2023 Draft Preview – Edge

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March 15, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

The Edge position group covers 3-4 outside linebackers and traditional 4-3 defensive ends. This is another position group that is not high priority for the Commanders in this draft. With Montez Sweat and Chase Young returning as starters, and backups like James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill the defensive end position is pretty well stocked.

Prospects

Prospect College Position Ht Wt Day GP Solo Tckl TFL Sacks
Will Anderson Jr. Alabama EDGE 6’4″ 243 1 41 114 58.5 34.5
Tyree Wilson Texas Tech EDGE 6’6″ 275 1 35 76 32 17
Myles Murphy Clemson EDGE 6’5″ 275 1 35 61 36 18.5
Nolan Smith Georgia EDGE 6’3″ 235 1 38 63 20 12.5
Lukas Van Ness Iowa DE 6’5″ 275 1 or 2 26 34 19 13
Andre Carter II Army EDGE 6’6″ 250 2* 31 65 25.5 19
B.J. Ojulari LSU EDGE 6’3″ 244 2 31 77 25.5 16.5
Isaiah Foskey Notre Dame EDGE 6’5″ 260 2 37 72 28 25
Will McDonald IV Iowa State EDGE 6’4″ 245 2 48 80 40.5 34
Zach Harrison Ohio State DE 6’6″ 272 2 40 58 24 11
Keion White Georgia Tech DE 6’5″ 286 2 34 61 33.5 11
Mike Morris Michigan DE 6’6″ 292 2 23 25 12 8
Felix Anudike-Uzomah Kansas State EDGE 6’3″ 255 2 27 68 26.5 20
Derick Hall Auburn EDGE 6’3″ 256 2 40 99 29.5 19.5
Tuli Tuipulotu USC DE 6’4″ 290 2 31 67 32 21
Calijah Kancey Pitt DE 6’0″ 275 3 33 52 34.5 16
K.J. Henry Clemson EDGE 6’4″ 260 3 48 63 28 13
Tomi Adebawore Northwestern DE 6’2″ 280 3 36 67 24.5 12.5
Colby Wooden Auburn DE 6’5″ 284 3 40 93 29.5 14
Jalen Redmond Oklahoma DE 6’3″ 292 3 32 39 21.5 14

Day 1 Picks

Will Anderson Jr. from Alabama is the cream of the crop in this year’s draft and should go in the top six players picked depending on how many teams trade up for a quarterback. A lot of scouting reports compare him to a Von Miller or Khalil Mack-type of player with the same level of speed, power, and athleticism. He had over 200 quarterback pressures in college. His biggest knock is failing to wrap up tackles which can cause some missed tackles.

Tyree Wilson and Myles Murphy are basically a tossup as the next player on the board. Wilson has a huge wingspan and is still developing as a player. Murphy is the more polished of the two players now, where he excels at setting the edge in the run game as well as rushing the quarterback.  Nolan Smith may be better suited for as an outside linebacker at the next level given his size. Nonetheless, he will provide speed from the outside (4.39 40-yard at the combine), sheds blockers well while pursuing the ball carrier and plays well in space.

Day 2 Picks

Only thing keeping Andre Carter II from being a Day 1 pick is the uncertainty around his future military commitment after graduating from the US Military Academy. Scouting reports liken him to Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan who plays for the Lions now. Lukas Van Ness is the first pure 4-3 defensive end on the list. His play style is reminiscent of Ryan Kerrigan.

The best pure edge rushers of the rest are B.J. Ojulari, Isaiah Foskey, Will McDonald, and Derick Hall. Ojulari has an older brother Azeez playing with the Giants and their style of play is very similar. However, with his size he may be a better fit at an outside linebacker spot. Foskey is a three-year starter at Notre Dame and had a very productive career there earning Second Team All-American honors on several lists. McDonald didn’t have the best measurables at the combine, he had 40 quarterback pressures in the last two seasons and made the First Team All-Big 12 list for three straight years. Hall saw his production jump the last two years as a full-time starter. He was credited with 43 quarterback hurries, 19 hits and 18 sacks.

The best remaining defensive ends are Zach Harrison, Keion White, Mike Morris, and Tuli Tuipulotu. Harrison is solid player who was a multi-year starter at Ohio State. He doesn’t have the flashiest stats, but he plays hard every snap on the field. White started at Old Dominion and finished at Georgia Tech. He is a high motor player who is still very raw as a pass rusher. In 2022, his as a full-time starter at Tech, White finished with 29 hurries, 4 hits and 7 sacks. Morris had a comparatively “slow” 40-yard time of 4.95 at the combine but was productive on the field with 19 hurries, 7 hits and 9 sacks in 2022. Tuipulotu has the biggest upside of this group. He was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2022 and had 13.5 sacks with 22 tackles for a loss.

Commanders Take

At best, Washington will use a lower round pick to bring in a developmental player who in really only has a shot at a practice squad roster spot this year.

Sources: sports-reference.com and draftek.com