We scouts use the term “EDGE”, to describe defensive players who provide a pass rush on the edges, from the 3-4 OLB or 4-3 defensive end positions. With the NFL being a passing friendly league, and teams using more 3 and 4 WR sets, having guys who can get to the QB from the edges are a must. They hold high value…very high value. Here is how I have them ranked this year.
1. EDGE Owa Odighizuwa 6’4 267 lbs rSr. UCLA (#7 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 yard: 4.62 10 yard: 1.62 Bench Press: 25 reps Vertical: 39′ Broad Jump: 10’9 3 Cone: 7.36 Short Shuttle: 4.19
Career Stats: 51 games 136 tackles 24.5 TFL 12.5 Sacks
Strengths: Very well put together, is an elite athlete. Has long arms. Has played both as a 3-4 OLB and as a 4-3 DE. He’s very strong at the point of attack, has heavy, powerful hands, stacks and sheds well vs the run. Sets the edge well. Has good burst off of the edge, can walk OL right into the QB’s lap. Wins with power and solid hand usage as a pass rusher. Still a bit raw as a pass rusher, but has the physical traits and tools to be an impact player as a pro.Also can bump inside to the 3 technique and win as a pass rusher in the sub package. Not just a pass rusher, he plays the run very well. Complete football player.
Weaknesses: Owa missed all of 2013 with two separate surgeries on his left hip. Took some plays off at times, when he was winded. Lost good pad level when tired. Also lost outside contain at times when he got to far upfield going after the QB.
2. EDGE Alvin “Bud” Dupree 6’4 267 lbs rSr. Kentucky (#8 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 time: 4.56 10 yard: 1.60 Vertical: 42′ Broad Jump: 11’6 Short Shuttle: 4.47 3 Cone: 7.49
Career Stats: 47 Games 247 Tackles 37 TFL 23.5 Sacks 4 FF
Strengths: Strong hands, uses his length to his advantage when taking on and getting rid of blockers. Has a good burst off of the edge, putting pressure on T’s with his speed. Very good inside swim move. Uses his hands well as a pass rusher. Disruptive, makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. Plays the run decently, uses good pad level and strength when taking on blockers. Hustles, pursues the football hard. Has played both as a 3-4 OLB and as a 4-3 DE.
Weaknesses: Loses outside contain vs the run at times, allowing himself to be washed down and pinned inside. Dupree isn’t a natural bender around the edge.
3. EDGE Randy Gregory 6’6 245 lbs rJr. Nebraska (#9 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 4.64 10 yard: 1.60 Bench Press: 24 reps Vertical: 36.5 3 Cone: 6.79
Career Stats: 24 Games 120 Tackles 25.5 TFL 17.5 Sacks 2 FF
Strengths: Gregory has great length, speed, and explosiveness off of the edge as a pass rusher. He shows the ability to rush standing up or with his hand on the ground. Translates speed to power, has a very good swim move. Natural edge bender. Was moved all over the field, sent after the QB from different spots in the front 7. Uses his long arms to hold off T’s, shed and make plays vs the run. Is a very fluid athlete, looked good in the linebacker drills at the combine and during his pro day.
Weaknesses: Gregory failed a drug test at the combine, testing positive for cannabis. Some teams may have taken him completely off of their boards, even with him being a talented player. Gregory has to add weight, get stronger so he can hold up better versus the run.
4. EDGE Dante Fowler 6’2 261 lbs Jr. Florida (#12 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 4.60 10 yard: 1.56 Bench Press: 19 reps Vertical: 32.5 Broad Jump: 9’4 3 Cone 7.40 Short Shuttle: 4.32
Career Stats: 37 Games 140 Tackles 33.5 TFL 14.5 Sacks 5 FF
Strengths: Violent football player, wins with power as a pass rusher. Has great short area quickness, shoots gaps, gets in the backfield and makes impact plays vs the run. Has played as a 4-3 DE, as a 3-4 OLB, also has been used in blitzing situations in the A and B gaps. He has a very good swim move. Violent hand usage. Pursues the football hard on every play.
