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2025 NFL Draft Preview: The Defensive Line and Edge Rushers Are the Cream of the Crop

Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar18/04/2025 - 10:38 am
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 09: Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) rushes the passer during the Penn State Nittany Lions versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.
(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The 2025 NFL Draft is less than one week away, and we have previewed every major position group from the quarterbacks to the cornerbacks. All that leaves is what many are saying is the cream of the crop this year, with the incredible talent at defensive line and edge rushers.

Longtime draft analyst Todd McShay believes there could be 35 defensive line/edge players chosen in the first three rounds, which would be an unbelievable feat. Last year, there were 21 such players drafted over the first two nights.

So, if your team doesn’t get an edge rusher or defensive tackle early, do not fret. You might still end up with a quality player in the first 100 picks, given the depth this season.

Given how the 2024 NFL season ended with the Eagles dominating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl (the last time I’ll mention that for a while, Chiefs fans), there should be a premium on the guys who get after quarterbacks. That’s why two of the top contracts in March’s free agency went to some of those Eagles pass rushers in Josh Sweat (Cardinals) and Milton Williams (Patriots).

That’s also why Maxx Crosby (Raiders) and Myles Garrett (Browns) just reset the market by becoming the first defenders to earn contracts that pay over $40 million per season. Those guys could have left their snakebitten franchises to join winning teams with a far better chance of winning a Super Bowl, but they chose to stay with the team that drafted them at a record cost.

After quarterbacks, pass rushers are arguably the most important position in the NFL today. Fortunately, this looks like a class that could be special and provide a lot of teams with help for years to come.

We’re only going to cover so many prospects here, so with the help of the rankings at NFL Mock Draft Database, we’re going to cover the four defensive tackles and eight defensive ends/edge rushers projected as top 40 players this year. That’s still a whopping dozen players in the first 40 picks alone.

1. EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State) – No. 3 Overall Prospect

Penn State’s Abdul Carter carries the weight of high expectations as the top-ranked edge rusher in his draft class. He earned that status by turning in a dominant 2024 season where he was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year with 12.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss.

Carter is noted for his excellent burst and first-step quickness. When he wins early, he’s almost impossible to stop, but some are concerned that he’s not going to rack up many “long” pressures and sacks in the NFL, where he has to get around a blocker after getting stopped early.

We’ll see how it shakes out, but he’s undoubtedly going off the board in the first few picks.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 09: Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) rushes the passer during the Penn State Nittany Lions versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.
(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Best Fit – Cleveland Browns (No. 2 Pick)

Since this isn’t a mock draft, I get to write what I think should happen rather than what will probably happen. The sportsbooks have Carter with -400 odds to go No. 3 to the New York Giants, as Cam Ward (Titans) and Travis Hunter (Browns) are heavily favored to go with the top two picks.

That’s fine, and it certainly makes a lot of sense. But this is a unique case where the Browns have the choice to strengthen a strength and give Myles Garrett a duo partner that can emerge into an elite player while Garrett plays out his (expensive) 30s with the team. Carter can also stand to learn a lot from Garrett.

That’s a cool strategy. The 2014 Texans tried it with pairing J.J. Watt with Jadeveon Clowney (No. 1 overall pick) and that didn’t really work out because of injuries and Clowney not being the dominant force he was in college. Maybe Carter doesn’t deliver on the hype either, but in the AFC, you better have some damn good pass rushers to deal with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, etc.

But if Carter goes to the Giants, it’s their crack at giving Brian Burns a great dose of help at edge rusher, and maybe it’s admitting that Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn’t lived up to expectations.

2. DT Mason Graham (Michigan) – No. 4 Overall Prospect

Mason Graham is the top defensive tackle for most experts in this draft. He grew to prominence in the 2023 season when he was the Rose Bowl MVP and helped a dominant defense in Michigan to a national championship. He was also very valuable last season:

Graham gets criticized for having short arms and subpar sack totals (9.0 sacks in three seasons). The truth is you shouldn’t expect him to become Aaron Donald in the NFL, but he does get pressures, he can beat double teams, and he will be relentless and a plus in stopping the run.

Best Fit – Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 5 Pick)

There’s an interesting argument that Graham would be a better pick for the Giants at No. 3 than Abdul Carter would be, given the Giants have some serious pieces already assembled at edge rusher. Adding Graham next to run-stopper Dexter Lawrence would really solidify that line.

But it’s just hard to believe that Graham will be drafted ahead of Carter, even if there is a growing love for defensive tackles to generate inside pressure. With that said, the Jaguars at No. 5 really shouldn’t let Graham slide any further. Like the Giants, they’re a team that’s spent on edge rushers (Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker) but could use a defensive tackle to deal with those quarterbacks in the AFC.

