Top 10 Rookie Defensive Linemen (Pre-Draft)
Top 10 Rookie Defensive Linemen (Pre-Draft)
Alabama's Dallas Turner sits at #1. Beyond that? Mike Woellert sorts out the top 10.
This year’s top-four edge rushers will be the same for almost everyone, but we might see different variations. I think there’s a consensus at #1 but two or three names are creeping to the top.
This is a good group of linemen that isn’t too top-heavy. If you miss out on the top targets, there are solid targets in the mid-to-late rounds of your rookie drafts.
1. Dallas Turner, Alabama
Depending on the scoring, Dallas Turner is in the conversation for the top overall rookie IDP in 2024 rookie drafts. In a tackle-heavy format, I’d give the nod to Payton Wilson. In Big 3 Scoring or big play formats, Turner enters the chat.
Is Alabama becoming EDGE U? The Crimson Tide looks to be developing edge rushers, as they've had a solid crop over the last few seasons. Turner is the latest. Over the last two seasons, Turner has generated a 15.4% pressure rate. Turner dominated in 2023, producing a 19.2% pressure rate and 32% win rate.
Turner has the trifecta of athleticism, explosiveness, and versatility wrapped into one dangerous package. He has the frame, traits, and skills you’re looking for in today’s edge rusher and looks to be a three-down player from day one. He’s quick off the snap and has plus-closing speed on his chase down. His 4.48 40-yard confirmed all that and more. He can also cover, as PFF gave him an 81 coverage grade.
He’s solid in setting the edge, but can sometimes lose the physical battle with some offensive linemen. He also needs to settle down in pursuit, as he can sometimes overrun the QB. The scary thing is he’s still growing and developing.
I have no issue with him being the top rookie IDP off the board.
2. Chop Robinson, Penn State
How can you not love an edge rusher named “Chop?” It might be a spicy meatball having him ranked as my DL/EDGE2, but I love the profile. Like Turner, Robinson ran a 4.48 40-yard dash with a 1.54 split, so speedy QBs aren’t going to outrun him.
Robinson appeared in two fewer games than his 2022 season but generated a higher rate of pressure in 2023 (17.6%). Robinson also had a 26.7% win rate. He might be quicker off the snap than Turner, but probably by a few milliseconds. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld as he was spending time in Kramer’s apartment, “the difference is negligible.” He seems to be able to time his get-off with the snap just right and is always using his hands to swipe from blockers or force fumbles.
His intelligence is the stuff of nightmares for opposing offensive coordinators. He’s sleek in his bend around the edge and recovers quickly. He won’t give up if he’s double-teamed and sees it as a challenge.
He can be taken out of a play by blockers and sometimes will take a stroll around the neighborhood to get the QB, as opposed to using the path of least resistance. He needs to develop another move in the toolkit.
I think his athleticism and motor win out and he should see pass-rush snaps immediately in his rookie year.
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
I’m going to get ahead of, “Why do you hate Jared Verse?” I don’t. This entire draft class is a “get your guys” class, so if you have Verse ahead of Latu, I can’t disagree. For me, it comes down to production.
Latu generated a 20.4% pressure rate and a staggering 40% win rate, resulting in 62 pressures and 13 sacks. He also produced 21.5 TFLs. Over the last two seasons with UCLA, he’s notched 23.5 sacks, and he’s accumulated 114 pressures and a 19.3% pressure rate.
Latu excels in all facets of the game and is a day-one, three-down player. His length and explosiveness give him an advantage when on the edge and on the inside. He has quick hands and swipes away at tackles. He shows the fluidity of a corner when dropping into coverage. PFF gave him a 94.8 grade in coverage, the best among this draft class.
Here, he uses his tremendous closing speed to finish the sack:
On this sack, Latu uses his quick hands:
I’m not scared off by the medicals and I don’t think the NFL will be either. A neck injury snuffed out two seasons at Washington, but since transferring to UCLA, he’s been an elite talent.
