The 2023 NFL Draft edge rusher class is strong at both defensive end and outside linebacker.

Ric Serritella reports on the 2023 DL Class

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The 2023 NFL Draft edge rusher class is strong at both defensive end and outside linebacker. Before we get started, it is important to note that our big board edge rush rankings are separated into two categories: 4-3 defensive ends and 3-4 outside linebackers.

As reported in https://www.allaccessfootball.com/p/2023-nfl-draft-primer-edge-rusher-e01

This edge class presents ample opportunities for teams in need of pass-rushing prowess to find impact players. As scouts and teams evaluate the prospects based on their performance in college and pre-draft events, the final rankings and selections will ultimately depend on each team's evaluation and strategy. Nonetheless, this year's edge rusher class offers plenty of excitement and potential for teams looking to improve their defensive fronts in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Much ado has been made about OLB Will Anderson of Alabama, who is in contention to be the number one overall pick. Yet, some NFL scouts have shared concerns about his lack of size/bulk, however, there are few flaws in his game. While he has been out of sight since October, Georgia OLB Nolan Smith has not been forgotten. Despite a lackluster college resume, there is no doubt that Smith possesses the athletic traits that make scouts salivate, along with all the tools in the shed.

Teams in need of edge rushers who can stick their hand in the dirt could also strike early in the draft. Clemson DE Myles Murphy has played up and down the Tigers defensive line but is built to play on the edge. Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson demonstrates phenomenal length, bend and hand combat in his pass repertoire, which projects him to be a top ten selection.

Other first round candidates include redshirt sophomore DE Lukas Van Ness of Iowa and Keion White of Georgia Tech who gave NFL scouts in attendance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl something to talk about. One player who was downgraded due to his Senior Bowl performance is DE Andre Carter of Army, as he was clearly outmatched by the premier level of talent in Mobile and Indy.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh DE Habakkuk Baldonado is full of upside, having played just five years of organized American football after moving to the United States from Rome, Italy in 2017.

Lookout for Caleb Murphy of Ferris State who carries momentum from a strong East-West Shrine Bowl performance into the NFL Scouting Combine. With another strong showing, Murphy should be a lock to become the highest drafted player in school history (Zach Sieler No.238 overall in 2018-Ravens). A stellar showing by Garrett Nelson of Nebraska at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl may have also played him into the backend of the draft equation; a ‘hair on fire’ type player, Nelson shows natural ball instincts, flies to the football and flashed excellent speed. One player snubbed by the combine is BJ Thompson of Stephen F. Austin--one of the most athletic freaks in this year’s draft, he will now have to wait until his pro day workout for a chance to impress NFL evaluators further.

We have listed prospects as to how we project them best at the professional level.

2023 NFL DRAFT PRIMER SERIES: DL

PLAYER KEY: Rank, Player, School, Year, Height, Weight, Forty, Hand, Arm, Wingspan, All-Star Game, Combine Status, Projection | Scouting Report

ABBREVIATIONS: SRB = Senior Bowl, EWS = East-West Shrine Bowl, NFLPA = NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, HULA = Hula Bowl, TROP = Tropical Bowl, CGS = College Gridiron Showcase, NIC = NFL Combine Invite, UDFA = Undrafted Free Agent, NIC (National Invitational Camp) = NFL Scouting Combine