3. EDGE Jalon Walker (Georgia) – No. 10 Overall Prospect

Jalon Walker is maybe the most polarizing defensive prospect in the first round this year. Some love his potential and great athleticism, but others are concerned he’s too small (6’1” and 243 pounds with 32” arms) for full-time edge rusher player in the NFL, and he didn’t have dominant production (12.5 sacks) for an elite Georgia defense for three years.

There used to be players commonly referred to as “tweeners” who could play edge or linebacker, and Walker is a throwback to one of those prospects as he split snaps at the two positions in college. Either way, he’s a speedster and reportedly a good leader in the locker room, so you can expect someone is going to take a chance on him with a high pick.

Best Fit – San Francisco 49ers (No. 11 Pick)

It might be considered bold, but this team once drafted Reuben Foster in 2017 despite his off-field issues being well documented. Walker can’t possibly be any worse than that, and with this defense, he wouldn’t have to be a full-time stud edge. That’s Nick Bosa’s job. He can rush the passer with his speed on third downs and play some off-ball linebacker on early downs next to Fred Warner after the team lost Dre Greenlaw in free agency.

It’s the kind of move that could go a long way in reshaping the defense in San Francisco.

4. EDGE Mykel Williams (Georgia) – No. 15 Overall Prospect

Georgia had so much NFL talent on that defense in 2022, its last championship team. Mykel Williams was just a freshman then, and he’ll only turn 21 this June. He’s got some development to still do, but he’s a promising edge rusher with 14 career sacks. It’s also a nice stat that more than 30% of his career tackles resulted in negative yards, and he’s good at diagnosing run plays.

Best Fit – Atlanta Falcons (No. 15 Pick)

Remember when the Falcons were supposed to draft an edge rusher like Alabama’s Dallas Turner with the No. 8 pick last year? Whoops. They shocked the world and went with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. This year, they should get back to fixing the defense for Raheem Morris, who needs someone like Williams to be his 4-3 end. Coach him up, and maybe he can have a Jared Verse type of impact this year or the next for the Falcons.

5. EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) – No. 16 Overall Prospect

Shemar Stewart is another one of the polarizing defensive prospects in the 2025 draft. Some think he’s easily a top 15 pick, and some wouldn’t touch him in the first round period.

Stewart is one of the more athletic edges in this class, but his production leaves a lot to be desired in three years at Texas A&M. He only had 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, including 1.5 sacks in each of his three years. That’s troubling that there was no true “breakout year” or explosion for him in three years.

Best Fit – Arizona Cardinals (No. 16 Pick)

This is a good case study to watch for the “so athletic, so raw, so little production” type of player. It feels like those usually don’t end well in the NFL, but you can count on someone to take a shot because of the type of great athlete we’re talking about here.

But finding Stewart a landing spot is difficult. An athletic stud who may not back it up in the NFL sounds like a perfect fit for the Miami Dolphins, but their fans may not be pleased. They also probably need a cornerback more.

Did the Cardinals learn their lesson when they reached on Robert Nkemdiche in 2016 and he was a first-round bust? Let’s say no, because I’m sending Stewart there even after the team signed Josh Sweat in March.

6. EDGE Mike Green (Marshall) – No. 17 Overall Prospect

If Mike Green slips in the draft, consider that he has been accused twice of sexual assault in his life. He denies any wrongdoing or that the second accusation had anything to do with why he transferred from Virginia to Marshall.

But these are issues teams should be looking at closely when making these big decisions. On the field, Green dominated lesser competition last year with 17 sacks, but you can’t put it all on the competition. He had just 4.5 sacks for Marshall in 2023, so he grew as a player last year just in time for the draft.

Green is the type of high-motor player who could be a good asset for a team that’s already got an established edge rusher. Think Alex Highsmith playing in T.J. Watt’s shadow in Pittsburgh.

Best Fit – Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17 Pick)

You have to think Green is all over Cincinnati’s radar with that No. 17 pick. They want to pay Trey Hendrickson, but they need more than just one pass rusher on that defense. Green could be a good backup plan in case Hendrickson’s days are still numbered in town.

7. DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan) – No. 25 Overall Prospect

How great was that Michigan front when it could have two defensive tackles in the first round of this draft? Kenneth Grant has a good 35 pounds on Mason Graham, so he’ll be more of a run-stopping nose tackle in the NFL. He’s a lesser prospect overall, but he still plays an important position and could be the target of a team late in the first round who wants a big man with a little pass-rush capability too.

