2025 NFL Draft Edge Rusher Rankings
Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter Jr. states his case as the top player in the draft.
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2025 NFL DRAFT BIBLE – EDGE RUSHERS
The state of the edge rusher class is as plentiful and rich as we can recall in recent years. There are plug-and-play impact starters, bonafide P4 pedigree, small school studs and a few under the radar prospects who are percolating on the verge of being red-hot!
Let's start with the premium talent in Abdul Carter Jr. of Penn State. An incredible talent who can get after the quarterback in an array of ways and has produced on the most grandioso of stages. This is a blue-chip prospect who can serve as a building block for the foundation of any franchise. However, be advised that Carter Jr. is far from clean. There is a lingering foot issue, which prevented him from working out at the combine and may eventually need a screw inserted. Then there is a ‘minor’ shoulder strain that prevented him from participating at his pro day. Plus, an offseason altercation two years ago, in which he physically assaulted a tow truck driver. It certainly creates a fascinating storyline at the top of the draft, as Carter Jr. is projected to be one of the first players to be selected once destination Green Bay rolls around.
It’s all about the projection, right? Predicting how players will develop is what the draft is all about. So, when sizing up the potential of Mykel Williams (photo: UGA Athletics) of Georgia, no one should be surprised to hear his name called inside the top ten. The massive length of Williams, combined with his innate athleticism and twitch on the edge makes for an ideal blend of next level mayhem. It’s also important to keep in mind that despite the lack of major production that many of his counterparts bring, Williams was part of the Bulldogs defensive line rotation and played this past year on a bum ankle, an injury which he suffered during the first week of the season. This is an incredible overall talent who already does a remarkable job setting the edge against the run. Look for his pass-rush prowess to bloom in the pros.
How about the prototype? You could input data into the edge rusher factory machine to compute the ideal mold and it would likely spit out a player built in the frame of James Pearce Jr. He possesses the ideal size that NFL decision-makers crave. Not to mention, a load of production playing amongst the heavyweights of the SEC. While the sacks have come, Pearce Jr. also left quite a few on the field, a positive sign that there is still room for improvement as he develops into a more complete finisher. Whispers of character concerns have crept into the mainstream media but it shouldn’t hinder him from being chosen on the first day of the draft.
The title of most polarizing prospect would belong to Mike Green of Marshall. Few players can be found in the backfield more than Green, who has earned himself a reputation as a sack-master. However, his alerting podium interview in Indianapolis explains why some teams are left feeling wary about his overall draft proposition. Green elaborated somewhat on why he decided to transfer from Virginia, he really wasn’t left much of a choice, as he was suspended from the team due to sexual misconduct allegations. While Green was never charged with a crime, he also alluded to another sexual allegation claim against him, which dates back to high school. This will force NFL teams to get their ‘Inspector Gadget’ on before making a decision.
Want to bank on long-term investments? Boston College pass-rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku is a safe bet. He owns the quickest first step in the draft and might just have the highest floor amongst the bunch. However, the highest ceiling belongs to the emerging Oluwafemi Oladejo of UCLA, a darkhorse candidate to crack the backend of the first round.
2025 EDGE RUSHER BIG BOARD
RANK | PLAYER | SCHOOL | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | HAND | ARM | WING | 40 (10-YD), MPH | VERT | BROAD | SHUTTLE | 3-CONE | PROJ
Abdul Carter, Penn State, 6030, 250, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd1*
Mykel Williams, Georgia, 6051, 260, 1028, 3438, 8258, 4.77, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd1*
