This year’s edge rusher class is absolutely loaded. Everywhere you look it seems like there are future NFL starters. There is talent to fit every type of role and scheme and teams should be able to get quality contributors well into day two. Here are my top ten edge rushers in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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1. Will Anderson, Alabama (6-4, 253, Junior)
Pros: Anderson possesses outstanding first step quickness that allows him to threaten opposing tackles around the outside. He pairs this with good bend to flatten at the top of the arc and get to the quarterback. He is also a good lateral athlete, with the quickness to exploit inside counters when opponents overset. Despite his smaller frame, Anderson also plays with great play strength and can bull rush tackles back into the pocket. His collegiate production was consistently outstanding and he plays the game with a red hot motor.
Cons: Whilst Anderson has a good variety of pass rushing moves in his arsenal, he does need to do a better job of stacking them and employing counters. There were too many times on tape where he would get stuck on a block after his initial approach failed. He also misses far too many tackles and leaves plays on the table, with a 27.5% missed tackle rate in 2022. Anderson’s lack of ideal size did show up as a concern when he was met with stronger and longer tackles.
Projection: 1st round
2. Nolan Smith, Georgia (6-2, 238, Senior)
Pros: Smith possesses some truly eye-popping athletic ability, leading all defensive linemen with a 4.39 40-yard dash and a 41.5″ vertical jump. He is a very fluid and twitchy mover, allowing him to slip blocks and get into the backfield but also allowing him to drop back into coverage. Despite Georgia’s scheme not being conducive to pass rushing production, Smith led all SEC defensive linemen in pass rush win rate in 2022. He is also a very impressive run defender despite his size, showing the ability to set the edge consistently.
Cons: At 238 lbs Smith is seriously undersized for an NFL edge rusher. Whilst he is a technically proficient run defender, it is still very difficult to make a living as a three-down edge at the next level if he stays at that size. He lacks ideal anchor strength and may struggle to be an impact player on early downs. He also needs to work on his hand placement to consistently strike inside the frame of opponents and control blocks. Smith is still reliant on using his bull rush, which is not going to translate well to the NFL.
Projection: 1st round
3. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech (6-6, 271, rs-Senior)
Pros: Wilson is blessed with an imposing frame that should translate nicely to the NFL. He pairs this with outstanding length, with 35.6″ arms that put him in the 96th percentile at the position. It should come as no surprise that this gives Wilson a hugely impressive bull rush and he is routinely able to bulldoze offensive tackles and get to the quarterback. Wilson is also a very good athlete for his size, with impressive acceleration and quick twitch to win with inside counters. His power and length also make him a very reliable run defender.
Cons: Wilson is a very good athlete, but he is still never going to be the bendiest edge rusher. He also has issues maintaining good pad level and his habit of playing tall can allow opposing linemen to move him off the line of scrimmage. When employing power moves, Wilson can often lose track of his balance, allowing smarter opponents to snatch him and get him on the floor. He is also an older prospect, turning 23 before the start of training camp.
Projection: 1st round
4. Myles Murphy, Clemson (6-5, 268, Junior)
Pros: Murphy is raw power personified. He has the heavy hands to dominate in the trenches and you will routinely see him manhandle opposing tackles. This strength also shows up as a run defender, where Murphy is excellent at controlling blocks and setting the edge. He pairs this power with some impressive athleticism, showing tremendous explosiveness out of his stance. This combination of traits makes Murphy a real weapon on stunts and twists. He is also durable, having not missed a game in three years with the Tigers.
Cons: Murphy is still fairly raw when it comes to his pass rushing technique, generally relying on dominating opponents with his traits rather than having a refined plan. When he did try and employ finesse instead of power, the results were mixed. As a bigger edge, Murphy is a little tight hipped and this limits his ability to consistently win around the edge. Despite possessing all of the traits you want in a pass rusher, Murphy’s on-field production never reached the levels you would expect.
Projection:
5. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa (6-5, 272, rs-Sophomore)
Pros: Van Ness possesses a strong and impressive frame that is ideally suited to the NFL. He showcases incredible power at the point of attack that you might not expect for a redshirt sophomore. This gives him a very reliable go-to move in the form of his bull rush, with which he had a tonne of success in college. Van Ness pairs this power profile with genuine explosiveness and he is consistently able to get into the pads of his opponent early in the rep. When it comes to his run defense, he is a dependable edge setter, using his length and strength to control blocks.
