2018 NFL Draft by Position: Edge Rushers (8/11)
In a growingly-coveted position in the NFL, one edge rusher stands at the top of the positional board: Bradley Chubb. He could step into pretty much anyone's defensive system and rack up double-digit sacks. While every QB-needy team will look to trade up at their newest attempt of a franchise gunslinger, teams like the Giants, Broncos and Colts will think long and hard before passing up an absolute disruptor in Bradley Chubb. Marcus Davenport looks like a guarateed mid-first round lock, and Harold Landry's draft stock is nearly guaranteeing him hearing his name on Day One. Players like Sam Hubbard, Lorenzo Carter and Arden Key have steep odds of going among the first 32, but there's still a chance some playoff-caliber team late in the first round sees their future top pass rush option in one of those guys. In a deep class, many teams will add one of the players below to try and get into the backfield more often.
1. Bradley Chubb, North Carolina State - Top 6 Pick
I'd have to really go back and look at my old notes, but I'm fairly certain Bradley Chubb is only eclipsed by Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney as far as recent edge rushing prospects are concerned. He's 6'4", 270 pounds with very long arms, so his frame immediately translates as a lean 4-3 Defensive End. Chubb's high motor and freakish athletic ability make him just as dangerous of an option at 3-4 Outside Linebacker. He'll be an early pick, an instant starter and see his first of many Pro Bowl nods in no time.
2. Marcus Davenport, Texas-San Antonio - Mid 1st Round
Marcus Davenport is, athletically, a freak of nature. He's 6'6", 260 pounds with crazy long arms. Davenport is currently more of a sporadic threat off the edge than a consistent force, and his technique is very raw both standing up and with his hand down, but with solid coaching, Davenport could realistically develop into a quality starting edge rusher at both 4-3 Defensive End and 3-4 Outside Linebacker.
3. Harold Landry, Boston College - Late 1st/Early 2nd Round
When he was healthy, Harold Landry was the most productive pass rusher in the entire country. He just hasn't been able to stay healthy. Landry's size isn't exactly a plus (6'3", 252 lb. with average arm length), but his initial bust is as good as anyone's in this class. Landry's stride length, as well as his high-end speed and athleticism, make him an immediate threat as a 4-3 pass-rushing Defensive End, but with good defensive coaching, added strength at the point of attack and better hand usage, Landry could develop into an every-down, Pro Bowl-borderline edge threat in any formation. Think of a Vic Beasley-like upside.
4. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State - Late 1st/Mid 2nd Round
Sam Hubbard's best asset is his 6'5", 265-pound, long-armed build. His athleticism is mediocre and his tape is decent, but he doesn't necessarily stand out at all. His high motor adds to his stock, and blitz-happy teams will be much more enticed in how they could use him compared to teams simply looking for an edge rusher. 4-3 Strong Side Defensive End is Hubbard's best positional fit at the next level, where he should start early and develop into a quality every-down starter.
5. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia - 2nd Round
Teams knew how attractive Lorenzo Carter's size (6'6", 250 lb. and crazy long arms) was, but they didn't know how fast he was until he clocked a 4.5 40-yard-dash at the combine. The confidence, toughness and mean streak are definitely present, but Carter wasn't as productive as he should've been and often disappears on tape. Like his Georgia teammate Roquan Smith, Carter is a sideline-to-sideline player who could grow as an Outside Linebacker in both 3-4 and 4-3 packages. He needs to get stronger and bulk up, but if he can finally produce with his great size/speed combo, he should develop into a quality passing down starting Outside Linebacker.
6. Arden Key, LSU - 2nd/Early 3rd Round
LSU fans will tell you right away that the 2017 version of Arden Key was the least exciting they've witnessed. His long-armed 6'6" frame and ability to slip past any blocker make him an enticing pass attack prospect, but his conditioning somehow got worse and the production slipped in his Junior campaign. Key's hips are far too tight, and at this point he's a liability in run defense. Key is the biggest boom-or-bust defensive prospect, as he has a realistic upside of a quality starting 3-4 Outside Linebacker, but he also has a realistic floor of a practice squad bum.
7. Uchenna Nwosu, USC - 3rd/4th Round
Uchenna Nwosu is the highest-touted prospect at the newly-emerging "Nitro" linebacker position. It's basically every team's option for a Strong Safety who plays in the box like a linebacker more often than not (think of Deone Buchanan and Mark Barron). Nwosu didn't move to Outside Linebacker full-time until his senior year, and his inconsistent, often-out-of-position tape confirms that fact. At 6'3" and 251 pounds, Nwosu really only has potential as a designated pass rusher at the next level. His 4.65 40-yard-dash was lower than expected, but if he plays like his tape speed suggests, he's an immediate hybrid pass rushing option for any team.
8. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State - 3rd/4th Round
With so many other talented pass rushing options at Ohio State, Tyquan Lewis rarely stands out on tape. At 6'3", 265 pounds, he'd best transition as a 4-3 Defensive End at the next level, just like his former teammates Sam Hubbard and Joey Bosa. Lewis offers nothing in the running game, but he has one very attractive trait: he rushes extremely well as a Defensive Tackle. Yes, when moved inside in special packages, Lewis slips past guards with ease. If the ability to rush interior gaps carries over, he could be used similar to how the Packers used Clay Matthews last season: an outside pass rusher who's specialty is blitzing interior gaps when Inside Linebackers drop back.
9. Josh Sweat, Florida State - 3rd/4th Round
Josh Sweat has a sturdy 6'4", 251-pound frame and freakishly long arms. He's also athletic enough to earn starting reps right away as a stand-up 3-4 Outside Linebacker. Sweat's lack of initial quickness and poor balance makes him a hard sell at 4-3 Defensive End, so the number of teams looking to utilize him may drop in half. Sweat has the tools to play outside on both pass and run defense, but bad knees make his bust potential just as realistic as his ceiling of a Barkevious Mingo 2.0.
10. Dorance Armstrong, Kansas - 3rd/5th Round
Dorance Armstrong's fluidity is incredible given his 6'4", 257-pound frame. Kansas switched schemes in 2017, where he was asked to defend the run far more often than rush the passer, and he did not adjust well. While Armstrong's production naturally dropped, the biggest concern scouts have is the drop is speed: he ran a 4.87 40-yard-dash and didn't do any better at his pro day. His technique is flawed, but the tools are there, and if Armstrong can get faster, he could eventually develop into a decent starting 3-4 Outside Linebacker.
11. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma - 3rd/5th Round
Obo Okoronkwo's body (6'1", 242 lb. and short arms) is really hurting his draft stock. His bend is poor, and he isn't a great athlete either. Okoronkwo's high motor and unparalleled aggressiveness make scouts believe he should still be an effective pass rushing 3-4 Outside Linebacker, but his ceiling may be capped off as a quality backup.
12. Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest - Late 3rd/5th Round
Duke Ejiofor is simply a finisher when he gets into the backfield, and his effective hands help him do that a lot. He's not athletic, and his speed and motor have been inconsistent throughout his tenure at Wake Forest. Ejiofor is as strong as any edge rusher in this class, and his ability to blow up interior gaps should create a realistic ceiling as a quality backup 4-3 Defensive End with fill-in starting duties down the road.
13. Jeff Holland, Auburn - Late 3rd/5th Round
Jeff Holland came into the combine with concerns surrounding his athleticism, and they still stuck around once the combine concluded. His 6'2", 250-pound frame is mediocre, but he's a tough, tenacious pass rusher with a surprisingly high playing IQ. He'll likely never add anything to a run defense, but his play strength should eclipse his athletic struggles well enough to be a rotational edge rusher right away with a realistic upside as a split-rep starting pass attacker.
14. Chad Thomas, Miami - 4th/5th Round
At 6'5" and 281 pounds, Chad Thomas has the size Defensive Coordinators would kill for to develop on the edge. He'll definitely be a hands-down rusher, as 4-3 Defensive End is his best ideal fit, but his athleticism also enables NFL franchises to play him along the D-Line in any wack packages they desire. His production was poor, and so is his tape. Thomas' technique is extremely raw, so teams will have to be patient and take time developing him. Thomas is the second-biggest boom-or-bust edge rusher in this class, with an upside of an every-down starting 4-3 Defensive End, but a floor of an unproductive practice squad bum.
15. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers - 4th/5th Round
Kemoko Turay is well-built at 6'5" and 252 pounds, and his explosiveness and pursuit abilities make him fun to watch on the edge. His biggest negative is the fact he really doesn't have any skill moves. Turay can only beat blockers with his athletic abilities, and his entire technique is extremely raw. If he doesn't add any moves to his arsenal, Turay's ceiling will be sealed as a backup option getting mostly special teams reps.
16. Marcell Frazier, Missouri - 4th/6th Round
Marcell Frazier has a lot of tools in his pass rushing toolbox, and his high motor makes his pass attack possibilities promising at the next level. His size (6'5", 255 lb.) is decent and his fluidity is a major plus. Frazier's athleticism is mediocre, and so was his combine. His biggest drawback is his relatively low ceiling, as there's a strong chance he won't develop into anything more than a quality backup 4-3 D-End, but teams looking for an NFL-ready edge option on Day 3 won't pass on Frazier.
17. Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss - 5th/6th Round
At 6'2" and just 235 pounds, Marquis Haynes just simply isn't built for the NFL. His only realistic role at the next level is as a designated pass rusher in sub packages, and luckily he has both the initial and downfield speed for the role. Haynes has absolutely no anchor, and his rushing technique is horridly predictable. He'll need to add weight and tools to his arsenal if he wants to see anything more than a few defensive plays and special teams duties.
18. Kentavius Street, North Carolina State - 5th/7th Round
Kentavious Street spent his Wolfpack careers as an edge rusher opposite of Bradley Chubb, but at 6'2" and 281 pounds, some scouts want him to gain weight and bump him inside. His upper body strength is impressive, and the toughness and mean streak add to his draft stock. Street isn't quick, doesn't offer much in his initial attack, and has relatively short arms. He's best set developing as a run-first 4-3 Defensive End, and after tearing his ACL at his pro day, Street's stock may drop to the end of Day 3.
19. Trevon Young, Louisville - 6th Round/Undrafted
Trevon Young has a decent frame at 6'4", 255 pounds and extremely long arms. He can be developed as a 4-3 End or a 3-4 Outside 'backer, but his health is a huge red flag. He's still recovering from a nasty hip injury suffered in a bowl game over three years ago. Tape from the end of Young's season suggests he's nearly healthy and back to his old, explosive form, but he still lacks any power at the point of attack. Young needs to get stronger and healthier before he becomes anything more than a practice squad option.
20. Leon Jacobs, Wisconsin - 6th Round/Undrafted
Leon Jacobs has a great combination of strength, speed and talented moves, but his body (6'3", 230 lb.) is far from ideal. His 4.48 40-yard-dash time makes him an interesting Day 3 option, but he's facing an uphill climb from his lack of size alone. Jacobs' explosiveness should help his case in having a team develop him over a few years, potentially turning Jacobs into a 3-4 Outside or hybrid Linebacker.
21. Kylie Fitts, Utah - 6th Round/Undrafted
Kylie Fitts has an NFL-ready 6'4", 265-pound frame; he just hasn't been able to keep it healthy. Nagging injuries kept his production low during his junior and senior seasons, and watching his tape confirms that. Fitts is smart and has a good amount of tools to work with, but his complete lack of anchoring ability may cap his ceiling as a decent backup 3-4 Strong-Side Outside Linebacker.
22. Joe Ostman, Central Michigan - 6th Round/Undrafted
Joe Ostman uses his hands very well, and his play strength is better than his tested strength. His 6'3", 255-pound frame is decent, and he's an extremely hard worker. His technique and inability to overcome bigger opponents may prevent him from getting drafted at all, but he should offer enough to be considered a back-up 3-4 Outside Linebacker option with most of his reps coming on Special Teams.
Other Edge Rushers with training camp chances: John Franklin-Myers, Stephen F. Austin; Zach Steier, Ferris State; Ola Adeniyi, Toledo; Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State; Peter Kalambay, Stanford; Ade Aruna, Temple; Jake Martin, Temple; James Looney, California.
