Edge Rusher Rankings From The College Football Perspective: 2024 NFL Draft
They're the flash, they're the game-changers, they're the defensive guys every team needs to have.
They're the edge rushers, and the 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with them. More than normal, the hybrid aspect to what they do is more on the linebacker side than true thumping end, but there are plenty of options for the taking.
From the college football angle and perspective, the 25 best edge rusher prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft are ...
2024 NFL Draft Rankings
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Edge Rushers: 6 to 15 | Top 5
Edge Rusher Rankings 2024 NFL Draft
25 Myles Cole, Texas Tech
6-6, 278, Projection: 3rd Round
85 tackles, 5 sacks, 12.5 TFL
Myles Cole, From The College Football Perspective: A true defensive end, he spent four years as a mediocre part of the rotation at ULM, went to Texas Tech and was a little used backup, and then in his sixth season it all cranked up with 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
No, there's no real production over his six seasons, but he's really big, and REALLY fast for his size with a 4.67 40 at the combine. He's all tools and all projection, but you're not doing your job if you don't take guys this big and this athletic on Day 3.
24 Trajan Jeffcoat, Arkansas
6-4, 266, Projection: 7th Round
100 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 28 TFL
Trajan Jeffcoat, From The College Football Perspective: Very big and very athletic, he's an SEC defensive end who could bulk up and play around 275 or come in around 260 and be even speedier. He's a good leader and holds up fine, but he doesn't quite fit in any one spot.
Not quite a devastating pass rusher, and not elite against the run, he could stick in the exact right circumstance - he doesn't fit one specific role.
23 Jaylen Harrell, Michigan
6-4, 250, Projection: 7th Round
78 tackles, 10 sacks, 19 TFL
Jaylen Harrell, From The College Football Perspective: More of a true linebacker playing edge rusher than a defensive end, he's got a great frame and knows how to get around the ball.
He turned in a strong final season in the Michigan national championship run, but he's a tweener who has to unload the speed right away in camp to stick.
22 Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame
6-5, 239, Projection: 6th Round
100 tackles, 13 sacks, 20.5 TFL
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, From The College Football Perspective: After not breaking through at Ohio State, he took a fifth year with Notre Dame and became a playmaker who got into the backfield more and became far better against the run.
The size isn't there, but he's smooth as silk, is far quicker than fast - that's a positive for what he'll do - and could be a late round find as a pass rushing specialist.
21 Eyabi Okie-Anoma, Charlotte
6-5, 260, Projection: 6th Round
83 tackles, 10 sacks, 20 TFL
Eyabi Okie-Anoma, From The College Football Perspective: A fascinating prospect who was at Alabama, Houston, and Michigan, and ended up at Charlotte in his final year.
He became a complete playmaker in the backfield, and now he's a massive boom prospect with the potential to be a late round home run for someone willing to take the big cut.
20 Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
6-3, 244, Projection: 6th Round
89 tackles, 16 sacks, 18.5 TFL
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, From The College Football Perspective: Good luck trying to cut this guy. He's always working, always creating, always trying to find ways to get in on a play. That's why it's so weird that he wasn't much of a stat-sheet filler at Washington.
He can move, and he can be disruptive, but there were too many injury problems early on in his six-year run, and the production was just okay in his last two seasons. But as a late round shot at a rotational third down pass rusher, he's a good value idea.
19 Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
6-3, 260, Projection: 5th Round
111 tackles, 19 sacks, 22 TFL
Cedric Johnson, From The College Football Perspective: For a good portion of his time he played far lighter. Even after packing on the weight he still produced, turning into a steady three-year playmaker for the Rebel line.
The overall body type is just right to hold up, and he moves like he's still at 245. Hardly a finished prospect, there's a lot to work with, and it's all positive. Now someone has to be patient and creative to figure out where he can best fit.
18 Eric Watts, UConn
6-6, 274, Projection: 4th Round
153 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 23 TFL
Eric Watts, From The College Football Perspective: A real deal, old school defensive end in a land of hybrid speed rushers. Watts is a big factor against the run with the ability to power through and get into the backfield.
He's fast for his size and can be used in a variety of ways. Best of all for him, some defensive coordinator will see a true end and want the combination of bulk and quickness.
17 Javon Solomon, Troy
6-1, 246, Projection: 5th Round
183 tackles, 33 sacks, 49.5 TFL
Javon Solomon, From The College Football Perspective: Too small to be any sort of an end, and way too slow to be a linebacker, he's a hybrid pass rusher in the wrong way when it comes to the tools. Yeah, but ...
The guy knows how to get into a backfield. The five-year Trojans is explosive off the ball, slippery inside and out, and great at closing once he gets a bead on a ball carrier. He'll end up being more of a linebacker than edge rusher, but get him out there and watch him find a way.
16 Xavier Thomas, Clemson
6-2, 244, Projection: 5th Round
116 tackles, 18 sacks, 33 TFL
Xavier Thomas, From The College Football Perspective: It'll be hard to find a true spot for him. He's too short, not bulky enough, the overall production isn't great, and he's missing the raw wheels, but good lock moving him off his base. He's almost like a super small defensive tackle who plays with a willingness to battle every moment.
Even after six years at Clemson - there was a foot problem in 2022 - he's still relatively fresh. There isn't a ton of upside, but he's a baller who might just stick as an ultra-reliable part of a rotation.
Edge Rushers: 6 to 15 | Top 5
