As with the offensive line, the defensive line is typically the part of the defense that controls the game. If you have good defensive linemen, it makes the secondary look good and makes the job of LBs much easier. The winner of the O-Line vs D-Line not only decides games, but it wins you Superbowl trophies. If you want to be a serious contender, this is where you have to start.
[Inscriber]
There are 4 facets to the D-Line group working out in Indy. You have the 4-3 DEs, which are typically in the 260-275 weight range and can get to the QB. You have the 4-3 DTs that are in the weight range of 280-310 and typically have some type of interior pass rush ability but should be at least solid against the run. You then have the 3-4 DEs that typically are 300 pounds of more and need to be able to good run stuffers. The elite 3-4 DEs can stop the run and get to the QB, like JJ Watt and Jurrell Casey. Then lastly you have the NTs that are space eaters and are usually over 320 pounds. Those are the big run stuffers.
This is considered one of the deepest draft classes in recent times for defensive linemen. Myles Garrett of Texas A&M and Jonathan Allen of Alabama are considered the top 2 defensive linemen in the draft. Garrett may have to play OLB depending on what team drafts him.
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Others that I consider top 10 D-Lineman include Solomon Thomas of Stanford, Derek Barnett of Tennessee, Tim Williams of Alabama, Caleb Brantley of Florida, Taco Charlton of Michigan, Malik McDowell of Michigan State, Elijah Qualls of Washington, and Demarcus Walker of Florida State.
Below are the Defensive Linemen measurements from the 2017 NFL Combine.
| Player | School | Height | Weight | Arm |
| Montravius Adams | Auburn | 6-4 | 304 | 32 3/4 |
| Jonathan Allen | Alabama | 6-3 | 286 | 33 5/8 |
| Derek Barnett | Tennessee | 6-3 | 259 | 32 1/8 |
| Tarell Basham | Ohio | 6-4 | 269 | 34 1/4 |
| Tashawn Bower | LSU | 6-5 | 250 | 33 3/8 |
| Caleb Brantley | Florida | 6-3 | 307 | 32 |
| Fadol Brown | Ole Miss | 6-4 | 273 | 35 |
| Josh Carraway | TCU | 6-3 | 242 | 34 1/4 |
| Taco Charlton | Michigan | 6-6 | 277 | 34 1/4 |
| Chunky Clements | Illinois | 6-2 | 301 | 32 7/8 |
| Bryan Cox | Florida | 6-3 | 265 | 33 3/4 |
| Keionta Davis | Chattanooga | 6-3 | 271 | 34 1/8 |
| Dylan Donahue | West Georgia | 6-3 | 248 | 30 1/4 |
| Ken Ekanem | Virginia Tech | 6-3 | 257 | 32 |
| Myles Garrett | Texas A&M | 6-4 | 272 | 35 1/4 |
| Ryan Glasgow | Michigan | 6-3 | 299 | 32 3/4 |
| Davon Godchaux | LSU | 6-3 | 310 | 32 3/8 |
| Daeshon Hall | Texas A&M | 6-5 | 266 | 35 5/8 |
| Charles Harris | Missouri | 6-3 | 253 | 32 3/8 |
| Trey Hendrickson | Florida Atlantic | 6-4 | 266 | 32 |
| Treyvon Hester | Toledo | 6-2 | 300 | 32 |
| Jaleel Johnson | Iowa | 6-3 | 316 | 33 1/4 |
| D.J. Jones | Ole Miss | 6-1 | 319 | 32 1/2 |
| Jarron Jones | Notre Dame | 6-6 | 316 | 35 1/2 |
| Nazair Jones | North Carolina | 6-5 | 304 | 34 5/8 |
| Tanoh Kpassagnon | Villanova | 6-7 | 289 | 35 5/8 |
| Harvey Langi | BYU | 6-2 | 251 | 32 7/8 |
| Carl Lawson | Auburn | 6-2 | 261 | 31 1/2 |
| Jeremiah Ledbetter | Arkansas | 6-3 | 280 | 34 1/4 |
| Malik McDowell | Michigan State | 6-6 | 295 | 34 3/4 |
| Takkarist McKinley | UCLA | 6-2 | 250 | 34 3/4 |
| Avery Moss | Youngstown | 6-3 | 264 | 34 1/2 |
| Al-Quadin Muhammad | Miami | 6-3 | 253 | 33 1/4 |
| Noble Nwachukwu | West Virginia | 6-1 | 268 | 33 1/8 |
| Ifeadi Odenigbo | Northwestern | 6-3 | 258 | 32 5/8 |
| Larry Ogunjobi | Charlotte | 6-3 | 305 | 32 5/8 |
| Carroll Phillips | Illinois | 6-3 | 242 | 33 3/4 |
| Ejuan Price | Pittsburgh | 5-11 | 241 | 32 3/4 |
| Elijah Qualls | Washington | 6-1 | 313 | 30 5/8 |
| Haason Reddick | Temple | 6-1 | 237 | 32 3/4 |
| Derek Rivers | Youngstown | 6-4 | 248 | 32 3/4 |
| Isaac Rochell | Notre Dame | 6-4 | 280 | 32 3/4 |
| Garrett Sickels | Penn State | 6-3 | 261 | 32 1/8 |
| Tanzel Smart | Tulane | 6-1 | 296 | 32 7/8 |
| Dawuane Smoot | Illinois | 6-3 | 264 | 33 1/4 |
| Pita Taumoepenu | Utah | 6-1 | 243 | 32 3/8 |
| Vincent Taylor | Oklahoma State | 6-3 | 304 | 34 3/8 |
| Solomon Thomas | Stanford | 6-3 | 273 | 33 |
| Dalvin Tomlinson | Alabama | 6-3 | 310 | 33 1/2 |
| Stevie Tu’Ikolovatu | USC | 6-1 | 331 | 33 7/8 |
| Eddie Vanderdoes | UCLA | 6-3 | 305 | 33 1/8 |
| Charles Walker | Oklahoma | 6-2 | 310 | 33 3/4 |
| Demarcus Walker | Florida State | 6-4 | 280 | 33 |
| Carlos Watkins | Clemson | 6-3 | 309 | 34 5/8 |
| Tim Williams | Alabama | 6-3 | 244 | 32 3/4 |
| Jordan Willis | Kansas State | 6-4 | 255 | 33 1/2 |
| Deatrich Wise | Arkansas | 6-5 | 274 | 35 5/8 |
| Chris Wormley | Michigan | 6-5 | 298 | 34 1/8 |