The Best Edge Defenders of the 2015 NFL Draft

The 2015 class of edge defenders looks to be one of the more talented crops in the last few years. The Pac-12 in particular features a large majority of the representatives on this list.

When you think about it, there hasn’t been a dominant edge-rusher to emerge out of the last three draft classes. It looks like things are going to change once this group of rookies joins the party.

At this stage in the evaluation process, the only factor being considered for these rankings is my tape study. So far, I’ve watched three to four games per prospect of the top 20 edge defenders in this class, filtering each one through a list of 29 attributes they’re carefully graded on. After watching the tape, I added those attributes together to create an overall grade.

In other words, the top-ranked player in this slideshow got there exclusively on what he showed on tape.

Later on in the draft process, the prospect evaluations will become more inclusive, considering factors such as college production, scouting combine and pro-day results, character and medical history. None of those elements played a role in how this list was created.

Honorable Mentions

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9. Nate Orchard, Utah

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 251 lbs

Natural Position: OLB in a 3-4 defensive front

He's one of the better hand technicians at the position but gives up a lot of ground to blockers and is terrible at anchoring in against the run.

8. Dante Fowler Jr., Florida

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 250 lbs

Natural Position: OLB in a 3-4 defensive front

He could be the best athlete at the position in this draft but lacks instincts and functional strength. He also misses too many tackles, is often out of position and doesn't have many pass-rush moves.

7. Shane Ray, Missouri

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 245 lbs

Natural Position: OLB in a 3-4 defensive front

He's a high-energy player with quick feet and a relentless motor. Ray is undersized for a defensive and also lacks power in his game to really hold his own against NFL blockers. However, he can find seams and windows into the opponent's backfield.

6. Markus Golden, Missouri

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 255 lbs

Natural Position: DE in a 4-3 defensive front

He has good power and a thick lower body for a guy his size. He's not very fast but quick in short bursts and has great instincts and balance. 

5. Vic Beasley, Clemson

John Raoux/Associated Press

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 235 lbs

Natural Position: OLB in a 3-4 defensive front

Key Stats: 52.5 tackles for loss and 33 sacks over the last three years

Where He Wins

Vic Beasley is a quick, shifty pass-rusher who does a great job of turning the corner and getting underneath a blocker to avoid being overpowered. He uses his speed and athleticism to beat blockers to the spot or counter if they overcorrect. This makes him disruptive to offenses because he routinely blows plays up in the backfield.

There likely isn’t a more accomplished or quicker edge defender in this draft.

Concerns

The problem with Beasley is that blockers who are able to get their hands on him often overpower him. Once this happens, he becomes completely neutralized.

His lack of size and power also raises questions regarding how well he can set an edge and anchor in there. From my tape studies, this appears to be a weakness.

Beasley can generally only beat a blocker using finesse. His attempts to overpower or bull rush an offensive tackle are quickly proved futile.

4. Randy Gregory, Nebraska

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 240 lbs

Natural Position: DE in a 4-3 defensive front

Key Stats: 24.5 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks in two years

Where He Wins

First off, I’m sure there are several people who think Randy Gregory has the ideal build for an outside linebacker, but that’s just not the style of football he plays. He has a long frame and good speed and knows how to use his hands well. If he can put on some more muscle, he could become a good NFL starter.

According to Scout Inc.'s big draft board at ESPN.com, Gregory is ranked fifth overall. If I had to guess, I’d say scouts and NFL teams are already falling in love with his length and speed combination. But he also clearly understands the game and has refined his technique over the last year at Nebraska.

The most promising thing about Gregory is trying to imagine where he will be as a player five years from now.

Concerns

Gregory’s major drawback is that he is not great at anything on a football field aside from having elite length. On the flip side of that note, he is also without any real weaknesses.

The problem here is that most stars at the next level have defining strengths that allow them to thrive when paired with other elite traits as well. Gregory lacks just enough in each area that he may end up being a first-round pick who never really becomes dominant at the position but is dependable and eventually carves out a decent career.

3. Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA

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Height: 6’3”

Weight: 266 lbs

Natural Position: DE in a 4-3 defensive front

Key Stats: 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in the last two seasons

Where He Wins 

Odighizuwa is an interesting prospect with a ton of upside. This guy has shown immense functional strength while amplifying his power by displaying a firm understanding of leverage.

He seems to understand the game well and knows how to disrupt an offense.

Of the entire crop of edge defenders in this class, Odighizuwa demonstrates the most unique combination of explosive power and quickness around the edge.

If I’m looking to find a great project player on the edge with all the tools for future stardom, this is the guy I’d be going after. There is no better combination of strength, athleticism, balance, quickness, anchoring, toughness, effort and leg drive in this class.

Concerns

For a pass-rusher, Odighizuwa is not going to wow anyone with his finesse moves or counter moves. The good news is he can learn this things if he lands in a place with a good mentor/positional coach.

Another area of his game that could use some improvement is his tacking. This is not uncommon for edge players. Odighizuwa misses tackles a bit more than you’d like and can be inconsistent when it comes to finishing a big play or simple tackle.

2. Hau'oli Kikaha, Washington

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 246 lbs

Natural Position: OLB in a 3-4 defense

Key Stats: 40.5 tackles for loss and 32 sacks over the last two years

Where He Wins

Few guys coming out college have the polish and technique that Kikaha has. His martial arts background has helped him to become one of the most creative and effective pass-rushers in terms of hand technique.

Kikaha is also an undervalued athlete who demonstrates nice body control, fluidity and balance. He uses these skills well in combination with active hands and good instincts.

I’m told that few draft evaluators have this guy rated so high on their boards. I’m not sure how they could be missing a prospect who can do so many things well. His incredible production over the last two years is not a fluke. He didn’t rack up a bunch of cheap sacks by using clever defensive schemes or taking advantage of poor competition. His talent is very much real.

Concerns

The concerns surrounding Kikaha’s tape are minimal and relative. None of his deficiencies are severe enough to be flagged. However, his ability to beat defenders with power is limited and will likely become worse at the next level. In the NFL, many teams will place a heavy emphasis on prospects who can collapse a pocket with leg drive and incredible power. This is not what Kikaha will bring to the table as a strength.

He also appears to have shorter arms than ideal and is not overly fast. Not standing out in terms of power and speed is likely going to keep him out of the first round of the NFL draft. But his instincts, technique and overall football acumen should make up for those weaker elements.

1. Leonard Williams, USC

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 290 lbs

Natural Position: 3-technique in a 4-3 front

Key Stats: 35.5 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks in three years

Where He Wins

Williams may be the most versatile defensive lineman I’ve ever scouted. He possesses incredible strength and athleticism for a guy his size and even has the speed to be dominant on the edge in a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive front.

Williams understands leverage and displays subtle hand techniques that are both efficient and effective. He uses his length and power well and has the instincts and awareness to set his opponent up throughout the course of a game.

One of the more incredible things about him is that he doesn’t appear to have a weakness on tape. Rarely will he ever lose on a play or be caught out of position. In addition to his consistency, he still finds a way to take the calculated risks that signify a marquee playmaker.

Concerns

The only concern I have is what his best position will be at the next level. As mentioned earlier, there is no doubt he can play anywhere with his hand in the ground, but it would be nice to have a clear understanding of where he can maximize his potential.

If he ends up as a defensive end, does he have the speed to beat offensive tackles consistently around the edge? This a good question—one that may be best answered with another question—does he need to?

Ryan Riddle is a former NFL player who writes for Bleacher Report.