2025 Draft: Previewing edge prospects

The edge rusher is a premier position in the a modern version of pro football always seeking ways to encourage more passing.

The importance of franchise passers like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts compels their teams to fortify the offensive lines tasked with protecting them. Meanwhile, NFL defenses are building a front seven to harass those QBs. Teams are looking for the next Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, or J.J. Watt as game-changers on defense.

The 2025 Draft has a few potential game-changers for the NFL. Their assignment: Get the Quarterback!

James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) and Harold Perkins (LSU) are the big edge-player names in the 2024 season and, therefore, the 2025 draft. Both players are dynamic athletes who can dominate with speed off the edge and make opposing quarterbacks uneasy in the pocket. Along with that, both are versatile enough to drop into and make plays in coverage. The consensus view of both players is that the two defenders are franchise cornerstones, and I think it’s safe to say that they will both be top picks were they to declare in 2025.

After that dynamic duo, a noteworthy drop-off in game-changing talent is evident. The rest of this edge class is a potpourri of prototypes. That includes a big-body power rushers who can collapse the pocket (Mykel Williams, Georgia or Jack Sawyer, Ohio State) and a speed rusher who can bend the edge and contain dynamic quarterbacks (Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton or Antwaun Powell-Ryland of Virginia Tech). There is interesting talent available on Days 2 and 3 of next spring’s draft.

Let’s take a closer look at the potential talent who could make the jump to the pros in the 2025 draft.

James Pearce Jr — DE, Tennessee, 6040, 242, Jr, 4.50 40 (est). (7th-ranked player and 1st-ranked DE at Hall of Football).

OVERVIEW

Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee is regarded as the top edge rusher in the SEC heading into the 2024 season and the top edge rusher for the 2025 draft. Many see him as worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. Despite Pearce playing in all 13 games in 2022 as a true freshman, his five total tackles, two TFL, and two sacks did not stand out. But his numbers in 2023 — 28 total tackles, 14.5 TFL, 10 sacks, one PD, one INT, one TD, and two forced fumbles — put his name at the top of the list of elite prospects.

Pearce Jr. attended Chambers High School in North Carolina, where he was a five-star recruit after helping his team reach four consecutive class 4A State Championship games, including titles in 2019 and 2020. During his career at Tennessee, he has earned collegiate honors such as…

—2023 SEC Defensive Linemen of the Week vs. Texas A&M and vs. South Carolina

—2023 All-SEC First-Team (AP, Coaches)

—2024 Preseason All-SEC First-Team (Phil Steele)

—2024 Preseason All-American First-Team (Phil Steele, Walter Camp)

Strengths

Pearce has the length NFL scouts covet. His long arms give him an edge, whether long-arming an initial punch when rushing the quarterback or when stacking in run support at the point of attack. He is a twitchy athlete with a blink-quick first step that can put opposing tackles on their heels. Pearce has the lower body flexibility to bend and close on his target. Pearce’s ability to win with speed around the edge is exceptional, making OTs wish they had the backpedal speed of a corner rather than insufficient kick steps.

Pearce manages to maintain juxtaposition and leverage when transitioning to run defense. His get-off puts him in the backfield fast enough to disrupt both a runner's path and blockers pulling to cut off his angle. He also displays a high motor, consistently playing to the whistle, and he does a good job pursuing plays flowing away from him. With his lean frame and superior athletic ability, Pearce is a versatile coverage man. His movements in space are fluid, and he can turn and run, and change direction effortlessly. Because of this, dropping into zone when asked is no problem. Also, do not sleep on his ball skills; he is more than capable of creating turnovers, as he showed in last year’s Citrus Bowl, when he undercut an out route and returned the INT 52 yards for a score in the Vols 35–0 win over Iowa. Those types of plays indicate he is a special, spectacular overall athlete.

Weaknesses

Pearce’s is not yet a finished product. Although he overcomes his inexperience with quickness and finesse, Pearce appears to lack raw physical strength needed to be a top-shelf NFL pass rusher. He does not have much of a bull rush and cannot convert speed-power to work straight through his opponent. This means he can easily stall out when going up against stronger tackles, sometimes getting taken to the ground on stunts/twists when he meets double teams.

