Out of all of the positions on the roster, the NFC North might have a unanimous weakness at defensive tackle.
This is a division that is loaded at the quarterback position and the offensive skill positions, and is at least top-heavy off the edge. But every single team in the division has question marks on the interior defensive line heading into the 2026 season, including the Green Bay Packers.
How do each of the top defensive tackles (projected starters for each team) stack up against each other entering the 2026 season? We're going to try our best to sort out this group, which includes some young (and mostly unproven) players, some established names, and some potential rising stars.
Top 8 defensive tackles in the NFC North ranked for the 2026 season
8. Caleb Banks, Minnesota Vikings
In terms of physical gifts, Caleb Banks might actually be the #1 defensive tackle in the entire division as a rookie. The Vikings' first-round pick is 6-foot-6 with 35-inch arms and elite movement skills for a big man. Despite the fact that he didn't have the body of work or proven production at Florida that you would typically see of a first-round pick, his talent was too enticing for the Vikings to pass on.
Minnesota moved on from some really notable names on its defensive front this offseason, so Banks is going to be pressed into action right away. He's got to be at the bottom of this list until proven otherwise, but the upside is off the charts.
7. Grady Jarrett, Chicago Bears
At this stage of his career, Grady Jarrett is past his prime. But he's still an effective player in a defensive line rotation. And in Chicago, he'll definitely be rotating with the likes of Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street, who were also considered for this list, but Jarrett still played over 600 snaps last season.
Again, Jarrett is well beyond the days when he was terrorizing quarterbacks consistently with the Atlanta Falcons, but he's still a solid veteran for the Bears to have alongside Gervon Dexter.
6. Tyleik Williams, Detroit Lions
After playing 40 percent of the Lions' snaps in his rookie season, Tyleik Williams will be expected to take a huge step forward in his sophomore NFL season.
The 2025 first-round pick out of Ohio State ended up ranking 37th among all interior defensive linemen in the NFL last season in pass rush grade (from PFF) and batted down four passes at the line of scrimmage.
He's got outstanding size and strength at the position, and we're likely just starting to see him scratch the surface of the type of impact player he can be on the interior.
5. Alim McNeill, Detroit Lions
Alim McNeill hasn't been able to stay on the field for a full season over the past three years, a big part of the reason why we've seen his production decline significantly.
McNeill, at his best, is capable of being one of the top pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the division. He had a career-high five sacks in the 2023 season along with 10 QB hits, and he posted those numbers while only playing in 13 games.
He got a four-year extension from the Lions in 2024, but they have to see better return on that investment. He's still just 26 years old but needs a clean bill of health to put himself in the conversation among the top-tier defensive tackles in the division.
4. Jalen Redmond, Minnesota Vikings
Even though there was a mass exodus out of Minnesota this offseason on the defensive line (Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Greenard), the Vikings still have one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the division: Jalen Redmond.
Redmond has worked his way up as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma back in 2023. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, racking up six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and five batted passes on nearly 800 total snaps.
Redmond has outstanding quickness at the position and is a havoc player, capable of affecting games as a pass-rushing threat. He had the 22nd-best overall grade among interior defensive linemen last season and the 10th-best run defense grade.
3. Devonte Wyatt, Green Bay Packers
Fitting timing, because Devonte Wyatt was just given a big-money contract extension by the Packers. He earned a three-year deal worth $57 million in total money, and the Packers are putting faith in him being a core, foundational piece to their defensive operation moving forward.
Wyatt was a first-round pick out of Georgia thanks to his elite athletic traits on the defensive line. You don't see guys pushing 300 pounds and running a 4.77 in the 40-yard dash all that often. But that only matters if you can translate it to success as a pass rusher and beating offensive linemen off the snap, which Wyatt can.
He's missed a total of 10 games over the past two seasons, and the Packers have sorely missed him when he's not on the field, but he's one of the most impactful every-down defensive linemen in the division when he's at full strength.
2. Javon Hargrave, Green Bay Packers
In terms of overall pedigree and production, Javon Hargrave is one of the best all-around defensive tackles in the division until proven otherwise.
Hargrave joined the Packers this offseason after being cut by the Vikings in a salary cap move. Even though he's not putting up the same types of numbers we saw from him when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, Hargrave is still productive on the interior with a rather high volume of work.
He was coming off an injury last season, so the Packers are banking on him returning to form in 2026 at the age of 33, even if it's only for a short time. Jonathan Gannon's defense is a much better fit for Hargrave as a pass-rush threat, and I'm expecting him to bounce back for a big year.
1. Gervon Dexter, Chicago Bears
Over the past two seasons, Gervon Dexter has really grown into a quality player and one of the better pass-rushing interior linemen in the NFL.
He has a combined 45 total pressures over the past two seasons for the Bears, including 30 QB hits and 11 total sacks. He had a career-high six sacks this past season, earning the 20th-best pass rush grade from PFF.
Given the fact that the Bears failed to upgrade off the edge this offseason, they are going to need Dexter to be at his best this coming season. He has a unique blend of height and explosiveness, and entering a contract year, he could be in line for a massive payday in the very near future.
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