2026 Draft: EDGE

[mayoclinic]

 

[hornetfb85]

David Bailey is a very good football player.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

Isaiah World and Alex Harkey v David Bailey. It didn't go well for them.

 

[BobDigital]

Zion Young

At 6'5 and 260+ he's ready to play DE every down in the NFL. But can he? Short answer yes. Here is the longer one.

He is a very good edge setter. I heard he was and he didn't disappoint. His bull rush is very good but not elite. He has a nice spin move though again, not special. And i saw his outside/inside move work pretty well considering his size. He has good speed for his size and his first step isn't bad at all. Though lateral quickness could use a little work. It's not bad, just not impressive.

While he gets pressure he lacks finish. His low sack numbers are not due to outside factors, he just usually can't get there in time or can't get free often enough to have a clear shot on the QB. His speed while good on the outside, is just barely not good enough. Well he did well here, i don't think i ever saw him win cleanly on the outside with a bend. Yes, he won with it after the fact when he got back into the play, but not at the ideal attack point. He also doesn't use his hands enough. 5 PDs in the last 2 years for a guy of his height and reasonable length should be improved. But like i said, his hands are often too busy pushing his guy back instead of being in the air or using a moved to get behind him.

While I'm critical i want to be clear. His speed isn't bad and certainly not useless. He has enough that if a defender ever sells out on his bull rush too much he can maybe beat them. So it will have a use. Also his bull rush tends to get pressure as is. I like the motor and while i won't say it is completely non stop, he puts forth a ton of effort that is clear to see and he certainly has a lot of upside to his game. Adding some swim moves, better hand fighting and other things would benefit him and can be done i think

Overall he has the size, traits and talent to play as a DE week 1, but he will do better stopping the run than the pass, though he will make the opposing QB uncomfortable with his ability to bull rush and reliably close the pocket.

I have him as a top 80 player. A decent starter most likely, but I'm not fully buying the upside. Nor do i see him ever being your DE1. But as a running mate maybe he could work. Maybe.

 

[manxman2601]

Zion Young



A decent starter most likely, but I'm not fully buying the upside. Nor do i see him ever being your DE1. But as a running mate maybe he could work. Maybe.

I feel this sums up a number of guys in this draft. See Matayo Uiagelelei for example.

 

[manxman2601]

R Mason Thomas' speed is impressive (#32)

 

[BobDigital]

Joshua Josephs

6'3 and 240lbs. He has long arms and uses them well particularly near the top of his arc when he wants to break towards the QB. Despite being only 240lbs he is a pretty decent run defender with a surprisingly good anchor for his size. His get off step is inconsistent but you see how good it can be at times. His bend is okay. The outside/inside move shows promise. In coverage he isn't just a body in passing lanes, he moves a little and keeps an eye on the QB, but i wouldn't say he is a particularly good pass defender... but it is a tool he kind of has and should be noted. He is a bit of a ball hawk and his FF to sack numbers back that up. 5 PDs in the last 2 years are decent for a 6'3 guy but considering his wing span more might have been possible.

Now the bad. While I said he is a pretty good run defender much of that comes from his ability to anchor and hold an edge. Which itself is impressive. But he isn't pushing anyone back and doesn't effectively muscle off blocks to get into lanes with any consistency. There is where his limited size hurts him. His pass rush is incredibly predictable. Outside rush, hand swipe and push off. He is very good at it but it is the same thing over and over. And even now he rarely finishes. He seems to always be late or lacks the consistent first step and speed to do it at the point of the arc which would allow him to make a play on the QB. That and/or his bend/ability to change direction and accelerate after getting past the OT isn't sharp enough. Either way, much of the time he finds himself behind the play or late getting to the QB. Now if the QB holds on long enough he has a chance, but it rarely happened in college. He lacks polish on pretty much everything else and it shows. Also with how inconsistent his first step can be the amount of work here is considerable imo even off the line as an OLB.

Overall considering his age and experience you'd expect him to have more to his game and be more ready. Or for his primary tool to be more effective. Neither is true IMO. I see the potential here, but also there are some athletic limitations. Even when he hits the first step 100% it isn't elite or all that close to elite. Just good. I don't see him as an impressive sub rusher and i have questions how well he will do as a starter even if his potential is reached.

IMO he is a 4th. And a low one at that. So lower than most people on here have him i think.