2023 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: 3-4 DEFENSIVE ENDS

1. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern, Sr, 6015, 282, 4.49 (1.61), 1048, 3378, 8218, 27, 37.5”, 10-5, 4.26, 7.13, SRB, NIC, Rd2
2. Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, Jr, 6030, 266, 4.85e, 1018, 3228, NIC, Rd2
3. Mike Morris, Michigan, Sr, 6051, 275, 4.95 (1.72), 1000, 3348, 22, 28.5”, 9-2, 4.65, 7.46, NIC, Rd3
4. Colby Wooden, Auburn, Jr, 6040, 273, 4.79 (1.68), 1038, 3368, 8038, 23, 9-7, 4.52, 7.49, NIC, Rd4
5. Isaiah McGuire, Missouri, Sr, 6040, 268, 4.76 (1.72), 0858, 3378, 8218, 36.5”, 10-2, 7.39, SRB, NIC, Rd5
6. Karl Brooks, Bowling Green, Sr, 6033, 296, 5.09, 0918, 3148, 7728, 28, 26.5”, 8-09, 5.00, 7.63, SRB, Rd6
7. Bumphus LaTrell, Tennessee, Sr, 6031, 277, 4.90, 0968, 3348, 7748, 28.5”, 9-04, 4.58, 7.55, NFLPA, Rd7
8. Kobie Turner, Wake Forest, rSr, 6024, 293, 4.92e, 1028, 3200, 7668, 31, 4.49, 7.09, EWS, PFA
9. Randy Charlton, Mississippi State, rSr, 6030, 286, 4.85e, 0978, 3278, 7948, NFLPA, PFA
10. Ami Finau, Maryland, Sr, 6016, 283, 4.85e, 0968, 3238, 7658, HULA, PFA
11. D'Anthony Jones, Houston, Sr, 6003, 276, 5.15, 0958, 3200, 7848, 23, 29”, 4.58, 7.66, HULA, PFA
12. Jacob Sykes, UCLA, 6026, 282, 4.94, 1018, 3268, 7958, 27, 32”, 9-02, 4.48, 7.45, PFA
13. Junior Aho, SMU, Sr, 6022, 260, 4.59, 0900, 3378, 7978, 33.5”, 10-03, 4.90, 7.38, PFA
14. Lwal Uguak, TCU, rSr, 6030, 275, 5.00e, PFA
15. Jamare Edwards, James Madison, Sr, 6025, 286, 5.43, 0918, 3318, 8048, 21, 8-02, 5.28, CGS, PFA
16. Trey Botts, Colorado State-Pueblo, Sr, 6024, 284, 4.99, 0918, 3218, 7800, 30, 30”, 9-08, 4.72, 7.52, CGS, UDFA
17. Sam Burt, Kansas, Sr, 6031, 296, 5.22, 0900, 3168, 7900, 30, 26.5”, 8-02, 4.89, 7.67, CGS, UDFA
18. Levi Bell, Texas State, rSr, 5114, 262, 4.59, 0948, 3138, 7528, 33, 37.5”, 10-07, 4.40, 7.32, UDFA
19. Jason Lewan, Illinois State, Sr, 6062, 293, 5.07, 1138, 3300, 8100, 24, 31”, 4.68, 7.65, CGS, UDFA
20. MJ Anderson, Iowa State, Jr, 6020, 269, 4.80, 0928, 3368, 8200, 33”, 9-05, 4.69, 7.78, NIC, UDFA

