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2026 Draft: EDGE

Water Boy said:
Here's may layman's take on the DE prospects in this year's draft:

  • If we are trying to fulfill the immediate need of an impact pass rush specialist we should be eyeing the proven bendy speed guys like Howell (short arms notwithstanding) who know how to get in the backfield in a hurry, but might struggle against the run
  • If we want a more well rounded DE who is stout against the run then we need to figure out who among Young, DDS, Jacas, and the like, who are high motor power players who can set an edge and defend the run, also have the upside to develop some bendy-ness and a pass rush repertoire which will likely take time to develop.

So imagine some games in the 2026 season, with Dre'Mont Jones on one side and a rookie on the other. Obviously in my book, the ability to defend the run always comes first, but in today's NFL all the metrics are about the passing game.

If it's 3 and 12 in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. Would rather have Howell or DDS in that situation?
Click to expand...
I would rather have your regular dline with guys like Keionte Scott.
 
Yes! Yes! Yes!
 
Water Boy said:
Here's may layman's take on the DE prospects in this year's draft:

  • If we are trying to fulfill the immediate need of an impact pass rush specialist we should be eyeing the proven bendy speed guys like Howell (short arms notwithstanding) who know how to get in the backfield in a hurry, but might struggle against the run
  • If we want a more well rounded DE who is stout against the run then we need to figure out who among Young, DDS, Jacas, and the like, who are high motor power players who can set an edge and defend the run, also have the upside to develop some bendy-ness and a pass rush repertoire which will likely take time to develop.

So imagine some games in the 2026 season, with Dre'Mont Jones on one side and a rookie on the other. Obviously in my book, the ability to defend the run always comes first, but in today's NFL all the metrics are about the passing game.

If it's 3 and 12 in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. Would rather have Howell or DDS in that situation?
Click to expand...

Jacas has one of the best pass rush repertoires coming out of college. He can beat you with speed or power or an inside move.. He's not just a "high motor power player". DDS is more of a speed guy than he is power. The problem with him is he's not a bendy guy.. Which leads to him getting too far upfield on his rushes..
 
Water Boy said:
Here's may layman's take on the DE prospects in this year's draft:

  • If we are trying to fulfill the immediate need of an impact pass rush specialist we should be eyeing the proven bendy speed guys like Howell (short arms notwithstanding) who know how to get in the backfield in a hurry, but might struggle against the run
  • If we want a more well rounded DE who is stout against the run then we need to figure out who among Young, DDS, Jacas, and the like, who are high motor power players who can set an edge and defend the run, also have the upside to develop some bendy-ness and a pass rush repertoire which will likely take time to develop.

So imagine some games in the 2026 season, with Dre'Mont Jones on one side and a rookie on the other. Obviously in my book, the ability to defend the run always comes first, but in today's NFL all the metrics are about the passing game.

If it's 3 and 12 in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. Would rather have Howell or DDS in that situation?
Click to expand...

Definitely one of the things on my mind when projecting who they might take.

Lazar seems to think a speed guy is the preference, because thats the mold from last year.

But then they went out and targeted Jones early, which is a bit of a combo.

I feel like speed is a need, because even though we have some speed guys, none of them have that pure beat you off the line to blow up a play right away. Chaisson was the best at it last year, and thats gone.

When everyone was healthy, they stopped the run fine for most of the year. With potentially more help at LB, and a slight upgrade with Jones, the run game may get more help without an edge adding run stopping ability.

Im still totally fine with Cashius Howell or Malachi Lawrence in the 1st. The team was successful with Chaisson being a zero against the run. They could be even better against the pass than Chaisson, and Jones adding more juice too, upgrading the unit overall.

Of course Im still fine with an Jacas or Mesidor as well. Not saying to only consider speed.

Id love to add a Hill or Golday as well to double dip with pass rush help in the 1st 2 rounds, while also helping LB long term.
 
I have a feeling we will double dip at EDGE.

I favor OL in the 1st if we can get at least a red chip guy IE a projected starter level talent.

I'm just wondering if a decent edge will fall to us in Round 2 or maybe we make a slight trade up from 63 if there is a run on EDGE players.
 
VJCPatriot said:
I have a feeling we will double dip at EDGE.

I favor OL in the 1st if we can get at least a red chip guy IE a projected starter level talent.

I'm just wondering if a decent edge will fall to us in Round 2 or maybe we make a slight trade up from 63 if there is a run on EDGE players.
Click to expand...
For me (just my personal opinion), there's a drop off at Edge after DDS. I was confident he would get to 63 a few weeks back, now it is very much in question.
After him you're talking Crawford, Joseph, Moore, Barsham...etc.
Maybe one of those guys can be a difference maker, so hard to predict.
 
DoubleDeluxe said:
For me (just my personal opinion), there's a drop off at Edge after DDS. I was confident he would get to 63 a few weeks back, now it is very much in question.
After him you're talking Crawford, Joseph, Moore, Barsham...etc.
Maybe one of those guys can be a difference maker, so hard to predict.
Click to expand...
I really like Barham (not the Barsham guy ) who I think would be a great "double dip" after a R1 or R2 EDGE. Stepped up from Maryland to Michigan, and then improved over the whole season at Michigan. I love guys that go to the SEC or Big Ten and then shine by season's end. Barham is a LB with a 90.4 PFF run-defense grade (4th best nationally) in 2025. Barham adds pass rush versatility while solidifying our LB core with a run stuffer alongside Spillane.
 
I seem to like a few "not talked" guys. J Kanak, J Barham, and Skyler Bell. Trade #31 to move down to R2 and pick up an extra R3 pick. Two picks in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. That would be sweet.
 
One-If-By-Sea said:
I seem to like a few "not talked" guys. J Kanak, J Barham, and Skyler Bell. Trade #31 to move down to R2 and pick up an extra R3 pick. Two picks in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. That would be sweet.
Click to expand...
I think we used all our Michigan luck on Ty and Tom.
Haven't had the best recent history picking UofM players.
That means nothing obv.
Barham does seem like a guy that could be a better pro than college player, high ceiling if he can realize it.
 
DoubleDeluxe said:
Barham does seem like a guy that could be a better pro than college player, high ceiling if he can realize it.
Click to expand...
Yup, that is right. Barham is a high ceiling, ascending guy. Kanak is a high ceiling, ascending guy. S Bell will be discounted because he played at UConn but he is remarkable (think Z Flowers from BC).
 
Rdforty2 said:
Definitely one of the things on my mind when projecting who they might take.

Lazar seems to think a speed guy is the preference, because thats the mold from last year.

But then they went out and targeted Jones early, which is a bit of a combo.

I feel like speed is a need, because even though we have some speed guys, none of them have that pure beat you off the line to blow up a play right away. Chaisson was the best at it last year, and thats gone.
Click to expand...
I think about exactly that far too much. It's like the TE position...it's always best if the TE can block and catch at a high level. I loved Chaisson but he wasn't very proficient at stopping the run because he was more focused on hurries / pressure / sacks. Maybe he was more like Josh Uche then we suspect. It's always better when you have one player that can do both so they are not targeted for mismatches.

Sometimes you take the BPA or BPA at the position with the most need and then fill in the gaps with FA.
 
Jon Ledyard on Mesidor

"You could make a really easy argument that Akheem Mesidor had the best college season of any pass rusher in this draft"

 
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