Complete 2025 NFL Draft EDGE Rankings:
You are currently viewing our edge rusher rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft. The 2025 edge rusher class has a chance to produce a ton of first round picks, but how many will succeed?
Our top edge prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the most talented defensive ends and outside linebackers in college football. Even though only about 30 will get selected in the draft, a lot more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite.
We’ll provide you with inside information to help you know who will be a star, who will be a bust, and which sleepers will shock the world.
BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2025 NFL draft edge rusher prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.
(Last Updated: January 19, 2025)
1. Abdul Carter, Penn State
OLB/DE | 6’3″ | 260 lbs | 3rd Year
Abdul Carter is a superstar prospect in every sense of the term, and what’s scary is that 2024 was his first year as a full time edge rusher.
Carter’s combination of speed, power, and bend is as good as any pass rusher in the class. While he’s not exceptionally big, he has solid length and an extremely strong build to hold his lane against the run. His pass rushing moves looked much more refined in 2024, with an unstoppable rip through and the ability to chain together counter moves.
Teams will also love his experience dropping back in coverage, especially if he lands in a 3-4 scheme. Mid way through the season the biggest weakness in his game was play recognition, particularly identifying pullers in the run game. Even in that aspect he’s seen impressive improvement through the course of the season.
Abdul Carter 2024 Stats
16 games: 68 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 4 passes defended, 2 fumble forced
2. Mike Green, Marshall
OLB/DE | 6’4″ | 245 lbs | 4th Year
Mike Green didn’t go to a big time program, but he is 100% a big time talent. You’re not going to find another player in this draft with the combination of elite speed, elite motor, and refined technique relative to their position group.
Green is seemingly in the backfield as soon as the ball is snapped on almost every play. He’s exceptionally twitchy with a jump cut and dip move to get under and around offensive lineman, and he’s simply always around the football.
He’s a hard hitter who forces fumbles, and has a fast reaction time to identify and diagnose run vs pass. Green is a little smaller than average for a defensive end, which could make him just a pass rush specialist early in his career instead of an every down player in the eyes of some coaches. Personally, I think the incredible motor outweighs that. All he does is make plays.
Mike Green 2024 Stats
13 games: 84 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 2 passes defended, 3 fumbles forced
3. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
DE/OLB | 6’5″ | 245 lbs | 3rd Year
James Pearce Jr. entered the year as an early favorite for the first overall pick, but has fallen a bit down the board throughout the course of the season.
Quietly however, it was actually a really solid season for Pearce. He finished 2nd in the nation in pass rush win rate, and tied with Abdul Carter and others with 43 hurries (in fewer games). Pearce applied constant pressure on the QB thanks to impressive speed, elite length, bend around the edge, and a solid spin move.
Pearce is solid against the run and gives plenty of effort, but a lack of core strength can cause him to be swallowed up and pushed out of his lane a bit too often. He’s still a young player, as he’ll just be 21 at the start of his rookie season, and has a frame to put on the strength he needs without losing explosiveness.
James Pearce Jr. 2024 Stats
13 games: 38 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble forced
4. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
DE | 6’4″ | 285 lbs | 3rd Year
Nic Scourton is a massive defensive end (6’4″ 285 pounds) with effortless strength to collapse the pocket and blow up run plays. He demanded consistent double teams this past season and still managed to constantly disrupt plays particular as a run stopper.
Scourton has advanced pass rushing technique, with multiple moves and really strong hands. His football IQ shines through on tape, and he plays like a multi-year NFL veteran.
The problems for Scourton aren’t going to be easy to fix. He doesn’t have ideal bend for a true edge rusher, showing some tightness in his hips. He’s also a half step behind the rest of the top edge rushers in terms of his initial burst off the line.
Nic Scourton 2024 Stats
12 games: 37 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 fumble forced
5. Mykel Williams, Georgia
DE | 6’5″ | 265 lbs | 3rd Year
Mykel Williams is a raw, toolsy prospect who looks the part of a prototypical NFL defensive end. At 6’5″ 265 pounds with long arms and natural bend, Williams has the physical traits that match his tough mentality.
