2024 FFSN NFL Draft Big Board: EDGE Rankings and Scouting Reports
The 2024 NFL Draft is getting closer by the day, and Fans First Sports Network is here to give you the best draft analysis anywhere! Between now and the NFL Draft, we will reveal our NFL Draft big board, one position at a time. Today, we will continue with the EDGE rushers.
Those of you who know us from Behind the Steel Curtain may remember our BTSC Big Board we did the past three years, and we are excited to have a good portion of the crew back to do it here at FFSN. The board will be my comprised of my personal rankings, player stats, and scouting reports for all early-round prospects. Stats are compiled by community member SNW, and scouting reports come from a collaborative effort of myself, Jeremy Betz, Shannon White, Adam Curry, Noah_E., Nolan Keck, skyfire322, and Necksnation.
For each position, we will give a positional ranking, my overall round ranking, previous season stats, and an in-depth scouting report for each early and mid-round round prospect. We hope this will be a helpful resource for you as you become familiarized with draft prospects that your team may be looking at.
In case you have missed any of our previous positional big board rankings, you can check them out by clicking on the links below.
2024 FFSN NFL Draft Big Board: Interior Offensive Line Rankings
FFSN 2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Tight End Rankings and Analysis
Note: All stats and analysis are unedited from what the original contributor submitted.
1. Dallas Turner | Alabama | 6‘ 4“ 245 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Top 15
2023 Stats: GP 14, T 53, TFL 14.5, S 10, PD 1, FR 0, FF 2.
Andrew Wilbar: Dallas Turner is one of the most athletic defensive prospects in this draft. His 2023 season was good, but not unfathomably great. I, along with many others, expected him to follow in the steps of Will Anderson and completely dominate competition, but it did not happen. We did, however, see more consistency in 2023 than what we saw in 2022, and much of that can be attributed to his own commitment to diversifying his pass rush. In 2022, Turner almost exclusively won with speed, but this past year, he developed in the aspect of gaining leverage, displaying an ability to drive defenders back and collapse the pocket. His hand usage and hand placement have also improved, making him a much more well-rounded prospect as he enters the draft. He is my highest rated defender in this class and an excellent fit as a stand-up pass rusher in a 3-4 system.
2. Laiatu Latu | UCLA | 6‘ 4“ 265 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Late 1st
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 49, TFL 21.5, S 13, PD 2, FR 0, FF 2.
Andrew Wilbar: If not for injury concerns, Latu would be in the conversation to be a top-ten pick. Perhaps the pass rusher with the best hand usage in the class, Latu constantly sheds blocks against opposing tackles, wreaking havoc in the backfield and bringing ball carriers down for loss of yardage. At 6’5”, 259 pounds, Latu has the versatility to play either with his hand in the dirt or as a stand-up rush linebacker. I personally like him best in a 4-3 scheme if he can add a few more pounds to his frame, as his ability to work tackles off balance with his power allows him to get into the backfield by leverage on either the inside or outside shoulder of the tackle. The biggest concern with Latu lies in his medical history. He medically retired when playing for Washington due to a severe neck injury. He later returned to football, transferring to UCLA and getting his career back on a positive trajectory. Nonetheless, this makes his draft stock contingent on how serious NFL teams consider his injury risk to be long-term.
3. Chop Robinson | Penn State | 6‘ 3“ 240 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Late 1st
2023 Stats: GP 10, T 15, TFL 7.5, S 4, PD 1, FR 1, FF 2.
Jeremy Betz: One of the most exciting prospects in the entire Draft, Robinson boasts elite speed and explosiveness coming off the edge. Quick hands, and incredible bend allow him to get around the corner fast and furiously attack in the backfield. While he can get bullied by stronger pass blockers at the point of attack, he possesses a relentless motor and plenty of athleticism to win his reps. A solid Rd. 1 prospect with big time upside.
4. Jared Verse | Florida State | 6‘ 4“ 260 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Early 2nd
2023 Stats: GP 13, T 41, TFL 12.5, S 9, PD 3, FR 1, FF 1.
Noah_E: Jared Verse is an absolute freak of nature. He’s 6’4”, 254 pounds, and not only is he an incredible athlete for his position, but he’s one of the best athletes in the entire class. At the combine he ran a 4.58, had a 35” vertical, and looked incredibly talented. Verse has a lightning quick first step and great upper body strength to consistently wreak havoc in the backfield. His hands are impressive and he has a multitude of pass rush moves in his arsenal. He has good instincts and quickly diagnoses the play. Verse knows how to set the edge in the run game and is a very consistent tackler. His footwork can be a little sloppy at times and despite his strength, he can be held up by more powerful tackles. He’s limited to a strictly pass rushing role at this point in time and has not shown the ability to drop back into coverage. I honestly don’t have much to say negatively about Verse and I think he could be the best defensive player in this draft when it’s all said and done.
