DRAFT TRACKER 2026

At 20 years old, Reese is still growing into his frame and his game, but learning from James Laurinaitis (linebackers coach) and Matt Patricia (defensive coordinator) should give him a head start in acclimating to the pro game. He plays off-ball linebacker and stand-up edge with the talent to post impact production from either spot. His third-down versatility adds alignment variety and helps camouflage defensive intent. His run diagnosis and angles of attack are average, but he flows quickly once he triggers, using assertive hands to stack and play off blocks. He’s fast in pursuit and his tackle finishing could become elite. His rush is kinetic and tough for tackles to mirror. It’s under construction, but Reese has already sprouted go-to moves and rush plans that need more refinement. He might need some runway to hit his stride, but his rare blend of traits, explosiveness and versatility could become a perfect storm of chaos once a defense decides how to deploy him.

Bailey is extremely hard for linemen to stay in front of. He moves like a slashing two guard, blending explosiveness and fluidity to slip, bend and flow around blocks from multiple angles. His leverage and lower-body flexion create game-over scenarios once he reaches pocket depth with even a minor lead. He can be stalled when a blocker latches his hands in deep, but Bailey’s elusiveness and suddenness make clean clamps a relative rarity. He’s instinctive with natural mid-rush counters, but he must continue developing hand usage and crafting rush plans for when protection shifts his way. Teams can run at Bailey due to his lack of anchor and take-on presence, but his work-around quickness will also lead to tackles for loss. His draft grade is slightly tempered by a lack of desired size/length, but the explosiveness and athletic talent is truly elite. His sack production should carry over to the NFL as an odd-front rush linebacker with Pro Bowl upside.

Note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength. Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes. He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams. However, his lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn’t land the first strike. He can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.

Faulk has a long, developing frame, good movement skills and the potential for odd or even fronts once he gains more muscle mass. He’s a culture player with high character and traits. A fluid athlete with good movement skills, he works around blocks with finesse but needs more assertive initial strikes to set firmer edges in gap control. His toughness and mentality suggest he’ll play through blocks more consistently in an NFL environment. Faulk’s rush is diverse. However, with average upfield burst, he might require a move inside on passing downs, where his long levers, quickness and agility can overmatch guards. Faulk needs polish but offers a high ceiling that should reveal itself within a couple of years.

Mesidor is an instinctive, high-effort edge rusher with a fluid rush style and a deep toolbox. He bursts upfield and can shrink the corner while punishing oversetting tackles with inside counters. He strings moves together with effortless mid-rush adjustments, utilizing harmonious hands and feet to carve efficient tracks into the pocket. He’s a problem for guards when reduced inside, too. His urgency shows up in run defense, where he uses play strength and short-area quickness to disrupt blocking schemes and stay around the football. He won’t be as long as most edge-setters and his anchor at the point is just average. The talent and motor are obvious, but his age and injury history could push some teams to discount his grade below what the tape shows.

Long, well-built edge rusher with the size, strength and temperament engineered for trench battles at the next level. Young is a fiery alpha who brings immense energy to the field and locker room. He majors in block destruction using base power and aggression to play through opponents. He extends and locks out as an edge-setter and sheds when needed, but his pursuit speed and range are average. He has the power to bull rush or drive through edges, but lacks instincts and variety in his rush approach. His NFL pressure production will lag behind without better go-to moves and counters. Young’s physical tools and rugged demeanor give him a chance to be an instant run-stopping upgrade with average rush.

Bendy edge rusher with standout sack totals. Burst and elusiveness are on Howell’s rush menu and he pairs it with a refreshing inside spin counter. Though threatening, his rush could use more cohesive sequencing and better hand work to fully unlock its potential. As a run defender he’s frequently knocked around at the point and struggles to consistently execute tasks asked of an NFL edge-setter. Howell might not be a three-down player right away, but his ability to create pressure sets him up for a role as a designated rusher, at minimum.