Williams has impressive full body strength and flexibility, along with a strong first step.
While he’s seen a fair number of snaps in each of his 3 college seasons, he’s continued to have a similar set of problems each year: He’s very slow to recognize plays and tends to be the last player to get out of his stance. It’s an unusual problem for an athlete of his quality, but will need to be ironed out if he’s going to reach his full potential.
Mykel Williams 2024 Stats
12 games: 21 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 fumbles forced
Complete 2025 EDGE Draft Rankings
| RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | AGE | HT | WT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul Carter | Penn State | 3rd | 6'3" | 260 |
| 2 | Mike Green | Marshall | 4th | 6'4" | 245 |
| 3 | James Pearce Jr. | Tennessee | 3rd | 6'5" | 245 |
| 4 | Nic Scourton | Texas A&M | 3rd | 6'4" | 285 |
| 5 | Mykel Williams | Georgia | 3rd | 6'5" | 265 |
| 6 | Donovan Ezeiruaku | Boston College | 4th | 6'2" | 240 |
| 7 | JT Tuimoloau | Ohio State | 4th | 6'4" | 270 |
| 8 | Jack Sawyer | Ohio State | 4th | 6'4" | 265 |
| 9 | Kyle Kennard | South Carolina | 5th | 6'5" | 255 |
| 10 | Jordan Burch | Oregon | 5th | 6'6" | 275 |
| 11 | Shemar Stewart | Texas A&M | 3rd | 6'6" | 290 |
| 12 | Landon Jackson | Arkansas | 4th | 6'7" | 280 |
| 13 | Princely Umanmielen | Ole Miss | 5th | 6'5" | 245 |
| 14 | Bradyn Swinson | LSU | 5th | 6'4" | 250 |
| 15 | Josaiah Stewart | Michigan | 4th | 6'2" | 230 |
| 16 | Jared Ivey | Ole Miss | 5th | 6'5" | 265 |
| 17 | Antwaun Powell-Ryland | Virginia Tech | 5th | 6'3" | 245 |
| 18 | Tyler Baron | Miami (FL) | 5th | 6'5" | 260 |
| 19 | Sai'vion Jones | LSU | 4th | 6'6" | 280 |
| 20 | David Bailey | Stanford | 3rd | 6'3" | 250 |
| 21 | Ashton Gillotte | Louisville | 4th | 6'3" | 270 |
| 22 | Fadil Diggs | Syracuse | 5th | 6'5" | 260 |
| 23 | Jah Joyner | Minnesota | 5th | 6'5" | 260 |
| 24 | Barryn Sorrell | Texas | 4th | 6'4" | 260 |
| 25 | Kaimon Rucker | North Carolina | 5th | 6'1" | 265 |
| 26 | David Walker | Central Arkansas | 6th | 6'3" | 265 |
| 27 | Collin Oliver | Oklahoma State | 4th | 6'2" | 235 |
| 28 | Ahmed Hassanein | Boise State | 4th | 6'3" | 270 |
| 29 | Desmond Evans | North Carolina | 5th | 6'6" | 275 |
| 30 | Trey Moore | Texas | 4th | 6'3" | 245 |
| 31 | Steve Linton | Baylor | 6th | 6'5" | 235 |
| 32 | Tyler Batty | BYU | 5th | 6'5" | 275 |
| 33 | Seth Coleman | Illinois | 6th | 6'5" | 245 |
| 34 | Brian Ugwu | Miami (OH) | 6th | 6'3" | 255 |
| 35 | Desmond Little | UAB | 6th | 6'6" | 240 |
| 36 | Jalen McLeod | Auburn | 5th | 6'1" | 240 |
| 37 | Jimmori Robinson | UTSA | 6th | 6'5" | 250 |
| 38 | BJ Green | Colorado | 4th | 6'1" | 270 |
| 39 | Xavier Carlton | California | 5th | 6'6" | 270 |
| 40 | Elijah Roberts | SMU | 5th | 6'4" | 280 |
| 41 | RJ Oben | Notre Dame | 6th | 6'4" | 260 |
| 42 | Danny Striggow | Minnesota | 5th | 6'5" | 250 |
| 43 | Brendan Mott | Kansas State | 6th | 6'5" | 245 |
| 44 | Jasheen Davis | Wake Forest | 5th | 6'3" | 260 |