Best Fit – Los Angeles Chargers (No. 22 Pick)

Imagine if the Buccaneers (No. 19) stuck this guy next to Vita Vea? But the pick to watch is No. 22 when Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are picking. He might just have to have himself a Wolverine in the first round to add to his defensive line that’s lost Joey Bosa to Buffalo. The Chargers haven’t been investing recent draft capital in their defensive line, so this could be a time to do that.

8. DT Derrick Harmon (Oregon) – No. 27 Overall Prospect

Derrick Hamon is another big defensive tackle prospect in this class. He spent three years at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon in 2024, where he had a career year with 5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

There is a lot to like with Harmon as a pass rusher after he led all DTs in pressures in 2024.

Best Fit – Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21 Pick)

People are linking the Steelers to a quarterback, but the 21st pick is not the place for that, and this especially isn’t the draft for that. Touch up the defensive line, because Cameron Heyward, who Harmon has been compared to for his versatility, isn’t getting any younger, and T.J. Watt could use the help.

9. DT Walter Nolen (Mississippi) – No. 29 Overall Prospect

Our fourth and final defensive tackle, Walter Nolen, spent two years at Texas A&M before he transferred to Ole Miss. He improved his production each year and finished with 6.5 sacks last season.

Nolen has good size (6’4” and 296 pounds) but not the greatest athleticism. His professionalism has also been questioned, but that may not be a valid complaint that should keep him out of the late first round.

Best Fit – Minnesota Vikings (No. 24 Pick)

One team we’ve never picked as a best fit for any prospect yet is the Minnesota Vikings, who hold the No. 24 pick. They could look at the offensive line prospects there, but getting Walter Nolen up front could be the best move for Brian Flores’ defense. They have veterans there now in Harrison Phillips and Javon Hargrave, but Nolen could be ready to slide in there as the long-term starter in a year or two.

10. EDGE James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) – No. 31 Overall Prospect

Back to the edges, James Pearce Jr. was very productive at Tennessee with 19.5 sacks in 39 games, including 10 sacks in the 2023 season. He’s a good mixture of athleticism and production for this class:

Scouts think Pearce Jr. needs a lot more work in the running game, and while he’s tall at 6’5”, he needs to improve his strength. But for a speedy pass rusher, teams could do worse.

Best Fit – Buffalo Bills (No. 30 Pick)

If you’re the Buffalo Bills, you have to keep throwing darts at pass rushers and find players who can get after a Patrick Mahomes when the season’s on the line in January. The Bills signed a veteran in Joey Bosa, but the job’s not finished. If Pearce Jr. is still there at No. 30, that’s a pick worth making.

11.  EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) – No. 32 Overall Prospect

Donovan Ezeiruaku improved his draft stock with 16.5 sacks at Boston College last season, giving him 30 sacks for his 4-year career. He might be a lock for a top 25 pick if he was a little bigger (6’2” and 248 pounds), but teams will have to make do with his solid athleticism and instincts to get to the quarterback.

Best Fit – Washington Commanders (No. 29 Pick)

This pick could be flipped with James Pearce Jr. as the Bills and Commanders fight over the edge rushers they absolutely should be looking at as they hope to get a step closer to winning a Super Bowl after losing on Championship Sunday.

Right now, the Commanders’ edge rushers are Dorance Armstrong (Cowboys) and Deatrich Wise (Patriots). Doesn’t sound like a Super Bowl winner, does it? Maybe adding a rookie project like Ezeiruaku isn’t the way to win it this year either, but it’s a pick for the long term and the type of player they need more than just about anything else.

12. EDGE Nic Scourton (Texas A&M) – No. 40 Overall Prospect

In a lesser class, Nic Scourton might be a first-round pick. But he’s pushed a little further back in this deep group after he transferred from Purdue to Texas A&M for his final season in college. His sacks were cut in half from 10.0 in 2023 to 5.0 last year, but he still did enough damage to earn First-Team All-SEC.

Scourton can draw double teams and is an aggressive player with a bag of moves to get after quarterbacks. He’s just not as freakishly athletic as some of the other prospects in this class, but he could be a good player for the right team.

Best Fit – Chicago Bears (No. 39 or 41 Pick)

If the Bengals don’t go with an edge rusher in the first round, then they’d be crazy to pass on Scourton if he was somehow still there at No. 49 in the second round. He’s been compared to Trey Hendrickson.

The Eagles have been looking at Scourton as a potential pick at No. 32, too. Trust the Eagles when it comes to pass rushers. But I’d go with the Bears using one of those high second-round picks to beef up their edge rushers.

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Photo of Scott Kacsmar Scott Kacsmar18/04/2025 - 10:38 am