Who are the edge rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft and where will they land?
Two names that instantly stand out are Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech standout David Bailey. With both players expected to go off the board quickly, the question is where in the top 10 will they land. Will one of these top prospects fall out of the top 10?
With the edge rush position being one of the deep positions in the draft, NFL teams hungry to add talent to their roster at the position will have opportunities through the first few rounds to add prospects who could make an impact instantly. Beyond Bain Jr and Bailey, where will other top edge prospects fall in the 2026 NFL draft?
In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft featuring the edge rush position, we highlight the top 10 prospects and reveal ideal landing spots ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from April 23-25.
Top 10 edge rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft and where they will land
1.David Bailey, ED, Texas Tech – Projected pick: No. 7 (Washington Commanders)
The Commanders benefit from the New York Jets decision at No. 2 by selecting the player they pass on in favor of Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. In slipping down to No. 7, Bailey gives the Commanders a long-term disruptive force on the edge. In signing Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson and adding a high-level talent like Bailey, the Commanders upgrade tremendously at the position. Most importantly, they get a player in Bailey who projects as a force in the NFL for years to come.
2. Rueben Bain Jr., ED, Miami (FL) – Projected pick: No.8 (New Orleans Saints)
The Saints seem destined to go wide receiver with the No. 8 overall pick, but when Rueben Bain Jr. slides to them at this spot, it’s a no brainer. Don’t let the short arms fool you, Bain Jr. is a menace getting after the passer and will come with a chip on his shoulder due to analysis surrounding his arm length and an off-the-field issue that surfaced just weeks prior to the draft. A Saints team looking to replace longtime edge rusher Cameron Jordan, gets that player in Bain Jr. who compliments what they have in Chase Young and Carl Granderson.
3. Akheem Mesidor, ED, Miami (FL) – Projected pick: No.20 (Dallas Cowboys)
Akheem Mesidor at No. 20 to the Dallas Cowboys feels like a steal. Playing opposite Bain Jr., Mesidor was a wrecking ball off the edge in 2025 with the Miami Hurricanes, tallying 12.5 sacks and posted a PFF defensive grade of 92.5. In earning First-Team All-ACC honors, Mesidor is one of the top edge rushers in the draft as far a pure talent, but the fact that he will turn 25 during his rookie season may cause teams to pass on him early, but not the Cowboys with their second first-round pick.
4. Keldric Faulk, ED, Auburn – Projected pick: No.23 (Philadelphia Eagles)
The Eagles fill their need at edge in taking Keldric Faulk with the No. 23 overall pick. In losing Jaelan Phillips in free agency, Howie Roseman makes edge rusher a priority in the first round in taking a player with prototypical size. Although Faulk doesn’t jump off the charts as far as sack production, his blend of size, power, versatility and reputation as an elite run defender makes him an intriguing addition to a line anchored by Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and both Nolan Smith Jr and Arnold Ebiketie on the edge.
5. Malachi Lawrence, ED, UCF – Projected pick: No.27 (San Francisco 49ers)
A draft riser, UCF’s Malachi Lawrence lands with the San Francisco 49ers. With his elite burst and speed off the edge, the effortless motor of the 6-foot04, 253-pound Lawrence makes him a great option for 49ers team that was lacking in pass rush production in 2025. With a healthy Nick Bosa back, along with the addition of Lawrence, john Lynch and company will have more juice off the edge in 2026.
6. Cashius Howell, ED, Texas A&M – Projected pick: No.31 (New England Patriots)
Cashius Howell is another player batting the “arm length” debate, but that won’t stop him from going off the board in Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the No. 31 overall pick, the AFC champion New England Patriots secure a targeted need in Howell, who has that first-step explosiveness and bend off the edge that will make him an upgrade over Chiasson who they lost in free agency after a career year. In all, Howell does have to work on his run support, but his consistent burst into the backfield intrigues Mike Vrabel and the Patriots.
7. T.J. Parker, ED, Clemson – Projected pick: No.34 (Arizona Cardinals)
T.J. Parker is one of those first-round talents that will end up as early an early Day 2 pick. As the seventh edge rusher off the board, the former Clemson star lands at No. 34 to the Arizona Cardinals. In anticipation of QB Ty Simpson being off the board at this spot, the Cardinals address one of their top needs at edge with Parker who is a player trending back up at his position after a less than stellar season in 2025.
8. Zion Young, ED, Missouri – Projected pick: No. 43 (Miami Dolphins)
Another player trending up is Missouri’s Zion Young. Often mocked as a late first round pick, Young falls to No, 43 to the Miami Dolphins. With great size, power and a high motor, Young is a player many teams will target in that No. 23-45 range. Due to some questions surrounding his character, Young will slide just a little. He’ll give the Dolphins a young pass rusher to go along with Chop Robinson and Joshua Uche in a revamped Dolphins’ defense.
9. R Mason Thomas, ED, Oklahoma – Projected pick: No.51 (Carolina Panthers)
Another edge rusher falling just slightly is R Mason Thomas who goes No. 51 overall to the Carolina Panthers. Despite signing Jaelan Phillips in free agency, the Panthers still look to add an impactful pass rusher to the mix. Mason Thomas brings that potential to the Panthers’ defense. Known for his late-game motor, Mason Thomas recorded 6-5 sacks in 2025 along with 9.5 tackles for a loss, with much of that coming in clutch situations.
10. Gabe Jacas, ED, Illinois - Projected pick: No.55 (Los Angeles Chargers )
The Chargers makes Gabe Jacas the 10th edge rusher off the board. The Illinois product is yet another edge rusher creating buzz prior to the draft. At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Jacas is a relentless pass rusher who recorded 11.0 sacks in 2025 to go along with 12.5 tackles and 3 forced fumbles earning him 2025 First-Team All-big Ten honors. Given his skillset and upside, Jacas will benefit greatly learning behind Khalil Mack as the Chargers’ long-term option at the position opposite Tuli Tuipulotu.
Other notable 2026 NFL Draft projections – Edge rush class
No. 64: Seattle Seahawks– Joshua Josephs, ED, Tennessee
No. 72: Cincinnati Bengals – Derrick Moore, ED, Michigan
No. 74: Kansas City Chiefs – Dani Dennis-Sutton, ED, Penn State
No. 89: Chicago Bears – LT Overton, ED, Alabama
No. 91: Buffalo Bills– Romello Height, ED, Texas Tech
No. 94: Miami Dolphins – Keyron Crawford, ED, Auburn
No. 109: Kansas City Chiefs– Anthony Lucas, ED, USC
No. 116: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jaishawn Barham, ED, Michigan
No. 125: New England Patriots– Mikail Kamara, ED, Indiana
No. 128: Detroit Lions– Tyreak Sapp, ED, Florida
Biggest takeaway from the 2026 ED Class
The class is filled with prospects who could make an impact Day 1. Beyond big names like Bain Jr. and Bailey, players with high upsides like Akheem Mesidor and Zion Young are players who can go earlier than expected. But, in all, there is a cluster of edge rush talent that could start to fall off the board in that late-first round, early Day 2 area witch teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills in position to nap players with first round position. Some notable predicted to slide a bit in this draft are Bain Jr., Young and R. Mason Thomas. Each of those players will enter the league with a chip on their shoulder and a high ceiling.
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