| 45 | Connor O'Toole | Utah | 5th | 6'4" | 250 |
| 46 | JJ Weaver | Kentucky | 6th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 47 | Van Fillinger | Utah | 5th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 48 | Jahfari Harvey | SMU | 6th | 6'4" | 250 |
| 49 | Kydran Jenkins | Purdue | 5th | 6'1" | 260 |
| 50 | Ty French | West Virginia | 5th | 6'3" | 230 |
| 51 | Ethan Downs | Oklahoma | 4th | 6'4" | 265 |
| 52 | Garmon Randolph | Baylor | 6th | 6'7" | 250 |
| 53 | Aaron Lewis | Rutgers | 5th | 6'5" | 260 |
| 54 | Chico Bennett Jr. | Virginia | 6th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 55 | Que Robinson | Alabama | 5th | 6'5" | 240 |
| 56 | John Pius | Wisconsin | 5th | 6'2" | 235 |
| 57 | Tyrin Bradley | West Virginia | 4th | 6'2" | 255 |
| 58 | Sylvain Yondjouen | Georgia Tech | 6th | 6'4" | 250 |
| 59 | Kevin Swint | Georgia State | 5th | 6'3" | 245 |
| 60 | Nana Osafo-Mensah | TCU | 6th | 6'3" | 265 |
| 61 | Steven Parker | Texas State | 6th | 6'4" | 235 |
| 62 | Deontae Craig | Iowa | 5th | 6'3" | 265 |
| 63 | Jereme Robinson | Kansas | 5th | 6'3" | 255 |
| 64 | Josh Pearcy | Rice | 6th | 6'2" | 245 |
| 65 | Max Llewellyn | Iowa | 4th | 6'5" | 260 |
| 66 | Akheem Mesidor | Miami (FL) | 5th | 6'3" | 275 |
| 67 | Daylan Dotson | UCF | 5th | 6'3" | 255 |
| 68 | Diwun Black | Temple | 6th | 6'3" | 240 |
| 69 | Jared Bartlett | Cincinnati | 6th | 6'2" | 240 |
| 70 | Elijah Williams | Morgan State | 4th | 6'3" | 270 |
| 71 | Elijah Ponder | Cal Poly | 5th | 6'3" | 245 |
| 72 | Khris Bogle | Michigan State | 6th | 6'4" | 245 |
| 73 | Kameron Butler | Virginia | 7th | 6'3" | 260 |
| 74 | Syrus Webster | Washington State | 4th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 75 | Josiah Silver | New Hampshire | 5th | 6'2" | 245 |
| 76 | Shitta Sillah | Purdue | 6th | 6'4" | 240 |
| 77 | Ben McNaboe | Ohio | 6th | 6'3" | 250 |
| 78 | Sione Lolohea | Florida State | 5th | 6'3" | 265 |
| 79 | Nusi Malani | Washington State | 5th | 6'4" | 265 |
| 80 | Jamil Muhammad | USC | 6th | 6'1" | 260 |
| 81 | Devo Bridges | Fresno State | 6th | 6'2" | 255 |
| 82 | Elijah Alston | Miami (FL) | 6th | 6'2" | 255 |
| 83 | Brody Grebe | Montana State | 4th | 6'3" | 250 |
| 84 | Trace Ford | Oklahoma | 6th | 6'2" | 260 |
| 85 | Prince Dorbah | Arizona State | 5th | 6'2" | 240 |
| 86 | Jack Barton | Connecticut | 6th | 6'4" | 265 |
| 87 | Jacob Mangum-Farrar | Indiana | 7th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 88 | Donnell Brown | Maryland | 6th | 6'3" | 240 |
| 89 | Johnny Walker Jr. | Missouri | 5th | 6'3" | 250 |
| 90 | Terrell Allen | Tulane | 6th | 6'0" | 275 |
| 91 | Eric Phillips | Cincinnati | 6th | 6'3" | 260 |
| 92 | Jalil Clemons | Southern Mississippi | 6th | 6'3" | 240 |
| 93 | Anton Juncaj | Arkansas | 5th | 6'3" | 275 |
| 94 | Gilber Edmond | South Carolina | 5th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 95 | Caiden Woullard | Oklahoma | 4th | 6'4" | 265 |
| 96 | Marlem Louis | San Diego State | 6th | 6'3" | 250 |
