2022 NFL Draft – Edge Rusher Rankings

Complete NFL Draft Rankings – EDGE:

You are currently viewing the best edge rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Our top edge rusher prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the best defensive ends and outside linebackers in college football. Even though only about 30 will get selected in the draft, dozens more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite. Find who is a first round talent, and who is likely nothing more than a training camp body. Find draft sleepers, draft stars, who will be a bust, and who is being undervalued.

BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2022 edge prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.

(Last Updated: April 26, 2022)

2022:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | LB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

Aidan Hutchinson has absolutely everything you could want out of a prospect, and has one of the highest floors you could imagine. Unexpected injuries aside, there’s no chance he doesn’t become at least a high quality starter for 10 years. More likely, he’ll become a cornerstone piece of a defense. At 6’6" 265 pounds, Hutchinson has prototypical size for a defensive end, and has the ideal blend of power and athletic traits. He’s quick around the edge and bends well, while using his length and strong hands to knock lineman off balance. His pass rushing moves have developed well over his time at Michigan, and he’s got both a high football IQ and high character. Add in that he never takes a play off, contributing in both the run and pass defense. Hutchinson offers great upside, with very little risk.

2021 Stats

14 games: 62 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks, 3 passes defended, 2 fumbles forced

Kayvon Thibodeaux entered the year as the #1 overall prospect for most people, and he ended up having a solid season. Despite missing a few games due to injury, Thibodeaux put up solid numbers en route to some All-America recognition for Oregon. The former top-5 recruit made a big impact from day 1, immediately standing out on tape thanks to his freakish athleticism. His speed moves and bend around the edge will obviously translate to success rushing the passer in the NFL, and his 6’5" 258 pound frame is in line with what most NFL teams expect from their edge rushers. As just a 3rd year player, Thibodeaux still has a lot of room to grow and develop his skillset. While he may be less advanced than Hutchinson, his next-level athleticism could help him have a higher ceiling.

2021 Stats

10 games: 49 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 fumbles forced

Walker has been steadily rising as a prospect since the beginning of the season, and it seems his stock has finally reached its peak as a likely top 10 pick. Walker is a truly elite athlete, with 4.5 speed in a 6’5" 275 pound frame. Even more important, he plays with that speed and matches it with the next-level agility, bend, length, and play strength of an All-Pro edge rusher. His ceiling is as high as anyone in the draft, with physical traits that inspire “1st overall" conversations. He is currently held back by a very unrefined pass rushing profile and limited production in his college career. He has the traits to develop his pass rush traits and is young as just a 3rd year player, but he’s significantly more raw than the other true defensive end prospects.

2021 Stats

15 games: 33 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 2 passes defended

Jermaine Johnson transferred away from the crowded group of edge rushers at Georgia, and was one of the most productive players in the nation in his one year for Florida State. With a ridiculous 70 tackles and 11.5 sacks, Johnson showed incredible motor and finesse in both pass rushing and run stopping. He’s got the frame (6’5" 260) and enough athleticism to play in any scheme, whether it be a 4-3 defensive end of 3-4 linebacker. He’s smart with his pass rushing moves, offering counters to get off blocks, a quick first step, and uses his long arms to separate from linemen. He competes well for positioning in the run game and never takes a play off. He’s got above average athleticism and enough bend to translate his skills to the next level.

2021 Stats

12 games: 70 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 2 fumbles forced

George Karlaftis has freakish athletic traits, and can transition speed to power as well as anyone in the class. At 6’4" 275 pounds you expect him to be a traditional power rusher, but he’s exceptionally hard to redirect, and is able to get small to get through creases and cut downfield. His first step is strong, and he consistently disrupts plays in both the run and pass game. While he has good speed, he doesn’t play quite as light on his feet as some of the other pass rushers when he needs to make a late read. He didn’t produce at the level expected of him this year, but played better than the numbers indicate. As a true freshman back in 2019, he exploded on the scene with 17 tackles for loss in just 12 games. He’s still fairly inexperienced, and has a much higher ceiling than he’s currently playing at.

2021 Stats

12 games: 39 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 passes defended, 2 fumbles forced

Complete 2022 EDGE draft rankings

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2022:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | LB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

This is a very impressive group of edge rushers, especially at the top. The depth is also solid, but nothing to write home about. Everyone knows the pair of prospects vying for the #1 overall pick, Hutchinson and Thibodeaux. But even beyond them, there’s a large number of prospects with the potential to turn into Pro Bowlers. Karlaftis, Ojabo, Walker, Johnson, Mafe, and even others further down the list have some insane potential. I’d argue this class might be more raw than some of the other positions where we see a lot of 6th year seniors, but if you stick to developing these guys there’s some major upside.