2024 NFL draft prospect rankings: Edge rushers

Welcome to draft season! This is the second of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are my top 10 edge rushers, plus "bonus" players I believe will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Jared Verse (Jr., Florida State, 6-foot-4, 254 pounds)

After his 2020 season at Albany was canceled due to COVID-19, Verse and his father built a home gym and the zero-star recruit put on 30-40 pounds of muscle in one year. He came back and was an FCS All-American before transferring to Florida State the following season, where he produced nine sacks as a redshirt sophomore. The AP All-American followed that up with another nine sacks to help the Seminoles finish the regular season undefeated. Verse regularly wins with strength, features violent hands with NFL-caliber explosiveness at the snap, and has already shown he can handle a significant jump in competition. Projected: Round 1

— 2. Dallas Turner (Jr., Alabama, 6-3, 247)

Turner went to high school football powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, and was the top-ranked edge defender in his class and the No. 9 prospect overall. He had 8.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2021, but was overshadowed by the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Last year, the AP All-American added some bulk to his frame and displayed more power to go with his already impressive speed-rush capabilities. There's still room for growth as a run defender, but he's probably the best pure athlete in this year's edge class. Projected: Round 1

— 3. Laiatu Latu (Sr., UCLA, 6-5, 259)

Latu specializes in hand-to-hand combat, features a pro-ready arsenal of pass-rush moves and became the first Bruin to win the Lombardi Award (outstanding lineman) and Hendricks Award (best defensive end) last season. Medical evaluations of a neck injury the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year suffered during his time with Washington will have a big impact on his draft stock. The skills are worthy of a top-10 pick if the doctors clear him. Projected: Round 1

— 4. Chop Robinson (Jr., Penn State, 6-3, 254)

Robinson was nicknamed "Pork Chop" because he was 14 pounds at birth. The former four-star recruit began his collegiate career at Maryland before transferring to Happy Valley as a sophomore. Robinson's still developing his technique, and while I would've liked to see more production, his first-step explosiveness and speed-to-power variation is a rare commodity. Combining his extremely rare athletic traits with the right defensive line coach's guidance could create a nightmare for the rest of the league. Projected: Round 1

— 5. Bralen Trice (Jr., Washington, 6-3, 245)

Trice is the poster-child for why the NFL has a combine. The Huskies listed him as 6-foot-4, 270 pounds. In Indianapolis, he measured an inch shorter and 25 pounds lighter. The "bigger" version of Trice reminded me of Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson, but it was back to the drawing board after Indy. Trice isn't a twitched-up athlete, and considering his actual size, that could drop him down some draft boards. However, Washington's team captain was a productive technician who was relentless against the pass and run. According to Pro Football Focus, Trice ranked first in the FBS in QB pressures in each of the past two seasons — 80 in 2023 and 70 in 2022. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 6. Chris Braswell (Sr., Alabama, 6-3, 251)

The right NFL defensive coordinator could mold this premium ball of clay (a former five-star recruit) into a Pro Bowler. Braswell was stuck behind Will Anderson Jr. on the depth chart, so he has limited snaps compared to most of the other prospects. He has an impressive first step, converts speed to power effortlessly and has the athleticism to turn and run with tight ends and running backs in coverage when playing an outside linebacker role. Braswell was No. 7 on Bruce Feldman's 2023 "Freaks List." Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 7. Jonah Elliss (Jr., Utah, 6-2, 243)

Elliss needs to get stronger, but he's quick off the ball and already has several effective pass-rush moves in his toolbox. His father, Luther, had a 10-year NFL career and was a two-time Pro Bowler, and he currently has three brothers in the league as well. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 8. Mohamed Kamara (Sr., Colorado State, 6-1, 248)

Kamara doesn't feature prototypical size and he'll be a 25 years old as a rookie, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more productive or tenacious player than the 2023 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He produced 45.5 tackles for loss, 30.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in his five years at Fort Collins. Projected: Round 4

— 9. Myles Cole (Sr., Texas Tech, 6-6, 278)

Cole spent four years at Louisiana-Monroe before transferring to Lubbock. The production doesn't match the traits, but the former two-star recruit made himself some money at the NFL combine where he showed a rare combination of height, weight and speed. In a class lacking prototypical size, he stands tall (and wide). His wingspan measures to a full 7-foot-3. Projected: Rounds 4-6

— 10. Marshawn Kneeland (Jr., Western Michigan, 6-3, 267)