If he’s healthy, you can make an argument for him being the top EDGE/DL off the board. He's a dominant player with a versatile skill set and is scheme-agnostic.
4. Jared Verse, Florida State
If Latu’s medicals give you any pause, you can sing the Verse of Jared. I do have a feeling in most rookie drafts he’ll go right behind Dallas Turner.
Verse saw an increase in pressures generated from 2022 to 2023 and generated a 17.9% pressure rate. He went from 2 QB hits in 2022 to 15 in 2023 and finished with 9 sacks. Verse also beat his blockers and recorded a 28% win rate.
Verse is a versatile edge rusher. Like Jerry’s carpenter, Conrad, in “The Nap,” he can beat you any number of ways, just tell him. Need speed? He’s got it. Power? Check. Like most of the edge rushers, he explodes off the snap and he can keep tackles off balance with his bull-rush. Like Roman Reigns, he wrecks everyone, leaves, and comes up clutch.
He needs to clean up his tackling and has issues in space. Verse could use a few more counters in his pass-rush tool kit.
I hope he lands with a 43 base defense where he can just get after the QB. Let him know the game is on the line and he’ll deliver. He has a high ceiling and will be a contributor out of the gate.
5. Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
Like Verse and Latu, Kamara and Bralen Trice will be close in ranks and borderline interchangeable. Get your guy, and I like Kamara a tad more.
Although Trice recorded 2 more pressures than Kamara, Kamara was more productive in 89 fewer pass-rush snaps. He generated a higher pressure rate (18.7%) and more sacks (13). Trice had a higher win rate (33%) but Kamara was nipping on his heels at 31.2%.
He’s a bit undersized, but explosive, having a good center of gravity and bend, while bringing a pass-rush plan to get to the QB. He’s able to get good leverage off of blockers. Coaches are going to love his motor and he plays through the whistle. He’s got a stout frame and sets the edge well against the run.
It’s hard to overlook the size and length and he’ll need some development when it comes to technique, but his production and want to are hard to ignore. Sometimes, you need to gamble on upside.
6. Bralen Trice, Washington
Trice is probably safer than Kamara with a solid three-year career with the Huskies.
Trice looks to show up during the big games. He did get stifled against Michigan but generated a 15.4% pressure rate against Oregon and Texas. That metric lines up right with his regular season rate. Trice finished with 7 sacks, including 2 in the semifinal game against Texas.
He has a plan to get the QB and utilizes several moves to complete his plan. Like a concert, he’s got a great opener, a strong main attraction, and a killer encore. His length keeps blockers from getting to his pads.
He just needs that extra “oomph” on his get-off. Trice also displays inconsistent pad level which causes him to lose position in the run. He’ll be a target for screens in coverage.
His pass-rush moves and counters will get him on the field immediately. He might start as a pass-rush specialist, but if he develops his run defense (72.4 PFF run grade), he’ll be a three-down player.
7. Jonah Elliss, Utah
Elliss is a versatile edge defender who can play off the ball, as well. Bloodlines flow with this one, with his brother, Kaden, playing with the Falcons.
If speed did kill, he’d be a serial murderer. He keeps offensive linemen off guard with his explosiveness off the snap. If you couple that with his bend, and lethal inside spin move, he brings a solid bag of moves to the next level.
I love his 6.69 3-cone drill and that confirms his agility off the edge. Elliss finished his three years at Utah with a career 11.4% pressure rate and exploded for 12 sacks in 2023.
He has a small frame, so he’s a bit inconsistent in setting the edge on the run. He also doesn't have the speed-to-power.
He’ll start as a pass-rush specialist but could develop into a starter with the right landing spot. The upside is worth the gamble.
8. Adisa Isaac, Penn State
Chop’s teammate also lands in the top 10. Isaac is a long, lean defender with fascinating traits. Over his last 23 games, Isaac produced 11.5 sacks and 27 TFLs. Last season, Isaac generated a 15.7% pressure rate and a 21.9% win rate. He does a good job of crossing up blockers. He’s fluid when dropping into coverage and displays a good change of direction.
