The edge defender class in the 2017 NFL Draft has a chance to be great, or even historic. Take a look at any mock draft, and you will see a handful of talented pass-rushers permeating the first round.
Everyone can agree on who the first one of the board will be (Myles Garrett), but there is a multitude of varying opinions on which player should be next. It usually comes down to what type of pass rusher that analyst prefers.
If they are looking for a disruptive penetrator with position flexibility, Stanford’s Solomon Thomas would likely be the choice. If a long and lean pass-rusher is more their speed, then Michigan’s Taco Charlton would be a choice praised by many.
Personal preferences aside, most will agree that this is a deep edge defender class that is crawling with intriguing talent. With that in mind, let’s try to rank this edge defender group.
Disclaimer: If a player is not ranked it is because a sufficient amount of film has not been watched on him. Off-field concerns are not considered in these evaluations. Players are stacked in accordance to their rank within their tier. The description after the tier is what the player is projected to become in the NFL.
Tier 1: Potential All-Pro, perennial Pro Bowler (Top 10)
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
He was the No. 1 player before the season, and he is still the No. 1 player now. Garrett is the best player in this entire draft class, and he has the potential to be a franchise cornerstone for the next 10 years.
Garrett has freakish athleticism to go with some nuanced technique. He still needs to develop his hand use a bit, but that’s reaching at this point.
Tier 2: Potential Pro Bowler, highly productive starter (First round)
Carl Lawson, Auburn
This is likely a surprise to most reading this as Lawson isn’t this high on most draftniks’ boards, but Lawson certainly deserves it.
Lawson has the best hands in the class as he utilizes a myriad of techniques to abuse opposing tackles throughout any given contest. Furthermore, Lawson employs an intricate network of footwork that he uses to freeze and influence any offensive tackle lined up against him.
There are some concerns about his length (31.5-inch arms) and bend, but Lawson has more than enough of the requisite traits to make up for it. The Auburn product uses a variety of hand techniques to soften the edge and keep himself clean at the top of the arc. This gives himself enough space to bend and flatten to the quarterback. Lawson’s explosive get off, active hands and deliberate footwork make him the best pure pass-rusher in this class.
Derek Rivers, Youngstown State
Hailing from a small school, Rivers is the most underrated player in this entire draft class. If he played at a school in a Power Five conference, Rivers would be widely regarded as a top 15 pick.
The Youngstown State pass rusher did himself a huge favor at the NFL Scouting Combine. Rivers was particularly strong in the three-cone drill, 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps as he tested into at least the 74th percentile among NFL defensive ends.
He is a technically sound pass rusher who loves to play through his opponents’ pads. Against the run, he plays with excellent pad level and utilizes impressive hand placement to thwart off blocks.
Rivers can have some problems sticking to blocks, but that is more of an awareness and eye level issues than it is a problem with getting off blocks.
The talented small-school product is as versatile as they come in this class as he can succeed with his hand in the dirt or in a two-point stance.
Solomon Thomas, Stanford
Thomas exploded onto the scene during his redshirt sophomore season as he became one of the most disruptive forces in college football. There was some talk about whether he would be better off as an interior defensive lineman, but after measuring in at 6-foot-3, 273 pounds, Thomas will likely only moonlight on the interior defensive line during rush packages.
The Stanford product is an explosive player whose tight, crisp hands to jolt and discard offensive linemen. He didn’t play as a true edge defender very much, but he has all the traits to survive on the edge full-time.
Thomas tested above the 74th percentile in every on-field drill at the combine. On the edge, Thomas is an athletic talent who is dynamic against the run (when he’s not getting double-teamed) but still learning as a pass rusher on the edge.
Thomas has an extremely high ceiling and a relatively high floor as well. Don’t be surprised if some team picks him in the top 10.
T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
Watt sneaks into this tier thanks, in large part, to an incredibly impressive combine performance, where he tested into at least the 82nd percentile in every drill outside of the 40-yard dash (58th percentile) and bench press (41st percentile).
Watt isn’t just some workout warrior, however, he brings quite a few projectable traits to the table as well. He wasn’t given many true rush reps at Wisconsin, but when he did get the opportunity, he possesses an impressive get off and nice pliability as he is running the arc. Like Rivers, Watt loves to play through a blocker’s pads, utilizing a beautiful push-pull move on many occasions.
At 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, Watt is well within the boundaries of a weak-side defensive end in the NFL. Some would ask him to stand up and play linebacker, but given the simpler responsibilities of defensive ends, Watt wouldn’t have to think as much, which would allow him to play fast and exhibit his athleticism more regularly.
Tier 3: Very good starter (Early second round)
Tim Williams, Alabama
While it appears as though Williams’ draft stock took a tumble since the first iteration of these rankings, his grade only fell a little bit in actuality. In a draft class where the edge defenders are so tightly packed, any small hit to a prospect’s grade can cause a big drop in the rankings.
Williams was one of the bigger disappointments of the NFL Scouting Combine as he was expected to put on a show instead of the middling performance he actually put together.
The Alabama pass rusher’s tape is among the best in this class, but without testing like the top-flight athlete that he looks like on film, it casts some doubt into his evaluation. For a player who is already battling the stigma from a bevy of off-field concerns, that is less than ideal.
Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Derek Barnett may have the best pliability off the edge in this draft class. The Tennessee pass rusher creates steep angles with his hips and ankles as he runs the arc. He routinely abused SEC offensive tackles with his dangerous speed rush.
However, that will be more difficult for Barnett to do in the NFL as he may not have the requisite burst to fully maximize his flexible lower half. Barnett plays with a high motor, and he competes on every snap.
Barnett drove home those concerns by struggling in the 40/10-yard splits and jumps. He did, however, put up an impressive 6.88-second three-cone time, though.
Overall, Barnett is a fiery and flexible pass rusher with an NFL-level move. Initially, Barnett projects as pass rush specialist who has limited exposure against the run. However, with some seasoning, Barnett could develop into a nice base end for a team with an even front.
Taco Charlton, Michigan
Charlton is a long defensive end who should be a perfect fit as a base defensive end in an even front. The Michigan product is great against the run as he uses his length to separate and discard blockers on a consistent basis.
Unfortunately for Charlton, he doesn’t have the pass rush potential that many attribute to him when he’s mocked in the first 15 picks.
He does have a good get off with adequate bend, but he is fairly rudimentary with his setup and execution of his pass rush plan. He does possess a very good spin move that he used to be future first-round offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.
Altogether, Charlton looks like the perfect defensive end on paper, he still has quite a bit of development to do as a pass-rusher before he can become a serious difference maker.
Tier 4: Reliable starter (Mid-to-late second round)
Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
Another one of the biggest fallers in this class, McKinley’s combine performance reinforced some of the concerns with him.
Everyone already knew that the UCLA product was an explosive, yet linear athlete; however, many hoped that some of his pad level and bend issues would be fixable as McKinley gained more experience.
Unfortunately, McKinley tested so poorly in the three-cone and short-shuttle drills that it brings into question whether he is just a stiff player with hip and ankle flexibility issues.
McKinley still has the opportunity to become a great pass rusher who utilizes speed-to-power, but if historical athletic testing thresholds hold any significance, the odds will be against him. Couple that with a shoulder injury that will keep him out of offseason activities, and it would be unwise to invest a first-round pick in McKinley.
Tier 5: Potential starter in Year 2 (Third round)
Jordan Willis, Kansas State
The surprise of the NFL Scouting Combine, Willis tested as the second most athletic edge defender in this draft, per Three Sigma Athlete’s Zach Whitman. No one was surprised by Willis putting on a show in the 40-yard dash and jumps, but it was a pleasant surprise to see him test so well in the agility drills.
On tape, Willis appears to be a stiff athlete who struggles to turn the corner a majority of the time. Yet, every once in a while, he will showcase the type of bend that allowed him to record a 6.85-second three-cone time. If Willis can keep his chest clean, he showcases the ability to bend; however, bending through contacting is seemingly always a struggle for him.
Even without getting into the crux of his bend issues, Willis has other problems on the field as well. He struggles with his hand usage and base in the run game.
What he does possess, however, is a tremendous get off that can stress the set of any offensive tackle. He loves to use a quick arm over technique to win early as well.
Willis is a risky pick because on tape, he struggles to consistently show the type of skill set that will translate into big-time NFL success. Nevertheless, Willis’ apparent athleticism, motor and active hands make him an intriguing prospect for a team to develop.
Charles Harris, Missouri
Another player who disappointed at the combine, Harris tested pathetically in almost every event. This is really concerning because the reason why Harris was considered a fringe-first-round pick in the first place was his athletic traits.
On film, Harris wins with an electric upfield burst, adequate bend and a dynamic spin move. Without the athletic testing to back it up, Harris’ draft stock has to be in free fall right now. How can someone justify selecting a pass rusher in the first 50 picks whose best trait is his athleticism without that player actually testing like a good athlete?
You can’t.
Dawuane Smoot, Illinois
Another underrated pass rusher in this crowded group of edge defenders is Smoot. The Illinois product possesses very good bend to go with an excellent chop move to keep himself clean as he turns the corner.
As a run defender, he is a penetrator who uses his quickness to dart into the backfield, but lacks the hand technique and play strength to be a dominant force.
While he may never be a team’s No. 1 guy, Smoot can certainly step into the complementary pass rusher role on any team with an even front.
Tier 6: Backup/Spot starter (Fourth round)
Tarell Basham, Ohio
Basham is a spark plug defensive end who put together some nice tape against Taylor Moton and Antonio Garcia, both of whom should be gone inside the first 100 picks in the draft.
Basham uses his initial quickness to get to an offensive tackle’s edge and a quick sweep move to stay clean and continue toward the quarterback. He doesn’t have the best bend in the world, but it is good enough by NFL standards. Basham needs to be more tight and compact with his hands at the next level, and he needs to learn the nuances of getting after the quarterback. But he is still an intriguing player who could develop into a nice piece on a team’s front four.
Carroll Phillips, Illinois
Carroll Phillips is a finesse pass rusher who can dip and rip with the best of them with an explosive get off and a flexible lower half.
Phillips likely projects better as an off-ball linebacker, but he does possess some intriguing traits from a pass rush perspective. He is an older prospect (24), so there may be concern over how much he can develop, but as a pure edge defender, Phillips projects to be a sub-package speed rusher who is brought in to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback.