2023 NFL Draft EDGE Rankings

The NFL33 20223 NFL Draft Rankings will be updated through the evaluation cycle and up until Day 1 of the NFL Draft.  Prospects evaluation reports will be linked below as they are updated.

Draft season is in full swing! The NFL Playoffs are upon us and my job is to make sure we are all ready for the NFL Draft. Getting ahead of the game has done wonders for the prospects I’ve been able to get eyes on and I want to share five of them with y’all today. The EDGE class is, in my opinion, better at the top than is was last season and there’s a clear player that has separated himself from the rest as the best EDGE in the class. Disclaimer: I’ve watched at least three total games of each prospect.

EDGE #1:

There have been some questions about Will Anderson this season with a drop in production from his 2021 season, but he had 17.5 sacks and topping that would have been a sight to behold. Anderson was moved all around the defense this season, even playing out of comfort for the benefit of the defense. He’s listed at 6-4, 234 pounds (all my numbers are coming from Sports-Reference), and in his three-year career at Alabama has totaled 114 solo tackles, 204 total tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss, and 35.5 sacks.

Strengths:

-Speed -Speed to power

-Athletic ability -Detail oriented vs the run

-Feel for DE -Versatile

-First-step

Improvement Areas:

-Pass Rush Plan -Reliance on athletic ability

-Consistent anchor vs run blocking

(The format you see above with Anderson will be included with TONS of prospects for SUBSCRIBERS. You won’t want to miss the individual player breakdowns we are working on here.)

EDGE #2:

The biggest challenger to Will Anderson this season has been Myles Murphy, who comes in at number two for me. While I understand the want to move guys up and down, Anderson and Murphy have been at the top for me since I started watching this draft class. Murphy is listed at 6’5, 275 pounds and in his three-year career at Clemson, he’s totaled 61 solo tackles, 116 combined tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks.

Edge #3:

This one is sure to surprise some people, mostly because they haven’t watched him. Derick Hall is a senior from Auburn and his tape was some of the most fun I had watching this class so far. Listed at 6’3 251 pounds, he totaled 99 solo tackles, 146 combined tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 19.5 sacks in his four-year career at Auburn.

EDGE #4:

Bj Ojulari is bound to be a more polarizing defensive end this draft cycle. I think he might be the most naturally gifted pass rusher in the class. He brings a different feel to many in my top five. Listed at 6’3 244 pounds, Ojulari collected 77 solo tackles, 128 combined tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks in his three-year career at LSU. Worth noting that Ojulari was awarded number 18 by the staff this season, a tradition at LSU. The number represents high character and leadership both on and off the field. That carries weight with NFL teams.

Edge #5:

I know many are higher on Tyree Wilson than I am, but this is what I see and I understand the love he gets. This man was built in a lab and created to play defensive end in the NFL. Listed at 6’6 275 pounds, Wilson racked up 76 solo tackles, 121 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks in his four-year career stretching from Texas A&M to Texas Tech. He transferred from A&M to Tech after his freshman year only appearing in five games.