An NFL-caliber edge rusher with prototypical size and length, Lawrence moves with the suddenness of a smaller player. Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption. He can win inside or outside but his speed-to-power conversion is average. His hands are subtle but skilled to quickly unlock openings and his secondary rush. He closes with burst and has the motor to hound scrambling quarterbacks. The next level will bring better tackles and more quick-sets, which will test how well his production translates. He makes splash plays behind the line but must provide better consistency and discipline in run support. Lawrence is an ascending prospect with rush polish and pro traits that should be enticing for pressure-hungry defenses.

Jacas is well-built with tremendous play strength and the ability to play as a hand-down end or a stand-up edge. He’s more rugged than explosive and twitchy. He can hold his ground against power but needs to do a better job of playing with discipline to set and contain his edge. Jacas’ pass-rush plan lacks creativity but features a good deal of force and leg drive to bully his way into the pocket once he opens the tackle’s edge. His play is more steak than sizzle with average sack production expected, but his field demeanor and play strength foreshadow a long career as an NFL starter.

Edge prospect with good size and length. Moore is far more active and engaged as a rusher than he is as a run defender. He has the ability to set firm edges, but his approach against the run can lack urgency. Against the pass, Moore is a bull-rush aficionado, piling up pressures and sacks. He’s strong through the top of the rush but needs to prove he can consistently stress long, well-anchored tackles. When it’s time to finish, he tackles with reliable technique and timing. If Moore cranks up the fire on all three downs, he can become a good full-time player. Either way, he projects as a starter capable of racking up pressures.

Powerful edge defender with NFL length whose 2025 tape might be closer to his pro projection than his gaudy 2024 numbers. Parker’s hand work is above average in both phases. He strikes early to set very firm edges, then sheds quickly to finish tackles. Average short-area burst limits his ability to pursue the run in space and threaten tackles in a race to the top of the rush. He can long-arm tackles into the pocket when he catches them right, but he fails to find quick solutions when that approach stalls. His rush production will be muted until he expands his approach but improvement is likely. Parker profiles as an average to above-average starter.

Barham logged most of his snaps at off-ball linebacker, but his 2025 tape showed explosiveness that will attract teams seeking a developmental rush ‘backer in an odd front. He’s raw as a rusher, relying heavily on athleticism, but the missing elements are teachable. Whether outside or inside, he’s a professional block-beater with the tools to stack or slip blocks, though his edge-setting needs work. His bend and reactive agility create unlikely tackle chances that few can find. His intensity and motor are top-tier but he needs to play with better discipline to avoid negative snaps. With explosive traits and inside-outside versatility, he projects as an impactful future starter once his technique catches up.

Twitched-up rush linebacker whose lack of size and length at the point of attack could be offset by his rush talent. Thomas has added good mass over the years but still gets engulfed and displaced by big, downhill blockers. He’s more dangerous on the move, slipping into gaps and disrupting edges before they’re set. He’s an explosive speed rusher with the ability to shave the edge tightly or create surprising push with leverage and speed-to-power conversion. He needs to improve his hand work to create openings and counter long, athletic tackles with quick pass slides. Thomas should benefit from a wider alignment as an odd-front edge with the potential to earn a starting job within his first two seasons.

Long, upright edge defender with an NBA-caliber wingspan and room to continue filling out his frame. Josephs uses his arms to stay separated from blocks and spill runs wide. However, he needs to get bigger and stronger to better support the run against NFL blocking. He has long strides and plus closing burst to chase and capture. His pass rush is the same on every snap, showing good burst and effort but a predictable track that is slowed by force. He’s not a natural bender, so adding go-to moves, a functional inside counter and better rush plans will be essential. With added weight and continued schooling, Josephs could deliver much more consistent production than he’s provided so far.

An edge defender with a lean, angular frame, Height will need a heavy dose of weight-room work to compete at the pro level. His rush is fast and relentless. He uses long strides to challenge at the top and can leap inside the protection. However, his lack of play strength and contact balance allow blockers to bounce him around. Height needs to improve his skill level and refine his approach if he’s going to make an impact as a designated pass rusher, but he has the talent to cause some chaos in the pocket.

Dennis-Sutton is a base defensive end with toughness. He’s effective against the run, but he has limited pass-rushing upside. His predictable, linear rush lacks the burst and bend to beat tackles to the top of the rush and flatten into the pocket. He uses hand violence and brute force to challenge tackles with weak anchors. He’ll get bounced around because his pad level is too high, but he’s tough to finish and finds his way to the action when it’s near him. Dennis-Sutton is equipped to muddy running lanes but might not make many impact plays. He has average upside as an odd- or even-front end.