Weaknesses: A lot of scouts feel as though he’s a can’t miss, top five pick, but I’m not one of those guys. Doesn’t get home on a consistent basis as a pass rusher. In 2014, vs the two best OT’s he faced(La’el Collins and Cam Robinson), Fowler was dominated. Completely taken out of the game, didn’t win those one on one battles.
5. EDGE Vic Beasley 6’3 246 lbs rSr. Clemson (#14 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 4.53 10 yard: 1.59 Bench Press: 35 reps Vertical: 41′ Broad Jump: 10’10 3 Cone: 6.91 Short Shuttle: 4.19
Career Stats: 48 Games 90 Tackles 52.5 TFL 33 Sacks 7 FF
Strengths: Explosive off of the edge, translates speed to power, very quick and twitchy. Uses his hands very well when rushing the passer. Beasley has long arms, does a good job getting low, getting good leverage when using the bull rush. Natural edge bending ability. He’s lined up as a DE, in a 2 point stance as a 3-4 OLB, and as a joker or spy on mobile QB’s. He can beat you with speed, but also has a great inside swim move as a counter. Incredible closing speed. Incredible athlete, what he did at the combine is what you see on tape. Reminds me of Seattle Seahawks OLB/DE Bruce Irwin.
Weaknesses: Non existent vs the run. Gets dominated at the point of attack, loses contain, allowing RB’s to get around the edge. Beasley played between 225-35 lbs during his career, put on weight for the combine, but can he keep that weight on?
6. EDGE Shane Ray 6’3 245 lbs rJr. Missouri (#18 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 4.65 Bench Press: 21 reps Vertical: 33.5′ Broad Jump: 10’0 3 Cone: 7.71 Short Shuttle: 4.53
Career Stats: 40 games 120 Tackles 34 TFL 19 Sacks 5 FF
Strengths: Elite, top flight speed and explosion off of the edge. Wins with a great 1st step. Because of his good outside rush, he has a good inside counter move. Improved his hand usage as the season went along. Had success when bumped inside over G’s in sub-packages. Ray is at his best attacking the line of scrimmage, rushing the passer.
Weaknesses: Ray gets manhandled at the point of attack vs the run. Doesn’t hold the edge well on a consistent basis. Really needs to get stronger in his upper and lower body, along with work on his ability to stack and shed blockers.
7. EDGE Eli Harold 6’3 247 lbs Jr. Virginia (#35 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
40 Time: 4.60 10 yard: 1.56 Bench Press: 24 reps Vertical: 35′ Broad Jump: 10’3 3 Cone: 7.17 Short Shuttle: 4.16
Career Stats: 36 Games 141 Tackles 36.5 TFL 17.5 Sacks 4 FF
Strengths: Long, athletic frame. Great burst around the edge. Shows the ability to dip and bend around the edge. Has a good inside swim move to counter his outside speed. Has real good closing speed, can track down QB’s and ball carriers from behind. Played in a 2 point stance as a 3-4 OLB and as a DE in the 4-3.
Weaknesses: Struggles at the point of attack vs the run. Plays too high and has poor hand usage. Must learn to use his long arms, stack and shed blockers. He also must use his arms more as a pass rusher, often he’ll allow T’s to get in his chest, latch on, having difficulty getting rid of them.
8. EDGE Hau’oli Kikaha 6’2 253 lbs rSr. Washington (#66 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 4.90 Bench Press: 20 reps Vertical: 34.5′ Broad Jump: 9’4 Short Shuttle: 4.33 3 Cone: 7.13
Career Stats: 44 Games 206 Tackles 51.5 TFL 36 Sacks 7 FF
Strengths: Strong, heavy hands, built low to the ground, stocky and sturdy. Uses his hands and good leverage to deal with T’s at the point of attack. Fires off of the ball low. Kikaha has a nice outside swim move, and counters it with a inside spin move. Shows good backside discipline. Has some experience dropping into coverage, looks comfortable. Decent vs the run. Kikaha has shown the ability to win as a pass rusher with power, leverage and technique. May be asked to play OLB in the NFL.
