2021 NFL Draft: Ranking the top five EDGE defenders
Pittsburgh. 866. Scouting Report. EDGE. 4. player. Pick Analysis. Patrick Jones II
Through eight games this season, Pittsburgh edge rusher Patrick Jones II has piled up 32 tackles (including 10.5 for loss) and eight sacks. He has established himself as one of the premier edge defenders in the nation and has raised his profile as an NFL Draft prospect.
Jones has an explosive first step and consistently gets great upfield burst. He has a knack for getting up the field quickly and shows a wide range of pass-rush moves. Jones has quick feet and active hands as a pass rusher and can consistently win with raw speed around the edge. He is also a relatively powerful player at the point of attack and will hold his won against the run.
2021 NFL Draft projection: Late first or early second round
Pick Analysis. Miami (FL). Quincy Roche. 5. 834. Scouting Report. EDGE. player
Quincy Roche was a productive defender at Temple for three seasons and made the move to Miami for his final college season. Now, Roche is hurrying ACC quarterbacks for the Hurricanes and should be taken seriously as a possible first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Roche is a pure speed rusher who shows an explosive first step and fantastic raw speed on the outside. He can dip and bend extremely well and does a great job of closing on the quarterback quickly. Roche is never going to be a power-based rusher, but he can hold his own at the point of attack and is not a liability as a run defender.
Next. 2021 NFL mock draft. dark
That being said, his value will primarily be as a speed rusher who can create pressure off of the edge. Roche is a gifted athlete who at worst, will be able to make a major impact on passing downs at the next level.