A few notable players were left out of ESPN’s annual rankings of the top 10 defensive tackles in the NFL.<\/p>\n
The rankings, published Thursday by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler<\/a>, featured 10 defensive tackles. Here’s a look at the full list.<\/p>\n Four players received “honorable mentions” after the vote, according to Fowler.<\/p>\n Five defensive tackles received votes but did not qualify for the rankings, according to Fowler.<\/p>\n According to Fowler, the list was compiled after a voting process involving more than 70 executives, coaches and scouts.<\/p>\n Heyward missed the cut on the top-10 list despite recording 78 tackles, 3.5 sacks and PFF’s<\/a> highest defensive grade among any defensive tackle last season.<\/p>\n Turner, ranked sixth by PFF<\/a>, missed out despite posting 7.0 sacks and 48 tackles. Onyemata was also left off the list after getting ranked eighth by PFF<\/a> while recording 62 tackles and a sack. <\/p>\n Longtime Cowboys defensive tackle Odighizuwa will look to bounce back into the top 10 after making his 49ers debut this fall, while Clark will look to find a way to make a stronger defensive impact in his second year with the Cowboys.<\/p>\n One notable player who received no votes is the Baltimore Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike, who missed the 2025 season after a potentially career-threatening neck surgery. ESPN’s Adam Schefter<\/a> reported in April his doctors feel he will be able to play in 2026.<\/p>\n