Weaknesses: Gets swallowed up by T’s at times because of his short arms. They extend, lock him out and he has a hard time getting off of blocks. Inconsistent tackler, missed too many tackles for my liking. Not a speed rush guy, not a natural bender around the edge.
9. EDGE Nate Orchard 6’3 250 lbs Sr. Utah (#72 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 4.80 10 Yard: 1.68 Vertical: 31.5′ Broad Jump: 9’7 3 Cone: 7.28 Short Shuttle: 4.43
Career Stats: 50 Games 186 Tackles 38.5 TFL 25 Sacks 8 FF
Strengths: Displays strong hands, uses them well at the POA vs the run. Does a decent job getting off of blocks and making plays. Shows good backside discipline. Wins as a pass rusher with power, and a inside and outside swim move. Has reps on the film dropping into coverage and looked comfortable. I like him as a 4-3 DE or a LOLB in the 3-4. Has experience playing both in college.
Weaknesses: Lacks great speed, burst and explosiveness off of the edge. Not a edge bender. Has to work on being stout at the point of attack vs the run on a consistent basis, plays high at times. A tweener, lacks the elite athleticism to be asked to play LB full time, but is also a bit undersized for a base DE.
10. EDGE Trey Flowers 6’2 266 lbs Sr. Arkansas (#74 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 4.83 Bench Press: 28 reps Vertical: 36.5′ 3 Cone: 7.28 Broad Jump: 10’1 Short Shuttle: 4.40
Career Stats: 49 Games 190 Tackles 47.5 TFL 18 Sacks 4 FF
Strengths: Very long arms for a guy 6’2. Uses them to set the edge well vs the run. Has experience playing in a 3 and 2 point stance. Very strong, stacks and sheds blockers well at the point of attack. Wins as a pass rusher with heavy, violent hands, power, and sound technique. I really like him as a base DE in the 4-3. Strong enough to hold up versus T’s at the point of attack.
Weaknesses: Lacks great speed and burst off of the edge as a pass rusher. Doesn’t have the athleticism to drop into coverage, play in space as a LB.
Other EDGE Prospects with draft worthy grades:
11. EDGE Ryan Delaire 6’4 254 lbs rSr. Towson (#79 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
12. EDGE Preston Smith 6’5 271 lbs Sr. Miss St. (#89 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
13. EDGE Lorenzo Mauldin 6’4 259 lbs Sr. Louisville (#90 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
14. EDGE ZaDarius Smith 6’4 274 lbs Sr. Kentucky (#95 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
15. EDGE Max Valles 6’5 251 lbs rSo. Virginia (#151 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
16. EDGE Anthony Chickillo 6’3 267 lbs Sr. Miami(FL) (#159 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
17. EDGE Danielle Hunter 6’5 252 lbs Jr. LSU (#165 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
18. EDGE Zack Hodges 6’2 250 lbs Sr. Harvard (#183 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
19. EDGE Xzavier Dickson 6’3 260 lbs Sr. Alabama (#190 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
20. EDGE/TE Lyden Trail 6’7 270 lbs rSr. Norfolk St. (#200 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
21. EDGE Kyle Emanuel 6’3 255 lbs rSr. N. Dakota St. (#205 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
22. EDGE Geno Grissom 6’3 262 lbs rSr. Oklahoma (#209 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
23. EDGE Davis Tull 6’2 246 lbs rSr. Tenn-Chat (#212 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
24. EDGE Markus Golden 6’2 260 lbs rSr. Missouri (#227 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
25. EDGE Deion Barnes 6’4 260 lbs rJr. Penn St. (#229 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
26. EDGE Jermauria Rasco 6’4 260 lbs Sr. LSU (#260 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
Muslim Football Scout 