Overton is a slow-twitch end with impressive power and a consistently rugged demeanor. He has long arms and plays with the anchor/leverage that helps him secure his gap. However, he rarely gains early positional advantages and isn’t going to be a gap-shooter. He lacks range in pursuit and won’t threaten tackles to the corner with his get-off as an edge rusher. Overton’s play strength and leverage create power on the edge, but power won’t trump production. Adding mass and moving inside to 3-technique could be in his best interest.

Reiger is a tall, linear edge rusher with a slender frame. He doesn’t look like a pro pre-snap, but he certainly plays like one after the snap. He lacks the size/anchor to consistently set the edge and can be controlled when tackles latch on, but he’s unusually talented to work off contact for quick wins at the point of attack. He’s a short-striding rusher who takes similar tracks at similar speeds and is more pressure-creator than sack-finisher at this time. However, altering his approach (tempo and angles) and adding a better inside counter could create a bump in his sack production. Reiger needs more mass and refinement but could become a good rotational odd-front edge in time.

Late bloomer with work to do to convert potential into production. Gumbs’ attitude and work ethic have propelled him through multiple position changes (WR/TE/Edge) and a successful leap from Northern Illinois to Florida. Everything he does as a run defender and pass rusher should improve with additional technique work. He’s tough and competitive versus the run, but the ceiling might be average. As a rusher, he’s collected a catalog of openers and counters but is still working on their setup and execution to get to quarterbacks. He has an eventual-starter ceiling with an average-backup floor, but his traits and mentality make him worthy of a Day 3 pick.

From Montana Tech to Idaho to New Mexico, James-Newby has stayed hungry and productive at every stop. He’s undersized by NFL standards but plays much longer than he measures. He keeps his eyes on the prize instead of getting locked into long battles with the blocks in front of him. Power and length get the best of him, but not as often as I expected. He flashes good get-off, smart angles and efficient cornering that keeps him tight to the pocket as a rusher. James-Newby’s rush lacks diversity but a dangerous stab move is waiting to be unlocked. His high motor and disruptive ability should make him a solid sub-package edge rusher.

Williams plays every snap with a white-hot motor and intensity that opponents found hard to match in 2025. He’s a natural knee bender, using his leverage to blow up blocks and dart into gaps to disrupt play development in the run game. However, he's hindered by a lack of length and explosiveness that will make it much tougher for him to create pressure as a pro. His sack production was bolstered by secondary rush effort, so it would make sense to slide him inside on passing downs. Rushing from the interior would allow him to use his cross-chop and edge-to-edge movements against guards instead of tackles. Overall, Williams projects as a rotational base end.

An edge defender with pro size and strength, Fano is capable of playing standing up or with a hand down. He plays with a blend of hurry and heart that keeps him keyed in on the action. However, urgency can become impatience, which pulls him out of position and opens him to counters/misdirection. He’s quick but lacks upfield juice to challenge the edge. His rush plan is too predictable and overly reliant on feet over hands. He’ll shine on special teams and has toughness to defend a pro run game, but Fano needs to improve as a rusher to become a three-down player.

Tucker’s rush ability far exceeds his run defense. He’s an instinctive, skilled rusher with an uncommon feel for a player with so few reps. He uses quickness and bend to buzz the edge, while marrying hands and feet for quick wins. He dominated weaker competition but more polish will be needed for his jump to lining up across from bigger, longer tackles. He gets swallowed and controlled at the point of attack, and that will persist without substantial improvement. Despite limited career production, the rush tape is impressive enough for Day 3 consideration and an opportunity as a designated rusher.

Hubbard is a good athlete with adequate burst, change-of-direction quickness and agility. His game against Oregon was a clear indicator that more size and strength are needed to survive run-defending rigors as a down lineman. A full-time spot as an odd-front edge rusher could be in his wheelhouse, though. He can chase down the action and has a nose for making tackles when he’s close to the ball. His rush features athletic elements, but the toolbox needs filling. With more strength and rush development, Hubbard could develop into an average edge defender.

