Ranking the top five edge rushers in the 2021 NFL Draft class.
The 2021 NFL Draft class is loaded with talent across many positions. While edge rusher may not be considered one of the most talented groups in this class, there are some exciting players who will undoubtedly be on many the radar of many teams.
Who are the top edge rushers in the 2021 NFL Draft class? Find out as we rank the top five players at the position and project their draft range.
Kwity Paye has missed some time with a groin injury this season, but when he has been on the field, Paye has been unstoppable. He has only played in three games this season and has piled up 12 total tackles (four for loss) and two sacks. Paye was generating a ton of pressure off of the edge before his injury and needs to be taken seriously as a top-tier 2021 NFL Draft prospect.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Paye has all of the size and strength needed to hold his own at the line of scrimmage. He is a powerful player who sets the edge well and can win with a bull rush on the outside.
Paye is certainly a bigger edge rusher, but do not sleep on his ability to get off of the ball quickly and generate pressure with speed. Paye is explosive around the edge and closes on the quarterback in an instant. He converts speed to power at an extremely high level and is an impact player against the run and the pass.
Personally, I would like to see Paye land with a creative defensive team that will not be afraid to play him all over the defensive line. His combination of size, quickness and power is fantastic and will make him an exciting weapon at the next level. Paye is the best edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft class and should be a top 12 pick next April.
2021 NFL Draft projection: Early first round
Gregory Rousseau is considered by most to be the top edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft class and a likely top 10 selection. While there is certainly a lot to like about Rousseau as a prospect, Paye is a more complete player, pushing him to the top of my list.
Last season, wreaked havoc in the ACC, finishing the year with 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. He was able to generate consistent pressure off of the edge, using his fantastic combination of length and athleticism.
Rousseau is an exciting speed rusher who gets off of the ball quickly and does a great job of bending around the edge. He is undoubtedly a high-ceiling player, but Rousseau tends to rely on his athleticism far too often. He is a raw player who needs to refine his technique in order to reach his ceiling at the next level.
Rousseau sat out the 2020 season and that is unlikely to help his development. His exciting upside at a premium position certainly makes Rousseau tempting as an early pick, but he is undoubtedly a risky pick who will likely struggle to make an early impact.
2021 NFL Draft projection: Mid first round
Joseph Ossai is another 2021 NFL Draft prospect who has raised his stock in a big way this season. Through seven games for Texas, Ossai has piled up 49 tackles (including 13 for loss) and 4.5 sacks. Ossai is a consistent playmaker on the defensive side of the ball for the Longhorns and can impact the game in a variety of ways.
Ossai is at his best when he lines up on the edge and simply attacks the quarterback. He shows an impressive combination of quickness and power on the edge and does a great job of getting low and turning the corner quickly. Ossai is an exciting edge rusher but has also done a great job of handling off-ball linebacker duties for Texas.
Ossai will likely primarily play on the edge at the next level, but it is nice to see him show this versatility. Simply put, he is a tough and talented football player who always seems to find his way to the ball. Ossai should be a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft and undoubtedly has a high ceiling at the next level.
2021 NFL Draft projection: Mid-to-late first round
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
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.
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.