• UCLA's Laiatu Latu comes in at No. 1: Latu has produced 51 pressures across 238 pass-rush snaps, while his 12 sacks already ties his total from 2022.
• Gabriel Murphy is not far behind: Murphy is not quite on Latu's level, but he can certainly hold his own. He's recorded 47 total pressures and ranks 13th at the position in pass-rush grade.
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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA Bruins
Overall grade: 93.6
Snaps played: 419
Not only is Latu the highest-ranked edge defender on our draft board, but he’s also our sixth-highest-ranked overall player. Latu has produced 51 pressures across 238 pass-rush snaps. His 12 sacks already ties his total from 2022.
2. Ben Bell, Texas State Bobcats
Overall grade: 90.7
Snaps played: 354
Bell ranks first among all qualifying players at his position in pass-rush win rate (30.3%), while his 22.4% pressure rate ties with Laiatu Latu for 11th. The redshirt junior has tallied six sacks, eight hits and 23 hurries from 178 pass-rush snaps.
3. Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan Broncos
Overall grade: 89.3
Snaps played: 503
Kneeland ranks second at his position in defensive stops (34) and has earned grades above 81.0 as both a run defender and pass-rusher.
4. Elijah Alston, Marshall Thundering Herd
Overall grade: 88.7
Snaps played: 370
Alston has the highest coverage grade (95.1) among all edge defenders and has snagged one interception this season. He's recorded 22 pressures from 187 pass-rush snaps and has 24 defensive stops.
𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬.
That’s an 85-yard pick-six for @HerdFB’s Elijah Alston. ☀️🏈pic.twitter.com/TZ8Mf1J4Cy
— Sun Belt Football (@SunBeltFB) September 30, 2023
5. Bralen Trice, Washington Huskies
Overall grade: 87.2
Snaps played: 593
Trice is the fifth-ranked edge defender on PFF's big board. He's been a one-man wrecking crew for Washington’s defense this season, with his 54 pressures good for second-most at the position through 11 weeks.
Washington's Bralen Trice with excellent getoff, flushes the QB out of the pocket. The defensive end never gave up on the play and eventually tracked down the scrambling QB. Strong, quick and hustles. pic.twitter.com/OTdMPTwFZj
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) November 15, 2023
6. Ashton Gillotte, Louisville Cardinals
Overall grade: 86.8
Snaps played: 439
Gillotte has generated 37 quarterback hurries this season, the third-most in the nation. The Louisville Cardinal has also forced two fumbles and has graded above 80.0 as both a pass-rusher and run defender.
7. Gabriel Murphy, UCLA Bruins
Overall grade: 86.7
Snaps played: 414
Murphy is not quite on Latu's level, but he can certainly hold his own. He's recorded 47 total pressures — just four fewer than his future first-round teammate — and he ranks 13th at the position in pass-rush grade.
8. Bo Richter, Air Force Falcons
Overall grade: 86.3
Snaps played: 545
Richter is one of the most improved defenders in all of college football. He has already doubled his pressure total from a year ago, with his overall grade jumping by more than 10 grading points.
9. Max Michel, Buffalo Bulls
Overall grade: 86.0
Snaps played: 349
Michel may be the best run defender at the position, as he currently holds the highest run-defense grade at 90.9. He also has four forced fumbles, a nation-leading mark.
10. Donnell Brown, Maryland Terrapins
Overall grade: 85.6
Snaps played: 348
Brown has lined up everywhere for the Terrapins this year and thrived. His two interceptions have helped him earn an elite coverage grade of 91.2, top-five at his position.
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