Overall, his technique and timing on double/counter moves are adequate, but his hands are a bit sloppy on the inside, and the timing on double moves is sometimes off a tick to really sell that first move. In run support, Pearce sometimes struggles because of his average strength and marginal ability to generate a push at the POA. With his great length, he does have the potential to learn how to convert leverage into improved production. Still, he could use more muscle to disengage from the stronger tackles awaiting him at the next level. That lack of great strength also challenges him to secure tackles against stouter, more physical backs.

SUMMARY

At about 242 pounds, Pearce has a thin frame for an edge rusher and will likely be a rotational player at the next level unless or until he bulks up. His difficulties holding ground in run support play a big role in why he is often subbed out on running and short-yardage/goal-line situations. To see more playing time this season and find a consistent role in the NFL, he will need to put on more muscle.

Harold Perkins — OLB, LSU, 6005, 220, Jr, 4.35 40 (est). (11th-ranked player and 1st-ranked OLB at Hall of Football)

OVERVIEW

Perkins was a five-star prospect coming out of Cypress Park High School in Texas. He also played running back in high school and earned First-Team All-Greater Houston honors as a utility player on offense. He also participated in the Under Armour All-American game. Perkins has made an instant impact since stepping foot on the field at LSU and has earned dozens of honors that include…

—2022 First Year SEC Academic Honor Roll

—2022 LSU Percy E. Roberts Defensive Player of the Year

—2022 SEC Freshman of the Week vs. Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas

—2022 Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arkansas

—2022 Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)

—2022 True Freshman All-America (ESPN)

—2022 Freshman All-America (Football Writers Association of America, The Athletic and College Football News)

—2022 Second-Team All-SEC (Coaches)

—2022 First-Team All-SEC (AP)

—2023 SEC Academic Honor Roll

—2023 Second-Team All-SEC (Coaches)

Strengths

Harold Perkins is a dynamic athlete with an elite ability to change direction in space. Off the edge, he shows excellent get-off post-snap to get upfield and win with speed. He has the lower body flexibility to bend under the initial punch from the opponent, then corner and finish with surprising closing speed. Because of his electric first step, Perkins is excellent at getting upfield and consistently beats cross-side pullers in both zone and gap blocking to make plays in the backfield. Because of his athleticism and active hands, he is able to work around blocks very well at the POA, and his notable short-area quickness gives problems for interior linemen. He has fantastic sideline-to-sideline speed to run down ball carriers, and his geometry on proper angles is spot on. When in open-field pursuit, he tracks and tackles efficiently. Perkins shows special coverage ability as he can match and mirror any back in man coverage and even line up at nickel in certain packages.

Weaknesses

Perkins does not have the ideal size or frame teams look for in an edge rusher; at 6-0, 220, he lacks both the preferred height/wingspan to match up against bigger opponents and the physical strength to win with power. He has an adequate toolbox as a pass rusher but, because of his limitations in utilizing power moves, can rely too much on speed/rip moves around the edge. He lacks effective counter/double moves as a pass rusher and the timing needed to get blockers off balance. Sometimes, he struggles to work through blocks because of his subpar strength; he has a tendency to get lost and taken out of the play when big interior linemen get their hands on him. He can also be ineffective when blitzing on stunts. When pulling inside, he struggles to push the pocket and shows poor ability to split gaps against double teams.

SUMMARY

With his exceptional skill at winning with speed off the edge and his elite ability in space to support the run and mix and match in coverage, Perkins has the traits to be a dynamic chess piece for a creative defensive coordinator. Because he lacks the natural characteristics of a prototypical pass rusher, he must bulk up and develop more moves off the edge. Athletic offensive tackles who can cut off the edge will be able to stymie him. Perkins has exciting potential as a player. If he wants to solidify himself as a blue-chip prospect, he must continue to grow both mentally and physically.

Mykel Williams — DE, Georgia, 6042, 265, Jr, 4.50 40 (est). (2nd-ranked DE and 9th overall at Hall of Football)

OVERVIEW

Mykel Williams is a third-year junior at the University of Georgia and has made 12 starts in 28 games. He has been a very solid contributor for the Bulldogs, totaling 11 solo tackles (18 total), 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 2023.

