2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Edge defenders (Final)

theScore's 2017 draft prospect rankings are compiled by NFL editor Dan Wilkins, breaking down the top talents and potential sleepers at every position group.

Overall
Top 50
Offense
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G/C
Defense
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

Top Talents

Myles Garrett

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Garrett is everything teams are looking for in a foundational piece on the defensive front. As a pass-rusher, there's not much he can't do. His explosiveness and bend alone are enough to threaten the edge, but he can also seamlessly counter back inside or convert speed to power in the form of a bull rush. If his hand usage improves at the next level - a reasonable expectation factoring in seasoning and NFL coaching - he'll have every opportunity to establish himself among the league's elite sack artists. Garrett is similarly strong in run defense, showing the ability to both set the edge and disengage from a block to make a play on the ball. In a draft class devoid of can't-miss quarterback prospects, the Cleveland Browns should have an easy choice at No. 1 overall.

Solomon Thomas

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Evaluating Thomas involves some projection because he spent so much time lined up on the interior at Stanford. It's possible that adding some size, mass, and strength would allow him to rotate down to the three-technique spot in sub-packages, but his skill set will be best utilized on the edge in a 4-3 front. A stellar combine performance in all categories did well to confirm the freaky athleticism, both in terms of explosiveness and short-area quickness, that Thomas boasts within his 273-pound frame. His clear upside in that regard, along with his polished technique, powerful hands, and relentless motor, should make his transition relatively smooth.

Derek Barnett

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Only one pass-rusher in SEC history has been more productive than Myles Garrett. With 32 sacks across his three seasons at Tennessee, edging out the presumptive No. 1 overall pick's 31, that's Barnett. Stats aren't everything, but his consistent domination at the highest level of college football will be an important factor in teams' evaluations. Barnett has a good first step, great hand usage, and ridiculous bend around the edge. Pre-draft testing raises questions about explosiveness, but his aforementioned strengths and short-area quickness offer plenty of potential for developing counter moves that would round out his arsenal.

Tim Williams

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Teams can likely feel comfortable looking past some disappointing workout numbers and trusting what they see on tape in Williams' case. The Alabama standout flies off the line to gain an advantage on his opponent to the outside, also utilizing a counter move to the inside that punishes any tackle who over-sets in trying to beat him to the outside. At 6-foot-3 and 244 pounds, there will be concerns about whether Williams can provide every-down value. While he could stand to add size, he flashed the ability to both set the edge and make splash plays in the backfield against the run. Ultimately, Williams' draft stock will be determined by the reviews of his off-field issues. The first-round talent is there.

Takkarist McKinley

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McKinley is a relatively raw prospect with some work to do in order to approach his ceiling at the next level, but giving the necessary consideration to upside puts him in the top five of this stellar edge group. The UCLA standout is an explosive athlete who can get it done with a combination of speed, balance, and a motor that never shuts down. He flashes strength in his hands, but it's not yet consistent enough to be a reliable tool. Further development in that area could help him make the most of his athletic abilities, rounding out his rush skill and truly unlocking his potential in the NFL.

Best of the rest

• Worried about the fact that Derek Rivers' insane production came at a lower level of competition? Don't be. The Youngstown State standout can do it all. He's explosive, converts speed to power, and can bend the edge. While the 6-foot-4, 248-pounder is somewhat undersized for what teams envision as an every-down edge defender, Rivers is also surprisingly stout in the run game.
• Though a lack of prototypical size and power will limit Charles Harris' impact as a play-side run defender early on, teams will likely still jump at the chance to scoop him up early on Day 2. The Missouri product's ability to win on the edge with speed, setting up a lethal spin counter to the inside, will be a nightmare for offensive tackles left alone on an island.
• Carl Lawson may be the most powerful edge rusher in this class. A lack of short-area quickness limits what he can do laterally, but that's not necessarily an issue for a player who can be downright dominant with his hands. Lawson should be a steady pass-rusher and a high-level run defender from Day 1.
• Yes, that's his brother. T.J. Watt isn't J.J Watt, nor does he have to be. The younger sibling is a highly intriguing prospect in his own right, having burst onto the draft scene after racking up all 11.5 sacks of his college career as a junior. He may require a development phase, and he's another prospect whose size could initially pose an issue, but Watt's stellar athleticism gives him the chance to put it all together fairly quickly.

Potential sleepers

Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova

Kpassagnon isn't a sleeper in the sense that he'll be a late Day 3 gem, but in the sense that he'll likely come off the board earlier than his current game would normally dictate. The Villanova standout, despite still being raw, has measurables that make coaches and scouts drool. His development may require some patience, but there's undeniable upside in his explosiveness and a hulking 6-foot-7, 289-pound frame on the strong-side edge.

Pita Taumoepenu, Utah

At 6-foot-1 and 241 pounds, Taumoepenu might never be expected to contribute in any sort of regular edge role against the run. That'd cap his ceiling, but there's always room for pass specialists in today's NFL. Taumoepenu has the get-off, ability to change direction, and overall athleticism to be a particularly interesting developmental speed rusher.

Prospect Rankings

Overall
Top 50
Offense
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G/C
Defense
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S