2025 NFL Draft rankings: Breaking down the top edge rushers

theScore's NFL draft prospect rankings series gives you everything you need to know about the top players on the board. Check back as we break down new position groups leading up to April's draft.

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EDGE

Carter's explosiveness off the edge is rare. The Penn State product is an exceptional athlete who gets upfield in a flash. His speed is nearly impossible for most offensive tackles to match on the outside, and he uses his hands well while seamlessly bending the edge and flattening to the quarterback. Carter has also shown the skill to work inside counters, including a spin, off that lethal speed rush. The rush repertoire should continue to expand, as this was somehow only the former linebacker's first season as a full-time edge defender. He doesn't have great size, which will raise questions about his early fit as a run defender. But his instincts and ability to slip blocks with lateral quickness should help him make an impact in that regard. Carter is a top-two talent in this draft who provides legitimate Pro Bowl upside at one of the most valuable positions on the field.

Positional fit is the big question for Walker. Is he an edge rusher, an off-ball linebacker, or both? He can certainly rotate between the two, as he did at Georgia, but he'll be most valuable at the next level in getting after the quarterback. He's explosive off the ball and demonstrates great change of direction, and his closing speed is as good as it gets. Walker also plays with more than enough power to hold up at the point of attack in the run game. That should help alleviate any concerns about his size in a full-time role on the edge. The pass-rush arsenal is still a work in progress, but it's fair to assume he'd improve with more focus on one position. The athletic gifts provide plenty of upside. A creative defensive coordinator may look to utilize his unique skill set all over the field, but it doesn't have to be that complicated. Walker could become a star on the edge alone.

Green has the traits to be an impact edge rusher in the league. The Marshall product is an impressive athlete with good upfield burst and the ability to explode into contact. He has the speed and bend to beat offensive tackles around the edge as well as the change of direction to pose a threat laterally. And with a deep bag of pass-rush moves, there's no shortage of ways he can create chaos in the backfield. Green's 17-sack campaign will be questioned, given the competition level in the Sun Belt, but he also had opportunities against Power 4 opponents last year. A big game against Virginia Tech and a beautiful outside spin for a sack versus Ohio State should ease any such concerns. And while he doesn't have the ideal size or length for an every-down end, he plays with ample drive and physicality to contribute against the run on the weak side. Green could record double-digit sacks early in his pro career.

Don't overrate the lack of sack production here. It's something to consider, as Williams earned just five last season, but the outlook for his pro career is far more favorable than the numbers might suggest. The Georgia product is an outstanding run defender who lined up across the defensive front, even showing the skill to eat up double-teams. He'll be able to set the edge with the best of them. He also shows the hand usage and awareness to defeat blocks and make a play on the ball. While the pass-rush element involves a bit of projection, it wasn't difficult to see the upside when he had opportunities to line up wide and get after the quarterback. Williams can win with power and a quick inside swipe. Given time to expand his pass-rush arsenal, he should be an every-down player whose statistical production only improves after he jumps to the professional level.

Ezeiruaku can really get after the quarterback. The Boston College star was second only to Mike Green with 16.5 sacks in his final college season. He's quick off the ball, can bend the edge, and has the change-of-direction skills to effectively counter inside. Ezeiruaku is also good with his hands and has greater length than most players his height. However, his size is still a potential concern looking ahead to the NFL. He doesn't quite have a power element to his rush arsenal, and setting the edge could be a challenge unless he gets stronger. That being said, his lateral movement and quick hands provide the ability to defeat blocks and make splash plays in the run game. Ezeiruaku has a chance to be a true three-down edge defender with some particularly exciting upside in passing situations.

Stewart is a bit of a project, but an intriguing one nonetheless. The production profile is less than ideal. Recording 1.5 sacks in each of your three college seasons won't excite anyone. Those alarming numbers are largely a result of his raw skill set. He hasn't developed his technique or rush plan to consistently win matchups. But Stewart is a bet on upside, and there's plenty of it. The Texas A&M product is simply built different. There aren't many athletes with his size and raw power who can also move like him. Those abilities were on full display at the combine, earning him a perfect 10 in profile grade, according to Relative Athletic Score. Stewart will need time and patience to grow the finer points of his game. There's no guarantee he makes good on his potential, but his freakish athleticism has established a ceiling that's worth taking a shot on.

Pearce was one of the combine's big winners, displaying his unique athletic abilities with a 4.47 40 time. That speed was evident on the field at Tennessee. He's extremely quick off the ball and has active hands throughout the rep. Pearce can also convert speed to power for a more impactful bull rush than what's expected for his frame. He doesn't have the bend of a high-end speed rusher, though, and his size is something to watch. Playing through contact in his rush can be an issue, and he probably doesn't have the strength to set the edge against NFL linemen early on. Pearce will make his money on passing downs. He could be an impact player in that area on Day 1.

Jackson is a player to monitor in this group. He's flown under the radar a little but has the skill set to be a productive, every-down player at the next level. His explosive athleticism showed at the combine, where he put together the second-best athletic profile among defensive ends in this class, behind only Shemar Stewart, according to Relative Athletic Score. Jackson combines movement skills with adept hand usage to defeat blocks as a pass-rusher and a run defender, and his effort is never in doubt. He doesn't consistently play with the power expected of a player his size, but an improved pad level could alleviate those issues. There's a lot to like about Jackson's profile. Rushing the passer from wide alignments more often in an NFL defense could unlock a new level of play and turn him into one of the steals of this draft.

Scourton hasn't generated nearly as much attention as Shemar Stewart during the pre-draft process. The athletic profile is a big part of it. Despite him lowering his weight from 2024, Scourton's below-average testing numbers are a far cry from the absurd physical traits of his Texas A&M teammate. But that's only one piece of the puzzle. He's a powerful pass-rusher who, unlike many players making the jump to the professional level, already has an advanced approach. He has a variety of effective moves and sets them up well, and he can counter inside with a nasty spin. Developed hand usage and natural strength should also make him a reliable edge defender in the run game. The athleticism may cap his upside, but Scourton showed far better lateral quickness than his workouts suggest. He has the potential to be a starter who contributes on all three downs.

Stewart is a fascinating player. It'd be easy to rule him out based on the frame alone - his height and arm length are in the first and fifth percentiles, respectively, among edge defenders. It's certainly possible the stature holds him back, but his game says otherwise. Stewart led the edge-rusher class in pass-rush win rate in true pass sets, according to PFF. It's not difficult to see why. He explodes off the ball, putting his opponent at a disadvantage even before employing an impressive arsenal of moves. He can win the edge with burst, counter inside, or convert speed to power and drive a tackle into the quarterback's lap. That last point drives home the most interesting aspect: Stewart is far more physical than you might expect. It shows up in his willingness to throw his weight around in the run game too. If an edge defender with outlier size is going to succeed at the next level, this is how he would play. Stewart has a chance to blow away expectations.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.