2026 Draft: EDGE

[manxman2601]

Luke Easterling's 2026 EDGE rankings:

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-rankings-edge-defender-rueben-bain-jr-keldric-faulk-tj-parker

Not the greatest class. I'm not impressed with Overton or Dani-Sutton.

Yeah, it's not a patch on last year unless you like undersized quick rushers - it's pretty strong in that department.

 

[mayoclinic]

I could live with TJ Parker with our #1. I could also live with TJ Parker going ahead of us and pushing someone else down.

 

[manxman2601]

I hope this true. It would be nice to test this in a game at some stage this season.

 

[mayoclinic]

That would be amazing!

I still have hope for Swinson, would love to see him make the leap. I firmly believe he was a Day 2 talent.

 

[manxman2601]

That would be amazing!

I still have hope for Swinson, would love to see him make the leap. I firmly believe he was a Day 2 talent.

Yup. He had 60 pressures last year, just 6 behind Abdul Carter and his pass rush win rate was just .5% behind Carter too. He's certainly got it in his tank.

 

[dliverey44]

I also have high hopes for Ponder

 

[mayoclinic]

I suggested elsewhere swapping Keion White with Darrell Taylor (Houston). Both stuck on their teams.

Landry-Chaisson-Taylor-Swinson-Ponder would not be confused with Cleveland or Houston DL, but it wouldn't be a terrible place to start.

 

[manxman2601]

I suggested elsewhere swapping Keion White with Darrell Taylor (Houston). Both stuck on their teams.

Landry-Chaisson-Taylor-Swinson-Ponder would not be confused with Cleveland or Houston DL, but it wouldn't be a terrible place to start.

Personally I think Chaisson isn't worth renewing. He's a coverage sack/wait for the DTs to flush a QB into you type of guy rather than someone who wins clean one-on-one. I'm happy for him to prove me wrong over the course of the season but I've not really seen it yet.

Also, don't forget Truman Jones. I saw a quote from Vrabel saying he's won practice player of the week almost every week so far and that he's a bit of a favourite.

It's still comfortably the biggest need for me currently.

 

[mayoclinic]

If the Pats get a LB like Reese/Style/Golday/Hill I think that will provide some of the missing pass rush.

A month ago Manx wrote:

Anthony Hill Jr, Texas, 6-3, 238lbs

Yes, this is in the right thread. Hear me out.

I was looking at a mock draft from The Draft Network which had us taking Hill ahead of Bain and Fano and I was considering starting the 'Mock Draft Fail' thread because of it. A linebacker ahead of those two? No thanks!

But I've since evaluated for a number of reasons.

1. I've just seen Matt Miller's top 5 positional rankings and he has Hill as his no1 edge rusher.

2. He has 8 sacks and 42 pressures in two seasons whilst primarily playing as an off ball linebacker.

3. In 80 snaps as an edge rusher, he has 11 pressures.

4. Two words. Jalon Walker. A potential linebacker to EDGE convert, one who's linebacker instincts were called into question but who had the athleticism and explosion to project to edge rusher. He was also one of two other players not named Will Campbell that the Patriots were linked to as possible first round picks.

5. ESPN considers him the 2nd best player in CFB.

6. Play 3 in the 2nd video below where he leaves a LT clutching at air.

I'm not ready to nominate him as a pick ahead of Bain, Faulk or Fano but if we're picking in the mid first next year and those players are gone, I think getting a very athletic productive player would be no bad thing. Yes I think we'll need to feed him some burgers to get him up to 245lbs at least and he'll probably not be an every down edge rusher, but have him be a run and hit linebacker to compliment the more disciplined Spillane that elevates to EDGE rusher on passing down.

I no longer think he would be a mock draft fail.

I had Jalon Walker at the top of my board last year (along with Josh Simmons and Tyler Warren). Reese could be better, the other 3 really good. I think of Reese/Styles/Golday/Hill as hybrid LB/EDGE rushers. I think they have more versatility and more value than the sub-rushing DEs in this class.

 

[manxman2601]

more value than the sub-rushing DEs in this class.

When they lead CFB in pressures and sacks, I might agree with you. Until that time, I'm afraid I don't. Having versatility certainly adds value but this is a team that needs a double digit sack guy badly.

 

[mayoclinic]

To each his own.

 

[Clonamery]

When they lead CFB in pressures and sacks, I might agree with you. Until that time, I'm afraid I don't. Having versatility certainly adds value but this is a team that needs a double digit sack guy badly.

Well, that's not BPA.

 

[manxman2601]

Well, that's not BPA.

The leading pass rusher in CFB isn't BPA? One that's on target to surpass every pass rusher last year. I'm afraid I disagree.

 

[Clonamery]

The leading pass rusher in CFB isn't BPA? One that's on target to surpass every pass rusher last year. I'm afraid I disagree.

He'll be long gone. Unless something traumatic happens.

 

[mayoclinic]

Sorry Manx, who are you calling the best pass rusher and BPA? I'm confused.

 

[manxman2601]

He'll be long gone. Unless something traumatic happens.

Are you talking about Bain? He's not the leading pass rusher in CFB.

 

[Clonamery]

Are you talking about Bain? He's not the leading pass rusher in CFB.

Oh that guy.

 

[mayoclinic]

So if you are calling David Bailey the leading pass rusher in CFB and BPA, does that mean you would take him over Rueben Bain?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

It's still comfortably the biggest need for me currently.

Is this a discussion of who is the worst? Chaisson, Elliss, or Hawkins?

 

[mayoclinic]

Chaisson much better than the other 2 for ne, not close.