5. Chris Braswell | Alabama | 6‘ 3“ 220 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Early 2nd
2023 Stats: GP 14, T 42, TFL 10.5, S 8, INT 1, TD 1, PD 1, FR 0, FF 3.
Jeremy Betz: Braswell is a pure speed rusher with a limited array of pass rush moves. What he excels at is creating quick pressure and being a disruptive force on the edge. If an opposing blacker gets hands on him, he can be controlled and doesn’t get off blocks extremely well. He’s a twitched up athlete though and with some refinement could become an excellent 3rd down rusher in the NFL.
6. Marshawn Kneeland | Western Michigan | 6‘ 3“ 265 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Early 3rd
2023 Stats: GP 10, T 57, TFL 7.5, S 4.5, PD 0, FR 0, FF 2.
Andrew Wilbar: Kneeland is one of the most physically imposing pass rushers in the class. Extremely heavy hands and a powerful frame are the first things that stand out when you turn on his tape, as he is consistently a factor in collapsing the pocket by simply overpowering and out-leveraging opponents. His solid base allows him to set the edge against the run, and his ability to disengage and navigate through traffic allows him to fill gaps and get to running backs in or near the backfield. My big concern with Kneeland is the lack of sack production. While he has been a consistent penetrator, he has only recorded six sacks over the last two seasons. He is not a finisher at this point in his career, but I think part could be do to his schematic responsibilities. Personally, I think he has a solid first step as a stand-up pass rusher, but he was more frequently aligned with his hand in the dirt. Despite his 267-pound frame, I think he may be a better long-term fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He doesn’t have the longest frame at 6’3”, but his 34 ½” arms allow him to gain leverage on the edge and create better pass-rushing opportunities.
7. Mohamed Kamara | Colorado State | 6‘ 3“ 245 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Early 3rd
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 56, TFL 17, S 13, PD 1, FR 1, TD 1, FF 2.
Jeremy Betz: Kamara is a unique athlete for the position, and reminds me a lot of YaYa Diaby from last year’s class. Very fast, and very strong, but lacking elite bend off the edge. Kamara wins with effort and a variety of surprisingly sophisticated pass rush moves. Smaller than average hands mean he can’t disengage blockers very well. He’ll have a role quickly at the NFL level, but it may take him some time to develop into a playmaker at the position.
8. Jonah Elliss | Utah | 6‘ 3“ 232 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Late 3rd
2023 Stats: GP 10, T 37, TFL 16, S 12, PD 3, FR 0, FF 1.
Andrew Wilbar: It is hard to watch a game Utah played and not see Jonah Elliss constantly making life difficult on the quarterback. At 6’2, 248 pounds, Elliss does not provide exceptional size and strength to defend the run, but his motor is always running at 100%, and he finds creative ways to get into the backfield. Until he can improve his lack of lower-body strength, he will be incredibly limited as a run defender in the NFL, but if that strength improves after a little time in the weight room, his upside is through the roof. As a pass rusher, Elliss has a natural feel for getting after the quarterback, and, while his athleticism may not be off the charts, he displays impressive closing speed, active hands, and good bend. He will be able to contribute immediately as a situational pass rusher, and if he can add more weight to his lower half, he could develop into a player who will earn a large role and hold it for a decade. Guys like Elliss always tend to carve out a productive career.
9. Bralen Trice | Washington | 6‘ 4“ 260 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Late 3rd
2023 Stats: GP 15, T 49, TFL 11.5, S 7, PD 2, FR 1, FF 1.
Noah_E: Trice is a bit of a weird prospect. He features the fastest first step you’ll ever see, as well as a relentless motor and good power at the point of attack . He uses his hands well and is a very technically sound pass rusher. However he lacks any overwhelming explosiveness, and has yet to prove he can be a high level run defender. He’s often getting to the edge and his lack of length limits his ability as a tackler. However, that motor that I talked about earlier is evident on every snap which will translate well. He’s proven he can be an elite level pass rusher, but the question is can he evolve his game in the NFL.
10. Brandon Dorlus | Oregon | 6‘ 3“ 285 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Late 3rd
2023 Stats: GP 14, T 25, TFL 6.5, S 5, PD 9, FR 1, FF 0.
Nolan Keck: An All-Pac 12 Senior who played in all 14 games for the Ducks and led his team with a career high 5 sacks, Brandon Dorlus is a disruptive outside edge defender with active hands and has a few moves that he can win with. A good blend of strength and athleticism serves him well as he ran the second fastest 40 yard dash for edge defenders at the NFL Combine. He has the physical, upper body power to penetrate the box. He is a bit of a tweener, but his versatility gives him a high ceiling for succeeding in the NFL in either a 3-4 or 4-3.
11. Adisa Isaac | Penn State | 6‘ 4“ 248 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Late 3rd
2023 Stats: GP 13, T 37, TFL 16, S 7.5, PD 0, FR 1, FF 1.
Noah_E: It’s a crime that Adisa Isaac doesn’t get talked about more. He has powerful hands and plays with good pad level to win the leverage battle. His first step is ridiculously quick and he has a variety of pass rush moves at his disposal. Isaac is a stout tackler and does a great job wrapping up ball carriers. He was asked to drop into coverage a good bit during his time at Penn State and while he didn’t do anything spectacular, it wasn’t a weakness. Now he isn’t the most explosive athlete and right now he lacks the overall strength to compete with stronger Offensive Tackles. His hands also need some work as they are strong, but without a proper plan they become ineffective. I am a big fan of Adisa Isaac and I don’t see why he shouldn’t be talked about in the upper tier of 2024 edge rushers.
