The 2023 NFL Draft is nearly upon us. And with that comes the final edition of the PFF NFL Draft Guide, which comes loaded with scouting reports and advanced data on the class' top draft prospects.
Here are the top 10 edge defenders in this year's draft class, per PFF's NFL Draft Guide and big board.
1. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
BIG BOARD RANK: 3
Anderson had as productive a three-year career as we’ve seen from a defensive lineman. He picked up 207 pressures over that span. He’s an explosive and fluid 6-foot-4, 243-pound blue-chip edge.
2. Nolan Smith, Georgia
BIG BOARD RANK: 13
Smith is a modern undersized edge-rusher who, at only 238 pounds, can be a three-down player. In fact, he earned a 90.0-plus run-defense grade over the past two seasons. He needs more power elements to his pass-rushing toolbox, but he’s a high-end athlete who can win with speed.
3. Myles Murphy, Clemson
BIG BOARD RANK: 17
Murphy is too freaky to pass up. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is this year’s version of Travon Walker. Murphy could stand to add some pass-rushing moves, but he still racked up 76 pressures over the past two seasons.
4. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
BIG BOARD RANK: 27
Van Ness is an ascending power rusher with unique strength and flexibility. When he wants to go through offensive linemen, he almost always can. He earned an 80.2 overall grade this past fall with 46 pressures on 271 pass-rushing snaps.
5. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
BIG BOARD RANK: 28
Wilson is a handful for every lineman who has to block him. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder will have a length advantage against almost every tackle he faces in the NFL. He has inside-outside versatility and put up 50 pressures this past season.
6. Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
BIG BOARD RANK: 29
McDonald will be one of the more interesting defensive line prospects in the class because his tape is almost all at a position that he won't play in the NFL. He was frequently a four- or five-technique in Iowa State’s defense at 236 pounds. McDonald is at his best in space off the edge, where he can be a speed rusher. He earned an 84.1 pass-rushing grade in 2022 and an 85.3 mark in 2021.
7. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
BIG BOARD RANK: 32
Anudike-Uzomah is one of the best edge benders in the draft class. He’s the type of edge rusher that’s going to convert a lot of pressures to sacks because of that. Of his 89 pressures the past two seasons, 21 ended up as sacks.
8. Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
BIG BOARD RANK: 52
Tuipulotu is an ascending, versatile defensive lineman. He barely came off the field for the Trojans this past fall (733 snaps) as he racked up 56 pressures. At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, he can play on the edge, over tackles or at three-technique in the NFL.
9. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
BIG BOARD RANK: 56
Adebawore is one of the single freakiest athletes in NFL Combine history. His 4.49-second 40-yard dash is the fastest ever for a player 280-plus pounds by .16 seconds. That kind of explosiveness is worth betting on.
10. B.J. Ojulari, LSU
BIG BOARD RANK: 57
Ojulari is the younger brother of Giants edge-rusher and second-rounder Azeez Ojulari. He’s a similarly undersized edge with an array of pass-rushing moves at his disposal. He saw playing time ever since his freshman year and racked up 127 pressures in three seasons.
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