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee, 6052, 245, 1000, 3300, 8100, 4.47 (1.56), n/a, 31”, 10-03, n/a, n/a, Rd1*
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College, 6024, 248, 0928, 3400, 8268, n/a, 22, 35.5”, n/a, 4.19, 6.94, Rd1
Mike Green, Marshall, 6031, 251, 0848, 3238, 7768, n/a, 28, n/a, n/a, 4.25, 6.85, Rd1*
Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA, 6032, 261, 0978, 3378, 8218, n/a, n/a, 36.5”, 10-00, n/a, n/a, Rd2
Jack Sawyer, Ohio State, 6042, 260, 0968, 3218, 7718, 4.90, 21, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd2
Jordan Burch, Oregon, 6041, 279, 0978, 3368, 7938, 4.67 (1.66), 21.85, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd2
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M, 6026, 257, 1000, 3300, 8078, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd2*
Landon Jackson, Arkansas, 6060, 264, 1000, 3368, 8358, 4.68 (1.65), 21.42, n/a, 40.5”, 10-09, 4.55, 7.13, Rd2
Bradyn Swinson, LSU, 6035, 255, 0978, 3338, 8128, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, 4.33, 7.13, Rd3
JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State, 6042, 264, 1048, 3478, 8238, n/a, 24, 35.5”, 09-11, 4.38, n/a, Rd3
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina, 6041, 254, 1000, 3400, 8148, 4.73 (1.63), 21.24, 23, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd3
Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi, 6043, 244, 0958, 3378, 8218, 4.72 (1.62), 20.92, n/a, 38”, 10-06, 4.46, 7.33, Rd3
Jared Ivey, Mississippi, 6057, 274, 0918, 3348, 8268, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd4
Barryn Sorrell, Texas, 6032, 256, 0928, 3228, 7778, 4.68 (1.65), 21.63, 28, 34”, 10-01, 4.36, 7.06, Rd4
Que Robinson, Alabama, 6042, 243, 0968, 3348, 8058, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd4
Jah Joyner, Minnesota, 6042, 261, 0938, 3418, 8248, 4.60 (1.67), 22.58, 22, 30”, n/a, 4.68, 7.33, Rd4
Josaiah Stewart, Michigan, 6010, 249, 0948, 3178, 7900, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd5
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech, 6025, 258, 0958, 3128, 7618, 4.69 (1.64), 21.14, n/a, 40”, 10-04, n/a, n/a, Rd5
Tyler Baron, Miami, 6045, 258, 1000, 3318, 8028, 4.62 (1.61), 21.85, 19, 35.5”, 10-01, n/a, n/a, Rd6
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, 6025, 264, 0848, 3178, 7858, 4.63, 24, 36.5”, 10-00, n/a, 6.94, Rd6
Fadil Diggs, Syracuse, 6044, 257, 1068, 3368, 7938, 4.57 (1.60), 21.94, 26, 30.5”, 10-01, 4.39, n/a, Rd6
David Walker, Central Arkansas, 6007, 262, 0958, 3178, 7748, 4.69 (1.65), 21.63, 26, 35”, 09-10, 4.39, 7.15, Rd6
RJ Oben, Notre Dame, 6033, 255, 0938, 3328, 8118, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd6
BJ Green, Colorado, 6003, 259, 1028, 3200, 7628, 4.70, n/a, 30”, 10-02, 4.65, 7.33, Rd7
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, 6010, 254, 1000, 3258, 7978, n/a, 27, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, Rd7
Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, 6027, 251, 1018, 3318, 8018, 4.63 (1.56), 22, 41”, 11-00, 4.28, 6.99, Rd7
Steve Linton, Baylor, 6036, 242, 0900, 3428, 8128, 4.81, 21, 32.5”, 10-04, 4.45, 7.25, Rd7
Diwun Black, Temple, 6030, 246, 1028, 3348, 8258, 4.88, 18, 33", 10-6, n/a, 7.64, Rd7
Jahvaree Ritzie, North Carolina, 6042, 294, 1028, 3328, 8118, 26, 36”, 09-06, n/a, n/a, HPFA
Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State, 6023, 267, 0900, 3228, 7868, 4.77 (1.70), 21.31, 32, 32.5”, 09-05, n/a, n/a, HPFA
Garmon Randolph, Baylor, 6065, 266, 0938, 3428, 8300, 4.78, 22, 33”, 10-01, 4.47, 7.16, HPFA
Tyler Batty, BYU, 6055, 271, 0938, 3318, 8100, 4.78 (1.69), 21.33, 27, 34”, 10-00, 4.54, 7.21, HPFA
Johnny Walker Jr., Missouri, 6025, 249, 1000, 3300, 7948, 4.82, 21, 32”, 10-00, 4.58, 7.69, HPFA
Danny Striggow, Minnesota, 6040, 253, 0968, 3278, 8048, 4.84, 21, 33”, 09-08, 4.33, 7.07, PFA
Elijah Roberts, SMU, 6035, 285, 1028, 3358, 8248, 4.78 (1.67), 21.20, n/a, 31.5”, 09-08, n/a, PFA
JJ Weaver, Kentucky, 6045, 251, 0948, 3348, 8138, 4.84 (1.67), 26, 31”, 09-04, 4.78, 7.40, PFA
Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest, 6031, 270, 0948, 3400, 7938, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, PFA
Ty French, West Virginia, Sr, 6012, 225, 0928, 3218, 7658, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, PFA
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