12. Jalyx Hunt | Houston Christian | 6‘ 4“ 248 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 4th
2023 Stats: GP 10, T 46, TFL 9, S 6.5, PD 2, INT 1 FR 2, FF 2, TD 1.
Andrew Wilbar: For someone as athletic as Hunt, I was hoping for a little more on his tape. Primarily faced against inferior competition, Hunt was able to create a good amount of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but he never came across to me as an unblockable defender who was clearly on a better level than the competition. The traits are tantalizing, but for someone who is not the greatest finisher as a pass rusher, expectations must be held in check. He is not the strongest at the point of attack and lacks a strong base, which allows opposing linemen to push him off the ball and minimize his impact on running plays. On a positive note, he displays impressive bend around the edge, and he does have the frame to add more weight. I do believe that, in time, Hunt could develop into a productive NFL player, but he is unlikely to be a major contributor until he improves his play strength.
13. Myles Cole | Texas Tech | 6‘ 6“ 266 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 4th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 32, TFL 6.5, S 3.5, PD 1, FR 0, FF 0.
Andrew Wilbar: When you see that a draft prospect spent six seasons in college, you typically expect a highly productive, low-ceiling prospect who simply lacks the athleticism for the NFL. With Myles Cole, that statement does not apply one bit. Cole spent four years at Louisiana-Monroe before transferring to Texas Tech for the 2022 season, where he was primarily a situational role player that season. In 2023, Cole was awarded a much larger role on the defense, but we still only saw mediocre production from him. Posting only 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in 2023, there is a good bit of projection teams will have to make in order to fall in love with Cole, but he is an ideal developmental prospect to take a chance on once we get to Day 3. His elite length, active hands, and quick get-off are all things I love about his game, but he can get a bit stiff and play too high against the run, and the few lineman he faced that possessed elite strength could overcome his athleticism and shield him away from the play. While not the most instinctual defensive lineman, Cole still provides teams with plenty of traits to fall in love with. He just needs to add more functional strength in order to enjoy success at the NFL level.
14. Austin Booker | Kansas | 6‘ 6“ 240 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 4th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 56, TFL 12, S 8, PD 1, FR 0, FF 2.
Nolan Keck: His combination of length and movement skills could take Kansas Jayhawk Austin Booker a long way in the NFL. Although he is raw with only one start under his belt, his change of direction and quickness will be pillars to build upon as he adds weight to his impressive frame so that he can play in the NFL. Whichever team that drafts him will need to be patient as he’ll need time to develop. But he has the physical mindset to eventually become a three down player once he is ready for that role.
15. Javon Solomon | Troy | 6‘ 2“ 246 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 4th
2023 Stats: GP 14, T 56, TFL 18, S 16, PD 0, FR 2, FF 3.
Nolan Keck: Thirty-three sacks over the past four years for the Sun Belt Troy Trojans, Javon Solomon is an accelerator off the line of scrimmage, using his long arms to his advantage in spite of being short. Already fully framed but with good hands and an NFL caliber spin-move, he’ll win with quickness and leverage. But he will need time to develop to learn to stand his ground in the NFL and overcome his physical limitations.
BEST OF THE REST
16. Nelson Caesar | Houston | 6‘ 3“ 245 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: GP 11, T 43, TFL 13.5, S 9.5, PD 1, FR 0, FF 0.
17. Jaylen Harrell | Michigan | ‘ “ lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: GP , T , TFL , S , PD , FR , FF .
18. Cedric Johnson | Ole Miss | 6‘ 3“ 240 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 40, TFL 6.5, S 5.5, PD 3, FR 0, FF 1.
19. Eric Watts | Connecticut | 6‘ 5“ 275 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 34, TFL 6.5, S 2, PD 1, FR 0, FF 2.
20. Javontae Jean-Baptiste | Notre Dame | 6‘ 5“ 253 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: GP 13, T 49, TFL 10.5, S 5, PD 1, FR 1, FF 1.
21. Zion Tupuola-Fetui | Washington | 6‘ 4“ 260 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: GP 14, T 29, TFL 5, S 3.5, PD 0, FR 0, FF 1.
22. Xavier Thomas | Clemson | 6‘ 2“ 270 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 6th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 25, TFL 4, S 3, PD 2, FR 1, FF 1.
23. Trajan Jeffcoat | Arkansas | 6‘ 4“ 276 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 6th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 16, TFL 8.5, S 4, PD 0, FR 0, FF 0.
24. Brennan Jackson | Washington | 6‘ 4“ 255 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 6th
2023 Stats: GP 12, T 57, TFL 12.5, S 8.5, PD 3, FR 4, FF 1, TD 3.
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