2025 NFL draft: Abdul Carter leads top 10 edge prospects in talented class

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Last year's NFL draft was a banner year for offense. A record 14 offensive players went off the board to start the first round. UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player drafted when the Indianapolis Colts selected him No. 15 overall. He was one of just nine defensive players drafted in the first round, a record low.

This year's draft will be very different. Defensive line as a whole is one of the deeper positions in the class overall and that's true for the edge rusher group. There are players with rare physical abilities that NFL teams look for as well as prospects with impressive college production. It would not be a surprise to see eight edge rushers selected in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL draft, including one maybe as high as first overall.

If you're unfamiliar with the prospects this season, we've got you covered. Here are our top 10 edge rusher prospects in a talented group:

2025 NFL draft edge rankings

1. Abdul Carter, Penn State

It's another draft featuring an athletic freak at edge from Penn State. Carter will all but certainly follow in the footsteps of Micah Parsons and Chop Robinson as first-round picks but likely will go higher than both.

Strengths: Made the transition from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher in 2024 relatively easily with plenty of room to grow. He's a rare athlete with ideal length for the position and stands 6-foot-3 and 259 lbs. Can be moved around the formation thanks to his background at off-ball linebacker. Already has a dip-rip move as a rusher with the quickness to develop more moves.
Weaknesses: Technique is still a work in progress. Hand usage needs to be improved for him to max out as a pass rusher. Block recognition needs work as well to improve as a run defender.
Draft projection: Round 1 (top three).

2. Mykel Williams, Georgia

Georgia has a pair of edges who will likely be first-rounders and Williams fits the mold of a modern edge rusher with impressive athleticism for his size.

Strengths: Almost cartoonishly long arms in a 6-foot-5, 265-lb. frame. Uses that length to physically attack the edge in run defense by violently shedding blocks with his impressive upper body strength. Very good athleticism for his size to pair with elite power. Displays body control to fit in twists and stunts commonly used in the NFL.
Weaknesses: Used in a rotation at Georgia so durability questions come up. Get off can be a bit slow. Needs to improve his hand usage to unlock his potential as a pass rusher. Can get in the chest of offensive linemen instead of using his length and power to win at the point of attack.
Draft projection: Round 1 (top 15).

3. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Scourton is one of two Aggies edge rushers who will likely be first-round picks. His mix of traits and production may make him the first one off the board come April.

Strengths: Impressively athletic at 6-foot-4 and 280 lbs. with long arms to maximize that frame. Already has a mix of pass rush moves, including a chop, spin and rip as well as an effective bull rush. Good motor and uses his elite mix of size and strength to be a force in run defense. Led the Big Ten in sacks in 2023 despite playing just 11 games.
Weaknesses: Lacks an elite first step and relies on moves to win. Can play with bad leverage at times in bull rush attempts. Lacks the bend to turn a tight corner when rushing off the edge. Can get washed inside on run defense.
Draft projection: Round 1 (top 15).

4. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Pearce Jr. was a highly productive pass rusher at Tennessee and could be the highest-drafted Volunteers defender since 2017, when defensive end Derek Barnett went No. 14 overall to Philadelphia.

Strengths: Long frame at 6-foot-5 and 242 lbs. that could put on more weight. Elite athleticism that gives him speed to power potential in the NFL. Good bend and a proven rip move. Explodes off the line to pressure offensive tackles. Uses his long arms to extend and separate against run blocks. Led the SEC in sacks in 2023.
Weaknesses: Will likely need to bulk up to be an effective run defender and that will also likely help strength concerns. Hand timing needs improvement, as does block recognition.
Draft projection: Round 1.

5. Jalon Walker, Georgia

Walker offers versatility with experience playing both off-ball linebacker and edge rusher for the Bulldogs. In 2024, he spent more time at edge and could end up there in the NFL.