Kneeland isn't a top-tier athlete, but he has an NFL-ready body. His impressive strength helps him consistently set the edge against the run and bull-rush his way to the quarterback. His performance at the Senior Bowl proved he can hold up against better competition. Projected: Round 3

— BONUS: Adisa Isaac (Jr., Penn State, 6-4, 247)

Isaac features a solid combination of size, strength and athleticism. He's proven effective as a partner running D-line games (stunts and twists), and demonstrated resilience after returning to full capacity following a ruptured Achilles in 2021. Isaac was named the Nittany Lions' defensive MVP after producing a career-high 7.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss last season. Projected: Rounds 2-4

— BONUS: Austin Booker (So., Kansas, 6-4, 240)

Booker was a three-star recruit who also played basketball in high school. It shows up in the crossover he uses against tackles, and an impressive wingspan attached to a wiry frame. He'll need to get bigger and stronger, but he features a surprising amount of nuance in his pass-rush abilities for someone who barely stepped on the field before 2023. Booker produced eight sacks for the Jayhawks despite only starting one game and has barely played 500 total snaps of collegiate ball. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— BONUS: Javon Solomon (Jr., Troy, 6-1, 246)

Solomon is short for an NFL edge defender, but he balances that with impressive athleticism and an advanced plan-of-attack to rush the passer — he led the FBS with 16 sacks last season. His size could hinder him against the run at the next level, possibly limiting him to a role as a third-down pass-rush specialist. Projected: Rounds 3-5

— BONUS: Gabriel Murphy (Jr., UCLA, 6-2, 247)

Murphy was a three-star recruit who transferred from North Texas ahead of the 2022 season. He's short-armed, but he's slippery and features a premium mix of athleticism and agility. The Bruins used him in creative ways across various alignments. The versatility will serve him well in the pros. Projected: Rounds 3-5

— BONUS: Brennan Jackson (Sr., Washington State, 6-4, 264)

Coaches will probably like Jackson more than scouts. He is an average athlete with above average play strength, but the two-time team captain wins with all-out hustle and the persistence of a 7-year-old asking their mother for a candy bar at checkout. Projected: Rounds 4-5

— BONUS: Nelson Ceaser (Jr., Houston, 6-3, 254)

Ceaser was a productive two-year starter and 2023 team captain for the Cougars. There's work to do if he's going to be an asset against the run, but he already has a diverse rush toolbox, including a long-arm bull rush, Eurostep, and an effective spin move as a counter, inside and outside. Projected: Rounds 4-5

— BONUS: Jaylen Harrell (Sr., Michigan, 6-4, 250)

The former four-star recruit's father, James, was a linebacker at Florida before playing in the NFL and USFL. Harrell features an impressive wingspan, and has room to add extra weight to his frame. He's shown promise as a run defender and has a legitimate inside spin move he can win with rushing the passer. Projected: Rounds 4-7

— BONUS: Jaylx Hunt (Sr., Houston Christian, 6-4, 252)

Hunt transferred from Cornell where he played safety. He played wide receiver in high school. Those two sentences tell you he's intelligent and athletic. The small-school dynamo showcased his upside at the Senior Bowl where he consistently won 1-on-1 reps with his explosiveness and strength. Unsurprisingly, he also tested well at the combine. It's best to see Hunt as a developmental project considering he's only played the position two years, but man, there is a lot to work with here. He could be a core special teamer on Day 1. Projected: Rounds 5-7

— BONUS: Xavier Thomas (Sr., Clemson, 6-2, 244)

Thomas was the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2018 class. After tasting early success with the Tigers, he dealt with injuries and depression (something he's discussed with NFL teams). Thomas is a bit undersized, but he tested extremely well in Indy and at his pro day. His 4.56 40-yard-dash actually improved from the combine where he ran 4.62. Despite playing six seasons in college, he still relies on pure talent and will require more seasoning in the NFL. Projected: Rounds 5-7

— BONUS: Javontae Jean-Baptiste (Sr., Notre Dame, 6-5, 239)

Jean-Baptiste spent four years at Ohio State before transferring to South Bend. A stomach virus in January caused him to lose 20 pounds, but he was able to regain about half of it back before participating in the Senior Bowl where he struggled. Then he contracted food poisoning right before field testing at the combine, dropping eight pounds overnight. He put together an impressive overall athletic performance despite the bad luck. Jean-Baptiste features a combination of size and movement skills worth taking a chance on day three of the draft. Projected: Rounds 5-7