EDGEs | 3-4 OLBs
I classify EDGEs as guys that play off the LOS, can be called upon to drop into space and take on a LB duty. Schematically, they are typically along the outside of 3-4 front. That said, some do have the ability to play a traditional "hand in the dirt" role.
The were 9 EDGEs selected in the 2022 draft, as follows:
Round 1 - 0
Round 2 - 3
Round 3 - 3
Round 4 - 0
Round 5 - 1
Round 6 - 1
Round 7 - 1
1) Will Anderson | 6'3 | 243 | EDGE/DE | Alabama
2021 - 17.5 sacks, 101 tackles
10/1 - Arkansas - Anderson had a very good game. He came off the edge with force, played with great functional strength. He had 7 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, .5 sacks. Whether he was playing the run or pass, he popped out.
10/8 - Texas A&M - Anderson was an absolute menace, gave the Aggies fits throughout the contest. His 2 tackle, 1 TFL stat line belies just how fierce and disruptive he was.
2) B.J. Ojulari | 6'2 | 230 | EDGE | LSU
2021 - 7 sacks, 54 tackles
9/4 - Florida State - Ojulari had a good game, looked like a 1dt-round player on a number of snaps. He finished with 6 tackles and 1 sack, was constant against the run and pass.
9/17 - Mississippi State - Ojulari was dominant tonight, looked like a sure fire 1st-rounder. He flashed very good quickness and fight off the edge, posted 4 tackles, 2.5 TFLS, 1.5 sacks. He was too athletic for MSU to keep him at bay.
10/1 - Auburn - Ojulari had a really good game. He flashed good edge rush ability and technique, was able to use his quickness to beat his blocker multiple times. He finished with 4 tackles, 2 sacks.
10/8 - Tennessee - The Vols went fast, as usual, which limited Ojulari's ability to make an impact somewhat. That said, he wasn't able to provide any real pressure with consistency. When facing RT Wright, the defender was held in check.
3) Nolan Smith | 6'3 | 235 | EDGE | Georgia
2021 - 3.5 sacks, 55 tackles
9/3 - Oregon - Oregon opted for quick plays, which never allowed Smith enough time to get into the backfield. Oregon schemed around he and others, but to no avail. Smith recorded 2 tackles.
10/1 - Missouri - Smith did have 4 tackles and flashed with a sack, but he was held out of contention for the majority of the game.
4) Derick Hall | 6'2 | 238 | EDGE | Auburn
2021 - 9 sacks, 52 tackles
9/17 - Penn State - Hall had a solid game, posting 5 tackles and 1 TFL. While he was hemmed up a number of time by the future NFL talent in LT Fashanu, he was also able to get by him a couple times. Hall played bigger than his stature would seemingly allow, showing strength in his pass rush and against the run.
9/24 - Missouri - Hall had an impressive outing, posting 6 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks. He was stout vs. the run on the edge, and showed off the ability to get into the backfield and disrupt plays.
10/1 - LSU - Hall had a solid game. While there were moments where he disappeared, when he was on he flashed. He sued a good mix of technique and skill to better blockers. He ended up with 3 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack.
5) Will McDonald | 6'3 | 245 | EDGE/DE | Iowa State
2021 - 11.5 sacks, 36 tackles
6) Brenton Cox | 6'3 | 252 | EDGE/DE | Florida
2021 - 8.5 sacks, 41 tackles
9/3 - Utah - Cox had a fantastic game, all things considered. While he did lose edge contain against the run a few times due to undisciplined play, he shined otherwise. He had 10 tackles, .5 TFLs. He was a menace off the edge, toyed with Utah's OTs several times throughout the game. His speed to strength rush was outstanding.
9/10 - Kentucky - Cox really flashed, especially early on. He showed off great strength at the LOS when pass-rushing, giving OTs fits. He was also stout vs. the run, holding the edge well.
9/24 - Tennessee - Cox had a solid game overall, but he met his match when he locked up with RT Darnell Wright. While Cox did play with strength in edge contain against the run, he was stymied when trying to rush the passer. He played hard and had a constant motor, but wasn't quick enough getting into the backfield to make plays.
10/8 - Missouri - Cox was a bit on again off again, but impressed overall. He showed burst and quickness off the edge, used a good inside counter move. He had 5 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack.
