Welcome to the thick of the pre-draft process. With a little over a week until practices kick off in Mobile, Alabama, I’ll be providing a layered look into each positional group set to compete at the 2024 Senior Bowl.
The draft cycle’s premier showcase that presents prospects the opportunity to don their respective college helmets just one final time, let’s get rolling with a peek into the headlining ballplayers set to compete at edge rusher.
Senior Bowl 2024 EDGE Primer
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu is as refined a pass rusher as you’ll find in the last few draft classes. An absolute technician with his hands, Latu can beat tackles in a laundry list of ways, and, if a rep is lost, will immediately find ways to present new looks.
Adisa Isaac, Penn State
There’s a ton of flashes on tape for Isaac, but more consistency is warranted in his game. You know what you get from an athletic profile standpoint with guys out of Happy Valley, but a more nuanced approach as a pass rusher and improved strength in the run game will allow Isaac to reach his ceiling.
Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss
The floor and ceiling are both intriguing for Johnson. There’s room for improvement in the run game and in his pass-rush repertoire, but he’s uber-athletic and simply finds ways to wreak havoc in the pocket.
Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
An inside-out versatile defender, Dorlus recorded a pressure in all but one game this fall. A physically impressive athlete at 290 pounds, he touts the type of versatility at 3- and 5-tech teams love when deploying hybrid fronts.
Darius Robinson, Missouri
Robinson has some of the strongest hands in the class. Tackles that approach a rep too high versus the SEC defender will be put on their backside. His hands are as spring-loaded as anyone in the class.
Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
A name that’s been buzzing within league circles for months, Kneeland touts an NFL-ready frame with an impressive skill set as a power rusher. His ability to diversify his approach will paint the picture toward his immediate projection.
Jaylen Harrell, Michigan
A hybrid rusher at 240 pounds, Harrell amassed 12 sacks over the last two seasons in the Big Ten. As soon as a tackle oversets to counter his speed, he’ll stick his foot in the ground and win a rep to the inside. He’s an exciting player who could turn some heads in one-on-ones.
Braiden McGregor, Michigan
An advanced run defender, McGregor’s game as a pass rusher will be under the spotlight next week. He’s a bit of a tweener at nearly 270 pounds. I’m excited to see him work at a variety of alignments in Mobile.
Brennan Jackson, Washington State
A power-laden pass rusher, Jackson’s motor constantly runs hot. If you didn’t stay up to watch Cougars football this fall, you’ll quickly learn why Jackson has top-100 grades from a handful of teams. He wears down opposing tackles due to his effort and willingness to invite physicality.
Eric Watts, Connecticut
After a sensational week at the Hula Bowl, Watts earned his invite to Mobile. He recorded multiple pressures in all but two of his 12 starts. He has an impressive frame at 6-foot-5 as well.
Justin Eboigbe & Chris Braswell, Alabama
Physical, athletic, well-coached, the usuals when it comes to edge players from Tuscaloosa. For both Eboigbe and Braswell, their stocks could rise immensely with a good week. Eboigbe is a more power-laden rusher while Braswell tends to modify his looks as a bit of a hybrid speed and power threat.
Javon Solomon, Troy
Solomon was everything for the Trojans' defense this fall. One of the premier defenders in the Sun Belt, Solomon amassed 16 sacks and 48 pressures (top 10 among all Group of Five defenders) for Troy. He’s a twitched-up athlete who can make an impact both as a pass rusher and in the fringe areas of the run game.
Austin Booker, Kansas
A transfer from Minnesota, Booker has an explosive get-off and the length to wreak havoc at the next level. Bold his name in one-on-ones as a player to keep an eye on. He’s the exact type of pass rusher teams desire in a rotation at the next level.
Nelson Ceaser, Houston
Long and athletic, Ceaser looks the part before he ever lines up at 5-tech. Every year it seems we get a pass rusher from Houston in Mobile, and Ceaser is next in line out of the Cougars pipeline. He had excellent production this fall and is someone whose best football remains down the line.
Myles Cole, Texas Tech
Cole is a big boy at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds. NFL evaluators want to see more pop in his hands and more flexibility off the edge, but the foundation is there for Cole to shift some boards around post-Senior Bowl.