Williams was a four-star prospect by ESPN out of Hardaway High School in Georgia. During his high school career, he helped lead his team to the Class 4A playoffs in his senior season (2021) and was also selected to play in the 2022 All-American Bowl. It was during his senior year of high school that he decided to stay close to home to play college football. He enrolled at Georgia in January of that year.

Notable awards he has earned during his time at Georgia include…

—2022 Coaches SEC All-Freshman Team

—2022 First Team All-America by the Athletic

—2023 Coaches All-SEC Second Team

Strengths

Standing 6-4, 265, Williams has the ideal build for a traditional defensive end. He utilizes his length well at the POA and can alter a quarterback’s throwing angles. Overall, his get-off when rushing is respectful, as he explodes out of his stance and closes distance well. While there is room to get better, he demonstrates quality physical strength and power on a bull rush and generates consistent push. He has exceptional blitzing ability on stunt concepts due to excellent athleticism for his size and moves extremely well in space. He beats guards with his speed, and often gets free lanes to the quarterback.

His get-off translates well to run support, as he bursts out of stance, splits gaps, and causes disruption in the backfield. He uses his wingspan at the POA to stack and shed and fight through blocks against the run. He is a reliable tackler around the LOS in run support; opponents struggle to get free when he gets his hands on them, as he has a strong grip and finishes with physicality. He does not have much of a feel for leverage in coverage, but he does have the athleticism to become adept at mirroring zone concepts.

Weaknesses

Williams shows just marginal ability to win with speed on the edge, and he has a stiff lower half with limited flexibility to bend around the edge, along with adequate hand technique to fight hands properly. He lacks a diverse toolbox; outside of a bull rush, he does not show the ability to win with speed or counter/double moves when the initial move isn’t there. He struggles to fight off double teams on the interior when lined up inside, so he needs to add more muscle to his frame to avoid being moved so easily. Otherwise, he risks losing playing time in run-heavy situations. His lateral agility in space is average, meaning he’s not going to effectively work around blocks or square up faster opponents and make tackles 1v1 in space.

SUMMARY

Williams is a bit of a mystery, in my opinion. He has the frame and athletic ability to play on the edge, but his poor flexibility to bend and win with speed at the edge limits his potential. On the flip side, most project him to kick inside in a 3-4 as a 5-tech, but he sometimes struggles to disengage from stronger opponents and double teams, which could limit his effectiveness in that role. He seems to translate at a 5-tech best at the next level, but time will tell, and his development this upcoming season will likely determine how teams rank him in next year’s group.

Jack Sawyer — DE, Ohio State, 6041, 260, Sr, 4.50 40 (est). (Ranked 11th overall, 3rd-ranked DE at Hall of Football)

OVERVIEW

Jack Sawyer is a fourth-year senior at Ohio State. He started all 13 games last year and is projected to be one of the best defensive ends in the Big 10 in 2024. In 2023, he tallied 24 solo tackles (48 total), 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

Sawyer attended Pinkerton North High School in Ohio, where he was a five-star prospect and the highest-rated player in the state of Ohio — fourth nationally. He also played quarterback in high school and led Pinkerton North to the Division 1, Region 3 playoffs and played on the basketball team, where he made varsity as a freshman.

During his time at Ohio State, he has earned the following awards:

—2022 All-Big 10 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

—2023 Ohio State Scholar Athlete

—2023 Academic All-Big 10

—2023 All-Big 10 Honorable Mention (Coaches)

Strengths

Jack Sawyer has the traditional frame of a 4-3 end, with the wingspan to alter throws and bat down passes. His get-off in the pass rush is underrated, as he times the snap well and has sneaky bursts out of his stance. He has very good hand technique on rip moves, fights hands well, and shows good technique when performing swim moves inside and out.

He also shows a satisfactory off-the-ball burst upfield in run support. Sawyer also uses his wingspan very well at the POA to engage, create space and disengage in a timely manner. He has the physical strength to set the edge in run support and fight through blocks on the interior to get to the ball carrier. He displays a good motor, always follows plays even when they flow away from him and plays to the whistle. Additionally, Sawyer exhibits a good situational IQ on play-action concepts and does a good job not over-pursuing.

