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DE/EDGE RUSHERS
SCOUTING REPORTS
The open side Defensive End has to be one of your best football players. Size does not matter as much. We want an athletic player who can move around.
-Pete Carroll
DE/EDGE ARCHETYPES
Here is NFL Scout 247 we break the QB Prospects into 4 Archetypes:
1. RUN STOPPER: Primarily a run stuffer, early down guy
2. SPEED RUSHER: Ability to win pass rush reps with speed moves
3. POWER RUSHER: Ability to win pass rush reps with power moves
4. BALANCED: Ability to stop the run and rush the passer
2025 NFL DE/EDGE PROSPECTS
#1 ABDUL CARTER/ PENN STATE/ 6"3/ 252 lbs/ TOP 3
Pros: Athletic Freak, Long, explosive, versatile
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Cons: Linebacker Awareness, strength, balance
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Archetype: Speed Rusher
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Comparison: Micah Parsons
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Scouting Report: Abdul Carter is a freak of nature. The combination of his speed, acceleration, and size make him one of the most athletic players in this draft. He is versatile, able to play off the ball, hand in the dirt, or standing at Edge, but he took significantly more reps at Edge in 2024 compared to 2023. While he is still learning the position and needs to add more strength and weight so he can be a reliable run defender, his pass rush skills are elite. The tools are there for him to continue to grow as an all pro caliber player and I think he has a legitimate argument to be selected number 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
#2 JAMES PEARCE JR/ TENNESSEE/ 6"5/ 243 lbs/ MID 1ST
Pros: Speed, Bend, IQ, Technique
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Cons: Run Defense, Strength
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Archetype: Speed Rusher
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Comparison: Brian Burns
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Scouting Report: James Pearce Jr is an intriguing DE prospect in this year's draft. He plays hard, runs to the ball, has good athleticism, and demonstrates a high football IQ. He is a solid pass rusher, but I think he can grow in that area with some coaching and developing a situational pass rush tool box. He has a long frame, but he is light. He needs to get stronger and more aggressive in the run defense. Plays like he doesn’t want to get his jersey dirty at times. He can move well and shows the ability to be a disruptor. I think he is a high floor athlete, with somewhat high ceiling as well given his athletic abilities and flashes on tape make me think he can be that guy.
#3 MIKE GREEN/ MARSHALL/ 6"4/ 248 lbs/ MID 1ST
Pros: refined pass rush, stamina, athleticism
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Cons: Tackling, strength, run defense
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Archetype: Speed Rusher
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Comparison: Yannick Ngakoue
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Scouting Report: Mike Green plays with his hair on fire every play. He has the leadership and toughness you look for especially when he’s a slightly undersized EDGE. His pass rush skills are refined and effective. He is a good athlete and has the best change of direction skills I’ve seen for an EDGE. He plays a little reckless at times when it comes to running upfield or chasing players down. Needs to remain gap sound and set edge. He also has a lower IQ with recognizing where the ball is and he struggles to wrap up and tackle ball carriers. I really like Mike Green’s film. If you can add some weight and strength to his frame to go along with the high quality pass rush skills, Mike Green could be a scary player to scheme against at the NFL level.
#4 DONOVAN EZEIRUAKU/ BC/ 6”2/ 247 lbs/ MID 1ST
Pros: Bend, get off, athleticism
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Cons: Short arms, size, run block shred
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Archetype: Speed Rusher
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Comparison: James Houston
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Scouting Report: Better learn to pronounce his name NFL commentators because you’ll be calling it a lot on sundays. Donovan Ezeiruaku is a pass rushing force off the edge. He demonstrates the ability to dip his shoulder and bend the edge as well as any other DE prospects. He also has a good counter when the OT oversets. He has a good get off and great athleticism you look for the position. His biggest concern is his lack of size, weight and strength. He gets walled and has a hard time keeping his gap integrity because he gets moved by bigger Offensive Linemen. Will he be a situational pass rusher or can he demonstrate the ability to be a 3 down player? I think right now he has some work to do with his run defense, but shows the ability to grow and work off the edge as a 3-4 linebacker.
