EDGE RUSHER
TOP 5 QB VIDEO
1
Bryce Young
2
CJ Stroud
3
Hendon Hooker
4
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
5
Jaren Hall
1
Will Anderson Jr.
EDGE / ALABAMA / 6'4 / 243
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Anderson Jr. is an impressive edge rusher with a rare blend of tools. He possesses an impressive combination of size and explosiveness. Anderson Jr. has the strength to excel in the trenches and the suddenness and agility to become a dominant sack artist. He has an evident skillset that is easily translatable to the next level. Reportedly, Anderson Jr. is a high-character individual with an outstanding work ethic. He could deepen his arsenal of refined pass rush moves. However, Anderson Jr. is a home run prospect that will become a premier defensive player at the next level.
Grade: Round 1
Von Miller
2
Tyree Wilson
EDGE / TEXAS TECH / 6'6 / 275
Wilson is a physical competitor with the ideal build for the position. His thick frame and massive wingspan allow him to wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage. Wilson is clearly ready to play at the next level and has the toughness to excel. He is a high-motor player who can impose his will at ease. Wilson is a fundamental tackler and can produce both in the run and pass game. While his athleticism and bend are not special, he will be a phenomenal edge defender in the NFL.
Grade: Round 1
Emmanuel Ogbah
3
Nolan Smith
EDGE / GEORGIA / 6'3 / 235
Smith is a unique edge defender with an outstanding athletic profile. His versatility as a pass rusher, run supporter, and coverage guy must be recognized. Smith's pursuit in open space is some of the best at the position, and he can and will catch a runner. His release and quickness as a pass rusher are top-notch, making him a mismatch for tackles who lack top-tier mobility. Smith has the physicality but needs to gain the functional strength to win in the trenches consistently. If he can add to his repertoire of pass rush moves and add some size, Smith can be a dangerous player in the NFL.
Grade: Round 1
Micah Parsons
4
Myles Murphy
EDGE / CLEMSON / 6'4 / 268
Murphy is a unique defensive line piece with a rare combination of physical tools. His blend of size, speed, and strength is some of the best we have seen entering the draft. Despite his weight of 270, Murphy shoots out of a cannon on his release and possesses top-notch quickness. He is undeniably able to create pressure but needs to finish plays better. Murphy can get over-aggressive and misread a play. The talent is undeniable, and Murphy can wreak havoc in the NFL with a few coaching corrections.
Grade: Round 1
Travon Walker
5
Luke Van Ness
EDGE / IOWA / 6'5 / 275
Van Ness is a powerful lineman with a ton of physical tools. He has impressive functional strength and has the prototypical frame to excel at the next level. Van Ness's bend and quickness are very good for his size, making him a versatile competitor. He is a high-motor player who has a knack for making plays. Van Ness is inexperienced at the position and needs to add more technicality to his pass-rush repertoire. I see him having a long and productive career at the next level but failing to become a game-changer like Anderson Jr. and Wilson.
Grade: Round 2
Trey Hendrickson
6
Derick Hall
EDGE / AUBURN / 6'3 / 256
Hall is a highly explosive edge rusher with a ton of physical tools. His combination of size, speed, and strength is top-notch. Hall possesses the ideal build for the position and can impressively dip on the edge. This an extremely tough player who is willing to go to war. Hall will be a valuable competitor in the locker room. As a technical pass-rusher, he is a work in progress and could improve his body control and instincts. However, Hall has all the tools to be a weapon in the NFL.
Grade: Round 2
Carl Lawson
7
Isaiah Foskey
EDGE / NOTRE DAME / 6'5 / 265
Foskey is an explosive edge defender with a good build and a ton of career production. He has a long and imposing frame and can effectively use his length at the point of attack. Foskey is highly explosive off his release and possesses impressive bend and mobility in pursuit. He has a lot to improve on in the run game and needs to establish a more consistent anchor in the run game. Additionally, he has much room for growth as a technical pass rusher. However, Foskey possesses many physical tools and college production, making him a quality prospect.
Grade: Round 2
Kyle Van Noy
8
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
EDGE / KANSAS STATE / 6'4 / 255
Andudike-Uzomah is a physical edge defender with a thick build. He possesses excellent functional strength and has the sturdiness to play at the next level. Andudike-Uzomah plays with a broad base and maintains an excellent pad level to keep leverage and generate pressure. He has a high motor and effectively makes use of his heavy hands. While he may be inexperienced, Andudike-Uzomah's finesse and pass-rushing repertoire is very solid. Frequently, he is too eager to generate straight-line pressure and neglects his run-plugging responsibilities. He has limited versatility and athleticism, but I see Andudike-Uzomah as a solid NFL defender
Grade: Round 2
Yannick Ngakoue
9
Keion White
EDGE / GEORGIA TECH / 6'4 / 285
White is a unique defensive lineman with a rare combination of physical tools. He has unprecedented explosiveness for his size, making him a versatile piece on the front end. White is relentless in pursuit and plays with an extremely high motor. His physical tools are off the charts - but he is a work in progress. White is inexperienced, lacks instincts in the open field, and usually wins with athleticism rather than finesse. He is a high-upside pick. It may take some time, but White can become a valuable player in the NFL.
Grade: Round 2
John Franklin-Myers
10
Tuli Tuipulotu
EDGE / USC / 6'3 / 266
Tuipulotu is an imposing edge defender with sneaky quickness for his size. He possesses an explosive release and can effectively work to the inside. Tuipulotu's footwork is impressive, and he has excellent control over his body. He is a menace in the run game, consistently making plays and proving his production in college. Sometimes Tuipolotu plays with too high of a pad level, losing leverage as he gets upright. He'll need to improve his pass-rush plan to be an every-down contributor, but his blend of size and explosiveness will make him a quality starter.