2023 NFL DRAFT BIBLE BIG BOARD: 4-3 DEFENSIVE ENDS

1. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech, rSr, 6060, 271, 4.70e, 0958, 3558, 23, SRB, NIC, Rd1
2. Myles Murphy, Clemson, Jr, 6050, 268, 4.72e, 0848, 3368, 25, NIC, Rd1
3. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa, rSo, 6050, 272, 4.58 (1.64), 1100, 3400, 8168, 17, 31”, 9-10, 4.32, 7.02, NIC, Rd1
4. Will McDonald IV, Iowa State, rSr, 6035, 239, 4.68e, 0948, 3478, 8228, 36”, 11-0, 4.22, 6.85, SRB, NIC, Rd1
5. Keion White, Georgia Tech, rJr, 6060, 285, 4.79, 1018, 3400, 7968, 30, 34”, 9-9, SRB, NIC, Rd2
6. Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame, rJr, 6051, 264, 4.58 (1.66), 0978, 3400, 8158, 22, 34”, 10-5, 4.41, 7.28, SRB, NIC, Rd2
7. DJ Johnson, Oregon, Sr, 6040, 260, 4.49 (1.59), 0900, 3328, 7958, 32”, 9-2, SRB, NIC, Rd3
8. Zach Harrison, Ohio State, Sr, 6054, 274, 4.62e, 1000, 3628, 8548, 27, 34.5”, 10-03, 4.66, 7.33, NIC, Rd3
9. Tavius Robinson, Mississippi, Sr, 6061, 257, 4.66 (1.63), 0958, 3368, 8058, 23, 33.5”, 10-0, 4.62, 7.33, SRB, NIC, Rd3
10. Ali Gaye, LSU, rSr, 6060, 263, 4.69e, 0948, 3328, 8118, 19, SRB, NIC, Rd3
11. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State, Jr, 6031, 255, 4.68e, 0958, 3348, 8018, NIC, Rd4
12. Andre Carter, Army, Sr, 6064, 256, 4.65e, 0938, 3338, 8218, 11, 30”, 9-1, 4.29, 6.97, SRB, NIC, Rd4
13. Yaya Diaby, Louisville, Sr, 6033, 263, 4.51 (1.56), 1038, 3378, 8128, 37” , 10-0, SRB, NIC, Rd5
14. Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh, rSr, 6042, 251, 4.78 (1.67), 1048, 3300, 8048, 21, 35”, 10-0, 4.44, 7.11, NIC, Rd5
15. KJ Henry, Clemson, rSr, 6040, 251, 4.60e, 1000, 3300, 7938, 31.5” , 9-4, SRB, NIC, Rd6
16. Dylan Horton, TCU, Sr, 6040, 257, 4.75e, 0948, 3318, 7878, 18, 34”, 10-0, SRB, NIC, Rd6
17. Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska, rSr, 6046, 250, 4.74 (1.64), 1068, 3528, 8468, 21, 33.5” , 9-10, 4.41, 7.19, EWS, NIC, Rd6
18. Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State, Jr, 6040, 276, 4.77, 0878, 3300, 7838, 24, 30”, 8-04, 4.73, 7.32, EWS, NIC, Rd7
19. Ikenna Enechukwu, Rice, Sr, 6042, 264, 4.70 (1.66), 0958, 3358, 8218, 31.5”, 10-0, 4.64, 7.58, EWS, NIC, Rd7
20. Titus Leo, Wagner, Sr, 6030, 245, 4.69, 1018, 3418, 8158, 20, 34”, 10-09, 4.37, 7.30, EWS, Rd7
21. John Waggoner, Iowa, rSr, 6050, 259, 5.03, 0848, 3100, 7458, 20, 32”, 9-07, 4.48, 7.22, NFLPA, PFA
22. Brevin Allen, Campbell, Sr, 6031, 265, 4.85, 1018, 3418, 8238, 24, EWS/HULA, PFA
23. Durell Nchami, Maryland, rSr, 6040, 258, 4.75e, 3428, 8028, NFLPA, PFA
24. Deslin Alexandre, Pittsburgh, rSr, 6030, 264, 4.85e, 0958, 3378, 8000, 23, 35”, NFLPA/CGS, PFA
25. George Tarlas, Boise State, rSr, 6031, 253, 4.88, 0978, 3218, 7818, 22, 27.5”, 9-03, 4.53, 6.97, PFA
26. Marcus Bragg, Auburn, Sr, 6035, 237, 5.01, 0948, 3300, 8028, 19, 27.5”, 9-02, 4.60, 7.64, CGS, PFA 

Ric’s conclusion, the 2023 NFL Draft boasts a strong class of edge rushers, with talent available in both the 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker categories. While Will Anderson of Alabama has received attention as a potential top pick, concerns about his size have been raised by some scouts. Nolan Smith of Georgia, despite a less impressive college resume, possesses tantalizing athletic traits that make him an intriguing prospect. Other first-round candidates include Myles Murphy of Clemson, Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech, Lukas Van Ness of Iowa, and Keion White of Georgia Tech, all of whom have showcased their skills and potential in various events such as the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl. Notable prospects who have shown promise but may have had setbacks in pre-draft events include Andre Carter of Army, who struggled at the Senior Bowl, and BJ Thompson of Stephen F. Austin, who was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but will have an opportunity to impress at his pro day workout. Additionally, Habakkuk Baldonado of Pittsburgh, Caleb Murphy of Ferris State, and Garrett Nelson of Nebraska have all displayed potential and could be intriguing options for teams looking to bolster their pass rush.