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RANKING THE TOP 15 EDGE DEFENDER PROSPECTS OF 2017
Former Texas A&M star Myles Garrett tops PFF's 2017 edge defender prospect rankings.
MICHAEL RENNER | 1 DAY AGO
https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-ranking-top-10-edge-defender-prospects-of-2017/
Arguably the deepest position group in the entire country, I listed 15 edge defenders below and didn’t even make it through all the players Pro Football Focus’ analysts have with Day 1 or Day 2 grades. It’s a loaded field that could see double-digit names come off the board in Round 1.
[Editor’s note: A player’s ranking within the draft class for each particular category is noted in the corresponding box.]
Rankings
1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Myles Garrett is the unquestioned top edge prospect in this class. The biggest criticism I’ve seen of Garrett is that he didn’t record enough sacks in SEC play. If you don’t think he was productive against the SEC the past three seasons, however, you simply didn’t watch the games. Garrett is a freak of nature physically who is still only scratching the surface of his potential.
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"If Michelangelo were sculpting the perfect edge rusher, he’d likely come up with something like Myles Garrett" http://bit.ly/2l8tom4
3:15 PM - 24 Feb 2017
2. Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Athletically, Barnett is the antithesis of Garrett. Production-wise, he’s the only player in the class that can compare to Garrett over the course of their careers. Barnett’s 37 combined sacks and hits this past season were far and away the most in college football. He also has 20 total sacks in SEC play the past two seasons. The only concern is his top-tier athleticism, but with the way Barnett wins—with power and hands—that’s not a big issue for me.
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Best Pass-Rusher
Derek Barnett, @Vol_Football
More awards: https://goo.gl/Z7vl6C
1:40 PM - 5 Jan 2017
3. Carl Lawson, Auburn
The pass-rushers in the SEC last season kept a good number of quarterbacks up late on Friday nights. Lawson registered nine sacks, 13 hits, and 42 hurries in 2016 on only 364 pass-rushing snaps. Lawson wins the edge on offensive tackles as much as anyone in this class and makes them worry about getting out of their stance quickly with his first step. He pairs that up with some of the strongest hands I’ve seen in the class that keep him in control of interactions.
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Auburn's Carl Lawson averaged a sack, hit or hurry once every 5.4 pass rushing attempts in 2016.
Scouting report:http://buff.ly/2lLpmSm
8:54 AM - 14 Feb 2017
4. Solomon Thomas, Stanford
Thomas’ true position in the NFL is still up in the air, and he could very well play a number of different techniques depending on the situation. He was most often utilized on the interior, with 90.6 percent of his snaps coming inside the tackles a season ago. But at 272 pounds, he might have to play on the edge in the NFL. Still, no player in college football graded out better against the run than Thomas. He also has the freakish athleticism at his size that could translate as a pass-rusher.
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PFF scouting report: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanfordhttp://buff.ly/2mTSSGf
7:39 PM - 5 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Stanford's Solomon Thomas ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
5. Tim Williams, Alabama
On a snap-for-snap basis, Williams has been the most effective pass-rusher in the nation over the past three seasons. The issue is that even over those three seasons, he’s only accumulated 685 snaps (485 as a pass-rusher). While he’s notched a ridiculous 22 sacks, 19 hits, and 83 hurries on those plays, it’s still concerning that he couldn’t see the field more. While Williams looks like one of the most athletic edge rushers in the class on tape, his combine performance was lackluster.
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"Tim Williams' raw speed off the edge is too much for many offensive tackles to match" http://buff.ly/2mUcWbh
8:40 PM - 5 Mar 2017
PFF Scouting Report | Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
Pro Football Focus' analysis team breaks down the prospects of Alabama outside linebacker Tim Williams ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia.
profootballfocus.com
6. Jordan Willis, Kansas State
As owner of the highest overall grade of any edge player in the country a season ago, Willis absolutely dominated the Big 12. Then he went to Indianapolis and put up the most impressive combine performance of any edge prospect in the class. So if you’re looking for a player who checks the production and athleticism boxes, Willis is your guy. His biggest issue was level of competition faced. The Kansas State defensive end looked far more pedestrian in one-on-one’s at the Senior Bowl, but come actual game time in Mobile, and Willis registered two sacks and three hurries.
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Jordan Willis from @KStateFB was one of the top risers at the NFL combine.
