Bird's Eye View - EDGE Position Report

John B. Everett
5 hours ago
6 min read

Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey against SMU — *David Bailey / EDGE / Texas Tech*

The 2026 NFL Draft EDGE class is one of the better classes to enter the NFL in years in terms of both elite talent and excellent depth where eventual starters and major contributors will be found in all seven rounds of the draft and amongst the UDFA class. This draft class offers speed rushers with the ability to bend, flatten, and close with an impressive burst on the QB – David Bailey / Texas Tech, Cashius Howell / Texas A&M, power rushers whose ability to convert speed to power allows them to find success as a pass rusher – Akheem Mesidor / Miami, Fl, Keldric Faulk / Auburn, or are well-rounded EDGEs who combine speed and power to generate pressure on the QB – Rueben Bain / Miami, Fl, Dani Dennis-Sutton / Penn State, TJ Parker / Clemson. Overall, this class has several plug and play starters with at least a few of these EDGEs that are likely to be Pro Bowl-level players early in their NFL careers.

Position Grade – A-

SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.

Tier I

Seven Prospects – David Bailey / Texas Tech, Rueben Bain / Miami, Fl, Cashius Howell / Texas A&M, Akheem Mesidor / Miami, Fl, Keldric Faulk / Auburn, Dani Dennis-Sutton / Penn State, TJ Parker / Clemson.

Bailey – Finished second in the nation in sacks (13.5) and TFL (17.5) in 2025. Chases hard in pursuit against the run and works hard to establish containment but his pass rushing skill is what makes him an elite prospect.

Bain – A well-rounded EDGE that consistently forces the run back inside and combines power, with agility, quickness, and strong hands to be a consistent force against both the run and pass. Bain should be a day one starter and potential Pro Bowler early in his career.

Howell – Although not the sturdiest run defender, Howell’s agility, quickness, bend, and closing burst is the best amongst the 2026 EDGE class. 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year when he finished with 11.5 sacks, fourth in the nation.

Mesidor – Sixth-year senior who recorded 35.5 sacks in his college career. Powerful player with good agility and quickness. Solid against the run and is a plug and play starter as a rookie.

Faulk – A very powerful player who sets a strong edge in the run game and features an impressive bull rush to pressure QBs in the pocket.

Dennis-Sutton – Possesses ideal physical measureables and size for a 4-3 DE. Well-rounded EDGE who sets a strong edge in the run game and can use speed or power to generate pressure on the QB.

Parker – Coming off an inconsistent junior season at Clemson, Parker was the most impactful and consistent pass rusher at the Senior Bowl. Parker has solid overall college production and has the size, power, agility, and experience to be an instant impact starter as a rookie.

Tier II

Nine prospects – R. Mason Thomas / Oklahoma, Derrick Moore / Michigan, Romello Height / Texas Tech, Tyreak Sapp / Florida, Gabe Jacas / Illinois, Nadame Tucker / Western Michigan, Max Llewellyn / Iowa, Zion Young / Missouri, Mason Reiger / Wisconsin.

R. Mason Thomas – Lacks ideal size for a base 4-3 DE but plays with outstanding leverage and bend and is a solid run defender. Thomas possesses the twitch, agility, and bend to be a consistent double digit sack producer within the next couple of seasons.

D. Moore – Owns one of the most powerful bull rushes in this class – just ask Markel Bell / Miami, Fl, the huge OLT who got trucked during one Senior Bowl practice rep where Moore got underneath Bell’s pads and walked over him, drawing rave reviews in Mobile. If Moore adds some pass rush moves, he could become a starter sooner than later.

Height – Needs to prove he can drop into coverage due to size limitations but has the pass rushing skill and track record to at least become a sub-package pass rush contributor early in his NFL career.

Sapp – Possesses ideal mass for a 4-3 EDGE with adequate height and length. Quality run stuffer who is overly reliant on power to pressure the QB. Should immediately contribute on run downs in the NFL.

Jacas – Former state champion high school wrestler whose blend of athleticism, strength, and strong hands could allow him to become a dominate EDGE rusher in the NFL.

Tucker – Transferred into Kalamazoo from the University of Houston and immediately displayed pass rushing skill and led the nation with 14.5 sacks. Tucker plays with outstanding leverage and regularly defeats OTs due to his burst and tenacity.

Llewellyn – Possesses the height, frame, and length desired for a 4-3 EDGE. Smooth with good agility and the desired bend to become a starting DE early in his NFL career.

Young – Experienced and productive multiyear starter in Columbia, Young is one of the best run stuffing EDGEs in this class. Young displays limited pass rush upside but has a powerful bull rush and a quality work ethic to improve with NFL coaching.

Reiger – Has the agility, bend, and closing burst desired in an NFL speed rusher. Reiger is a very good athlete who showed out at the East-West Shrine Bowl when he recorded 3 sacks on his way to being named the defensive MVP.

Tier III

Eight prospects – Caden Curry / Ohio State, Quintayvious Hutchins / Boston College, Vincent Anthony / Duke, Keyron Crawford / Auburn, LT Overton / Alabama, Bryan Thomas, Jr. / South Carolina, Trey Moore / Texas, Michael Heldman / Central Michigan.

Curry – A one-year starter in Columbus, Curry displayed enough size and strength to hold up on the edge against the run with enough agility and speed to be developed into a reliable starter with additional reps.

Hutchins – Needs to prove that he has a position fit on early downs but is one of the fastest and most dangerous speed rushers available in April’s draft. Hutchins should excel on special teams in the NFL.

Anthony – Possesses premium height and length with grapevines for arms. Limited as a run defender with a thin frame but his quickness, agility, and burst makes him a potential difference-maker coming off the edge in the NFL.

Crawford – Lacks desired experience, only picking up football in the last five years but his agility, speed, and burst make him a quality outside pass rusher. Needs to improve strength and get more proficient in setting a strong edge in the ground game.

Overton – A former 5-star recruit, Overton has never played up to the hype but he steadily improved throughout his time in Tuscaloosa. Overton is a strong run defender who is most effective as a pass rusher when he slides inside and rushes as a 3T on obvious passing downs.

B. Thomas – Son of former Jets’ first-round pick Bryan, Sr., Thomas is a good athlete with loose hips and excellent agility who needs to prove he can contain the outside run as a base 4-3 DE to become a starter down the line.

T. Moore – Has only recorded 8.5 sacks over the last two seasons after transferring from UTSA after the 2023 season when he recorded 14 sacks. But Moore was expected to play off-the-ball LB in Austin and displayed quality movement skills and run instincts that actually increases his value to NFL teams. Moore looks like a future starter as an off-the-ball LB who lines up as an EDGE on passing downs.

Heldman – overlooked by most draft analysts, Heldman is a well-rounded EDGE with the ability to squeeze down outside run lanes and turn the run consistently inside, as well as the bend, ability to flatten, and close like NFL teams desire in an EDGE defender.

SNS

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