#5 LANDON JACKSON/ ARKANSAS/ 6"7/ 280 lbs/ LATE 1ST
Pros: Length, High Motor, Potential, backside run pursuit
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Cons: high pad level, pass rush tools
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Archetype: Balanced
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Comparison: Marcus Davenport
Scouting Report: Landon Jackson might be one of the most underrated prospects this year. He is a giant (6”7), with long arms that can create separation from offensive tackles and latch on to the ball carrier for effective tackling. He has a great blend of power and speed rush moves, he just needs to work on when to use them in certain situations. He is a high motor guy. He looks awkward and slightly uncoordinated when he runs, but he closes the distance down with his long frame. I really like Landon Jackson, a high ceiling prospect that can grow and develop into a premier NFL pass rusher.
Pros: Bend, Agility, Burst,
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Cons: Speed, Coverage, Run block shred
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Archetype: Speed Rusher
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Comparison: Jachai polite
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Scouting Report: N/A
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#7 NICK SCOURTON/ TEXAS A&M/ 6"4/ 285 lbs/ LATE 1ST
Pros: Run defense, consistent pressure, Athletic, size
Cons: Pass rush tools, Finishing, tackling,
Archetype: Balanced
Comparison: Tyree Wilson
Scouting Report: Nic Scourton is a mover. At 285 lbs, he moves very gracefully and nimble for his size. He is probably one of the better run stopping Defensive Ends and he has upside as a pass rusher with his athleticism and polished technique. He can’t bend the edge very well and he gets stalled in his limited pass rush. His production was also underwhelming so you're projecting him based on physical traits. How much he can develop as an impactful pass rusher will determine how his NFL career will go. I like his upside, but I’m not as high on him as Mike Green and James Pearce Jr.
#8 MYKEL WILLIAMS/ GEORGIA/ 6"5/ 265 LBS/ EARLY 2ND
Pros: Power, Run Defense, Height and Size
Cons: not dynamic, raw pass rush
Archetype: Run Stopper
Comparison: Sam Williams
Scouting Report: Mykel Williams was a great leader and good player for the Georgia Bulldogs. As a primary edge defender, who can shift inside, he has good strength and technique that allows him to play the run well. He is a solid athlete, but won’t break any 40 time records. He is raw and limited as a pass rusher and he doesn’t seem to make many plays that blow you away when watching his film. He is a soldier that does his job well. I think he can be a rotational player along the Defensive front and provide good run support right away for teams looking for a run first edge defender. Not as high on him compared to other prospects.
#9 JACK SAWYER/ OHIO STATE/ 6"5/ 260 LBS/ MID 2ND
Pros:Technique, height, Leadership
Cons: robotic movement, average athlete, pass rush effectiveness?
Archetype: Power Rusher
Comparison: Sam Hubbard
Scouting Report: Jack Sawyer is a well rounded player that can do a little bit of everything. He is above average in most categories. He was team leader and played on a national championship team. High physical tools guy. He didn’t woah me on tape, but he was consistent in doing his job. He's technically sound, but comes off as robotic in his movements. His pass rush skills aren’t anything to write home about. I think Jack Sawyer is solid, but his lack of elite skills make him a day two prospect.
#10 JT TUIMOLOAU/ OHIO STATE/ 6"5/ 260 LBS/ MID 2ND
Pros: Size, hand usage, strength, power rush
Cons: stiffness, run block shred
Archetype: Power Rusher
Comparison: Kwity Paye
Scouting Report: JT Tuimoloau was a great leader and player on the Buckeye defense this year. He has a quiet 16 sack season (16 games), when I watched him I saw some good pass rush tools and a certain level of ability, but I wouldn;t have thought he had that great of a statical season based on the tape. He is a good size stand up Edge that can hold the contain on runplays and demonstrates good technique and determination to get to the football. I think JT is limited as an athlete and that will hurt his stock, but I still think he brings value as a power rusher that can push the pocket back and get by a OT every now and then. He is a high floor player, but his ceiling seems to be lower than other edge prospects, making him a day two a quality day two option.
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