More risers and fallers:http://buff.ly/2m2bxi8
3:31 PM - 8 Mar 2017
7. Haason Reddick, Temple
Haason Reddick is another player who may not end up on the edge at the next level, but this time for different reasons. Reddick’s athleticism and size could end up moving him to an off-ball linebacker spot at the next level, where he would obviously be a devastating weapon as a blitzer. Reddick was utilized in a true 3-4 outside linebacker role at Temple, dropping into coverage on 74 of his 322 passing snaps last season. That means that his 43 QB pressures last season came on only 248 pass rushes, a ridiculous rate. Reddick is the ultimate Swiss Army knife for defensive coordinators in the NFL.
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PFF scouting report for Temple LB Haason Reddick. http://buff.ly/2mnw8xx
11:31 AM - 14 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Temple's Haason Reddick ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
8. Charles Harris, Missouri
Harris is the undisputed king of the spin move in this class, and has some freakish balance for a 253-pound man. His 28 combined sacks plus hits in 2016 were the fifth-most of any edge player, and he has a penchant for winning quickly. His poor combine will drop him down some boards, but the pass-rushing production is there in spades.
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"Consistently one of the nation’s top pass-rushers in two years as a starter."
Charles Harris profile:http://buff.ly/2mHW8HT
5:37 PM - 5 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Charles Harris, Edge, Missouri
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Missouri's Charles Harris ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
9. T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
The biggest concern with Watt is whether or not he’s a one-year wonder. Physically, though, there’s not much he can’t do. At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Watt put up fantastic explosive and change-of-direction numbers at the combine. That meshes with what we saw of him at Wisconsin, where he was arguably the most impressive of anyone in this class at closing on ball carriers in space. He’s still raw as a pass-rusher, as a good deal of his 56 QB pressures a season ago came unblocked, but the ability is there.
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"Closes extremely well in space. Great ability to finish plays."
T.J. Watt profile: http://buff.ly/2mUcahd
5:31 AM - 14 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: T.J. Watt, Edge, Wisconsin
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Wisconsin's T.J. Watt ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
10. Taco Charlton, Michigan
Charlton is a physical specimen who simply overpowered college offensive tackles on the edge last season. Standing a legit 6-foot-6, 277 pounds, Charlton was a forced to be reckoned with as a bull-rusher and somehow had one of the most effective spin moves in the country at that size. He registered 18 combined sacks and hits last year, despite rushing the passer only 251 times.
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PFF scouting report for Michigan edge defender Taco Charltonhttp://pffoc.us/2m9qezd
7:07 PM - 10 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Taco Charlton, Edge, Michigan
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Michigan's Taco Charlton ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
11. Takkarist McKinley
McKinley has some of the best straight-line explosiveness in this class, and was too much physically for many college offensive tackles. He was responsible for one of projected first-round OT Garett Bolles’ three sacks allowed this season, and recorded 20 total sacks plus hits on the year. The biggest concern for the former Bruin was his disappearance in certain games. Stanford and Washington State both held McKinley in check for much of their games.
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"UCLA ED Takkarist McKinley can rush the passer from either side, 24 pressures from the left & 32 pressures from the right."
- @PFF_Jordan
2:42 PM - 16 Feb 2017
12. Deatrich Wise Jr., Arkansas
Another “tweener,” Wise’s best position is likely as a 3-4 defensive end. He had some issues holding up to double teams at Arkansas that limited his playing time, but he was incredibly productive on the 488 snaps he saw see as a senior. Then at the East-West Shrine Game, he utterly dominated, racking up two sacks, a hit, and five hurries. He’s still very raw, but Wise has some freakish tools to work with in the NFL.
13. Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
Smoot is one of the few pass-rushers on this list with an already-refined rip move. He also has the bend that makes one think that will translate to the next level. It’s a little concerning that his junior season—60 total QB pressures—greatly outshined his senior year (53 pressures). Smoot’s two-year production as a pass-rusher, however, is still among the 10 best in this class.
14. Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic
Hendrickson was by far the most productive pass-rusher outside the Power-5 conferences. His 20.5 pass-rushing productivity led the entire nation as he racked up 78 QB pressures, second-most in the nation. This comes a year after he finished second in the country with 15 sacks in 2015. Hendrickson’s only knock is level of competition. That concern wasn’t eased at all by an average showing in the Shrine game after the season.
