• Clemson’s T.J. Parker tops the early rankings: Parker earned an 88.2 PFF overall grade in 2024, powered by 80.0-plus marks in run defense and pass rushing.

• R Mason Thomas is an early standout: His placement in these early rankings is largely based on his potential as a pass rusher, where he can morph into a productive NFL player.

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Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Our summer scouting preview for the 2026 NFL Draft class continues with the edge defenders.

There are many ways to win at the position, and NFL teams prioritize different abilities. These are my early top 12 edge defender prospects.

1. T.J. PARKER, CLEMSON

Even as just a true sophomore in 2023, Parker showed a good baseline to be a future first-round pick. At 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, he can play anything from a 4i or even a wide 7-technique alignment in odd fronts to a 5-technique true defensive end in even fronts.

Parker earned an 88.2 PFF overall grade in 2024, powered by 80.0-plus marks in run defense and pass rushing. He also recorded a 91.6 PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets as a sophomore in 2024. Another year like that will have us talking about him as a top-10 prospect. 

2. R MASON THOMAS, OKLAHOMA

Thomas is an early “my guy” in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 250-pound edge defender is relatively small in height and length, which are important at the position, specifically when setting the edge in run defense, though his weight helps him there.

Having him so high in my early rankings is largely based on his potential as a pass rusher. Even if he is just a designated pass rusher in the NFL, he’s one who can be incredibly productive. Thomas was a sprinter in high school, and he brings that background into pass rushing with an elite first step that converts speed into power or speed into bend, helping him post a 94.2 PFF Game Athleticism score in 2024. His measurables likely mean he’s just a 3-4 outside linebacker in the league, but one who can be incredibly disruptive.

3. RUEBEN BAIN JR., MIAMI (FL)

Bain is a bit of a tweener at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds; he resembles Calijah Kancey in frame. But while Kancey played more on the interior, Bain plays more on the edge.

He has recorded a pass-rush win rate above 14.0% in each of his first two years of college football. His strong two-handed swipe keeps blockers from getting a good grip on him, and allows him to rush the pass from a 3-technique defensive tackle spot out to 3-4 outside linebacker alignments. Bain is productive, and a pro in some form; it’s just a matter of which position it will be at.

4. KELDRIC FAULK, AUBURN

Faulk checks all the size boxes for the NFL. He is listed at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds with long arms to match his frame. He was a stout run defender in 2024, posting an 83.4 PFF run-defense grade and an 8.6% solo run-stop rate, which placed him in the 83rd percentile for his position.

There are times when you think Faulk might be better as a 3-4 defensive end (more of an interior position), but then he’ll give you a nice cross-face move or a long-arm pass rush that makes you want to keep him on the edge. If he can boost his pass-rush win rate from the single digits, he’ll get his chance to stay at edge defender as a first-round pick.

5. JOSHUA JOSEPHS, TENNESSEE

Josephs hasn’t made his mark in the stats columns yet, but he has a ton of NFL traits that hint at a 2025 breakout. He is listed at just over 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, which is light for an edge rusher, but it’s not too far off the average for a 3-4 outside linebacker type, especially for a player who wins with speed.

He has a good first step in his pass rushes and wins with arm length. He needs more pass-rush refinement, learning what to do with those long arms and hands, as evidenced by his 1.5, 3.0 and 1.5 sack totals over the past three seasons. But his PFF grades are much more favorable, including an 86.4 PFF pass-rush grade and a 91.2 PFF run-defense grade in 2025. He logged an impressive 16.7% pass-rush win rate last season, despite needing to be better about his technique and overall pass-rush plans. 

6. LT OVERTON, ALABAMA

Overton is a well-built defensive line prospect who is a blend of an interior defender and edge defender. At 275 pounds, he has the strength to hold up as a 4i interior defensive end. And at just 6-foot-2 1/2, he has a natural leverage advantage, yielding an 81.7 PFF run-defense grade in 2024.

As an edge rusher, he can win with strong, fast hands and a power profile, but he won’t really be one to threaten the outside shoulder with speed consistently. He still recorded an 18.0% pass-rush win rate last season, even without that consistent speed element. 

7. DERRICK MOORE, MICHIGAN

Moore played opposite Josaiah Stewart as a standup two-point outside linebacker in Michigan’s wide-aligned defensive front last season. He earned an 86.5 PFF pass-rush grade with an impressive 23.1% pass-rush win rate. Moore is listed at over 250 pounds, but he doesn’t have the same type of success in run defense as he does as a pass rusher (65.3 PFF run-defense grade in 2024).

We’re looking to see better all-around play from Moore in 2025, rather than just being a designated pass rusher.

8. GABE JACAS, ILLINOIS

Jacas is a massive edge prospect, listed at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds. And yet, for most of his career, he’s been aligned in a two-point stance in an outside linebacker role rather than with his hand in the dirt. He plays with a ton of power, so I believe he would be best suited in a three-point stance as a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive end. (In the Michigan game last season, he almost made back-to-back goal-line stands by himself from that alignment.)

Playing mostly from a stand-up spot highlights how well he can move at his size. His 19.2% pass-rush win rate in 2024 was much closer to, and even exceeded, his freshman season in 2022 (15.6%) when he was named a Freshman All-American.

9. MATAYO UIAGALELEI, OREGON

If the last name looks familiar, your memory serves you right; Matayo is the younger brother of former Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.

Matayo has impressive size like his brother, listed at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds. He plays with a high motor that coaches will love, with good power and adequate arm length. His natural play position carries a high pad level. He does seem to struggle a bit with change of direction and moments that require more flexibility. He posted a strong 16.9% pass-rush win rate in 2024, but his PFF run-defense grade was rather low (64.2).

10. DAVID BAILEY, TEXAS TECH

Bailey is a throwback, no-nonsense type of defender. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound stand-up outside linebacker pass rusher has a wicked first step and some very nice bend as one of the better speed rushers in this class. He tallied a 93.2 PFF pass-rush grade and a 27.2% pass rush win rate last season.

He is a bit one-dimensional, as his PFF run defense grade came in at 59.2. But the way he can get after the passer is impressive. Can he become a more well-rounded edge player at Texas Tech?

11. CASHIUS HOWELL, TEXAS A&M

Howell didn’t get as much playing time last season as he could have elsewhere, as he was fighting for snaps with 2025 NFL Draft picks Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton. But he ended up earning the highest PFF pass-rush grade of the trio (91.4).

At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Howell has adequate size to be versatile in odd and even fronts as a stand-up or three-point edge player, though he seems to do his best work as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He has good pop at contact to excel in run defense, as well. It’s really just about putting it all together on a full-time snap count. 

12. TYREAK SAPP, FLORIDA

Sapp is one of the best run defenders in the 2026 edge defender group, if not the best. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, he can really hold the line of scrimmage. He earned an 88.7 PFF run-defense grade in 2024, and his 12.1% solo run-stop rate ranked in the 98th percentile.

Sapp has below-average arm length for the position, and his pass-rush plan right now is too reliant on crashing into bodies and winning with leg drive. But he’s a high-floor player for early downs, if nothing else.