One of the coveted positions in all of soccer is edge rusher. With the NFL shifting increasingly right into a pass-heavy league, discovering methods to neutralize opposing passing assaults has taken on even larger significance. Creating constant cross rush is without doubt one of the greatest methods to try this, and groups are at all times looking out for prime gamers on the skin.
This yr’s EDGE class could be very proficient, with a number of prospects anticipated to be drafted within the prime 10. As a complete, EDGE could be the deepest place group in your entire 2023 NFL Draft: The Draft Community at the moment lists 16 EDGE gamers of their top-100 prospects listing, with 13 extra within the prime 150.
Our panel of NFL Draft analysts right here at SB Nation got here collectively to rank the top-10 edge rushers on this class. Try our rankings under!
1: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
The consensus prime edge rusher and defensive participant within the 2023 NFL Draft, Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. pops off the tape due to a singular mix of explosiveness, agility, and size. He’s been one of the constantly productive cross rushers in school soccer, even when he couldn’t fairly match his excellent numbers from 2021 (17.5 sacks, 31.0 TFL, 101 whole tackles). The one nitpick in Anderson’s recreation can be an absence of prototypical measurement at 6’3.5, as he performed within the 230s however did handle to bulk as much as 250 for the NFL Mix.
2: Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
If the one flaw in Anderson’s recreation was measurement, that’s one thing that Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson has in spades. At practically 6’6, 270 and with over 35” arms (96th percentile), Wilson is the prototype when it come to edge rushers. Wilson is a bodily imposing presence on the sting with surprisingly good lateral mobility—it is a participant who routinely rushed standing up and did so successfully. He’s uncooked as a cross rusher and isn’t as explosive as a few of the different prime prospects on this class. Wilson’s potential to instantly affect the run recreation alongside together with his upside within the passing recreation make him a possible top-10 choice.
3: Nolan Smith, Georgia
That is the place the rating will get actually attention-grabbing, as opinions are fairly combined on the following three prospects. Coming in third is Georgia’s Nolan Smith, one of the athletic edge rushers we’ve seen in latest reminiscence. Smith lit up the NFL Mix with a 4.39-second 40 and a 41.5” vertical leap, ending with an elite 9.23 Relative Athletic Rating (RAS). He’s a smaller prospect at simply 6’2, 238, however his unimaginable potential as a run defender defies all logic. Smith can also be a fiery persona with excellent aggressive toughness, and he’ll be a giant increase to any locker room. He’s nonetheless received loads of growth to do as a cross rusher, however his angle supplies loads of confidence in a long-term projection.
4: Myles Murphy, Clemson
A participant who has slipped a bit from early draft rankings, Clemson’s Myles Murphy completely appears the a part of a prime EDGE prospect. Murphy simply checks the scale (6’5, 268, 33.75” arms) and athleticism (9.71 RAS) bins, and the traits are apparent on tape. His flashes and spotlight reel performs are up there with the perfect prospects within the class. The problems with Murphy stem from an absence of consistency, significantly towards the run, and good-but-not-great manufacturing. He’s far more of a mission than initially anticipated, however Murphy’s ceiling remains to be fairly excessive.
5: Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Proper behind Murphy is a prospect with loads of similarities in Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness is a bit bit taller, heavier, and longer (6’5, 272, 34” arms) and likewise examined out as an elite athlete with a 9.39 RAS. He’s additionally a flashy prospect with some actually spectacular reps on tape. Van Ness differs from Murphy in that his recreation tends to be extra predicated on energy at this stage, and he’s a extra dependable run defender. His projection is even greater than Murphy, nevertheless, as Van Ness solely has two years of modest manufacturing to his resume. The body and traits of a possible affect edge rusher are there, however there’s loads of growth wanted earlier than Van Ness can attain that ceiling.
6: Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
The most important riser from this yr’s pre-draft course of, Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV burst onto the scene with a dominant efficiency on the Senior Bowl. He adopted that up with a terrific Mix, ending with an elite 9.67 RAS, that has vaulted him into late-first spherical consideration. McDonald is a surprisingly polished cross rusher who brings excellent burst, bend, and size (34.875” arms) to the place. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3.5, 240, however doesn’t lack for physicality. McDonald isn’t more likely to be greater than a satisfactory run defender on the NFL stage, however his cross speeding prowess is greater than sufficient to get him drafted within the prime 50.
7: BJ Ojulari, LSU
LSU’s BJ Ojulari affords loads of the identical issues as Will McDonald, however must be out there a bit later within the draft. Each are undersized cross speeding specialists who win with their mixture of explosiveness, bend, and size. Ojulari has McDonald beat when it comes to lateral mobility, as his potential to show the nook is sort of particular, however he’s received extra work to do when it comes to his technical polish and isn’t as bodily on the level of assault. He’s clearly behind McDonald at this level, however affords an identical package deal of traits for an NFL staff trying so as to add some velocity to their defensive entrance.
8: Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
One of the distinctive gamers within the class, Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore has additionally loved a lift to his draft inventory over the previous few months. Adebawore has a non-traditional construct at 6’2, 282 and practically 34” arms, which has led to questions on his true place. In school, he performed all alongside the line of defense from 7T to 1T—though his greatest match could be on the inside. Adebawore had a incredible Senior Bowl and adopted it up with an unimaginable Mix, ending with a 9.72 RAS. He’ll want a artistic defensive coordinator to get essentially the most out of him, however has a really excessive ceiling in the suitable state of affairs.
9: Keion White, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech’s Keion White is an athletic marvel with an excellent measurement profile at 6’5, 285 who has loved a meteoric stand up draft boards. He received issues began with a incredible Senior Bowl week and continued on to have an unimaginable efficiency on the Mix (9.99 RAS). White is a uncommon mover at his measurement with stunning bend and explosiveness. At 285 kilos, he’s in no way misplaced standing up and speeding off the sting however has some upside as an inside rusher as properly. White has all of the traits however by no means put up nice sack numbers, and he’s nonetheless received loads of growth forward of him.
10: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
One of the polished cross rushers within the class, Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah is a pro-ready third down specialist who can quick create disruption off the sting. Anudike-Uzomah is explosive and flexible (8.73 RAS) and affords a strong total measurement profile at 6’3, 255. He’s not only a one-trick velocity rusher, nevertheless, as Anudike-Uzomah converts velocity to energy properly and performs with extra physicality than anticipated. He’s a sloppy run defender total, however I imagine the problems are all coachable. Anudike-Uzomah is without doubt one of the most intriguing Day 2 edge rushers on this class due to his quick potential as a chosen cross rusher and his potential 3-down upside.
