5 NFL Edge Defenders in Best Position for Breakout Season in 2024

According to Over The Cap, there are 35 edge defenders who make at least eight figures per year in the NFL. Generally speaking, that means each team has one well-paid pass rusher as it literally pays to be able to put pressure on the quarterback. And, as we've come to know in free agency, the highest-paid player at a given position is typically the next one.

Every year there are guys who burst onto the scene with a big season and put together a lucrative breakout campaign. With a little more than a month to go before the start of the regular season, here we'll make some predictions on a handful of edge rushers who will emerge in 2024.

To qualify, an edge defender must still be on his rookie contract, hasn't made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team and hasn't recorded a double-digit sack season yet.

Malcolm Koonce

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 14: Quarterback Easton Stick #2 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks to pass in front of defensive end Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on December 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Malcolm Koonce is an easy pick seeing as he finished the 2023 campaign strong, racking up eight sacks in the Las Vegas Raiders' final nine games of the season. He also created three turnover opportunities via strip sacks during that timeframe.

Granted, the reason the 2021 third-round pick qualifies as a 'breakout candidate' heading into the fall is those were the only times he managed to hit home as a pass-rusher last year. However, a strong case could be made that he's in store to crack double digits this season.

Koonce proved to be a consistent rusher even during the beginning of the campaign last fall, racking up 52 total pressures on 344 opportunities according to Pro Football Focus. That suggests his sack total can at least carry over from last year to this year, especially given the Raiders' supporting cast.

Playing on the other side of Maxx Crosby should lead to plenty of one-on-one opportunities seeing as opposing offensive lines will likely slide the protection toward Crosby, one of the best edge rushers in the NFL over the last few seasons.

Also, Las Vegas added defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency, who is coming off a strong showing as an interior rusher and can help flush quarterbacks out of the pocket. Additionally, defensive tackle Adam Butler proved to be effective on third downs last year, helping free up teammates on line games to allow Koonce to get some unblocked sacks.

All of this has the makings of another strong contract year for the fourth-year pro as he projects to be one of the next eight-figure pass-rushers in the league.

Odafe Oweh

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CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 15: Odafe Oweh #99 of the Baltimore Ravens sacks Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paycor Stadium on January 15, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Odafe Oweh's production has been fairly consistent over the last three seasons for the Baltimore Ravens as he's racked up five, three and five sacks in those campaigns respectively. But part of what makes the outlook for this year more optimistic is he's starting to win more consistently as a pass-rusher.

In 2023, Oweh posted a career-high 51 pressures according to Pro Football Focus. While that's not very far off from his rookie year where he logged 49, the Penn State product was much more efficient in year three as he rushed the quarterback over 100 fewer times.

An ankle injury forced him to miss four games last season, so staying healthy could easily lead ot his first double-digit sack campaign.

Also, the Ravens let Jadeveon Clowney walk in free agency after he ranked second on the team with 9.5 sacks, so Oweh should get more opportunities to rush the passer now that Clowney is out of the picture.

Additionally, the fourth-year pro still has plenty of help on Baltimore's defensive line. Kyle Van Noy, who got to the quarterback nine times a year ago, will be on the other edge to help keep offensive lines honest. Last year's team leader in sacks, Justin Madubuike (13), returns as well to create some interior pressure and flush quarterbacks out of the pocket.

So, there's plenty of reason to believe the arrow is pointing up for the 25-year-old. Hence why the organization picked up his fifth-year option during the offseason.

Arnold Ebiketie

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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 05: Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) pressures Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Jaren Hall (16) during the week 9 Sunday afternoon NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings on November 5, 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After a rather pedestrian rookie season where he logged just 2.5 sacks, Arnold Ebiketie had a strong showing in year two with six sacks for the Atlanta Falcons last fall. While Pro Football Focus credited him with the same amount of pressures in both seasons, 28, he was much more efficient in 2023 with about half as many pass rush snaps, 303 to 175.

That means Ebiketie was winning more frequently which should lead to an increase in production now that he'll be stepping into a larger role.

Bud Dupree started 16 games for the Falcons last year and had 433 pass-rush snaps, per PFF, but posted nearly identical numbers to the 2022 second-round pick with 6.5 sacks and 38 pressures. That led to the team letting Dupree walk in free agency and should create a bigger opportunity for the latter this season.

That will likely yield another increase in production for Ebiketie in 2024 in addition to the fact that Atlanta has a couple of good interior pass-rushers to help flush quarterbacks out of the pocket.

Grady Jarrett missed about half of last season but has a strong track record as a defensive tackle who can put pressure on the quarterback with 34 career sacks. Also, David Onyemata can wreak havoc with 27 career sacks, including nine in the last two campaigns, and the front office drafted two solid interior rushers in Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus.

So, don't be surprised if Ebiketie puts together a breakout campaign with a bigger opportunity and a few quality pass-rushers on the inside.

Will McDonald IV

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Geron Christian #64 of the Cleveland Browns blocks Will McDonald IV #99 of the New York Jets during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 28, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

On the surface level, Will McDonald IV had a pretty disappointing rookie season for the New York Jets with just three sacks and 12 pressures per Pro Football Focus. However, he was also buried on the depth chart as the Jets had a very deep defensive line.

For example, McDonald's 12 pressures came on 99 pass-rush snaps which comes out to about a decent pressure rate of a little more than 12 percent. That's nearly identical to Jermaine Johnson's figure of 12.6 percent (56 pressures on 445 opportunities) and Johnson ended up making the Pro Bowl.

So, the 2023 first-round pick could be equally productive as his teammate if he just maintains the same pace as last season and is given a bigger opportunity. The latter could happen now that Bryce Huff is in Philadelphia.

Granted, the Jets did trade for Haason Reddick this offseason, but Reddick hasn't even practiced with the team yet as he missed OTAs and minicamp and is currently holding out of training camp. That's already led to more opportunities for McDonald to prove himself in practice, which he appears to be making the most of according to head coach Robert Saleh.

"Will, much, much stronger. I know he looks the same, but his strength in the run game, his strength in the pass game is showing up," Saleh told reporters on Wednesday, via Jets Wire's Kristian Dyer. "He's flashed a little bit. I know he's gotten a couple of wins on our starting tackles, and I really like the way he's progressing."

That combined with New York's strong supporting cast headlined by defensvie tackle Quinnen Williams could lead to a much improved second season for the Iowa State product.

Tuli Tuipulotu

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 06: Tuli Tuipulotu #45 of the Los Angeles Chargers sacks Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium on November 6, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

While last season was undoubtedly disappointing for the Los Angeles Chargers as the team finished in last place in the AFC West, Tuli Tuipulotu's rookie performance was a silver lining for the club.

Tuipulotu logged 4.5 sacks and 51 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. The latter ranked second among edge rushers in the 2023 draft class, trailing only Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

Part of what makes the USC product so effective and productive is that the Trojans used him from several different alignments in college. That increases his position versatility on passing downs and helps him be productive on a defensive line that features two other strong edge defenders, Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

Also, Bosa and Mack command the attention of opposing offensive lines creating opportunities for Tuipulotu to be a free rusher, especially on line games in the Chargers' NASCAR package. That was very effective last year and new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter would be wise to take those pages out of Brandon Staley's playbook.

So, between the second-round pick's versatility and running mates, expect him to build on a strong rookie campaign with Jim Harbaugh leading the team as Harbaugh has already made an impact on the pass-rusher.

"He's given us a lot of confidence," Tuipulotu said of Los Angeles' new head coach via Omar Navarro of the team's website. "Looking at his resumé and everybody knowing he's done this before, he's been here before. We all just trust in him to do that and take us where we need to take us."