From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Oklahoma DL Gracen Halton.
No. 56 Gracen Halton/DL Oklahoma 6025/293 (Fourth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Gracen Halton 6025/293 10″ 31 1/8″ 77 3/4″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.82 1.70 4.79 N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’6″ 36.5″ N/A
The Good
– Possesses a quick first step and initial burst out of his stance
– Surprisingly plentiful lower-body strength for his smaller stature
– Great fluidity in his movement
– Demonstrates good lateral agility and short-area burst
– Plays with heavy hands at the point of contact
– Lethal spin move that’s effective going inside shoulder or moving laterally
– Quickly closes the gap between himself and the quarterback when a rushing lane opens
– Movement allows for higher efficiency on stunts and twists
– Shorter stature gives him a natural leverage advantage to hold the point of attack
– Shows good knee bend
– Reliable tackler with good form
– Plays with a high motor that is always churning
The Bad
– Will become overly reliant on his athleticism to win
– Less effective when larger linemen absorb his initial burst
– Lacks a deep pass rush bag that limits his ability to counter after initially stalling
– Erratic hand placement when swatting away initial jabs
– Occasionally wastes motion out of his stance
– Gets overpowered by massive double teams
– Susceptible to being driven back by stronger maulers inside
– Shorter arms affect his consistency when locking out and shedding blocks
– Aggressive nature will cause him to abandon gap discipline
– Prone to lowering his head
Stats
– 2025 Stats: 33 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 30 pressures, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble return touchdown, 13 games played
– Career Stats: 84 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 68 pressures, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble return touchdown, 47 games played
– Missed 14.3 percent of tackle attempts (2025)
Injury History
– Dealt with an undisclosed injury that sidelined him for most of fall camp but was available for the season opener (2025)
Background
– Born January 27th, 2004 (22 years old)
– Consensus four-star recruit after being named first-team All-CIF and a finalist for the Silver Pigskin (best player in San Diego County)
– Utilized as a tight end and a running back while starring as a defensive lineman
– Named an Under Armour All-American and originally committed to Oregon
– De-committed from Oregon after Mario Cristobal left for Miami
– Dual-Sport athlete who played center for the basketball team
– All-SEC Second Team (2025)
– Primarily a backup until the 2024 season
– Played quarterback in his youth
– Doesn’t view football as a job, but a gift
– Brent Venables “academic first” philosophy was a driving force for his commitment
– Majored in Human Relations
Tape Breakdown
Halton is one of the class’s most efficient interior linemen at generating pressure as a pass rusher. Despite his smaller stature, he’s an exceptional athlete who leverages that athleticism to win at a high rate. His explosive first step off the line of scrimmage immediately threatens interior gaps at the snap. He shows a consistent understanding of snap timing and uses his compact frame to fire out quickly with a forward lean.
In the NFL, Halton’s immediate calling card will be his effectiveness as a pass rusher. In addition to his sudden burst off the line, he regularly deploys heavy, violent hands. When he strikes an opponent, there is a visible displacement of the offensive lineman. His arm length is concerning, as he cannot consistently long-arm and drive blockers back. Instead, he must rely on rapid hands and constant hand-fighting to close the distance.
His primary plan of attack is to use his athleticism to win cleanly. He possesses an effective spin move and a violent swim move that build off that athleticism, but he does not show much ability to counter. If his initial rush stalls, he typically stays glued to the blocker because he lacks a reliable secondary plan.
Halton’s run defense has steadily improved over the course of his career. Given his stature, it would be reasonable to assume he wouldn’t have much of a presence against the run, but he’s shown surprising lower-body strength and the ability to hold up against bigger matchups. He displays good knee bend that creates a stable lower-body base, allowing him to drop his hips and effectively absorb the initial blow from interior linemen.
Much like his success as a pass rusher, Halton plays with violence against the run. His physicality often sets the tone up front for the defense. He supplements that with a relentless motor, chasing down plays to the opposite side of the field.
However, his physical limitations become more apparent when he’s facing double-teams or a power-based rushing attack. His anchor may be strong for his size, but it’s still behind many of his draft class peers. If he doesn’t win early with his athleticism, he can be washed out of the play. This mirrors some of the same concerns that show up in his pass-rush reps.
Halton had a standout day at the Combine, testing near the top of his position group in virtually every category. His explosiveness, which shows up on tape, was confirmed in Indianapolis. His ability to close the gap between himself and the ball carrier is top-tier for a defender who weighs nearly 300 pounds. At the next level, if he’s able to defeat blocks consistently, that closing speed should translate to an early jump in his production.
Conclusion
Halton is among the fastest-rising prospects in this draft class. Once firmly in the day three conversation, a highly impressive performance in Indianapolis has vaulted him into solid day two territory. Remaining loyal to Oklahoma despite limited snaps in his first two seasons ultimately paid off. He bet on himself and followed it up with two highly productive campaigns against top-tier college competition.
His high level of production is rooted in his athleticism. It put him on the radar during the pre-draft process and has carried him throughout his career. His initial burst is deadly. By the time offensive linemen can react, he’s already crossing their face. That explosive first step out of his stance made him a menace both against the run and as a pass rusher, even with his smaller frame.
Although his pass-rush repertoire isn’t fully developed yet, he has a solid foundation of moves that all build off his initial get-off. The concern isn’t his primary plan of attack—it’s what happens when that plan is stopped, because his game lacks built-in counters.
His physical profile will also give some teams pause. The smaller frame and limited reach will be enough for certain franchises to take him off their boards entirely. Still, Halton has consistently delivered on big stages, and his athleticism should allow him to be a serviceable contributor with room to grow.
His ideal fit is as a 3-technique in a 4-3 even front. That alignment would limit his exposure to double-teams and maximize his athleticism in one-on-one situations. He would also benefit from a coordinator who frequently deploys interior line games, twists, and stunts to stress protections and create free runs.
A strong stylistic comparison for Halton is Kobie Turner. Both share similar athletic profiles and win with impressive lateral agility and relentless effort. The key difference—and an area where Halton must improve—is in run-fit discipline and avoiding over-pursuit. Turner is more controlled in that phase, but Halton has time and the physical tools to close the gap.
NFL Draft Projection: Early – Mid Day Two
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.8 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.3 – 8.3
Games Watched: vs. South Carolina (2024), vs. Michigan (2025), vs. Auburn (2025), @ South Carolina (2025), vs. Missouri (2025), vs. LSU (2025)
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