2024: Edge Defenders

Dallas Turner – Edge – Alabama - 97

Talk about checking boxes. Size, 6’3” and 247lbs, check. Length, 34.5” huge arms, check. Speed, 4.46 in the 40, check. Explosiveness, 1.54 10 yard split, 40.5” vertical, check. Production, 22 career sacks and over 30 TFL in the SEC, check. Pedigree, 5 star recruit, started for Alabama as a freshman, check. Leadership, team captain at age 20, check. Turner looks like someone and I just can’t put my finger on it. Some mixture of Danielle Hunter, Von Miller, and Jaelen Philips. All signs point to elite pass rusher here. What’s the knock? Playing against the run. So what. Deserving of a top 10 pick easy.

Chop Robinson – Edge – Penn State - 94

He’s got the speed rush down, that’s for sure. Plays with pretty good bend getting around the corner. When he gets to the quarterback, he brings a ton of bricks. More of a slash and disrupt player in the run game, which may have been by design in Penn State’s scheme. The Nittany Lions churn these guys, I want to know what happens in that weight room. I like him a lot more than their recent pass rushers like Odafe Oweh because Chop has the stats and tape to back it up, and he hits like he loves football.

Jared Verse – Edge – Florida St. - 94

Good story, transferring from Albany after dominating up there and didn’t miss a beat playing big time college ball for the ‘Noles. Has a lot of things to like at 6’4” and 254lbs with 33.5” arms and a 4.58 in the 40, plus 31 reps on the bench. Jared plays with heavy hands and great power in his lower body. He’s very similar to another Seminole, Jermaine Johnson of the Jets, although Verse plays stronger. With the transfer, Verse is an older prospect that will turn 24 as a rookie which is working against him when comparing to Chop Robinson and Dallas Turner. Regardless, he’ll be a problem on the edge and I don’t expect him to get to the second half of round 1.

Laiatu Latu – Edge – UCLA - 93

Won every available award for a defensive end last season. Lit it up with 13 sacks and led the nation with 21 TFLs. Latu has terrific size for an edge player and unlike many in this class, has the ability to hold the point of attack. On the field he looks great. Outstanding instincts, fluid movement, advanced hand work, and solid burst to the QB. I can’t unsee the game against Fuaga at Oregon State where he was outmatched. His measurables don’t jump out and you worry about 32.5” arms and only above average speed at 4.64 and a 1.62 10 yard split. I see a lot of Aidan Hutchinson in his game. The real big question is his neck, which caused him to miss two seasons. It was touch and go getting cleared for football again. We’ve seen this type of thing cost a guy a whole round in the draft and sometimes cut their careers way short. Medicals are number one for projecting this kid, but I have no idea what those are so not factoring into my grade.

Darius Robinson – DE – Missiouri - 87

Why is Missouri the only school that produces these long, heavy defensive end prospects? At 6’5” and 285, Robinson has the strength you would expect to stand his ground and move people on his way to the QB. The comparison to Keion White is spot on, and I’d add DeMarcus Lawrence too. Plays better on the edge than inside, but I expect that to develop where he can move inside in passing situations. He has limited knee bend getting around the corner, but has the strength and slashing quickness to win in other ways. Ten years ago he’s a top 15 pick. Someone may be able to snag him in the mid second.

Bralen Trice – Edge – Washington - 85

Watching Washington last fall he flew off the screen. Every passing situation you’re thinking, okay it’s Trice time. And he delivered, not once, twice, but Trice. Sorry, bad one. Production was terrific despite the sacks not being entirely there. I expected his 10 yard split to be better than 1.72 because he has good initial burst. Trice is average in every measurable category, but the tenacity and timely playmaking makes him an easy day 2 pick for me. Reminds me of Kyle Van Noy.

Marshawn Kneeland – Edge – Western Michigan – 79

This is what the combine is all about. A player from Western Michigan you wouldn’t look twice at weighs in at 267 pounds with 34.5” arms and clocks a 7.02 in the 3 cone. Ears perking up? This former tight end wants to go the J.J. Watt route and make it as an edge defender. Now you’ve got to be honest with yourself, he’s a pretty raw 23 year old player from a lower conference who was not a full time starter until his 5th year in college. That’s the tempering perspective. The other side is, he’s big, he can move, and when he gets to the ball carrier he makes them pay. There is something here, but it belongs in the 3rd round when you can take a swing.