NFL Draft News & Analysis

2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Edge defender

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Utah State Aggies offensive lineman Alfred Edwards (72) blocks against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

NFL draft season is nearly upon us. And with that comes the PFF NFL Draft Guide, which comes loaded with scouting reports and advanced data on the class' top draft prospects.

Here are the top 10 edge defenders in this year's draft class, per PFF's NFL Draft Guide.

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1. Will Anderson, Alabama

BIG BOARD RANK: 3

Elite production and elite tools. That's an easy combination to draft highly.

2. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

BIG BOARD RANK: 7

No edge prospect manhandled offensive tackles more than Wilson last year. That's a defensive lineman who can play for any scheme.

3. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

BIG BOARD RANK: 12

Van Ness has one of the weirder prospect profiles in the draft class, but it's one I'm willing to bet on.

4. Myles Murphy, Clemson

BIG BOARD RANK: 19

The guy we saw as a freshman was a lock top-10 pick. Where'd he go?

5. Andre Carter II, Army

BIG BOARD RANK: 24

Carter has a unique athletic skillset that is built to rush the passer against NFL offensive tackles. He just has to be able to threaten them with power first.

6. Nolan Smith, Georgia

BIG BOARD RANK: 26

Smith is unique in so many ways with a lot of projectable NFL traits. He'll likely be a more productive pass-rusher in the NFL than he was at Georgia.

7. Will McDonald IV, Iowa State

BIG BOARD RANK: 31

McDonald's tape is inconsistent, but it's because he was grossly miscast. Watch him purely as a stand-up edge, and you'll see a top-50 player.

8. B.J. Ojulari, LSU

BIG BOARD RANK: 36

Ojulari could have benefited from another year in a college weight room. As it stands, he's still a very technically sound rusher who'll add juice to a third-down package.

9. Tuli Tuipulotu, USC

BIG BOARD RANK: 43

Tuipulotu's tape walks the tightrope between versatile and tweener. Still, he gets line play while being young and ascending physically.

10. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern

BIG BOARD RANK: 45

 

 

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