NFL · 3 months ago

2026 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top 10 Edge Rushers Pre-Combine

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

Best of the Rest
- Dani Dennis-Sutton - Penn State Nittany Lions
- Gabe Jacas - Illinois Fighting Illini
- Mikail Kamara - Indiana Hoosiers
- Malachi Lawrence - UCF Knights
- Anthony Lucas - USC Trojans
- Derrick Moore - Michigan Wolverines
- LT Overton - Alabama Crimson Tide
- Zion Young - Missouri Tigers
NFL Draft Edge Defender Rankings
A champion has been crowned, and football season is over. We can weep for what was, but fear not, the end of football season ushers in NFL Draft season! The premium positions in football have shifted over time, with positions like running back dwindling in demand and elite offensive tackles becoming secondary to quarterbacks. On defense, NFL executives are on the hunt for difference-making pass rushers and edge defenders. Generating an effective pass rush to disrupt an opposing quarterback and render passing attacks toothless is incredibly important in today's game. For evidence, look no further than the fearsome Seattle Seahawks and the work they did against Drake Maye's New England Patriots.

This year's EDGE class is a good one, with at least seven different prospects expected to be selected in the first round and several intriguing players behind them that project as good players in time. The "next Myles Garrett" won't be found in this group, but there are plenty of guys who profile as very solid starters who could blossom into major impact players. Ohio State's Arvell Reese has generated some division among analysts, who argue over whether he's an outside linebacker or an edge rusher. Still, teams have been trending more toward using his unique athleticism and speed and turning him loose against opposing quarterbacks. That makes him the top-rated EDGE with others hot on his heels. Who are the top ten EDGE players in the 2026 NFL Draft?
1. Arvell Reese
- College: Ohio State Buckeyes
- Class: Junior
- Hometown: Cleveland, OH
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 243
The New York Jets are expected to try and trade out of the second pick, but if they end up making the selection, Ohio State playmaker Arvell Reese is expected to be the guy. He has had a meteoric rise in the past 12 months and led an elite defense in Columbus. Perhaps just as important as what he’s already shown is what it looks like he could become. Reese is only 20 years old, and he has a rare level of quick-twitch spring and burst at the line of scrimmage that gives him the ability to become a top-notch pass rusher. This is a bit of a gamble because you don’t want to spend the number two overall pick on a guy that ends up as merely a linebacker, even if he is a really good one. That makes me extremely confident that the Jets, if they select Reese at number two, would add some bulk to his frame (particularly in the lower body) and hone his skills as a game-wrecking edge defender. The coaching staff needs a clear plan for him, but the tools are elite.
3. Rueben Bain Jr.
- College: Miami Hurricanes
- Class: Junior
- Hometown: Miami, FL
- Height: 6'3"
- Weight: 275
He might not have the ideal athletic testing numbers, and there are concerns about his arm length. Still, there is a whole lot to like about Rueben Bain Jr. He paired with Akheem Mesidor to cause the Indiana Hoosiers' offensive line more problems, by far, than any other opponent had as IU prevailed to beat Miami in the national title game. He plays with an intensity that magnetically drags the level of his teammates to a higher standard. He’s heavier than most of the other high-end prospects in this class and seems ready to produce right away. The one concern is whether he can translate his stout build and bull rushes against bigger and more athletic NFL offensive tackles. He offers some versatility, having shown the ability to play on the edge and in the interior, and that flexibility, along with good explosiveness and technique, is appealing. Some teams reportedly see him as only an interior player because of the arm length concerns. Still, if it lasts until pick number 11, the Miami Dolphins would be a very logical destination (and a short move for Bain).
4. Keldric Faulk
- College: Auburn Tigers
- Class: Junior
- Hometown: Highland Home, AL
- Height: 6'6"
- Weight: 285
Some rank Auburn's Keldric Faulk as the top edge rusher in this draft class. He has a tantalizing combination of size, length, and athleticism. His athletic profile is that of a player who could blossom into an All-Pro pass rusher. Faulk seems to play hard, has a good motor, and has really good power (he can reportedly squat 700 pounds), but given all his good attributes and potential, where is the production? He had seven sacks in 2024, but that number fell to just two this past season. For a guy with 25 games under his belt and the kind of physical gifts Faulk possesses, coming up with only nine sacks could be a red flag for teams. He'll still go early, but it's why I have him listed firmly below more productive players like Bailey and Bain Jr.
5. Cashius Howell
- College: Texas A&M Aggies
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Kansas City, MO
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 248
In some ways, Cashius Howell is the opposite of Auburn's Keldric Faulk. Faulk is 6'6" and 285 pounds. Howell is only 6'2" and less than 250 pounds. Faulk has great length and a frame that seems tailored for greatness as an NFL pass rusher. Howell's length is a question mark and a concern for teams. That said, Howell had 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and only missed three tackles all season (per Pro Football Focus). Howell began his career at Bowling Green before moving to College Station for his final two seasons, and he has a great array of moves to get into the opposing backfield. The lack of length and his relative lack of size come up against big tackles (a concern in the NFL), but he has found ways to be productive, and he's really good against the run. Howell's body of work and work ethic probably get him picked late in the top 20.
6. Akheem Mesidor
- College: Miami Hurricanes
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Ottawa, ON
- Height: 6'3"
- Weight: 280
