Three Interior Defensive Linemen Who Boosted Their Stock at the 2026 NFL Combine

The 2026 NFL Combine once again reminded evaluators that traits matter, especially along the defensive interior. While game tape establishes the baseline, Indianapolis provides confirmation of explosiveness, movement skills, and ceiling. This year, three interior defensive linemen used the stage to significantly elevate their draft outlook: Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana), Zane Durant (Penn State), and Gracen Halton (Oklahoma).

Each entered the week with intrigue. Each left with momentum.

Zane Durant, DT — Penn State

• Combine Highlight: 4.75-second 40-yard dash
• Scouting Grade: 6.9 (Immediate Rotational Disruptor / Starter Upside)
• Updated Round Projection: Round 2

Durant may have delivered the most eye-catching performance of any true interior defensive lineman in Indianapolis. His 4.75 40-yard dash at his size immediately separated him from the pack, but the number alone doesn’t tell the story. He was widely regarded as the most athletic interior defender in drills. He was fluid, efficient, and explosive with no wasted movement.

During position work, Durant’s foot quickness and balance were evident. His transitions looked natural, and he changed direction like a much lighter athlete. Scouts love interior defenders who can threaten gaps with suddenness, and Durant’s workout reinforced that his first-step explosiveness translates beyond the tape.

Evaluation: Durant profiles as a penetrating 3-technique who can disrupt passing lanes and collapse pockets. His combination of burst, agility, and play strength gives him a high ceiling in an attacking front. After the Combine, it would not be surprising to see him firmly cemented in Round 2 conversations.

Gracen Halton, DT — Oklahoma

• Combine Highlights: 4.83 40-yard dash | 36½" vertical | 9'6" broad jump
• Scouting Grade: 6.8 (High-Motor Interior Playmaker)
• Updated Round Projection: Round 3

Halton entered the Combine with a reputation for quickness and effort, and he validated both in a major way. His 4.83 40-yard dash showed strong straight-line speed for an interior defender, but his explosiveness numbers truly stood out: a 36½-inch vertical and 9-foot-6 broad jump are elite markers of lower-body power.

Those jumps translate directly to first-step burst and leverage generation, and Halton’s drill work reflected that explosiveness. He moved well laterally, stayed compact through transitions, and showed the kind of twitch that makes offensive linemen uncomfortable.

Evaluation: Halton projects as a high-energy interior defender who can win with quickness and effort. His Combine confirmed that his explosiveness isn’t just functional but it’s measurable. That athletic profile likely pushes him solidly into Day 2 consideration.

Kaleb Proctor, DT — Southeastern Louisiana

• Combine Highlight: Strong movement drills and proportional athletic testing
• Scouting Grade: 6.6 (Developmental Interior Defender with Upside)
• Updated Round Projection: Round 4–5

Proctor may not have entered the week with the same national profile as Durant or Halton, but he made evaluators take notice. Representing a smaller, more obscure school in Southeastern Louisiana, Proctor showcased impressive movement skills for his frame, moving smoothly through drills and demonstrating balance and coordination that translated well in positional work.

Small-school prospects often need a confirming moment against top-tier peers, and Proctor’s athletic testing helped validate his upside. He looked comfortable in space, displayed active feet, and didn’t labor through transitions.

Evaluation: Proctor’s stock rise is about projection. The athletic tools suggest developmental upside as a rotational interior lineman in a penetrating scheme. With strong interviews and continued pro day confirmation, he has positioned himself squarely in the middle-round conversation.