2019 NFL Draft: Top 10 Edge Defender Prospects
By Liam McKeone
This year’s draft is noticeably well-stocked with pass rushers and defensive line prospects. Nick Bosa is clearly the king of his class, and Josh Allen is right behind him, but where the rest fall is unclear. With such a talented crop of edge defenders, there won’t be a huge difference between most of the top 10 guys. But there will be a difference, and that’s why we’re giving you, the reader, a definitive power ranking of the best edge rusher prospects in the draft.
1. Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Bosa has been heralded as not only the best pass rusher in this class, but the best player overall for months now. Bosa missed most of his last season at Ohio State, but he’s the complete package for an edge defender and well worth a top-three pick. Bosa combines speed and athleticism with high-level hand placement to get wherever he wants, as fast as he’s able to. His experience playing both sides of the line will help with his versatility, and he notched 16 tackles for loss his sophomore year, demonstrating his ability to affect both the run and pass game. Bosa is a plug-and-play prospect who will quickly prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of pass rushers, and an elite prospect who doesn’t come around very often. As is the norm with the Bosa clan, injuries are a concern, but he’s so good that it won’t come into play here.
2. Josh Allen, Kentucky
Allen has significantly more recent production but less overall upside than Bosa, notching 17 sacks and and 5 forced fumbles his senior season. He’s as explosive as they come off the edge, and has proven himself to be a good enough athlete to cover in space when needed. He needs to work on his counter moves, but he’ll enter into the league with a versatile skillset that a smart defensive coach can utilize and translate into major production. Allen is a pure enough pass rusher that he’ll come in as an immediate impact player, but his ceiling will require some work to reach.
3. Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
After Bosa and Allen is when the consensus picks become murkier, but Sweat has set himself up for a top-15 selection with a healthy combination of athleticism and production. He racked up 22 sacks in two years while defending the run at an elite level as a starter at Mississippi State, and ran a 4.41 40-yard dash despite checking in at 6’6″, 260 pounds. He doesn’t have ideal strength for holding down the edge, and appears to be a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. But Sweat can bring consistent production to the edge with high athletic upside. Sweat’s heart condition means that he may slide down the board fast, but his combination of athleticism and production is too enticing for most teams to pass up unless the condition is more serious than previously reported.
4. Rashan Gary, Michigan
Ultimately, the draft is all about potential, and Gary possesses that in droves. His athletic upside is as high as anyone in this class; it’s his production during his years at Michigan that raise question marks. Gary showed flashes of dominance, but disappeared in games far too often for someone with his size and strength. If Gary falls to the right team, he could be a double-digit sack guy for a long time. But like other extraordinary athletes, he needs to stop over-relying on his physical gifts and dedicate more of his time to technical work. He’s the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the draft, and his sheer athletic ability puts him in the top five of his positional rankings.
5. Brian Burns, Florida State
Burns has been a fast riser in the last few weeks, and for good reason. His first step off the line is as good as anyone in the class, and his ability to bend around offensive tackles is unmatched. Burns doesn’t have the bulk most franchises want on the edge and needs to add a few more moves to his pass-rushing repertoire. But his tape shows a guy who can get to the QB as fast as anyone and that he understands how to use his length, his biggest asset, to his advantage. Burns might not develop into a superstar, but he can become an impact player in short order.
6. Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Same as the five guys listed above him, Ferrell is a first-round talent, but he falls in this ranking because of his comparatively average athletic build. Ferrell has consistent production over the course of his college career mostly unmatched by his peers in this draft class (27 sacks and 50 tackles for loss in four years), and he didn’t miss a game in his career at Clemson, but is an average-at-best athlete next to his peers. Ferrell plays smart and his hand skills are much more advanced than most others coming into the draft. He may not ever become a truly dominant player, but his football intelligence and high-level motor ensure that he’ll always have an impact in the game.
7. Jachai Polite, Florida
Polite is the first prospect on the list who isn’t considered a guarantee to be picked in Round 1, which says all you need to know about how deep this class is. Polite has a blazing-fast first step with a series of counter moves, including a devastating inside spin. He plays hard and is always looking to make a play (6 forced fumbles last season), but his testing numbers were poor and he only has one season of production at Florida. It’s harder to bet on upside when there’s little to back it up, and while Polite’s tape looks good, the rest of his profile raises question marks.
8. Chase Winovich, Michigan
Winovich is the definition of a high-motor player whose production is driven by sheer determination. He isn’t a world-class athlete and doesn’t meet the majority of the size requirements for a defensive end in the NFL, but his effort is endless and his sense of timing is impeccable. Winovich won’t go before guys with greater athletic upside, but whoever drafts him won’t be disappointed. He likely won’t make an especially impactful pro, but he’ll be beloved by the fan base and the type of high-effort player that comes in clutch at just the right moment, the type of guy every great team seems to have.
9. D’Andre Walker, Georgia
Walker is one of the most well-rounded prospect in terms of his overall game, but doesn’t yet excel in either area. Walker spent three years as a pass-rushing specialist before switching to an every-down role with more run responsibility in his last season. He knows how to set the edge and when to rush the passer; while his instincts for the position are good, it hasn’t yet translated completely. Walker might end up being a bit of a project, but he’s a good enough athlete and player that it’s worth the investment. He should always be competent, but could become an impact defender a few years down the road.
10. L.J. Collier, TCU
Collier is a stout defensive end with a classic build (6’2″, 283 pounds) who was extremely consistent over his time at TCU. He doesn’t have anywhere near the upside of even guys like Walker, but his ability to bounce inside with his size and how generally reliable he was at TCU will entice more than a few teams. Collier will be a good fit for teams who favor a rotation on the defensive line, and once he settles in could be a consistent and quality edge presence for years to come.