DT Kaleb Proctor would give the Broncos another explosive interior pass rusher

Lions Kaleb Proctor 2, LSU Tigers take on the Southeastern Louisiana. Sept 20, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; at Tiger Stadium. | SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

One prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the mid rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft is Southeastern Louisiana defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor. He is a 6-2, 291-pound defensive lineman who is considered one of the more intriguing interior pass rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Kaleb Proctor played in 48 career games during his college career, and during that span, he had 134 total tackles, 26 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. This past season, Proctor appeared in 13 games and totaled 43 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and 9 sacks. This earned him an invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, where he was a standout player. He followed that up with an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he showed off his elite athleticism.

Southeastern Louisiana DI Kaleb Proctor vs. LSU. Might be my favorite small-school prospect in this class. Knifes through double teams like a shark, and jumps gaps like a running back. A 6'2", 291-pound rolling ball of butcher knives. pic.twitter.com/bf2btlYGWY

- Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 14, 2026

The Broncos lost veteran pass rusher John Franklin-Myers to the Titans in free agency this offseason, and now they have to find his replacement. They did draft Sai'vion Jones in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but as the saying goes, you can never have enough pass rushers. Proctor profiles as a third-down pass rush specialist who fits the Broncos' attacking style of defense and could give them another young pass rusher to develop.

Player Profile

Kaleb Proctor | Defensive Line | Southeastern Louisiana

• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 291 pounds
• Arm Length: 33 inches
• Hand Size: 9.5 inches
• 40-time: 4.79 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.68 seconds
• Vertical Jump: 33 inches
• Broad Jump: 9-5
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.71 seconds

Film RoomScouting Report

Strengths

• Elite athlete who tested very well at the Combine
• Explosive/elite first step, wins with speed, and disrupts plays in the backfield quickly
• Has a deep pass rush arsenal
• Elite range as a pass rusher and run stopper
• Pushes the pocket to get sacks or create plays for other defenders
• Has long arms and violent hands at the point of attack
• High motor player who gives max effort and does not give up on a play
• Dangerous on stunt and loop plays
• Thrived against top competition and NFL-caliber players when playing LSU

Weaknesses

• Like all small school players, he will see a major step up in talent level in the NFL
• Undersized and may struggle against NFL offensive linemen (Scouts noted he did add weight at his Pro Day, but no specific weight was given)
• Run defense is not his calling card and likely limited to sub-packages early in his career
• Has some missed tackle concerns

What other analysts are saying about Southeastern Louisiana IDL Kaleb Proctor

NFL.com's draft analyst Lance Zierlein on SE Louisiana IDL Kaleb Proctor

As an interior defender, Proctor is an elite athlete with rare playmaking range. He's an elusive rusher with an explosive first step and the ability to unlock openings with varied approaches and angles. He's also very undersized with limited recourse once linemen have him squared up and put hands on him. He lacks the anchor or contact balance to withstand power. Proctor needs to find a fit in a move-based defensive front where he can try to mismatch interior protection with his quickness and athletic gifts.

Kaleb Proctor's RAS

Kaleb Proctor is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.14 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 196 out of 2270 DT from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/tg9OySBC4Lpic.twitter.com/596fgFpaSR

- RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 5, 2026

Should the Broncos draft Southeastern Louisiana IDL Kaleb Proctor in the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft?

If they are looking for an interior pass rusher to help replace John Franklin-Myers, then he could be in the running.

According to recent reports, teams have a Day 2 grade on Proctor, so I think he will fall into that 3rd to early 4th round range at the very latest. The Broncos do not have a 3rd round pick currently, but do have a late 2nd and two early 4ths. I think that late 2nd-rounder is a little too early for him, but I also think he'll be off the board by the time they select in the 4th round. So, I think they'll need to get him in the 3rd round somehow if they want him.

Small school players like Proctor are always tricky, but there's a lot to like about him. One, he has played well against top competition (LSU) and was a standout player at the Shrine Bowl. Add in his elite athleticism, and you have some real pass-rush potential here. Sure, he is undersized, but reports from his Pro Day note that he added weight/muscle and looked bigger, but no specific weight was given.

I profile him as a third-down pass rusher you can insert into your defense and let him get after the quarterback. With the Broncos, he will be getting one-on-one opportunities with Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen in there, and this will allow him to use his speed and pass-rush moves to get after the passer quickly. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has an attacking-style defense that gets after the passer, and a player like Proctor fits that profile very well.

They do have Sai'vion Jones ready and waiting, but you can never have enough interior pass rushers. The rotation is important, and having someone like Proctor coming in off the bench fresh and ready to go against a tired offensive line could lead to a lot of sacks.