The other half of Miami’s dominant defensive line duo is Canadian Akheem Mesidor. He was awesome in 2025, racking up 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles as the Hurricanes reached the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Mesidor is the final edge defender highly likely to be selected in the NFL Draft’s first round. The main knocks against Mesidor are a lack of length, his aggressiveness occasionally taking him out of plays, and the fact that he’s already 25 years old, and his potential may already be tapped. There are plenty of positives, though. Mesidor is productive, has positional versatility on the defensive line, plays incredibly hard, and plays with a brute physicality that should translate immediately to the NFL.
7. T.J. Parker
- College: Clemson Tigers
- Class: Junior
- Hometown: Phenix City, AL
- Height: 6'3"
- Weight: 265
Clemson's T.J. Parker and interior lineman Peter Woods were teammates who were supposed to be what Mesidor and Bain ended up being for the Miami Hurricanes. They were to serve as the defensive anchors that overwhelmed offenses and propelled Clemson to have an elite defense. Things did not play out at all as expected. While Parker is certainly not the sole culprit, Clemson's failures in 2025 should serve as a red flag for teams considering him. He only had four sacks in 2025 and was far off the dominance he showed in 2024. There's still a lot for NFL teams to like, though. Parker has good quickness and has shown a good combination of that quickness, combined with violent hand-striking that throws offensive tackles off balance and allows Parker to get to the quarterback. He forced six fumbles in 2024, and if he can find those ball-stripping tendencies, he could be a game-changer. The question for teams is: which version of the player are we drafting?
8. R Mason Thomas
- College: Oklahoma Sooners
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 249
Oklahoma's defense was a fantastic unit, and defensive end R Mason Thomas was a leader who had 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons for Brent Venables. R Mason Thomas, a native of Florida who was also a track star during high school, was limited during his first two seasons in Norman, and it looked like he was a player who would struggle to stay on the field because of injuries (two ankle surgeries in two seasons). He finally broke out in 2024, earning second-team All-SEC honors with nine sacks. The 2025 campaign was slightly disappointing as his sack total fell to 6.5, but he did have two more forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Another injury (his quad and hamstring) raises concerns about durability, but he did return for the College Football Playoff loss to Alabama. Thomas has great explosiveness at the snap, and he showed good closing speed to finish plays. The durability questions, below-average arm length, and a lack of dominance against the run game limit his upside as a prospect.
9. Romello Height
- College: Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Dublin, GA
- Height: 6'3"
- Weight: 235
Romello Height's journey to the NFL is a perfect encapsulation of the modern transfer portal era. He began as a four-star prospect from Georgia as an Auburn Tiger in 2020, transferred to USC in 2022, and was there for two seasons. After being a rotational piece for the Trojans, he transferred to Georgia Tech for the 2024 season. He played well as a Yellow Jacket, but then transferred again and starred at Texas Tech as a member of a dominant defense in 2025. For those keeping score, that's Auburn to USC to Georgia Tech to Texas Tech. Height has one of the most explosive first steps in the draft class, and he has a truly elite 96.1% pass rush grade according to PFF. His draft stock is hurt somewhat because he's only 235 pounds, and if NFL tackles get their hands on him, he won't be big enough to do anything about it. In addition, Height is not particularly strong against the run, and his current role is projected to be a pass-rush specialist until he can improve in that area.
10. Joshua Josephs
- College: Tennessee Volunteers
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Kennesaw, GA
- Height: 6'3"
- Weight: 240
Joshua Josephs was one of the more disruptive defenders in the SEC this past season. He was a raw freshman who developed under Byron Young and James Pearce Jr. before moving into the lineup full-time in 2025. Josephs has tools that are obvious and stand out: a ridiculous 82-inch wingspan, a sub-4.7 40-time, electric closing speed, and a good mean streak. However, Josephs does not have a huge frame, and he has yet to show any counters when his great speed is neutralized. The relatively paltry sack numbers evidence that. For a guy with such great apparent tools and the ability to get pressure, why does he so rarely finish the play with sacks?
Best of the Rest
- Dani Dennis-Sutton - Penn State Nittany Lions
- Gabe Jacas - Illinois Fighting Illini
- Mikail Kamara - Indiana Hoosiers
- Malachi Lawrence - UCF Knights
- Anthony Lucas - USC Trojans
- Derrick Moore - Michigan Wolverines
- LT Overton - Alabama Crimson Tide
- Zion Young - Missouri Tigers
NFL Draft Edge Defender Rankings
A champion has been crowned, and football season is over. We can weep for what was, but fear not, the end of football season ushers in NFL Draft season! The premium positions in football have shifted over time, with positions like running back dwindling in demand and elite offensive tackles becoming secondary to quarterbacks. On defense, NFL executives are on the hunt for difference-making pass rushers and edge defenders. Generating an effective pass rush to disrupt an opposing quarterback and render passing attacks toothless is incredibly important in today's game. For evidence, look no further than the fearsome Seattle Seahawks and the work they did against Drake Maye's New England Patriots.

This year's EDGE class is a good one, with at least seven different prospects expected to be selected in the first round and several intriguing players behind them that project as good players in time. The "next Myles Garrett" won't be found in this group, but there are plenty of guys who profile as very solid starters who could blossom into major impact players. Ohio State's Arvell Reese has generated some division among analysts, who argue over whether he's an outside linebacker or an edge rusher. Still, teams have been trending more toward using his unique athleticism and speed and turning him loose against opposing quarterbacks. That makes him the top-rated EDGE with others hot on his heels. Who are the top ten EDGE players in the 2026 NFL Draft?

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2026 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top 10 Edge Rushers Pre-Combine

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