The tape doesn’t quite match the production, but with only one season as a starter, Curry’s play should continue to improve. He has good size and can play edge in even or odd fronts. He uses lower-body power to help access the pocket but his rush lacks explosiveness and a healthy set of go-to moves to open the protection up. He can rush from the interior, allowing teams to get more speed on the field. He’s built to hold up at the point but would benefit from an uptick in aggression to better command both his positioning and the block. Curry is athletic dropping into space and fits the mold of a stand-up edge with special-teams value.

Pyburn is a muscular outside linebacker with short arms and unremarkable athleticism. He’s been a non-factor as a pass rusher during his career, but he gets after it as a run defender. Pyburn has some heat in his hands, jarring blockers and playing off of them to make tackles in his vicinity, but his lack of length will make it tougher to set edges against longer NFL tackles. As a backup with a lack of rush and cover talent, special teams will need to become his money-maker to stay in the league.

A fifth-year senior, Hutchins has started just 16 games. While he’s light on starting experience, his game is more mature. He’s undersized but stronger than his measurables might suggest. He’s physical in his block take-ons and sets edges with an adequate anchor. Hutchins creates pressure opportunities with his footwork and bend, but a lack of explosiveness in his get-off tends to limit his overall sack production. He’s an above-average athlete with good short-area burst when pursuing runners and quarterbacks. Hutchins should compete for a backup role as a stand-up edge and become a plus contributor on special teams.

Sapp’s power stands out but he lacks a clean positional fit due to mismatched parts in his game. He has the anchor and upper-body strength to stall blocks and hold his ground. Limited bend and explosiveness hinder his pressure production off the edge, but he shows some life when sliding inside. He’s missing short-area quickness and change of direction for pursuit and tackle success in the open field, though. Sapp could play as an even-front base end who reduces inside on rush downs, but adding mass and competing as a 3-technique might give him his best chance to make it.

From a traits standpoint, Kamara might not be as exciting as other late-round hopefuls, but his tape is likely more physical and consistent. He’s very rugged and gets right to his action on each snap. He’s not sudden but consistently works around blockers using harmonious hands and feet. He lacks length and is below average taking on blocks at the point. He has some closing burst in his rush, but the get-off and counter work is average. Kamara has physical limitations, but he knows how to play ball and has toughness that will appeal to NFL teams.

Part-time starter with desirable traits and aggression. Burke is a bit of a “tweener” who might fit more cleanly as an odd-front end once he fills out his frame. His rush is too heavily reliant on effort to consistently produce pressure on the pro level. As a run defender, he attacks blocks with leveraged strikes and does a nice job of creating separation to pursue the ball. He needs to play with much better bend and a firmer anchor, though. Burke still needs refinement and bulk, but his traits could land him a backup role as a Day 3 pick.

Llewellyn is a tall, well-built base end, but it appears he lacks the play strength and anchor to carry his production into the league. He plays with a lack of knee-bend that limits balance on contact and anchor through engagement. He’s better at playing into gaps and playing off of blocks when his feet are active. He lacks explosiveness as a pass rusher but has access to a variety of rush plans and moves that can create opportunities inside the pocket. Llewellyn projects as an even-front end, but average backup could be his ceiling.

Durfee is an edge defender with good short-area quickness. He’s a twitchy athlete boasting sudden change of direction. However, he’s lacking in overall production, has short arms and could struggle with edge-setting/take-on duties while scrapping against tackles. When blocked early, Durfee often finds ways to stay alive to rally to the ball-carrier. He lacks polish/planning as a pass rusher but creates pressure with his footwork and rush surge. Durfee needs more work in both phases, but his athletic profile and special-teams potential could buy him time to develop on the back end of a roster.

Lucas is an edge defender with NFL size and length but a disappointing lack of collegiate production. His play is more gradual than twitchy. He lacks explosiveness up the field as a rusher and into first contact as a run defender. He plays with occasional flashes, but hints of hesitation in both phases prevent him from sustaining those flashes. There are physical traits and athletic ability to work with but there isn’t enough on tape to project Lucas will stick on a roster.

