The 2025 NFL Draft class is starting to take shape, and that means we’re getting a clearer picture of some of the top prospects and the position groups with the most depth.
The running back, tight end and offensive tackle positions seem to be the deepest and strongest on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, the edge defender group is as deep as we’ve seen in several years, dominating the projected top 50. There are also more impact defensive backs this year than a year ago, with plenty of options on all three days of the draft, specifically on Days 2 and 3.
Here are PFF’s top edge defenders in the 2025 NFL Draft, along with some initial scouting notes courtesy of lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema.
For the full ranking of draft prospects, along with their three-year player grades and position rankings, click here.
1. ED Abdul Carter, Penn State
It’s hard not to see some Micah Parsons in Carter, who not only wears the same No. 11 but also pops off the screen nearly every play due to being a rare caliber athlete. If he can get even stronger, he has All-Pro potential as a player worthy of a top-five pick.
2. ED Mike Green, Marshall
Green has only two years of starting experience and not the best competition to measure NFL talent over the past two years. However, he absolutely dominated the way you’d want a future NFL player to with elite pass-rush and run-defense grades in addition to high-90th-percentile numbers in win rate and run stops. He has top-50 all-around ability and projects as a starting-caliber outside linebacker in a 3-4 front.
3. ED James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Pearce is the kind of athlete with the production and disruption scores you don’t let out of the first round. His twitchy movements show difference-making NFL traits that can be situational at worst and All-Pro at best.
4. ED Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Ezeiruaku is a smaller outside linebacker-type edge rusher who can struggle with the power aspects of the game. However, his quick, smooth style paired with high football IQ and some very nice bend make him an ideal 3-4 pass rush type of defender to draft on Day 2.
5. ED Mykel Williams, Georgia
Williams is a long, strong, versatile edge prospect whose motor is always running hot. His pass-rush profile and consistency (win percentage) are lower than ideal for a projected top-20 pick, but his floor as an elite run defender is so high, and his build is so alluring, that he’s worth taking the chance on in that range for a team running odd or even fronts.
6. ED Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Stewart is a scheme-versatile, high-potential athlete who is still working on winning his reps with technique and discipline as much as athletic ability. His lack of production throughout his college career speaks to the lack of refinement in his game, but he is built like a future NFL player and should be a Day 2 pick because of it.
7. ED Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Scourton brings an alluring combination of overall size and pass-rush moves to the edge spot, which gives him ideal versatility for 3-4 or 4-3 fronts. However, he does have some length and flexibility limitations. In his current state, he feels like a player who can disrupt and amass pressure but won’t be a high-sack-count rusher.
8. ED Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Jackson is a fundamentally sound player with alluring length and surprising cornering ability for a player of his size. His overall pass-rush win percentage has been low throughout his career, which presents him as a high-floor, versatile defensive end who can be a solid starter for odd or even fronts.
9. ED Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
Umanmielen feels like a specialized finesse pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. If you want him to be more versatile than that, you might be disappointed in the lack of consistency. However, if you put him in that role correctly, he can be a backfield difference-maker for you on some of the most pivotal plays of the game.
10. ED Bradyn Swinson, LSU
Swinson didn’t become a full-time starter until his final season, but in his current form, he shows very active hands and a good understanding of rushing the passer to yield consistently high pass-rush win rates. If he continues to get stronger defending the run, he can become a starting 3-4 edge player with impact pass-rush potential.
11. ED JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
Tuimoloau presents a good floor for an edge rusher in a 4-3 defensive front. His pass-rush win percentage has been average over the last two years with quite a few clean-up sacks on his stat sheet, but he improved in his true pass-rush win areas in 2024. He is a good Day 2 prospect to bet on because you’ll get a spot starting/rotational floor out of him.
12. ED Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Sawyer is a high-floor, all-around 4-3 defensive end with a starting-caliber projection. The question is whether you believe there is more there for him as a pass-rusher. If you do, you can convince yourself that he’s a top-20 player. If not, an early Day 2 range feels like his floor.
13. ED Jared Ivey, Mississippi
Ivey is a physically gifted player with devastating power in his hands to hold the point of attack and stack and shed consistently. He lacks the speed and lower body flexibility to be a speed threat as a 4-3 defensive end, so his best fit is likely more inside for a 3-4 front that would maximize his special strength every play.