15. Ryan Anderson, Alabama
Anderson may not be what the NFL is looking for on the edge from a size and athleticism standpoint, but he simply gets the job done repeatedly. The Alabama outside linebacker ranked sixth and fifth the past two seasons among SEC edge players despite playing only 670 and 361 snaps respectively in those seasons. He’s already incredibly advanced with his hands and does a great job of keeping his body clean despite limited length.
Class superlatives
Best pure pass-rusher: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
There’s a reason why Garrett is nearly a lock to go No. 1 overall. He earned a top-three pass-rushing grade as a freshman and sophomore before injuries limited him this past season to only seventh-best in the country.
Best against the run: Solomon Thomas, Stanford
Thomas’ 12.0 run-stop percentage was eighth-best among all defensive linemen in the country last year. I legitimately believe that even at 272 pounds, Thomas could be a full-time 3-technique if he wanted to be. That’s how stout he is versus the run.
Best at winning outside: Derek Barnett, Tennessee
This one may surprise some, but there is far more to winning the edge as a pass-rusher than simply burst off the line of scrimmage. Barnett is excellent at pacing his attack at an offensive tackle and baiting his opponent into getting flat-footed at the top of his set. After Barnett swats away the blocker’s hand, he has enough bend to consistently win the corner.
Best at winning inside: Haason Reddick, Temple
With the juice Reddick has off the edge, college tackles absolutely flew out of their stances against him. Any sort of inside counter or slant wreaked havoc for opposing offensive lines, as he possesses the ability to stop on a dime and duck inside.
Best bull-rusher: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
272 pounds running a 4.64-second 40-yard dash with ridiculous burst off the line of scrimmage and 35¼-inch arms coming at you is a terrifying package. It’s no surprise that Garrett is the biggest bull-rush threat in this class.
Best spin move: Charles Harris, Missouri
Harris executing his spin is akin to the running back spin move in NFL Blitz. It all happens in the blink of an eye, and while he’s spinning, no one can touch him. No prospect in this class can rival the ease and frequency with which Harris pulled the move off.
Former Texas A&M star Myles Garrett tops PFF's 2017 edge defender prospect rankings.
MICHAEL RENNER | 1 DAY AGO
https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-ranking-top-10-edge-defender-prospects-of-2017/
Arguably the deepest position group in the entire country, I listed 15 edge defenders below and didn’t even make it through all the players Pro Football Focus’ analysts have with Day 1 or Day 2 grades. It’s a loaded field that could see double-digit names come off the board in Round 1.
[Editor’s note: A player’s ranking within the draft class for each particular category is noted in the corresponding box.]
Rankings
1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Myles Garrett is the unquestioned top edge prospect in this class. The biggest criticism I’ve seen of Garrett is that he didn’t record enough sacks in SEC play. If you don’t think he was productive against the SEC the past three seasons, however, you simply didn’t watch the games. Garrett is a freak of nature physically who is still only scratching the surface of his potential.
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"If Michelangelo were sculpting the perfect edge rusher, he’d likely come up with something like Myles Garrett" http://bit.ly/2l8tom4
3:15 PM - 24 Feb 2017
2. Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Athletically, Barnett is the antithesis of Garrett. Production-wise, he’s the only player in the class that can compare to Garrett over the course of their careers. Barnett’s 37 combined sacks and hits this past season were far and away the most in college football. He also has 20 total sacks in SEC play the past two seasons. The only concern is his top-tier athleticism, but with the way Barnett wins—with power and hands—that’s not a big issue for me.
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Derek Barnett, @Vol_Football
More awards: https://goo.gl/Z7vl6C
1:40 PM - 5 Jan 2017
3. Carl Lawson, Auburn
The pass-rushers in the SEC last season kept a good number of quarterbacks up late on Friday nights. Lawson registered nine sacks, 13 hits, and 42 hurries in 2016 on only 364 pass-rushing snaps. Lawson wins the edge on offensive tackles as much as anyone in this class and makes them worry about getting out of their stance quickly with his first step. He pairs that up with some of the strongest hands I’ve seen in the class that keep him in control of interactions.
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Follow
PFF College Football ✔@PFF_College
Auburn's Carl Lawson averaged a sack, hit or hurry once every 5.4 pass rushing attempts in 2016.
