Speed and quickness are the name of the game in the NFL. Being able to cover space is important for every position in different ways. Some might think that this is an exception for a position like defensive tackle, considering their size and how often they rely on power to shed blocks. However, that couldn’t be more wrong. Quickness is highly coveted, and the focus player of this profile, Gracen Halton, has it in spades. The Oklahoma DT currently sits at #120 on the LWOS Big Board, which equates to DT10.
Gracen Halton 2026 NFL Draft Profile
Measurements*
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 293
Arm Length: 31 1/8″
Hand Size: 10″
*Confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine
Player Background
Gracen Halton played high school football in San Diego, California, at St. Augustine High School. He was a consensus 4-star recruit that originally committed to Oregon, but flipped to Oklahoma, largely in part due to Head Coach Brent Venables impact on his parents. In his first two seasons at Oklahoma, Halton didn’t start a single game. He played 20 games as a backup. In 2024, during his junior season, he finally began getting looks as a starter. The process was slow, though, as he only started 3 out of the 13 games he played. Halton made the most of it, though, as he racked up 29 pressures, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 18 total tackles. He continued this trajectory in 2025 as he became a team captain and started 7 out of 13 games. His senior season saw him record 30 pressures, 5 sacks, and 17 total tackles. He was named to the Second Team All-SEC for his play.
Strengths
- Quickness is his trump card – it helps him get to the spot quicker than the OL can account for, and is also immensely helpful in pass rush games
- Smaller size allows him to squeeze through gaps sometimes
- Great motor, will see the play out until the very end
- Does well to locate the ball-carrier in the run game
Weaknesses
- Straight-up undersized (sub-300 pounds)
- Lacks the anchor needed to be a 3-down player
- Struggles to play with leverage due to his shorter arms and smaller size
- Could employ hand technique to help offset these shortcomings, but very clearly needs work in that area as well
Player Comparison: Javon Hargrave
Projected Draft Capital: Late Day 2/Early Day 3
Team Fits: Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers
Last Word on Gracen Halton in the 2026 NFL Draft
Gracen Halton is a prospect that truly controls his own destiny. His issues lie primarily with his lack of size and strength, as he only stands at 6’3″, 293 lbs. To make up for this at the college level, he won with his quickness. If he wants to carve out a long career in the NFL, he won’t be able to continue winning this way alone. He will absolutely need to bulk up and work to maintain that quickness at a larger size. The best chance he has at making an impact right away will be with a team that runs a lot of pass rush games (twists, stunts) to get him moving around and utilizing his motor. This would most likely limit him to a late-down designated pass rusher. His listed draft projection is late Day 2/early Day 3, but there’s definitely a chance he could go earlier on Day 2 if a position coach sees greatness in him. This is even more possible when considering the defensive tackle position, and specifically, pass-rushing prowess at the position, which contributed to deep playoff runs in 2025 from Seattle, New England, and Denver.
Main Photo: [Kevin Jairaj] – Imagn Images
