Hot Take Tuesday: Keeanu Benton is DT2 in the 2023 NFL Draft

Jack Borowsky explains why the Badger's star will be the second defensive tackle selected in the 2023 draft.

The defensive tackle class in this year’s NFL draft is headlined by Jalen Carter, who is a projected top-five pick but after that, there are a lot of questions. The biggest being, who is DT2?

Coming into the season, the favorite was a former top recruit, Bryan Bresee. Nose tackle Siaki Ika also had some love as a potential riser but that was before the season. Both didn’t live up to expectations this season and are more day-two prospects.

One of my favorites to be the second defensive tackle drafted coming into the season was Wisconsin’s Keeanu Benton. After a really impressive senior season and a dominant Senior Bowl, Benton should be viewed as DT2 in the 2023 draft and a potential first-round pick.

On film, Benton displayed elite-level strength. He showed a combination of size, strength and length to overwhelm offensive linemen. In the run game, Benton consistently stacked and shed linemen with ease. Benton can get skinny and avoid blockers and has the closing burst to get to ball carriers and make plays at the line of scrimmage. His hand placement and overall technique were excellent for a player with great natural tools.

As a pass rusher, Benton won with a high-level bull rush to push the pocket. His swim move and quickness off the snap allowed him to get after the quarterback on pass rush downs. For a player of his size, Benton has the flexibility to redirect as a rusher and move down the line with ease.

At the Senior Bowl, Benton won almost every pass rush rep with those tools that are so enticing. Few rushers can win with power and quickness. Before the Senior Bowl, people felt Benton was just a nose tackle but he showed why he has the versatility to also play as a three-technique.

That pass-rush ability was littered all over his film but teams got to see him win as a pass-rusher in the one on ones. Combine that with incredible play in the run game and Benton is the complete package.

Defensive line coaches will want to work with Benton. He has the makings of an elite run defender, which is becoming more and more critical in today’s NFL but Benton could also be a high-end pass rusher.

Not to mention, Benton has four years of starting experience and has put together quality tape week in and week out over the course of his career. In comparing Benton with Ika and Bresee, he is more pro-ready than the two of them but his upside is also greater.

With several teams looking for defensive tackle help, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Benton hear his name called in the first round. No matter what, Benton is going to be a ten-year starter at the next level and he could develop into one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the NFL, which is why he is DT2 in this year’s draft.

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