Grade: Round 2
AJ Epenesa
11
BJ Ojulari
EDGE / LSU / 6'3 / 250
Ojulari is a naturally athletic pass rusher with great instincts. He is a smart player who understands the game of football of typically makes the right play. Ojulari is highly coordinated and has an impressive fundamental ability as a pass-rusher. He is able to bend well and looks great in pursuit. Ojulari lacks the functional strength of an every down player and can easily get taken out of the run game because of this. While his lack of power may limit his upside at the next level, Ojulari's instincts and athletic profile will make him a productive player at the next level.
Grade: Round 2
Nik Bonitto
12
Will McDonald IV
EDGE / IOWA STATE / 6'3 / 236
McDonald is a long-limbed edge rusher with an elite athletic profile. He is a quick and flexible player with a ton of suddenness and twitch to his game. McDonald can be slippery and sneak past defenders in the blink of an eye. His spin is one of the most lethal pass-rush moves I have seen coming out of college. However, McDonald lacks any functional strength and will struggle against powerful tackles and as an anchor in the run game. He has his limitations, but he will be an exciting defender with playmaking potential.
Grade: Round 2
Azeez Ojulari
13
Andre Carter II
EDGE / ARMY / 6'7 / 260
Carter II is an exciting prospect with a ton of physical tools and room for growth. He is a long defender with great size, slipperiness, and downhill explosion. Carter II can easily create separation as a pass rusher and has the length and build to dominate. He is an intriguing prospect for multiple reasons. Carter II is a raw player who needs to add size and nuance to his game. At Army, not fully immersed in the sport, Carter II will have the chance to develop a lot. It may take some time, but he should be a solid player at the next level.
Grade: Round 3
Greg Rousseau
14
Zach Harrison
EDGE / OHIO STATE / 6'5 / 274
Harrison is an athletic freak with a ton of upside as an edge rusher. He is very long and possesses outrageous speed for the position. Harrison's straight-line movement ability is unprecedented, making him a unique prospect. His physical traits and athletic profile are undeniable. However, Harrison is a college underperformer who needs much improvement in various areas. He plays with an upright pad level, lacks balance and control, and fails to possess adequate timing and recognition skills. Harrison is a boom-or-bust prospect best suited to be selected on day two.
Grade: Round 3
Ziggy Ansah
15
KJ Henry
EDGE / CLEMSON / 6'4 / 251
Henry is an athletic edge defender who possesses the prototypical build for the position. He has great length and effectively uses his hands at the point of attack. Henry is a hard worker, team captain, and high-character guy. He is a smart defender with good awareness and recognition skills. Henry lacks the twitch as a pass-rusher, but his length and smooth mobility make up for it. He has room for improvement, but I can see Henry as a day-three pick who contributes beyond his stock.
Grade: Round 4
Lorenzo Carter
16
Mike Morris
EDGE / MICHIGAN / 6'5 / 275
Morris is a powerful defender with a ton of functional strength. He is physical at the point of attack and effectively uses his frame to overpower the line of scrimmage. Morris is a high-motor player with great leg drive and a ton of upside as a run defender. However, he needs to improve his athleticism to become a weapon as a pass-rusher. There is little twitch or agility to his game. Morris plays with a high pad level and fails to bend around the edge. I see him as a quality run defender who can contribute to the NFL.
Grade: Round 4
Za'Darius Smith
17
Brenton Cox Jr.
EDGE / FLORIDA / 6'3 / 250
Cox Jr. is a physical edge defender who possesses the ideal build for the position. He has excellent functional strength and has been a productive player in the run game. He has surprising bend on the edge for his athletic profile - but lacks the twitch and agility in open space. Cox's change of direction ability worries me, and he seems slow when doing so. He was dismissed from two different football programs - and has been unproductive in his college career. Cox Jr. has the physical tools to be an upside pick, but there are a lot of red flags as a prospect.
Grade: Round 5
Frank Clark
18
Byron Young
EDGE / TENNESSEE / 6'2 / 250
Young is an explosive edge defender with a great athletic profile. He tested off the charts at the combine, and his mobility and acceleration popped on tape. Young is a rangy player with hip flexibility and can bend well on the edge. He lacks mass and functional strength, which will limit his upside at the next level. Additionally, young is 25 years old and entering the draft with an underdeveloped pass-rush repertoire. With that being said, his stock is clearly limited. However, I believe he can contribute to the NFL with his athletic profile and competitive toughness.
Grade: Round 5
Kwity Paye
19
Ali Gaye
EDGE / LSU / 6'6 / 263
Gaye is a long athlete who possesses prototypical size for the position. He is a smooth athlete with the speed to chase in pursuit effectively. He uses his arm length at the point of attack and can make plays because of it. Gaye plays with a high pad level and sometimes loses control over his body. I would like to see his instincts improve at the next level. Gaye lacks the functional strength to dominate in the run game but has the physical tools to become a solid pass-rusher. He has a lot of room for improvement, and I project him as a decent rotational player.
Grade: Round 5
Clelin Farell
20
Nick Hampton
EDGE / APPALACHIAN ST. / 6'3 / 236
Hampton is a twitchy and explosive defender with great length. His wingspan allows him to make high-impact plays, and he has a track record of doing so. Hampton is very flexible and agile, moving well in open space. His slight build is concerning, and he has limitations as an edge defender. I see him contributing more as a coverage guy, where his strengths are, rather than in the trenches. He may be a guy that you have to scheme for uniquely, but I can see him adding value in specific situations.