Scouting report:http://buff.ly/2lLpmSm
8:54 AM - 14 Feb 2017
4. Solomon Thomas, Stanford
Thomas’ true position in the NFL is still up in the air, and he could very well play a number of different techniques depending on the situation. He was most often utilized on the interior, with 90.6 percent of his snaps coming inside the tackles a season ago. But at 272 pounds, he might have to play on the edge in the NFL. Still, no player in college football graded out better against the run than Thomas. He also has the freakish athleticism at his size that could translate as a pass-rusher.
Follow
PFF College Football ✔@PFF_College
PFF scouting report: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanfordhttp://buff.ly/2mTSSGf
7:39 PM - 5 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Stanford's Solomon Thomas ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
5. Tim Williams, Alabama
On a snap-for-snap basis, Williams has been the most effective pass-rusher in the nation over the past three seasons. The issue is that even over those three seasons, he’s only accumulated 685 snaps (485 as a pass-rusher). While he’s notched a ridiculous 22 sacks, 19 hits, and 83 hurries on those plays, it’s still concerning that he couldn’t see the field more. While Williams looks like one of the most athletic edge rushers in the class on tape, his combine performance was lackluster.
Follow
PFF College Football ✔@PFF_College
"Tim Williams' raw speed off the edge is too much for many offensive tackles to match" http://buff.ly/2mUcWbh
8:40 PM - 5 Mar 2017
PFF Scouting Report | Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
Pro Football Focus' analysis team breaks down the prospects of Alabama outside linebacker Tim Williams ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia.
profootballfocus.com
6. Jordan Willis, Kansas State
As owner of the highest overall grade of any edge player in the country a season ago, Willis absolutely dominated the Big 12. Then he went to Indianapolis and put up the most impressive combine performance of any edge prospect in the class. So if you’re looking for a player who checks the production and athleticism boxes, Willis is your guy. His biggest issue was level of competition faced. The Kansas State defensive end looked far more pedestrian in one-on-one’s at the Senior Bowl, but come actual game time in Mobile, and Willis registered two sacks and three hurries.
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Jordan Willis from @KStateFB was one of the top risers at the NFL combine.
More risers and fallers:http://buff.ly/2m2bxi8
3:31 PM - 8 Mar 2017
7. Haason Reddick, Temple
Haason Reddick is another player who may not end up on the edge at the next level, but this time for different reasons. Reddick’s athleticism and size could end up moving him to an off-ball linebacker spot at the next level, where he would obviously be a devastating weapon as a blitzer. Reddick was utilized in a true 3-4 outside linebacker role at Temple, dropping into coverage on 74 of his 322 passing snaps last season. That means that his 43 QB pressures last season came on only 248 pass rushes, a ridiculous rate. Reddick is the ultimate Swiss Army knife for defensive coordinators in the NFL.
Follow
PFF College Football ✔@PFF_College
PFF scouting report for Temple LB Haason Reddick. http://buff.ly/2mnw8xx
11:31 AM - 14 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Temple's Haason Reddick ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
8. Charles Harris, Missouri
Harris is the undisputed king of the spin move in this class, and has some freakish balance for a 253-pound man. His 28 combined sacks plus hits in 2016 were the fifth-most of any edge player, and he has a penchant for winning quickly. His poor combine will drop him down some boards, but the pass-rushing production is there in spades.
Follow
PFF College Football ✔@PFF_College
"Consistently one of the nation’s top pass-rushers in two years as a starter."
Charles Harris profile:http://buff.ly/2mHW8HT
5:37 PM - 5 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Charles Harris, Edge, Missouri
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Missouri's Charles Harris ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
9. T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
The biggest concern with Watt is whether or not he’s a one-year wonder. Physically, though, there’s not much he can’t do. At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Watt put up fantastic explosive and change-of-direction numbers at the combine. That meshes with what we saw of him at Wisconsin, where he was arguably the most impressive of anyone in this class at closing on ball carriers in space. He’s still raw as a pass-rusher, as a good deal of his 56 QB pressures a season ago came unblocked, but the ability is there.
Follow
PFF College Football ✔@PFF_College
"Closes extremely well in space. Great ability to finish plays."
T.J. Watt profile: http://buff.ly/2mUcahd
5:31 AM - 14 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: T.J. Watt, Edge, Wisconsin
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Wisconsin's T.J. Watt ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
10. Taco Charlton, Michigan
Charlton is a physical specimen who simply overpowered college offensive tackles on the edge last season. Standing a legit 6-foot-6, 277 pounds, Charlton was a forced to be reckoned with as a bull-rusher and somehow had one of the most effective spin moves in the country at that size. He registered 18 combined sacks and hits last year, despite rushing the passer only 251 times.
