#defensive-line

#defensive-line

The Senior Bowl is an invite-only showcase of upperclassmen prospects and an important step toward forming a plan for the 2026 NFL draft. You can check out practice coverage Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN App, and then at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App. Thursday's practices will air at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU/ESPN App, and then at 5 p.m. ET on ESPNNews. (There will be a re-airing on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET.)

The Super Bowl is set, which also means picks 1-30 are locked in, with only the Seahawks' and Patriots' selection spots yet to be decided. In my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, Fernando Mendoza is locked in at number one, but how many QBs will go in Round 1? Plus, the Bears will look to add to their defensive line. Will they get that help at 25th overall?

If you want an individual who has been reaching peak form in the postseason, that would be junior defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade of Santa Margarita High. He has recorded eight of his nine sacks in his last three games after becoming healthy and gaining confidence. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound junior is the son of Santa Margarita offensive coordinator Lenny Vandermade, who played at Mater Dei and USC.

Barcelona have found clean sheets hard to come by so far this season and it was the same story on Wednesday night against Club Brugge in the Champions League. The hosts needed less than six minutes to open the scoring against Hansi Flick's side and then added a second on 17 minutes following another quick break. The goal means that Barcelona are now on their worst run without a clean sheet for over a decade.

The New England Patriots used a second-round pick on hybrid defensive tackle/end Keion White in 2023. Unfortunately, White hasn't lived up to his lofty draft status, and it's time to evaluate the pros and cons of whether they should trade him before this year's deadline for a player or future draft capital. Through seven games, there are two players ahead of White on the depth chart at edge, where he's aligned the most for the Patriots in 2025.

We have to improve a lot of things, especially our pressing. We haven't been good. We've already had two games in which I don't think we've been good. We have to improve that pressing, above all, and with the ball, give it more rhythm, create more chances. I think we have a lot of room for improvement. We have to analyze it with the manager during the week and improve it for the next game.

The New England Patriots' defense overall had a solid game against Carolina. One player who's beginning to assert himself and is getting back into top form is defensive lineman Christian Barmore. While his stats are not earth-shattering, Barmore is starting to make a difference on the defensive line, along with his teammate, Milton Williams. The defensive line is generating solid pressure on opposing quarterbacks, led by edge rushers Harold Landry III, K'Lavon Chaisson, and defensive tackles Barmore and Milton Williams, the top free agent signee.

College football teams across the country are far from finished products this season, but the first weeks of the 2025 slate are already giving them a better sense of who they are -- for better or worse. At the same time, coaching staffs face the delicate balancing act of winning today and looking ahead, knowing some of the answers to weaknesses with their current rosters might come from the 2026 class and beyond.

Had an opportunity to sign with Washington. That's a championship-contending team. Me personally, I'm not a big bandwagon guy. I'm not going to sit here and jump on a team because y'all have a good opportunity to go to the championship. Like, what am I needed for? If y'all already got that type of team, y'all don't need me. It's all about me bringing my attitude and personality to a team to help us get to where we need to be.

Despite the impressive state of the position, the Patriots may not be done yet. With the release of former Clemson and Miami Dolphins star Christian Wilkins on Thursday, Vrabel and company have yet another chance to bolster the unit.

The Commanders' defensive front received the most attention in free agency, releasing starters Jonathan Allen and Dante Fowler while adding DT Javon Kinlaw, NT Eddie Goldman, and Edge Defenders Von Miller and Jacob Martin.