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[patfanken]

Thanks for the info guys. This is going to be a key decision since the need is so critical. Right now, I'm afraid the elite picks like Baine, are going to be gone before we pick in the first. Hitting on that 2nd and 3rd tier guy will be important. Again, thanks for highlighting those guys

 

[manxman2601]

Thanks for the info guys. This is going to be a key decision since the need is so critical. Right now, I'm afraid the elite picks like Baine, are going to be gone before we pick in the first. Hitting on that 2nd and 3rd tier guy will be important. Again, thanks for highlighting those guys

Dane Brugler says that there are teams who don't have a first round grade on Bain because of his lack of length and athleticism. Maybe that changes after his performance in the playoffs but I can see a world where he might fall into the late teens early twenties and, at least, becomes someone we could trade up for. On the other hand, the lack of first round edge rushers might still see him getting taken early-ish.

 

[mayoclinic]

A lot of teams may downgrade Bates and pass on him due to measurable and question of fit; but I doubt enough will do so for him to fall to us.

Late teens/early twenties wouldn't shock me. Is he worth trading up for?

Would you rather trade a 1st and a 3rd for Rueben Banks, or Maxx Crosby?

IDK the answers, but I doubt Bain will fall to our pick in the 1st. I do think there is a high probability David Bailey is tge first oure EDGE rusher off the board.

 

[BobDigital]

LT Overton

This will be a quick one. I watched his highlight tape only (and one game), and that was enough for me to not have to look at anything else. 6'5 and 275-280lbs. He plays like it. He has a fair amount of power as you would expect and a very sharp stutter step fake which is his best move and he uses to good effect.

But considering his size he lacks in the run game for someone like him. His agility is questionable and he looks a bit lumbering at times. When he is there he stops the run and his sideways speed is good for his size, but that's for his size. if he gets in a foot race and there is decent real estate to cover, he's losing vs anyone with some real speed. He also lacks bend and speed to the outside, even for his size he feels a littler underwhelming here at times. And his ability to bull rush isn't all that impressive either do to lack of an explosive first step. Don't get me wrong, it is a good first step for his size, but not explosive enough. And even if he gets close to the QB I saw several times on his highlight film alone, where he got shaken off. Pressure is good, but finish is needed, and the finish was rare for him. And the lack of finish is pretty clear. As is the lack of TFL. Again his lack of suddenness hurts him here too as usually at best he is holding his spot and anchoring than getting off his guy to make a play. If funneled to him he will make it. If not he is just kind of there.

This sounds all very negative so i will throw a bone at the end. The head fake/stutter step is good for his size, if first step is also pretty good for his size (but typically when you reach 280 it needs to be really good/special for your size) and he has some decent speed thrown.

I understand some looking at him and seeing the upside to a degree... but even if he reaches his full potential. I think he is a quality back up. Why I have seen any drafts with him in the 1st or 2nd is beyond me. LT Overton is a 6th rounder. Take a shot and hope you can make something out of someone with his size and a few good traits. He does have good traits to work with.

PS

As an aside. I am trying to finish up on Edge guys. The only people left on my list are Damon Wilson and Romeo Height. Maybe i'll do another if there is a riser in the process... but i am looking to move on to other positions and i think once those 2 are complete i will have hit pretty much all of the major names likely to declare. Unless people have someone else they are particularly interested in.

 

[mayoclinic]

Thanks, Bob.

LT Overton has been getting 1st round hype since the summer. Day 3 prospect all the way IMO. Not on my board, personally.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yhonzae Pierre, please.

 

[mayoclinic]

Interesting comps.

Top 10 Edge Rushers In The 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft edge rusher class is loaded with power, length, and pass-rush versatility. This group features some standout edge-setters, interior-edge

twsn.net

 

[manxman2601]

Thanks, Nob.

LT Overton has been getting 1st round hype since the summer. Day 3 prospect all the way IMO. Not on my board, personally.

Rude.

 

[BobDigital]

Rude.

The fact that the edit button is no longer accessible after a few hours is a little annoying. Particularly for a typo machine and grammar butcher like myself.

Yhonzae Pierre, please.

Okay. I'll try but it will be a challenge as there as much media about him out there for some reason.

 

[mayoclinic]

Thank God for that.

 

[manxman2601]

Quick pressure leaders in FBS.

Keyron Crawford is interesting value here. Probably day 3, ideal Vrabel size (6'4, 255) and the type of character/work ethic Vrabel would appreciate. He feels like an ideal guy to replace Chaisson should he not be re-signed.

Most quick pressures (<2.5 seconds of the snap), FBS EDGE:

David Bailey, Texas Tech: 22
Romello Height, Texas Tech: 15
John Henry Daley, Utah: 15
Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico: 14
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M: 13
Wendell Gregory, Oklahoma State: 11
J'Mond Tapp, Southern Miss: 11
Dylan Labarbera, Nevada: 11
Keyron Crawford, Auburn: 11
Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon: 11

Edit: Just saw this was back in October. I haven't seen anything more recent.