He’s still growing into his frame and figuring out how to use his tool effectively. Can get swallowed by stronger offensive linemen. Like a lot of young players, he falls for the play action too often.
The upside is great with Isaac and defensive coaches are going to love working with his physical traits. If he improves his run defense, he’ll be a three-down player.
9. Jalen Green, James Madison
Green could be one of those small school sleepers. He’s a bit undersized, so there’s some adversity to overcome.
Green was one of the most productive edge rushers in 2023. He burst onto the scene last season. After recording 2.5 sacks in 2022, he exploded for 17.5 sacks in 2023. Despite missing four games, he led the FBS in sacks.
Green generated an 18.8% pressure rate and a 28% win rate. A season-ending injury in November caused him to miss pre-draft events, causing his stock to fall.
Before the injury, I think his bend and variety of moves would have made him a lock to be drafted. He has sneaky speed-to-power and finishes his sacks. He disengages from blocks to make plays against the run. A constant motor is the stuff of coaches’ dreams. He tends to show up in the clutch.
Size will be a knock and can be a tad overaggressive. The season-ending injuries don’t help matters either. He could be a draft steal and is an IDP who should be on your radar. He sees the QB and goes after the QB.
10. Chris Braswell, Alabama
Braswell is another Alabama product who improved his production from 2022 to 2023, doubling his pass-rush output. Braswell produced 27 pressures in 2022 and improved to 49 pressures during the 2023 season, which led to an 18.2% pressure rate. He converted 27% of those pressures into sacks.
He brings a presence to the field. He has a well-built frame and explodes off the snap. Braswell uses a good combination of hands and a quick first step. He blows by his blockers and can be a menace against the run.
He has the traits but needs to develop a bit more tools. He’ll need more than athleticism in the NFL, so developing some counters will go a long way.
He became a full-time starter in 2023 but to no fault of his own. He’s a blue chip athlete which should allow him to develop into a three-down player.
Keep Them on Your Radar
Elijah Roberts, Southern Methodist
Another small school sleeper. Roberts ranked 13th among edge rushers in this year’s draft class with an 89.5 grade and produced the 5th most pressures (57). Roberts recorded a 0.5 sack in 16 games with the Hurricanes. In 14 games with Southern Methodist, he notched 10 sacks and 12.5 TFLs while forcing 2 fumbles. He’s huge at 6’4” and 278 pounds with the power to match.
Bo Richter, Air Force
If you go by RAS, you’ll love his 9.92 score. He ran a 4.56 40-yard dash with a 1.56 10-yard split. He also had elite explosive metrics. Production-wise, he generated a 14.9% pressure rate and a 33% win rate. He’s got busy hands near the ball and produced 3 forced fumbles. After a solid Pro Day showing, the edge rusher is on the NFL’s radar.
Gabe Murphy, UCLA
The combo of Gabe Murphy and Laiatu Latu reminds me a lot of Miami’s duo of Gregory Rousseau and Jaelan Phillips. Murphy finished with 8 sacks and 16 TFLs in his 2023 season while generating a 16.5% pressure rate. PFF graded him with a 78.8 and is a stout run defender.
Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
A top-10 run defender according to PFF (83.4). Kneeland produced a 10.2% tackle rate and missed just 6 tackles. Puts his body on the line on every play. In the words of Rocket from the first Guardians movie, “We go through you!” That’s how Kneeland plays. He goes through his blockers with speed-to-power.
Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
He might be the best interior defender in the class and has the potential of being the DT1 in the rookie class for DT-required leagues. He’s disruptive and has a deceptive first step for a man his size. Newton has violent hands and controls the line of scrimmage. Newton produced a solid tackle rate (8.1%), 22.5 TFLs, and 13 sacks over the 2022/2023 seasons at Illinois.
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