The most loaded position group in the entire 2025 NFL Draft is the edge rushers, and it’s not particularly close. There are 17 edge rushers in the Two-Point Conversion 2025 Draft Guide Top-100 (which is just $1 for a limited time, by the way) – significantly more players than any other position group.
This list won’t be the exact list, instead, I’ll be tiering players based on what fans can expect (in both the near and distant future). From outside speed guys like James Pearce to pocket pushing linemen such as Ashton Gillette, there’s an edge rusher for everyone in this class.
Let’s get into the rankings.
One quick note before we get started: Jalon Walker is classified as a linebacker on the Two-Point Conversion’s draft guide, which is why he’s listed in my linebacker rankings instead.
You can get the Two-Point Conversion’s NFL Draft Guide for $1 for a limited time.
Tier 1: Double-Digit Sack Threats From Day 1
Abdul Carter, Penn State
Abdul Carter is a dynamic edge rusher who is fairly young at the position. Standing at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, his frame isn’t prototypical for a true number one pass-rusher, but his athleticism and get-off make him a threat on any passing down. Carter got better as the season went on for the Nittany Lions, and should continue to grow – he’s only played one season as an edge rusher full-time.
Carter looks to be on his way to the Giants with the #3 overall pick – and will add to a defensive line that already has Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence.
Grade: Top-5 Pick
Tier 2: High Impact Players on Day 1
Mykel Williams, Georgia
Mykel Williams is a long, powerful rusher that we haven’t seen the best of yet. Williams played the dreaded 4i role in Georgia’s defense, which will lead some to question his lack of production. However, Williams showed much more juice when allowed to line up outside of the tackle this past year (and throughout his time at Georgia).
Williams was also hobbled for most of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury late in the first game of the season against Clemson. He should be an elite run defender from day one with the ability to get after the passer on third downs. His floor and ceiling combination makes him an intriguing bet in the top-10 – this typically isn’t a skill set that lasts long on draft night.
Grade: Top-10 Pick
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
James Pearce came into the 2024 college football season as a potential first overall pick. Originally hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, Pearce has fallen a bit in the draft process due to rumored off-field concerns.
The talent is unquestionable, though. Pearce has true primary pass-rusher upside; his combination of speed and bend makes him an ideal high-side rusher, and I personally think he has more power than given credit for.
Pearce is long and lengthy, and brings a skill set eerily similar to Giants standout Brian Burns. While Pearce needs to grow in terms of his early-down impact, his potential to affect the passing game early on leads me to rank him high.
Grade: Mid First Round
Mike Green, Marshall
Mike Green is an explosive athlete who, despite his size, projects as a day-one impact player in the NFL. He should be able to take advantage of less athletic tackles from the jump, controlling each play with a solid set of moves and a deadly first step. His run defense is a work in progress (and ultimately may never come around), but he instantly should provide some juice on obvious passing downs.
Even against tougher competition, Green played well, having standout games against Ohio State and Virginia Tech. His skill set notably complements those on the Green Bay Packers – he would give an explosive element that Green Bay doesn’t quite have with their current group of rushers.
Grade: Late First Round
Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart is one of the two most athletic players in this entire draft class, up there with South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. Stewart’s combination of size, strength, and speed gives him a natural advantage over most college players, which leads many to question his lack of college production.
Similar to Mykel Williams, though, Stewart was impactful, but played a significant amount of time aligned inside the tackle (as well as playing contain). Texas A&M has a wonky defensive scheme that pigeonholes both Stewart and teammate Nic Scourton into roles that don’t maximize usage. Still, Stewart needs to improve his overall consistency and refinement.
Grade: Late First Round
Tier 3: Day 1 Role Players / Eventual Starters
Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Josaiah Stewart was an elite college producer at Michigan over the past two years. Stewart is incredibly undersized for an edge rusher – he’s only 6-foot-1, 249 pounds – but I can’t come away from watching Stewart thinking anything other than him being a high-end force off the edge for multiple NFL contracts.
Stewart brings a lot of power despite his smaller frame and has one of the quickest get-offs in this entire draft class. He will have to overcome his lack of size with technical ability and athleticism, and while Stewart didn’t have the fastest 40 time (4.85 at his pro day), this is a case where I’m going to trust the film.
Grade: Early Day 2
Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
Princely Umanmielen is a long, technically sound high-side edge rusher who should have a third-down impact as a rookie. He’s consistent in his get-off, but his second and third gear leave something to be desired. Still, his frame and athletic tools should allow Umanmielen to, bare minimum, have a role in the NFL.
