In this installment of the Fan Rankings NFL position list, we are going to talk about who are some of the best defensive tackles or interior linemen in the NFL. The answer to this question was the last time we did these rankings and it still is by a wide margin Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams. 

Deforest Buckner of the Colts, Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kenny Clark of the Green Bay Packers, and Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders are all good players that make an impact on the interior. With all that said, here is our official list.

Honorable Mention

B.J. Hill

Team(s): Cincinnati Bengals

2021 Stats: 29 Solo, 5.5 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Hill was traded by the New York Giants before the 2021 season and made an immediate impact on the Bengals. Hill recorded 50 tackles and 5.5 sacks on the season. He intercepted a pass from Patrick Mahomes with the Bengals trailing 21-13 in the third quarter which helped the Bengals advance to the Super Bowl.

Larry Ogunjobi

Team(s): Cincinnati Bengals

2021 Stats: 29 Solo, 7 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Along with Hill, Ogunjobi also made an impact on the Bengals defensive line coming over from the Cleveland Browns last offseason. Ogunjobi recorded 49 tackles and seven sacks last season but made 12 tackles in the Bengal’s Wild Card win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He is currently a free agent.

Denico Autry

Team(s): Tennessee Titans

2021 Stats: 29 Solo, 9 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Autry recorded a career-high nine sacks in 2021 after coming over from the divisional rival Colts in free agency. Autry and Jeffery Simmons combined for 17.5 sacks on the Titans defensive line which improved from 2020.

A’Shawn Robinson

Team(s): Los Angeles Rams

2021 Stats: 33 Solo, 2 Sacks, 2 FF, 0 INT

Matthew Stafford was not the only former Detroit Lion that made an impact in Los Angeles on their way to the Super Bowl. Robinson recorded 67 tackles and two sacks in the regular season, but in the Super Bowl, he had six tackles while applying pressure along with Donald and Von Miller to neutralize the Bengals offense for most of the game.

Top 10 Defensive Tackles

10. Leonard Williams

Team(s): New York Giants

2021 Stats: 34 Solo, 6.5 Sacks, 2 FF, 0 INT

Williams remains a rock of a Giants franchise that struggles with consistency and culture. Williams recorded .5 sacks and recorded and has been one of the best players at his position but fails to get recognition due to his teams’ struggles.

9. Javon Hargrave

Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles

2021 Stats: 27 Solo, 7.5 Sacks, 1 FF, 0 INT

Hargrave had a career-high of 7.5 sacks in 2021 on his way to his first Pro Bowl. Hargrave has a unique skill set for a 4-3 defensive tackle at 305 pounds because he was a nose tackle his first four years in Pittsburgh. That allows him to play with leverage despite being an average-sized defensive tackle.

8. Jeffery Simmons

Team(s): Tennessee Titans

2021 Stats: 42 Solo, 8.5 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

When I saw Simmons last season as he made his first Pro Bowl, as well as being named second-team All-Pro, his play when it comes to playing the run, using power moves in the pass rush and his knack for batting passes down reminds me of a younger Cameron Hayward.

7. Vita Vea

Team(s): Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2021 Stats: 22 Solo, 4 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Vita is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL because he has the ability at 345-pounds to rush the passer. Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs.

6. Kenny Clark

Team(s): Green Bay Packers

2021 Stats: 27 Solo, 4 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Clark made his second Pro Bowl last season when he recorded 44 tackles and four sacks while helping a Packers defense that was ravaged with injuries. Clark’s numbers do not do him justice because his film does the talking.

5. Jonathan Allen

Team(s): Washington Commanders

2021 Stats: 31 Solo, 9 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Allen made his first Pro Bowl last season playing on a Washington defense that underachieved due to injuries, especially on the defensive line. Without Chase Young and Montez Sweat for large chunks of the season, he was a force of nature by recording 62 tackles and nine sacks on his way to his first Pro Bowl.

4. Deforest Buckner

Team(s): Indianapolis Colts

2021 Stats: 40 Solo, 7 Sacks, 0 FF, 0 INT

Buckner made his second Pro Bowl in 2021 by recording 68 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Buckner has been a force for the past few years. Buckner will be better as Rookie Kwity Paye comes into his own in the NFL along with the rest of the Colts defense.

3. Chris Jones

Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs

2021 Stats: 18 Solo, 9 Sacks, 1 FF, 0 INT

Jones hit his stride in 2021 after the Chiefs acquired Melvin Gordon from the Steelers at the trade deadline. Jones finished with nine sacks playing exclusively inside and led a turnaround of the Chiefs defense in the second half of the season.

2. Cameron Heyward

Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers

2021 Stats: 53 Solo, 10 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT

Heyward in his eleventh season showed no signs of slowing down with 89 tackles, 10 sacks, and nine pass breakups for a defensive lineman. Heyward and Watt were the biggest reasons why the Steelers were able to make the playoffs with possibly the worst roster this team has had at least in at least a decade.

The only question is whether Heyward has done enough to get Hall of Fame consideration. At this moment I say of Hall of Very Good, but if he has a few more seasons like 2021 he will be in Canton.

1. Aaron Donald

Team(s): Los Angeles Rams

2021 Stats: 38 Solo, 12.5 Sacks, 4 FF, 0 INT

Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All-Decade Team, and was one of the main reasons that the Rams won Super Bowl 56. 

In Super Bowl 56 against the Bengals, Donald recorded two sacks, three quarterback hits and made the game-sealing pressure play that sealed the victory. Donald already has 98 sacks in his eight-year career and he has just turned 30.

Is not a question that he is the best defensive player in the league today. The question is if he’s the best defensive player ever.

How would you rank these Defensive Tackles going into the 2022-2023 season? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. Join the contest by ranking below. 

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