Weaknesses

Overall, Sawyer is an average athlete for his position, with poor lateral agility and quickness, and he lacks the ability to win with speed around the edge or with double moves. He has subpar flexibility in his lower half to effectively bend around the edge, so we have a strictly power/technical pass rusher. He shows adequate timing when attempting a double move on the pass rush but struggles to get opponents off balance. He lacks the plus burst to consistently split gaps and get skinny through double teams on the interior, whether rushing the passer or in-run support. Sawyer should be restricted to playing with his hand in the dirt, as he does not possess the fluidity to drop into coverage and mix and match with different positions. He is sometimes ineffective on stunts and twists, since he does not possess very good initial quickness or athleticism to beat opponents to spots.

SUMMARY

Jack Sawyer is a quality run defender with a length and physical strength that allow him to move bodies at the POA, and he does occasionally contribute as a pass rusher thanks to his technique and get-off. Sawyer’s athletic ability is adequate at best for his position, and because of that, he lacks the ability to win with speed, which limits his ability as a pass rusher. He does have the ability to be a productive rotational piece at the next level, but he must continue to improve his technique and add to his toolbox to take that next step.

Nic Scourton — DE, Texas A&M, 6036, 280, Jr, 4.65 40 (est). (13th-ranked player and 4th-ranked DE at Hall of Football)

OVERVIEW

Scourton is a third-year junior who spent his freshman and sophomore years at Purdue before transferring to Texas A&M for the 2024 season. In 2023, he finished with 33 solo tackles (50 total), 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble.

A four-star recruit out of Bryan High School in Texas, Scourton was a two-time all-district player who was in the 2022 All-American Bowl. He also starred in basketball. At Purdue, Scourton appeared in 25 total games, recorded the most tackles by a true freshman since George Karlaftis in 2019, and earned Second-Team All-Big 10 honors in 2023. He looks to bring a much-needed pass-rush presence to the Aggies, as they expect him to play a major role on defense.

Strengths

Nic Scourton is a thickly built defensive end with favorable physical strength to move opponents at the POA. As a pass rusher, he can win with power and collapse the pocket with an effective bull rush. Though not a great athlete, Scourton can win with speed, sound hand technique, and flexibility to the corner, where he finishes with a rip around the edge. He also has a diverse tool set and is good at mixing in both speed and power, along with using double/counter moves like a rip/pull or spin. His get-off is above average, but he still manages to get a step on his opponent more often than not. Against the run, he is a satisfactory tackler who delivers pop and does a good job squaring and wrapping up the ball carrier. Although not a dynamic athlete by any stretch, Scourton has shown the ability to drop in zone when needed. He has good timing when pulling on stunt concepts and boasts a solid short-area quickness to beat guards inside.

Weaknesses

Scourton lacks the ideal length you want in an edge player. Opposing tackles can get into his chest easier, and he won’t alter many throwing lanes when he tries to get his hands up. He displays poor block-shed technique in run support, has a bad tendency to engage with his shoulder instead of extending his arms and, as a result, gets stuck on blocks. He also has a bad habit of trying to spin out of blocks, giving his opponent more leverage when he turns his back. His lack of sideline-to-sideline speed makes it difficult for him to contain and chase down plays; I don’t see him sticking with snaps that flow away from him when asked to pursue faster players. Scourton also has a tendency to over-pursue play-action and RPO concepts, and he fails to keep his head up and stay home. He does not have a feel for leverage in coverage or for recognizing route concepts, and he seems unable to match up with fast running backs or big tight ends downfield.

SUMMARY

Nic Scourton possesses interesting potential as an edge prospect. He lacks length and dynamic athletic ability, but he is able to win with both speed and power. He has multiple tools in his repertoire and plays with a good motor. He is a bit of a liability in run support because of bad habits that he needs to get rid of. If he cleans up those issues and shows development this season, Scourton could be a name we see as an early Day-2 pick in next year’s draft.

Landon Jackson — DE, Arkansas, 6062, 282, Sr, 4.70 40 (est). (26th overall player and 5th-ranked DE at Hall of Football).

