NFL Draft: Ranking the Top 30 EDGE Defenders After the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine

30) Steven Parker, Texas State

Steven Parker spent time at three schools during college, but his most recent stop came at Texas State. The six-foot-four defensive end totaled 29 tackles, five sacks, one pass defense, and a forced fumble during his final season. Parker will likely be drafted in the later rounds as a depth/developmental piece.

2) Mykel Williams, Georgia

Mykel Williams found himself injured in the season opener against Clemson, but even then, he proved why he is one of the premiere pass rushers in this draft class playing through injury. In his limited production last season, the six-foot-five defender managed to rack up 21 total tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass defense. Williams is a top talent, and his toughness doesn't go unnoticed.

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3) Mike Green, Marshall

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Mike Green is a name that's gathered plenty of buzz heading into the combine. The talented defender put together a career year and one of the best seasons for an edge rusher in the nation this past year. Green put up 81 total tackles, 17 sacks (!!), three forced fumbles, and two pass defenses. If he can put together a strong showing at the combine, his stock will continue to trend up.

4) James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

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James Pearce Jr. has the size and skillset to develop into a top pass rusher at the next level. The Tennessee product is lean at six-foot-five, and his versatility on the defensive line makes him very valuable on the field. Breaking out in his sophomore season, the edge rusher has racked up 17 total sacks over the last two years, and he'll have plenty to offer to whatever team lands him.

5) Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

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Shemar Stewart enters this draft as a player labeled as the biggest "boom or bust" prospect in the class. The defender has the skill set to be an absolute force on the edge at the next level. Still, he struggled to show his dominance at Texas A&M. However, after a strong senior bowl showing, his stock could continue to climb if he crushes the combine.

6) Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

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Nic Scourton is another Texas A&M edge rusher expected to have plenty of interest from NFL teams. The talented edge rusher spent two seasons at Purdue, where he showed plenty of promise, especially during his ten-sack season in 2023. Looking to build off his strong sophomore season, Scourton transferred to Texas A&M to join the Aggies' stout defensive line. In his lone season in the SEC, the Texas native racked up 37 total tackles, five sacks, two pass defenses, and one forced fumble.

7) Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

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Jack Sawyer was arguably the heart and soul of the Ohio State defense this past season, and his strip-sack return for a touchdown against Texas in the CFP Semifinals will leave him a Buckeyes legend forever. During his four-year career at OSU, the six-foot-five edge rusher improved each season and finally put it together during his senior year. Sawyer is a high-character player with the tools and talent to be a big-time defender at the pro level.

8) Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss

Princely Umanmielen spent four seasons at Florida before transferring to Ole Miss for his fifth and final college football season. The versatile defender showed out in his lone year with the Rebels, putting up career numbers, including a team-high 10.5 sacks. With the mixture of size and athleticism, he'll likely have plenty of fans in NFL front offices as draft day approaches.

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9) Kyle Kennard, South Carolina

Kyle Kennard is another talented defender who used the transfer portal to his advantage, capitalizing on his final season in college. The edge rusher joined the Gamecocks and quickly showed why Shane Beamer and company were so eager to land the Georgia Tech transfer. Kennard racked up 11.5 sacks for South Carolina this past season on his way to many awards following the season, including the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is awarded to the nation's best defensive player.

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10) Landon Jackson, Arkansas

Landon Jackson spent three years at Arkansas, where he quickly became a vital piece of the Razorbacks' defense. Overshadowed by the team's lack of success, Jackson still put plenty of film together that should impress NFL teams. At six feet seven inches, the defender offers plenty of versatility on the defensive line, which will alone add value for whichever team lands him. 

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11) JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

JT Tuimoloau could find himself drafted ahead of multiple guys on this list solely off his senior production this past year. The Ohio State product finished the season with 61 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, three pass defenses, and two forced fumbles. At six-foot-five, he has everything he needs to be a monster at the next level.

12) Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Donovan Ezeiruaku is another edge rusher who had a dominant senior season in college. The Boston College standout racked up 16.5 sacks this past year with 80 total tackles, including three forced fumbles. He could be a player rising on draft boards with a strong pro day.

13) Ashton Gillotte, Louisville

Ashton Gillotte entered the 2024 season with high expectations after an 11-sack season last year. Although he didn't match the same productivity this season, he proved he has the traits to be a game-wrecker on defense.

14) Jared Ivey, Ole Miss

Jared Ivey spent two seasons at Georgia Tech before transferring to Ole Miss in 2022. After three seasons with the Rebels, the edge rusher put together a career year in 2024, totaling seven sacks. Ivey could be a sleeper pick in the later rounds.

