upward mobility with the potential to reach Tier 3. We never get down to the “average starters” along the defensive interior because this list only runs 20 players deep.
Cox and Hargrave form a dynamic duo in Philadelphia. It’s a shame the two didn’t get together during Cox’s prime. The 31-year-old was the second-best pass rushing defensive tackle in the NFL, only trailing Donald. However, he’s experienced significant regression over the past two years. Meanwhile, Hargrave set career highs with 61 pressures and 7.5 sacks in 2021.
Lawrence and Williams are the second defensive tackle duo in Tier 5. Williams once looked like a future All-Pro. He still has flashes of elite play now and then. Notably, his 2020 season was worthy of Tier 3 consideration. However, Williams has largely plateaued in his current role. Lawrence primarily serves as a run defender, but he’s developed into an effective pass rusher since entering the NFL.
Having missed 20 games over the past three years, Hicks is at the point in his career where he might benefit from serving in a rotational role rather than as an 800-snap starter. The 32-year-old was a Tier 3 player in the late 2010s, but Hicks’ recent campaigns haven’t measured up to his glory days.
Ford was primarily a run-stopping nose tackle early in his career, but the Seahawks changed his role in 2021. The former undrafted free agent saw more snaps in the B-gap and lined up over opposing tackles. Ford also smashed his previous career-high in snaps. The changes allowed the 26-year-old to flash his pass rush skills and make more plays on the quarterback.
Honorable Mentions
Jordan Davis, IDL Philadelphia Eagles*
Folorunso Fatukasi, IDL Jacksonville Jaguars
Matt Ioannidis, IDL Carolina Panthers
D.J. Jones, IDL Denver Broncos
Ed Oliver, IDL Buffalo Bills
Daron Payne, IDL Washington Commanders
Harrison Phillips, IDL Minnesota Vikings
Zach Sieler, IDL Miami Dolphins
Dalvin Tomlinson, IDL Minnesota Vikings
Quinnen Williams, IDL New York Jets
2021 Defensive Tackle Rank: 7
2021 Top 200 Rank: 77