Cons: One of the biggest worries with Van Ness will be sample size and experience. He played less than 1,000 snaps during his college career and didn’t start a single game for Iowa, averaging 35 snaps per game. Van Ness is also still very raw as a pass rusher. He is something of a one-trick pony and is overly reliant on his bull rush. That will not be sufficient in the NFL and he will urgently need to diversify his pass rushing plan. He also needs to speed up his ability to find counters.
Projection: 1st round
6. BJ Ojulari, LSU (6-2, 248, Junior)
Pros: Ojulari ticks the boxes when it comes to his athletic ability. He displays outstanding explosiveness in short areas and pairs this with the loose hips to bend and flatten at the top of the arc. He is already a very effective pass rusher who showcases a good variety of pass rushing moves in his arsenal. Ojulari plays with a red hot motor too. He is consistently active with his hands and showed some nice hustle to make plays as a backside defender. His run defense is solid too, giving him three-down ability at the next level.
Cons: He is nothing special from a size standpoint, lacking ideal height and weight for the position. That could be more of a problem when faced with the physicality of NFL offensive linemen. It already showed up on occasion against the run where bigger linemen could overwhelm and uproot Ojulari. Whilst he shows diversity to his pass rushing plan, it often looks pre-determined. He needs to play more instinctively and responsively to reach his full potential.
Projection: 1st round
7. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (6-3, 255, Junior)
Pros: Anudike-Uzomah is a very good athlete who possesses the quick first step and bend that you want from an NFL edge rusher, allowing him to beat tackles as an outside rusher. He pairs this with some heavy hands that create plenty of shock on contact and give him a mean bull rush. His variety as a pass rusher is impressive, with a range of moves at his disposal that should translate nicely to the next level. He has also shown a propensity for big plays, racking up 21 sacks and eight forced fumbles over the last two seasons.
Cons: Whilst Anudike-Uzomah shows a nice variety of moves as a pass rusher, he is still developing secondary moves. When his initial plan of attack fails he struggles to quickly find and employ a counter, leaving him to get stuck on blocks. He also seemed to struggle as a run defender, lacking the ability to consistently control blocks and shed to make plays on the ball carrier. Kansas State also tried using him across the defensive line but he looked far less impressive when asked to work between the tackles.
Projection: 2nd round
8. Will McDonald IV, Iowa State (6-4, 239, rs-Senior)
Pros: McDonald is one of the most explosive players in the class, with a mean first step. He pairs this quickness with impressive length that allows him to get inside the frame of opponents and take control of the rep. With some additional strength he could possess a great bull rush. He displays the loose hips you want at the position, allowing him to bend and win around the outside consistently. McDonald is also a very good closer, with 35 sacks and 11 forced fumbles during his college career.
Cons: At just 239 lbs, McDonald is noticeably undersized for an NFL edge rusher. This is even more concerning when you consider that he has not shown the ability to add this extra weight as a fifth-year senior. He predictably gets bullied in the run game, lacking the anchor strength to hold his ground at the point of attack. McDonald also struggles to play instinctively as a pass rusher and can be slow to employ counters. He is an older prospect too, turning 24 before the start of his rookie season.
Projection: 2nd round
9. Derick Hall, Auburn (6-3, 254, Senior)
Pros: Hall is blessed with impressive length that allows him to be a real asset off the edge. He pairs this with good explosiveness, giving him one of the best speed-to-power moves in this year’s class. This power and play strength also helps Hall to be a very proficient run defender, anchoring well and consistently setting the edge. He enters the NFL with plenty of experience in the SEC and a strong record of production too.
Cons: Hall is very explosive, but he is also stiffer than you would like an edge rusher to be. This tightness in his hips can limit his ability to consistently win around the outside and makes him a little more one dimensional than you would like. There were times on tape when Auburn asked him to drop back into coverage and he did not look comfortable there either. His motor also has a habit of running hot and cold as games progress.
Projection: 2nd round
10. Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame (6-5, 264, Senior)
Pros: Foskey has what NFL teams are looking for when it comes to the combination of size and speed. He pairs this with impressive length. Foskey knows how to use this to his advantage and when he makes first contact he showcases a very impressive bull rush. He is also one of the best finishers in this year’s edge class. Foskey had double digit sacks in each of his last two seasons and logged seven forced fumbles during his time at Notre Dame. He is also a very effective run defender.
Cons: Foskey is still a little bit too one dimensional as a pass rusher at this point, relying heavily on his ability to win with the bull rush. If this doesn’t work he is often slow to find and employ counters, resulting in him getting stuck on blocks. Foskey is much more of a linear athlete than a bendy one and did struggle when asked to flatten at the top of the arc as an outside track rusher. He also had issues maintaining good pad level throughout the rep.
Projection: 3rd round
