Projecting a 2023 NFL draft prospect to the NFL isn’t simply about looking at production from the 2022 season, as measurables and career bodies of work also come into play.
Still, it’s interesting to see when some of the best players in the draft had their best season in college football. Here, we look at the top 10 edge defenders on PFF’s big board and highlight their best season by PFF grade, adding some stats for context.
WILL ANDERSON, ALABAMA
- Big board rank: 3/EDGE1
- Best PFF grade: 89.8, 2021
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 83.2
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 89.6
TYREE WILSON, TEXAS TECH
- Big board rank: 8/EDGE2
- Best PFF grade: 75.1, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 79.9
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 72.8
LUKAS VAN NESS, IOWA
- Big board rank: 15/EDGE3
- Best PFF grade: 80.2, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 74.3
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 80.9
NOLAN SMITH, GEORGIA
- Big board rank: 21/EDGE4
- Best PFF grade: 85.0, 2021
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 79.1
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 90.6
MYLES MURPHY, CLEMSON
- Big board rank: 22/EDGE5
- Best PFF grade: 85.2, 2020
- 2020 Pass-rush grade: 67.0
- 2020 Run-defense grade: 92.5
WILL MCDONALD, IOWA STATE
- Big board rank: 29/EDGE6
- Best PFF grade: 79.2, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 84.2
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 70.7
FELIX ANUDIKE-UZOMAH, KANSAS STATE
- Big board rank: 33/EDGE7
- Best PFF grade: 85.4, 2021
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 89.9
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 69.8
B.J. OJULARI, LSU
- Big board rank: 35/EDGE8
- Best PFF grade: 76.3, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 83.0
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 70.9
ADETOMIWA ADEBAWORE, NORTHWESTERN
- Big board rank: 40/EDGE9
- Best PFF grade: 73.8, 2022
- 2022 Pass-rush grade: 80.3
- 2022 Run-defense grade: 68.3
TULI TUIPULOTU, USC
- Big board rank: 48/EDGE10
- Best PFF grade: 82.6, 2021
- 2021 Pass-rush grade: 79.8
- 2021 Run-defense grade: 79.0
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