Deven Eastern is a Midwest big man in the trenches, coming out of Minnesota ready to play in the trenches. Scouts love his size at 6’6″ and 320 pounds, with room to add bulk, too. His 34″ arms, combined with a high motor that runs from whistle to whistle, will entice teams to draft and plug him into their defensive tackle rotation. Although he is a solid run defender, Eastern struggles with pass-rushing moves. Despite his physical attributes, Eastern’s production on the field hasn’t wowed scouts. He needs to lower his pad level, tackle reliably, and stay upright. Too often, he is on the ground, not what teams expect from their interior linemen. Eastern is viewed by some teams as a better potential fit playing end in a 3-4 defense. Eastern is worth a flyer in the sixth or seventh round.
Deven Eastern 2026 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6’6’
Weight: 320 pounds
School: Minnesota
2026 NFL Draft Deven Eastern Scouting Report
Strengths
- Eastern has a high motor and plays from whistle to whistle.
- Plays with high intensity and has the stamina to play the entire game;
- 34” arms, allows him to keep blockers from getting to his body;
- Eastern has 10” hands, great for a tackle in the trenches.
- 27.5” vertical jump and 9’4” broad jump are solid for a man of his size;
- His long arms allow him to shed blockers and keep them at bay, allowing for easier gap coverage.
- Solid anchor in the trenches, he will be effective in defensive line rotations.
- Solid run stopper, needs work on developing pass rush techniques.
- Finest season in 2025: 38 tackles, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble;
- Eastern has the necessary size and strength to stand up as a defensive tackle and nose tackle
Deven Eastern is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 6.96 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 692 out of 2270 DT from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/b3qvab84BO pic.twitter.com/BQ9tLQw5Vg
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 5, 2026
Weaknesses
- He didn’t produce at a high level, raising concerns about why he didn’t rack up more stats;
- Film shows Eastern missing some tackles- his vision needs improvement;
- Eastern has issues with pad height, sometimes playing too high, and exposing a vulnerability to being pushed out of the way;
- Eastern is moved out of the way too easily due to his high frame;
- Eastern’s center of gravity is not as low as teams would like;
- Might be better suited as an end in a 3-4 scheme, but he doesn’t have experience playing outside;
- Eastern ends up on the ground far too often, causing concern from scouts and player personnel directors;
- Lacks inconsistent pass-rush ability;
- Eastern’s hips are too tight, lacks the ability to perform twists and stunts;
NFL Comparison: John Ridgeway III, Daniel Ekuale
Teams With Need At Position: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
Projection: Round 6-7
Bottom Line on Deven Eastern
Eastern’s measurables, including 34” arms, should point to better success as a run-stopper and plugger. He ends up on the ground too often to be an effective gap player. He is seen by some as being suited for playing defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. These include the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