Follow
Pro Football Focus ✔@PFF
PFF scouting report for Michigan edge defender Taco Charltonhttp://pffoc.us/2m9qezd
7:07 PM - 10 Mar 2017
PFF scouting report: Taco Charlton, Edge, Michigan
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Michigan's Taco Charlton ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
profootballfocus.com
11. Takkarist McKinley
McKinley has some of the best straight-line explosiveness in this class, and was too much physically for many college offensive tackles. He was responsible for one of projected first-round OT Garett Bolles’ three sacks allowed this season, and recorded 20 total sacks plus hits on the year. The biggest concern for the former Bruin was his disappearance in certain games. Stanford and Washington State both held McKinley in check for much of their games.
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"UCLA ED Takkarist McKinley can rush the passer from either side, 24 pressures from the left & 32 pressures from the right."
- @PFF_Jordan
2:42 PM - 16 Feb 2017
12. Deatrich Wise Jr., Arkansas
Another “tweener,” Wise’s best position is likely as a 3-4 defensive end. He had some issues holding up to double teams at Arkansas that limited his playing time, but he was incredibly productive on the 488 snaps he saw see as a senior. Then at the East-West Shrine Game, he utterly dominated, racking up two sacks, a hit, and five hurries. He’s still very raw, but Wise has some freakish tools to work with in the NFL.
13. Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
Smoot is one of the few pass-rushers on this list with an already-refined rip move. He also has the bend that makes one think that will translate to the next level. It’s a little concerning that his junior season—60 total QB pressures—greatly outshined his senior year (53 pressures). Smoot’s two-year production as a pass-rusher, however, is still among the 10 best in this class.
14. Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic
Hendrickson was by far the most productive pass-rusher outside the Power-5 conferences. His 20.5 pass-rushing productivity led the entire nation as he racked up 78 QB pressures, second-most in the nation. This comes a year after he finished second in the country with 15 sacks in 2015. Hendrickson’s only knock is level of competition. That concern wasn’t eased at all by an average showing in the Shrine game after the season.
15. Ryan Anderson, Alabama
Anderson may not be what the NFL is looking for on the edge from a size and athleticism standpoint, but he simply gets the job done repeatedly. The Alabama outside linebacker ranked sixth and fifth the past two seasons among SEC edge players despite playing only 670 and 361 snaps respectively in those seasons. He’s already incredibly advanced with his hands and does a great job of keeping his body clean despite limited length.
Class superlatives
Best pure pass-rusher: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
There’s a reason why Garrett is nearly a lock to go No. 1 overall. He earned a top-three pass-rushing grade as a freshman and sophomore before injuries limited him this past season to only seventh-best in the country.
Best against the run: Solomon Thomas, Stanford
Thomas’ 12.0 run-stop percentage was eighth-best among all defensive linemen in the country last year. I legitimately believe that even at 272 pounds, Thomas could be a full-time 3-technique if he wanted to be. That’s how stout he is versus the run.
Best at winning outside: Derek Barnett, Tennessee
This one may surprise some, but there is far more to winning the edge as a pass-rusher than simply burst off the line of scrimmage. Barnett is excellent at pacing his attack at an offensive tackle and baiting his opponent into getting flat-footed at the top of his set. After Barnett swats away the blocker’s hand, he has enough bend to consistently win the corner.
Best at winning inside: Haason Reddick, Temple
With the juice Reddick has off the edge, college tackles absolutely flew out of their stances against him. Any sort of inside counter or slant wreaked havoc for opposing offensive lines, as he possesses the ability to stop on a dime and duck inside.
Best bull-rusher: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
272 pounds running a 4.64-second 40-yard dash with ridiculous burst off the line of scrimmage and 35¼-inch arms coming at you is a terrifying package. It’s no surprise that Garrett is the biggest bull-rush threat in this class.
Best spin move: Charles Harris, Missouri
Harris executing his spin is akin to the running back spin move in NFL Blitz. It all happens in the blink of an eye, and while he’s spinning, no one can touch him. No prospect in this class can rival the ease and frequency with which Harris pulled the move off.
