2020 Draft: Edge Rushers

[Merlin]

Wanted to start a thread for discussion on this class, which is stacked with options. And in fact I feel like come 52 in this draft there's a good chance an edge is sitting there as BPA. Will start off with some discussion vids then will work through the options who fit as 3-4 edge types...

For this discussion if you aren't familiar with the names I suggest opening a draft site so you can check and know who they're discussing. And keep in mind some of these guys are better fits for a 4-3:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nvjwCo0aZs

 

[Merlin]

First one I'll put up is a guy who has a chance to be at 52.

Bradlee Anae, Utah

Strengths: good size & strength taking on blockers, high motor rush type edge, had a very strong Senior Bowl week.

Weaknesses: not a great athlete like many in that top group that typically will go round 1.

Anae vs USC

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4sohn_630

Interview of him from last year

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ5CyrAb2r0


Senior Bowl Week:
"He did a great job," Patricia said, "He's really improved. We've gone over a lot of things with him from a pass rush standpoint, from a technique standpoint, and he tried to take all that [to the game]. He's got a great gift, a great ability to rush the edge."


View: https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1221173775053611018

 

[Merlin]

Here's a guy who seems to be in our range however there are many who feel he'll blow up the combine...

Julian Okwara, Notre Dame

Strengths: freakish type athlete teams want, strong burst off the edge with a good rip move and good flexibility, high end upside

Weaknesses: dude gets pushed around a bit, needs an NFL weight regimen

Okwara vs Virginia

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ooLmegmpwE


Interview

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4wDbfNhf1U



View: https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1222892602141233152

 

[Riverumbbq]

A.J. Epenesa would be my ideal 5T DE, but he'll be so far gone when the Rams card comes up that it's hardly worth the discussion. He fits that size ratio Fanzio likes and what our new DC Brandon Staley may wish to carry-over to the Rams.

Not mentioned in the first video is Penn St. Edge Yetur Gross-Matos, who is also a favorite of mine, but again, not likely available where we pick.

Wake Forest's Carlos Basham I had on an earlier mock, but he has chosen to return to school.

A mid round pick might go to Auburn's Nick Coe.

Not the most athletically or well built guy for the position, but 6'4" 260lb. Kinney Willekes of Mi.St. has had very good production, had 2 sacks at the Senior Bowl and also has a non-stop motor, he should be available as a late 2'nd, early 3'rd round 5T.

 

[Merlin]

Here's a guy I feel is going to be moreso a strongside OLB in the NFL and that's if some team doesn't move him to ILB. I like him but feel like we have a similar player to him in Ebu, gonna be interesting to see how he works out at the combine. Think he has a good shot to be at 52.

Zack Baun, Wisconsin

Strengths: plus strength taking on and shedding blocks, extremely high motor, sets a great edge, excellent nickname (Sack Baun lol)

Weaknesses: not a great tackler in space, how good an athlete is he

Baun vs Illinois

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5byntcBGD0w


Interview

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZLIPqr1uHY


Senior Bowl

View: https://twitter.com/BrettKollmann/status/1220210633326702592

 

[OldSchool]

Mocked Okwara as you know to us but yeah he could be gone before us. But like jrry and others have said if he's gone and the centers are gone and the tackles are gone somebody else good will fall to us.

 

[Riverumbbq]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rDo_tUDLxc&frags=pl%2Cwn

 

[Merlin]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rDo_tUDLxc&frags=pl%2Cwn

He's one of my favorite players in this class.

 

[Riverumbbq]

He's one of my favorite players in this class.

Yeah, he's been a bit of a sleeper, but now seems to be somewhat on the rise. He was a late invite to the Senior Bowl and had an excellent showing in limited snaps, he'll be an interesting Combine watch.
Do you have more film on him ?

 

[Merlin]

Since River put his highlight vid up here's a guy who is similar to Baun in that he might end up being moved around a bit. As I mentioned above he's one of my favorites, as I love the "all heart & hustle" types.

Kenny Willekes, Michigan St

Strengths: good strength, never takes a play off, plays through the whistle, strong side rusher type edge in our scheme. I'm guessing round 3-4 range option but who knows.

Weaknesses: probably a finished product physically, not particularly athletic, upside is gonna be all technique improvement

Willekes vs Wisconsin

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8d00_onjfI


Interview

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY0Tg55BlI0


Senior Bowl (after getting shit on during weigh-in he had a great week lol)

View: https://twitter.com/JeffRisdon/status/1219629619265052672

 

[Riverumbbq]

Have the 2020 Sparq scores been released yet ?

 

[Merlin]

Yeah, he's been a bit of a sleeper, but now seems to be somewhat on the rise. He was a late invite to the Senior Bowl and had an excellent showing in limited snaps, he'll be an interesting Combine watch.
Do you have more film on him ?

I watch either cutups of entire games (player vs, offense vs, OL vs, etc) or the entire games to ensure I'm gettin a feel for the player. Here's some others than the one I put up above...


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBRP0Gf0Qv8



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qztbNJ2VgaE



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zzwZ64uyUU



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPhC2zn2kFA

 

[Merlin]

Here's a guy I've seen slated for our range in round 2 but personally with his "issues" I don't think he's a guy teams will look at until midrounds and I hope we are smart enough to avoid him. I don't like the history of injury nor the lack of effort he shows at times like in backside pursuit. Talented but high bust chance IMO...

Terrell Lewis, Alabama

Strengths: tall and rangy, sudden off the edge and closes fast when he flips the switch, image of what teams want in a 3-4 blindside OLB physically speaking, very raw due to missed time

Weaknesses: half-asses pursuit from backside of play, doesn't play up to his ability on many snaps, very high injury risk (injured in 2017 and 2018)

Lewis vs Auburn

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smaEas-HG-c


Interview at Senior Bowl

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edBXbbU4N3o

 

[Merlin]

Like some of these OLBs this guy might be moved at the NFL level and in his case it's because he's got some natural versatility to him due to his athletic ability. IMO if the Rams take him he would play ILB moreso because he is aggressive enough to fill run fits downhill but also as he showed during Senior Bowl week he is smooth dropping into zone and even covered some backs well. Listing him here because he's still called OLB by everyone for now.

Josh Uche, Michigan

Strengths: excellent athlete, constantly moving/high motor, physical for his size, can beat the edge with speed, tenacious player

Weaknesses: gets eaten by OL who have good feet too often, hand technique is raw (relies on speed), best scheme fit is probably 4-3 WILL

Uche vs Iowa (talk about a tough matchup for him lol)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4V_jeb9yLI


Interview

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gffxwxPim_U



View: https://twitter.com/ChrisBurkeNFL/status/1224724819394138114

 

[Merlin]

So this guy is a bit of a sleeper who fits us, although with this year's class I'm not sure there's such a thing as a sleeper, seems like a ton of guys who could go in a wide range come the draft. I see him as a guy who slots right into the competition at OLB.

Alex Highsmith, Charlotte

Strengths: strong edge setter vs the run, dangerous in pass rush has some power to him, lot of sacks

Weaknesses: has a lot of room to improve in technique, lot of sacks were vs lower level of competition

Highsmith vs Clemson

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnP6iynRTjg


Interview

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8E2aRE2OxI


Senior Bowl

View: https://twitter.com/ckparrot/status/1216803205109121024



View: https://twitter.com/JimNagy_SB/status/1167225833343324160