OVERVIEW

Jackson played high school ball at Pleasant Grove High School, where he was a four-star recruit and rated the seventh-best prospect in the nation and No. 19 in the state of Texas. During his time in high school, he was named the Texas Sports Writers Association 4A Defensive Player of the Year as a junior, was a MaxPreps First-Team All-American, and helped lead Pleasant Grove to a D2 State Championship. His first two collegiate years at Arkansas were underwhelming, but he really established himself in 2023, earning honors such as:

—2023 Second-Team All-SEC by AP & Phil Steele

—2023 First-Team All-SEC by Coaches

—2024 Second-Team Preseason All-SEC by media and Phil Steele

—2024 Second-Team Preseason All-American by Walter Camp

Strengths

At 6-6, 280, Landon Jackson has an elite height and frame, along with exceptional length for an edge rusher. He has a quick get-off when rushing the passer, as he gets out of his stance and upfield quickly. One of his best moves is a club-rip, which he executes with great hand technique and timing to get to the quarterback. His bend and lower body flexibility are not great but good enough to win when he gets a good jump. His repertoire of pass-rush moves is solid, as he mixes in a swim move and a bull rush at times.

In run support, he is very good at controlling and maintaining gaps, he uses his length to create space and does a great job setting the edge. Using his good physical strength, Jackson fights through blocks, showing an impressive technique to disengage from blockers quickly. He displays fantastic football IQ and awareness of misdirection plays and does an excellent job staying home and honoring his edge responsibilities. Along the interior, he is a consistent tackler who uses solid technique to secure the ball carrier.

Weaknesses

Although his physical strength is above average, his ability to win with power is adequate. He generates solid push on bullrushes but lacks the ability to finish. Jackson shows marginal speed when chasing down plays on the perimeter, and is not all that capable of tracking down quicker ball carriers in space. Another drawback is his very average lateral agility, which means he struggles to change direction at a high level. His movements are not fluid, and, when combined with his so-so lateral agility, he has problems mirroring in coverage, where he also does not show a feel for anticipating leverage.

SUMMARY

Landon Jackson’s freakish size will attract and pique the interest of many NFL teams in next year’s draft. He is already a quality pass rusher who can consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks while also stabilizing the edge in run support. He is not a twitched-up athlete who will wreak havoc all over the field, but he is a sound football player with a great IQ for the game. If he can add muscle and more tricks of the trade, Jackson will be a coveted name next April.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland — OLB, Virginia Tech, 6021, 244, rSr, 4.63 40 (est). (54th-ranked player and 4th-ranked OLB at Hall of Football)

OVERVIEW

Antwaun Powell-Ryland is a fifth-year senior at Virginia Tech who spent three years at the University of Florida and redshirted his freshman year in 2020. Until last season, Ryland had not produced at a high level, but he hit the ground running in 2023 and had a great season. He played in 13 games, starting 12 and finishing with 23 solo tackles (40 total), 14.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Ryland was a four-star prospect out of Indian River High School in Virginia. In 2018, he helped his school finish with a 12-1 record and played in the Under Armour All-American Game before committing to Florida. He has earned multiple accolades throughout his college career:

—2020 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

—2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

—2023 ACC All-American Honorable Mention (Phil Steele)

—2023 All-ACC Second Team

Strengths

Powell-Ryland has the length you look for in an edge prospect. His get-off as a pass rusher is phenomenal. He has an exceptional burst off the ball and gets upfield in a blink. He also shows flexibility to bend the corner and finish. He plays with active hands when rushing the quarterback, and with solid technique/placement when executing the rip and club. As a pass rusher, Powell-Ryland uses double and counter moves exceptionally well, and is very adept at getting blockers off balance. He shows plus get-off against the run and is able to burst upfield to alter running lanes, beating pullers to spots on zone and gap concepts. He has an innate ability to work around blocks, both in close and in space, and he showcases elite speed and pursuit in space on the perimeter and at the second level. Powell-Ryland also possesses an innate geometry, where this quickness allows him to chase down ball carriers. He is also a reliable tackler around the LOS and calls on his athleticism to stay in front of ball carriers in space and finish the tackle. He can drop into coverage and cover running backs when they release.