7) Laiatu Latu | 6'4 | 265 | EDGE/DE | UCLA
8) Byron Young | 6'3 | 245 | EDGE/DE | Tennessee
2021 - 5.5 sacks, 46 tackles
9/10 - Pittsburgh - Young had a solid game, kept Pitt honest at the LOS. He posted 4 tackles, 1 sack. He looks like a player to keep an eye on.
9/24 - Florida - Young didn't blow up the stat sheet, but he showed stout run defense and was good at applying pressure.
10/8 - LSU - Young had a very good game, as he provided pressure in spurts throughout the game. He notched 5 tackles, 2.5 sacks.
11/19 - South Carolina - Young flashed a couple times in particular, was able to get pressure in spurts. He ended up with 5 tackles, 3 TFLs, looked really solid off the edge.
9) Robert Beal | 6'3 | 255 | EDGE | Georgia
2021 - 6.5 sacks, 33 tackles
9/3 - Oregon - Oregon opted for quick plays, taking Beal out of the action. He had just 1 tackle, to no fault of his own.
10/1 - Missouri - Beal was only credited with 2 tackles, but he popped off the screen a few times, really challenged blockers with a constant motor.
10/29 - Florida - Beal didn't blow up the stat line, but he was frenetic off the edge, a guy who couldn't be hemmed up for long.
10) Nick Hampton | 6'3 | 235 | EDGE | Appalachian State
11) Ochaun Mathis | 6'5 | 257 | EDGE/DE | Nebraska
2021 - 4 sacks, 45 tackles
9/17 - Oklahoma - Mathis didn't flash as a pass rusher, he he played pretty well in space, chipped in on 7 tackles.
10/8 - Rutgers - Mathis flashed a couple times, but wasn't consistent. He was outplayed by teammate Garret Nelson. Mathis did muster up 4 tackles, 1 sack, however.
12) Nick Herbig | 6'3 | 227 | EDGE | Wisconsin
2021 - 9 sacks, 61 tackles
9/10 - Washington State - Herbig flashed a few times, amassing 4 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack. While he had his moments, he wasn't a consistent contributor.
9/24 - Ohio State - Herbig showed off a nice wide arc pass rush against Paris Johnson, but he wasn't able to create any real pressure against the future 1st-rounder.
13) Jordan Strachan | 6'4 | 225 | EDGE | South Carolina
2021 - 3 sacks, 23 tackles
9/10 - Arkansas - Strachan had a solid game, posted 6 tackles with 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack. While his play stood out a few times, he was streaky. He wasn't a consistent force, often came in on the ball after the play was already made. He did show some pass-rush ability in flashes, ability to win with quickness.
14) Brock Martin | 6'3 | 245 | EDGE | Oklahoma State
2021 - 9 sacks, 41 tackles
9/1 - Central Michigan - Martin had an average game, was sublime on many of his snaps. He wasn't a liability against the run, and gave effort as a pass-rusher, but he didn't jump out.
9/10 - Arizona State - Martin had a very solid game. He showed a decent blend of speed and power, provided some good pressure throught this contest. He posted 4 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack.
15) Mitchell Agude | 6'3 | 245 | EDGE | Miami
2021 - 2 sacks, 55 tackles
9/17 - Texas A&M - Agude flashed a couple times, but was pretty much held in check, not flashing overall outside of his shared TFL.
16) Khari Coleman | 6'2 | 225 | EDGE | Ole Miss
2021 - 1.5 sacks, 19 tackles
17) Garret Nelson | 6'3 | 245 | EDGE/DE | Nebraska
2021 - 5 sacks, 57 tackles
8/27 - Northwestern - Nelson showed solid edge discipline against the run, strong kid.
9/17 - Oklahoma - Nelson played with a good motor and base strength, was a challenge to blocks at times. He had 5 tackles.
10/8 - Rutgers - Nelson had a great game, was very stout and physical in edge defense. He paced his squad with 11 tackles, 1.5 sacks.
18) Kivon Bennett | 6'2 | 236 | EDGE | Arkansas State
2021 - 8 sacks, 58 tackles
999) Jared Verse | 6'5 | 251 | EDGE | Florida State
999) Zion Tupola-Fetui | 6'2 | 260 | EDGE | Washington