Top-15 Edge Passrushers in 2024 NFL Draft

the CFB Edge PassRush Production Matrix after week 8

The 2023 Draft Class has a solid group of passrushers at the top of it.

Today we rank out the top NCAA passrusher prospects with the EDGE Production Matrix (EPM), provided by Rogue Performance Consulting (RogueAPC.com). This is a composite ranking based on a wide variety of passrush-specific metrics. This is based solely on on-field production and does not account for film review and grading. The all-important film grading will be a separate process for our analysts at NFL 33 and RAPC.  At this point in the season, we look directly at statistical production and the analytics of the current draft-eligible EDGE passrushers.

EPM compares the performance above expectation for both the college level and the projection to the professional level. The standout metrics are highlighted below in the current rankings and are built on the pass rush win rate, the conversion to pressure rate, and the finish (or sack) rate.

The Top 15 (after week 8)

Power Trio

Way out West, one school's edge defenders stand out! Laiatu Latu leads the UCLA Trio of pass rushers. He's a long and lean pass rusher who relies on length and technique rather than raw power to get the job done. Latu is one of the few prospects whose fall off from win to pressure to sack is minimal.

He is joined by the brothers Murphy, Gabriel and Grayson. While neither is as explosive on film as Latu, both bring a little bit more power and a different aspect of leverage attacks. The three of them cluster among the top seven in production based on win rate to pressure rate. This trio is formidable and stands out amongst the group grouped below.

Who ranks where in this group? Who are the tier just below this list, ranked 16-30?

Size Matters

This season, the lighter OLB-type Edges dominate the top of this list. With speed burn off the edge, the 34OLB body type has been missing at the top of draft classes of late. Many first-round picks, including Will Anderson and George Karloftis, have been hybrid ends who can play inside at defensive tackle.

Speed Edges including Dallas Turner, Princely Umanmielen and even Jalen Green represent the more athletic side of the position and are up at the top ten along with Latu and the Bruins.  Specifically, these players are top 7 in the conversion of pass rush win rate to pressure rate in forcing quarterbacks off of their spots.

Getting the job Done

Speaking of criminally under-the-radar… James Madison’s Jalen Green fits that bill.

Green's level of competition will be called into question all through the draft cycle but three things stand out as crystal clear at this point. Green leads the nation in pressures produced as well as sacks. His finish rate of converting pressures into sacks is impressive at any level, and currently, he sits at number two behind only Utah’s Jonah Ellis (whose overall pressure rate lags well behind). 

James Madison has been flying under the radar for a lot of this season, but Jalen Green is one reason to start paying attention.