Umanmielen makes sense on most NFL teams as a rotational edge rusher – he doesn’t quite have the early-down impact that would indicate he’s an early starter – but he could easily develop that sort of skill set throughout his rookie contract.
Grade: Early Day 2
Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Landon Jackson is a tall, long defensive lineman who looks to translate well as a defensive end on even fronts. Jackson, similar to Shemar Stewart and Mykel Williams, played inside the tackle on the majority of pass-rushing snaps, so he should have some untapped juice getting after the passer.
Jackson converts speed to power well and should be a factor in collapsing the pocket, even when he doesn’t initially beat the tackle. Jackson could use some refinement, but has a high floor.
Grade: Early/Mid Day 2
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Ashton Gillotte, similar to Landon Jackson, is a high-floor defensive end on even fronts who has some untapped pass-rushing juice. A pocket-pusher on passing downs, Gillotte presents a lot of value in run defense – he’s a nearly perfect fit in Fangio-type systems that call for inside-outside rushers.
Despite his shorter height/length, Gillotte is one of the most consistently impactful players in this edge rusher class. He has a relentless motor and uses his hands incredibly well.
Grade: Early/Mid Day 2
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton made the unfortunate mistake of deciding to transfer to Texas A&M this past season. He was thoroughly miscast in the Aggies defensive scheme – he put on a lot of bad weight to play a role that didn’t fit him. Scourton has since claimed to have lost this dead weight and will need to get back to his 2023 form to be worthy of a top-100 selection.
Scourton has three-down potential and should be quick enough to win with his athleticism at times. From a technical standpoint, he’s shown the ability to set up moves and counters in advance. A team with a foundation in place would be the best spot for Scourton to land, preferably in the back half of the second round, though I could see him going as high as 27 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Grade: Mid Day 2
Bradyn Swinson, Louisiana State
It’s hard to look at Bradyn Swinson’s impact at LSU and imagine he’s not at least somewhat impactful at the NFL level. He’s got a decent frame, gets off the line well, and is technically sound. Despite being an older player, Swinson was one of the most impactful edge rushers in the SEC this past season.
Swinson projects as a late-down outside linebacker that still needs some refinement, even at 23 years old. That won’t be something every team is willing to take in the second round, but Swinson presents a decently high floor.
Grade: Mid Day 2
Tier 4: Developmental Role Players / Possible Starters
Jordan Burch, Oregon
Jordan Burch got better every single year throughout his five college seasons, eventually becoming a high-impact star on the Oregon defensive line. This past year, he tallied more than 8 sacks and 11 TFL, five PBU, and one FF. Burch, originally a five-star recruit at South Carolina, is athletic and has a solid frame, projecting as a defensive end on even fronts.
Burch, despite his impact, still needs some refinement. He’s also not quite everyone’s cup of tea, per se. He doesn’t play with the type of motor you like to see from NFL-level athletes, and can stall out after his initial punch against a lineman in the run game. Overall, Burch makes sense as a third-round bet with starting upside, though it’s more likely he’s a situational role player for whoever selects him.
Grade: Late Day 2
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Kyle Kennard really blew up this past year in Columbia, South Carolina. He showed lots of juice off the edge, has a solid frame, and can win with finesse, speed, and power. For NFL teams, you know what you’re getting in Kyle Kennard – a rotational edge rusher that can give you 5-7 sacks in a season.
It’s unlikely that Kennard is ever a consistent NFL starter, but his pass-rushing consistency should get him picked somewhere on the second day of the draft.
Grade: Late Day 2
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
This is a lower ranking than most will have on Donovan Ezeiruaku, who was incredibly productive for Boston College this past season. Before I get to why I’m lower on him, I’ll say that Ezeiruaku has plus length and skill, two things that typically bode well for someone translating to the NFL.
I do think there are some major asterisks in Ezeiruaku’s game. I’m not sure that with his frame, he’ll ever be capable of playing on run downs. He was consistently erased on those plays. While Ezeiruaku has a plus wingspan, he still only measures at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds. On top of that, he lacks top-end burst off the line of scrimmage. I think with the early-down negatives as well as some red flags in the physical profile, this is a player I’m willing to let another team take a chance on. Still, he’s at least worth a bet in the top-100, I just have my reservations about him on day one.
Grade: Late Day 2