Strengths: Good size for a linebacker at 6-foot-4 and 245 lbs. Can cover running backs or tight ends with his speed and general athleticism. Effective in zone coverage as well. Takes on blocks well for his size in the running game thanks to heavy hands and a thick build. Already shown lots of growth in one year rushing off the edge and can improve even more with time. Will turn 21 two months before the 2025 NFL draft. Father coaches division II college football.
Weaknesses: He may end up stuck between positions depending on where he's drafted. Not a lot of experience due to his place in Georgia's rotation prior to 2024. Can overthink assignments in run defense at off-ball linebacker. If he ends up as an edge full-time, will likely need to bulk up.
Draft projection: Round 1.

6. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

Stewart's the other Texas A&M edge in these rankings. Though similar to Scourton, he offers a slightly different profile for NFL teams.

Strengths: Rare traits for an athlete of his size (6-foot-6 and 290 lbs.) with the length to line up at edge or inside at the NFL level. Impressive burst off the line that pairs well with the strength to attack blocks with his length. Elite change of direction skills given his size and can use that to redirect offensive linemen. No significant injuries in college career.
Weaknesses: Hand usage needs improvement. Flashes potential but had lackluster production in college (4.5 sacks in three years). Can lean into blocks at times. Needs to develop a pass rush plan.
Draft projection: Round 1.

7. Kyle Kennard, South Carolina

Kennard is one of multiple edge rushers who could end up going late in the first round and keeps the SEC representation going in these rankings.

Strengths: Ideal length at 6-foot-5 and 254 lbs. with impressive twitch off the line and the athleticism to capitalize on speed to power moves. Can dictate timing and makes for a very effective run defender. High motor will endear him to scouts as will his pursuit effort in the run game.
Weaknesses: Good but not elite athleticism like some of the other prospects in the class. Lacks ideal bend and lower body mass to play over tackles. Needs to improve hand accuracy.
Draft projection: Late round 1/early round 2.

8. Mike Green, Marshall

Green may be from Marshall but he's garnering interest as a potential first-round pick. If he makes it in, he'd be Marshall's first first-round pick since quarterback Byron Leftwich in 2003 (No. 7 overall).

Strengths: Impressive quick-twitch athlete who uses elite speed and quick get off well against the run and pass. Has multiple pass rush moves including a spin, stick, cross-chop and arm-over. Has good bend and is physical at the point of attack. High motor that makes him an effective run defender. Led college football in sacks in 2024 with 17 in 13 games.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite upper body strength and in general is on the leaner side. Can leave his feet to tackle. Improved at block shedding but there's likely a ceiling on how much better he can be with his current frame (6-foot-4, 245 lbs.).
Draft projection: Late round 1/early round 2.

9. J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State

Tuimoloau was one of the top-ranked players in the 2021 recruiting class and he's had a successful career in Columbus, capped off by a national championship in 2024.

Strengths: Great size at 6-foot-4 and 270 lbs. with very long arms that could enable him to line up on the interior in the NFL. Good play strength that shows up in bull rushes and setting the edge against the run. High motor and violent hands with some flashes of pass rush moves already. Uses his long arms to knock down passes at the line (10 passes defensed, two interceptions in college career).
Weaknesses: No elite physical traits. Lacks agility, bend, burst or athleticism of other prospects that gives him a lower ceiling than other players. Relies too much on power to get to the quarterback instead of pass rush moves at this point. Get off leaves him vulnerable against tackle-tight end combo blocks.
Draft projection: Late round 1/early round 2.

10. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Ezeiruaku was one of the most productive pass rushers in the country this season and rounds out a talented top 10 prospects at the position.

Strengths: Array of pass rush moves already and can win with a dip-rip, arm over and cross-chop move, among others. Uses a euro step to build up to his moves, too. The most polished pass rusher in this class. Athletic get off and good bend to get around the corner on rushes. Takes on blocks from tight ends in the run game very well. Very productive in college (30 sacks, 47 tackles for loss in 47 games).
Weaknesses: Small frame at 6-foot-2 and 247 lbs. and his strength may not be enough to take on NFL tackles. Would rather go around blocks than hold his ground and that could be exposed against outside zone run concepts. Struggles to convert speed to power on a consistent basis. May have to be a pass-rush specialist to start his career.
Draft projection: Round 2.

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