| 97 | Kevin Harris | Georgia Tech | 5th | 6'4" | 250 |
| 98 | Reggie Grimes II | Memphis | 5th | 6'4" | 275 |
| 99 | Dylan Wudke | Kansas | 6th | 6'4" | 265 |
| 100 | David Hoage | Northern Colorado | 6th | 6'3" | 245 |
| 101 | Dylan Hendricks | North Dakota State | 6th | 6'3" | 245 |
| 102 | Malin White | Buffalo | 5th | 6'2" | 260 |
| 103 | Maven Kretche | Minnesota State | 6th | 6'6" | 265 |
| 104 | Anthonie Cooper | Arizona State | 6th | 6'2" | 265 |
| 105 | Marques White | McNeese State | 6th | 6'2" | 245 |
| 106 | Marquise Fleming | Wingate | 5th | 6'1" | 235 |
| 107 | Sean McLaughlin | Northwestern | 5th | 6'6" | 270 |
| 108 | Luke Schuermann | UCLA | 5th | 6'4" | 255 |
| 109 | Jonathan Hammond | William & Mary | 5th | 6'3" | 225 |
| 110 | Drew Tuazama | UCLA | 6th | 6'5" | 275 |
| 111 | Clay Patterson | Stanford | 6th | 6'3" | 265 |
| 112 | Holt Fletcher | Boston College | 5th | 6'4" | 255 |
MORE 2025 NFL DRAFT RANKINGS
Traits That Make an Edge Prospect Great
Edge rusher is likely the most important position in the game outside of quarterback. Being an elite edge rusher prospect requires a rare blend of elite physical traits. Quickness, bend, arm length, and strength are just a few of these traits.
Some of the factors we consider when scouting are included below.
Flexibility
No edge rusher is going to be highly touted if they aren’t good at bending around the edge, quickly flipping their hips, staying on their toes, and redirecting to chase down ball carriers. Edge rushers need to react quickly and remain coordinated, while having the uncoachable traits to beat tackles 1-on-1.
Burst
Having a quick yet powerful burst off the line of scrimmage is vital for pass rushers. If you’re able to beat the offensive lineman to his spot, you’ll get in the backfield consistently and disrupt a lot of plays. Having a burst is a lot more than just playing with a high motor, you need innate athletic talent.
Power
Being an edge rusher isn’t all about the pass rush, it’s also about setting the edge in the run game. For that, you need a lot of power. Holding up against double teams blocks from offensive linemen who are bigger than you, or even pushing them into the backfield to disrupt running lanes is a top trait for defensive ends and outside linebackers.
Length
A big part of being an edge rusher is disrupting plays even if you aren’t making a tackle for loss. Length is the best way to do that. It will help setting the edge, knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage, and slowing down or tackling running backs through a tight lane.
Overall Opinion of the 2025 Edge Class
The 2025 edge rusher class is way strong than most people realize. You have a legitimate superstar prospect in Abdul Carter, but the sheer number of players who are worthy of being drafted in the top 100 in staggering.
It’s an especially strong draft if you’re looking for a pass rush specialist. The biggest issue is that there are a few more undersized prospects than normal, which might hurt them as run stoppers.