Slone plays with a red-hot urgency that is rarely matched by opponents. He’s a stand-up edge rusher with good play recognition. He challenges blocks with aggressive first actions but makes hunting the football the priority. While he’s a capable combatant at the point of attack, his lack of range and short-area agility could limit his impact as a playmaker. Slone’s energy and relentlessness fuel his secondary rush but he lacks the skill of a productive NFL rusher. Special-teams standout might be his route to a roster spot.

A four-star recruit who spent his first five seasons at Ohio State, Melton finally came into his own during his lone year at Virginia in 2025. He has the measurables of an NFL edge rusher with good size and length. He needs more reps at the position, though. His explosiveness is average, but he plays with good awareness and works his way into the action. Melton is an average bender who does an adequate job of setting up his rush with foot fakes. He lacks high-upside traits as a rusher but should continue improving with better hand usage.

Fifth-year senior with three years of starting experience between Florida State and LSU. Payton is a linear mover with long limbs and adequate foot quickness. He lacks decisiveness at the point of attack and will struggle to stand firm against NFL drive blockers. Payton has enough burst to create opportunities at the corners, provided he continues to refine his hand work. His inside rush transitions are fluid and will be even more effective if he brings his edge rush to greater life. Payton’s traits give him a chance to become a backup with average upside.

O'Neill is a high-motor edge defender with terrific play strength. He uses efficient hand work in tight quarters to work around blocks at the point of attack, but he lacks range in pursuit. As a pass rusher, he relies on effort and strength, with room for growth in his rush plan/execution. His lack of explosiveness and length caps his overall rush potential, though. O'Neill projects as a viable backup outside linebacker in an odd-front scheme and offers core special-teams value.

Jones is a former five-star recruit who played at three schools (Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma) over the last three seasons. He has good size and comes from NFL bloodlines. His play strength and aggression at the point of attack are average, but his hands stay active and he gets off blocks when needed. So far, Jones has not been able to convert his traits into high-level production. His rush plan and toolbox do not stand out on tape.

Productive edge defender and 42-game starter over five seasons at Central Michigan. NFL teams will take notice of Heldman’s 2025 spike in TFLs/sacks and his size/testing profile. He’s well-built and can hold his own against single blocks at the point of attack. However, he’s inconsistent with early play recognition and initial footwork to beat the block. He’s strong on the edges of his rush but lacks ideal fluidity/bend in his lower half and has a fairly predictable rush menu. Heldman could earn an opportunity to compete in a camp thanks to his size, testing and 2025 production.

Voorhis is a little undersized and not very long, but he posted impact production in the FBS for the first time in 2025. He’s fairly instinctive as a rusher and made noticeable additions to his rush menu last season. While he collected tackles for loss in 2025, he’s below average at beating run blocks and securing his gaps. He lacks traits, explosive testing and sustained production but his consistency as a rusher is worth keeping an eye on.

Two-year starter with NFL-caliber measurables. Kelly needs to get stronger and play with better grit to leverage his gap and win individual block battles in run support. Improved hand usage and refined counters might bolster his chances of creating pressure, but it’s hard to envision much sack production given his lack of quickness and explosive power. Kelly will have to battle for a roster spot as an even-front end.

Long-limbed edge defender with intriguing rush features but a lack of anchor and contact balance against the run. Anthony is best when playing up the field with elusiveness in both phases. He has adequate get-off with long strides and good bend in his rush. He can throw speed and angle changes at tackles to create opportunities but it’s all for naught once tackles get hands on him. He’s unable to withstand heads-up battles at the point and has average pursuit speed/short-area agility as a tackler. Anthony projects as a developmental pass rusher with practice-squad potential.

Weru’s pro day results and field workout should capture the attention of evaluators hungry to mold an explosive athlete. While the former rugby player has no football background, his time in rugby should give him a bit of a head-start on making the transition. He was very fluid in his workout, with loose hips and quick feet. He’s a natural bender with excellent speed and rare explosiveness in his hips. Teams won’t get a full sense of Weru’s potential until he’s competing in pads during camp, but given his athletic ability, it might take a late draft pick to get a seat at the table.