2024 NFL Draft Bible: Edge Rushers

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RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION

1. Jared Verse, Florida State, 6-4, 254, 4.58, Rd1

More of a traditional 4-3 hand-in-the-dirt defensive end, Verse is long, strong and explosive off the edge. He is one of the more productive pass-rushers, collecting 14.5 sacks in two seasons at Albany and 13 more during his two years in Tallahassee. His maturation from the FCS ranks to one of the premier players at the P5 level is an incredible story of perseverance, dedication and pure talent.

“It was world-changing. The smallest things that I learned at Florida State that I never would have even thought were a problem while I was at Albany, just the slightest tilt of my foot, my hand being a little bit more at my side instead of being too far out in front of me and just learning all that stuff. It's just my development and coming back for a second year you know, when I could have left last year, coming back  and you'll learning that little bit more just, it's made me so much better of a player. I don't think I can even compare to the player I was in 2022.”

2. Laiata Latu, UCLA, 6-5, 259, 4.64, Rd1

There are many well-respected evaluators who believe that Latu is the best edge rusher in this year’s draft. He’s electric on the outside, possesses lightning quick burst and quickness, along with a relentless motor. Some teams will still be hesitant to invest a first-round pick on Latu, who had to medically retire during his time at Washington due to a neck injury, which required fusion surgery. He also struggled a bit at the Senior Bowl but the tools are certainly all there.

“Really it was just being told you’d never get to play football again. I never let it get the best of me. I continued to work out, continued to grow stronger, continued to work my pass rush moves and stuff like that and really just locked in and never gave up on my dreams. I had dreams of being in this moment, being in the NFL since a kid and I never gave up on that and God was with me through it all. You know, he really blessed me to be in this moment.”

3. Dallas Turner, Alabama 6-3, 247, 4.46, Rd1

The favorite atop the leaderboard to be the first defender off the board come draft night in Detroit, Turner was the absolute star of the combine, posting eye-popping testing numbers to back up his production at Tuscaloosa (23.5 career sacks in three seasons). A consensus All-American and team captain, he projects as a plug-and-play impact pass-rusher. In fact, Turner continues to show development and has yet to max out his unicorn skill-set. 

“The weight journey at Alabama was crazy,” Turner explained. “Coming in I was 260 pounds but that was a COVID-19 260 pounds, I fluctuated. I played my freshman year at 240, my sophomore year at 245 and my junior year at 255, which is probably the best weight that I had, was my junior year.”