Weaknesses

Powell-Ryland has a thin/lean frame that doesn’t man up physically with opposing tackles and guards, so he must add muscle. Because of his thin stature, he has only adequate physical strength; he does not often win with power as a pass rusher or when leveraging gaps in run support. He can get overly aggressive on misdirection plays, see red at times and lack the discipline to protect the edge on RPO/play-action concepts. When in coverage, he sometimes struggles with bigger-bodied tight ends in man, gets overpowered and loses positioning.

SUMMARY

Antwaun Powell-Ryland is an electric speed rusher off the edge. He can win with speed. His long list of moves gives opposing tackles headaches, and he can be disruptive against the run. He shows a relentless motor, playing until the whistle, no matter where he is on the field. Powell-Ryland is flying under the radar because of his size and because last year was the first in which he put up quality production. If AP-R can bulk up, he should be considered one of the best edge players in next year’s draft.

J.T. Tuimoloau — DE, Ohio State, 6042, 269, Sr, 4.57 40 (est). (35th-ranked player and 6th-ranked DE at Hall of Football)

OVERVIEW

Tuimoloau is a fourth-year senior at Ohio State who enters the 2024 season as the team’s leader in tackles for loss with 22 and is viewed as one of the nation's best defensive ends. In 2023, he recorded 12 solo tackles (38 total), seven tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery, in 13 games.

Tuimoloau is from Edgewood, Washington, where he helped lead Eastside Catholic to state titles in 2018 and 2019 and was named the 2021 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year. He was rated by 247Sports.com as the nation’s No. 1 edge prospect and was the highest-rated defensive prospect to commit to Ohio State in the modern era (2000–present). During his collegiate career, he has won numerous awards:

—2022 First-Team All-Big 10 (Media)

—2023 Second-Team All-America (AFCA)

—2023 First-Team All-Big 10 (Coaches and media)

Strengths

Tuimoloau has an ideal height for his position and a good frame to leverage run lanes and collapse the pocket as a rusher. He has a sneaky get-off for his size and shows plus explosiveness off the ball to get upfield and put blockers on their heels. He has effective speed-power conversion when pursuing the quarterback, and he times his initial hesitation well, along with a solid one-arm technique to drive tackles backwards.

Tuimoloau shows polished hand technique on power and finesse moves, with hands that are always active no matter how long the play. He displays an impressive array of techniques and a good mixture of double and counter moves. He shows a quick upfield surge in run support and consistently beats pullers in zone and gap concepts to make tackles in the backfield. Displaying strength and gap-leverage ability even on the perimeter, Tuimoloau stacks and sheds well at the POA. He also exhibits solid tackling ability both at the LOS and in space, showing a sound technique when wrapping up and finishing. Solid timing on stunts and twists allow Tuimoloau to create pressure consistently from the interior. He is a high-IQ player who shows awareness when diagnosing misdirection plays and screen passes, and he disrupts throwing lanes on slant passes and other short-area throws.

Weaknesses

Tuimoloau has marginal lower-body flexibility when dipping and bending around the corner. That limitation can make him predictable as a pass rusher. He struggles to win with single power moves and will need to add muscle to generate a greater push. Tuimoloau exhibits adequate speed when going sideline to sideline or chasing down plays on the outside. Subpar lateral agility and short area quickness are issues, and he does not show much ability in working around blocks and squaring up quicker opponents in space. His adequate athleticism and fluidity in space limit what he can do in coverage, and he is not able to mirror quicker, more athletic backs and tight ends downfield.

SUMMARY

J.T. Tuimoloau is a sound football player who can contribute both as a pass rusher and as a run defender, but lacks the twitchiness to be that dynamic game wrecker on the edge. However, he is an instinctive, high-IQ football player who flows to the ball and understands what he needs to do on each play. With his leadership and energy, Tuimoloau is the type of player who can stick around for a while at the next level and serve as a key contributor to an NFL defense.

Next year’s projected group provides a unique blend of different traits. It’s impossible to tell where each team values each of these players, but in an ever-evolving passing league, edge rushers will continue to garner more attention. A lot can change between now and next April, with the 2024 college football season almost upon us. We will see whether and how each of these players has developed from last season. But there is legitimate talent among this group, and it will be interesting to see how they all perform in 2024.