It's been over a month since my "too-early" Big Board for the 2016 NFL draft, a ranking that includes 2015 underclassmen. For this I'll go a little deeper into each position group, so you'll get an idea of well over 100 of the top NFL prospects for 2016. That said, it goes without saying that these rankings are preliminary, as I have hundreds of hours of evaluation ahead for the 2016 class.
A couple of important notes about the rankings below:
• I've split them into seniors and underclassmen; it's important to have a baseline number of seniors because those players are certain to be a part of the 2016 NFL draft process (if they choose to be).
• I won't go too heavy into actual scouting reports, as those are still a work in progress.
With those parameters in mind, here's an early look at the top defensive tackle prospects in the 2016 draft class. A reminder: Scheme dictates a lot when it comes to positional labels with these guys, so, for example, someone listed as a defensive tackle here could end up playing defensive end depending on where he lands.
Top 5 senior defensive tackles
1. Adolphus Washington, Ohio State Buckeyes: I was a little bit surprised that Washington came back, but this should be a fun defense to be a part of in 2015. He can be tough to move on the inside even though his frame (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) doesn't make you think "clogger." He got into the backfield plenty last year, notching 10.5 TFL. A converted defensive end, I expect him to take another step forward as he balances the need to keep linebackers clean and making plays of his own.