There’s a duality to the defensive tackle position at the NFL level.
On one hand, most DT’s are almost afterthoughts on the defense. The big guys who occupy blockers and occasionally get a pressure or two while allowing the edge defenders and linebackers to do their jobs.
On the other hand, the NFL covets interior defenders who can directly affect, impact, and disrupt the play in the backfield. Guys like Aaron Donald, Chris Jones, and Dexter Lawrence are worth their (considerable) weight in gold.
Illinois defensive tackle Zer’Zhan Newton (who goes by “Johnny”) is one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft and could look very good lining up next to Lawrence.