15) David Walker, Central Arkansas

David Walker won't get the recognition he deserves playing for a smaller program like Central Arkansas, but that doesn't take away from how disruptive he was for the Bears' defense this past season. The defender totaled 68 tackles, 10.5 sacks, five pass defenses, and four forced fumbles, which should have him on many team's draft boards.

16) Bradyn Swinson, LSU

Bradyn Swinson started his college career at Oregon before transferring to LSU in 2023. The edge rusher put together a career year in 2024, totaling 59 tackles, 8.5 sacks, three pass defenses, and two forced fumbles. With good size and ability to rush the passer at an elite rate, he could be a steal in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.

17) Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

Josaiah Stewart transferred to Michigan after two strong seasons at Coastal Carolina. The six-foot-one defensive end quickly found a role in the Wolverines' defense, where he proved to be a reliable force on the defensive line. In 2024, Stewart racked up 33 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. With the tools to develop into a force at the next level, expect many teams to be high on Stewart.

18) Que Robinson, Alabama

Que Robinson's production is lower than that of most of the other pass rushers on this list, but that's mainly due to his recent switch from linebacker to defensive end. The Alabama product has the tools to be a big-time pass rusher, but his development in the new position may take time.

19) Elijah Roberts, SMU

Elijah Roberts started his college journey at Miami, but after three seasons of struggling to find a sizable role, he transferred to SMU. The pass rusher quickly proved worthy of playing time, totaling 17 sacks in two seasons with the Mustangs. Don't be surprised if he gets taken higher than expected come draft night.

20) Barryn Sorrell, Texas

Barryn Sorell spent all four years of his college career at Texas. The Longhorns defender developed into a serviceable pass rusher, but he never emerged as a game wrecker like many hoped he would. Despite that, he could be a more than solid depth piece at the next level.

21) Jordan Burch, Oregon

Jordan Burch spent three seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Oregon seeking a chance to contend. The edge rusher didn't show much improvement at first with the Ducks, but in his final season, he put together a monster year which included 8.5 sacks. Don't be surprised if some teams fall in love with the idea of developing the former five-star recruit.

22) Sai'vion Jones, LSU

Sai'Vion Jones spent four seasons at LSU, where he developed into a solid pass rusher for the Tigers. In his final season, the SEC product totaled 40 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two pass defenses, and two forced fumbles. Between his size and flashes he showed on film, he could be a target for many teams in the middle rounds.

23) Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina

Kaimon Rucker spent five seasons at North Carolina, where he thrived as a pass rusher for the Tar Heels. In his final two seasons, the Georgia native racked up 14.5 sacks, proving that he could be a disruptor on the defensive line. Considering his production while undersized for the position, he could be an intriguing prospect to see how NFL teams rank him.

24) Tyler Baron, Miami

Tyler Baron was one of the biggest names in the college football transfer portal last offseason. The defender spent four seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Miami. In his lone season with the Hurricanes, Baron racked up 38 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble to round out his college career.

25) Tyler Batty, BYU

Tyler Batty spent five seasons at BYU, where he showed flashes of his ability as a pass rusher. However, during his final season with the Cougars, the six-foot-five defender served more as a solid run stuffer than a pass rusher, racking up 59 tackles and only 1.5 sacks. Despite that, Batty could be a solid depth piece at the next level.

26) Davin Vann, NC State

Davin Vann spent five seasons at NC State, where he seemingly broke out during his junior season. The fifth-year senior put together a career-year in 2024, racking up 41 tackles, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two pass defenses. Expect Vann to draw interest in the middle rounds of the draft.

27) Ethan Downs, Oklahoma

Ethan Downs spent all four seasons of his college career at Oklahoma. The six-foot-four defensive end showed flashes on the defensive line for the Sooners, but he never entirely put it altogether. Despite that, he'll likely draw interest for his traits alone in the NFL Draft.

28) Davon Haynes, Colorado

Dayon Haynes spent four seasons at Pitt before transferring to Colorado last offseason. The defensive end joined the Buffaloes hoping to build on his breakout season in 2023, but he saw a huge hit in production with his new squad. Now, he lands in the NFL Draft after a lackluster season decreased his draft value.

29) Paris Shand, LSU

Paris Shand spent three seasons at Arizona before transferring to LSU in 2023. The Canadian served as a depth piece for the Tigers during his time, limiting his production on the field. Shand has the traits to be successful, but he has plenty to work on before doing so at the next level.

30) Steven Parker, Texas State

Steven Parker spent time at three schools during college, but his most recent stop came at Texas State. The six-foot-four defensive end totaled 29 tackles, five sacks, one pass defense, and a forced fumble during his final season. Parker will likely be drafted in the later rounds as a depth/developmental piece.