14. ED Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Kennard shows a good understanding of how to win as a pass-rusher in varying situations in both odd and even fronts. He is lean and long, which is a plus for arm length but a negative when holding up versus the run. His hand work and footwork show a great baseline to build a successful pass-rush profile in the league as a Day 2 selection.
15. ED Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Stewart is a juiced-up pass-rusher with less-than-ideal measurables. His effort and leverage give him a chance to win any rep, but he lacks pass-rush nuance to win with more than those attributes and a good first step. His best spot in the NFL might be as an off-ball Sam linebacker, where he can be used as a blitzer more than just a straight edge defender (think Uchenna Nuwosu).
16. ED Jordan Burch, Oregon
Burch is a high-potential player with athletic and physical gifts you can’t teach. After finding his sweet spot of size and body composition, he can play in both odd and even fronts but projects best as a 4-3 defensive end. If he continues to master more pass-rush moves and hand usage, he can be a starter and a contributing player.
17. ED Elijah Roberts, SMU
Roberts is a strong, well-built defensive lineman who has a lot of experience at different alignments. He likely lacks the length, twitch and bend to be a full-time edge player, but his size and versatility could play well as a 3-4 defensive end who can move along gaps.
18. ED David Walker, Central Arkansas
Walker is a highly productive and decorated FCS player. His size limitations will make him a Day 3 pick at best, but he mitigates it as best he can and is a high-effort player who lives in backfields. Some team will likely take a flier on him late as a stand-up pass-rush specialist.
19. ED Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Rucker is a smart, sound outside linebacker-type of edge rusher who uses quick hands and natural leverage with purpose and effectiveness. Though he appears to have longer arms than his height would indicate, his naturally smaller frame, paired with athleticism that isn’t top-tier, limits his ceiling. He is a dependable player who would do well to round out a depth chart as a pass-rush specialist in a 3-4 alignment.
20. ED Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
While Oladejo offers positional versatility, an NFL team will get the best return on investment by keeping him at edge defender. Oladejo’s athleticism, explosiveness and long arms are a nice foundation, and it appears his best years as a pass-rusher are still ahead of him.
21. ED Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Gillotte is a strong defensive end who wins with leverage and leg drive. His lack of length is an issue when engaging in pass-rush moves and, more importantly, when getting off blocks, but his relentlessness and consistent physical play style will get coaches in his corner for roster spots and rotations for playing time.
22. ED Quandarrius Robinson, Alabama
Robinson is a twitchy and traits-y edge prospect to bet on who lacks experience. His burst and length are NFL-caliber, but he must diversify his pass-rush wins in order to be seen as a consistent starter or rotational pass-rusher, likely for 3-4 schemes that let him rush from a stand-up alignment.
23. ED Barryn Sorrell, Texas
Scouting summary coming soon!
24. ED Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
Hassanein’s effort and physicality at the point of attack will lead to him being a favorite of NFL coaches, even though he lacks elite athletic traits. He looks to be an ideal rotational edge who will be effective at holding his own at the line of scrimmage against the run while he works to add to his pass-rush toolbox. He should be considered an early Day 3 prospect.
25. ED Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
Powell-Ryland may be a little scheme-specific due to his measurables, but he has the pass-rush speed and acumen to be a rotational outside linebacker with the potential for impact plays.
26. ED Sai’vion Jones, LSU
Scouting summary coming soon!
27. ED Tyler Batty, BYU
Scouting summary coming soon!
28. ED Tyler Baron, Miami (FL)
Scouting summary coming soon!
29. ED R.J. Oben, Notre Dame
Scouting summary coming soon!
30. ED Jah Joyner, Minnesota
Scouting summary coming soon!
31. ED Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
Scouting summary coming soon!
32. ED Fadil Diggs, Syracuse
Scouting summary coming soon!
33. ED Ethan Downs, Oklahoma
Scouting summary coming soon!
34. ED Johnny Walker Jr., Missouri
Scouting summary coming soon!
35. ED Elijah Alston, Miami (FL)
Scouting summary coming soon!
36. ED Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Scouting summary coming soon!
This news was originally published on this post .
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