Joshua Josephs DE/EDGE Tennessee | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Joshua Josephs DE/EDGE Tennessee
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (83%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 12/08/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 05/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (83%*) | |
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 12/08/2003 | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 86.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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72% |
| Pass Rush: |
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95% |
| Run Defense: |
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100% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Mid
Overall Rank:
#49
Position rank:
#14
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| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 776 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
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247 RATING: 93/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Josaiah Stewart - Michigan |
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93% |
| Donovan Ezeiruaku - Boston College |
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89% |
| Princely Umanmielen - Ole Miss |
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85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
When discussing the elite edge defenders in the 2026 draft class, Joshua Josephs demands your attention. The 6'3", 245-pound Tennessee senior took the long road to prominence, developing behind NFL talents Byron Young and James Pearce Jr. while quietly refining his craft. Born with exceptional physical tools including a staggering 82-inch wingspan, Josephs arrived in Knoxville as a coveted four-star recruit from North Cobb High School in Georgia, where he dominated with over 100 tackles his senior season before choosing the Volunteers over 26 other Division I offers.After playing limited snaps his first two seasons, Josephs exploded onto the scene as a junior in 2024, grading as the third-highest defensive player in the SEC according to PFF (90.6 overall). His production jumped to 39 tackles, 9 TFLs, multiple forced fumbles, and consistently disruptive performances in SEC play. His dominance against Florida (career-high 7 tackles) and game-changing strip sack against Kentucky showcased a player ascending rapidly. What makes his junior campaign more impressive was how he led all edge defenders nationally with a 91.4 run-defense grade while simultaneously earning elite marks as a pass rusher.
Where Josephs truly separates himself is in his versatility and athletic profile. The former high school standout has developed from a raw athlete into a complete defender capable of lining up in various techniques within Tennessee's scheme. His journey from rotational player to potential first-round selection mirrors his play style – patient, explosive, and precisely timed. With James Pearce Jr. now suiting up for the Falcons, 2025 represents Josephs' opportunity to emerge from the shadows and cement his status as one of college football's premier defensive playmakers.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Freakish 82-inch wingspan creates immediate leverage advantages, allowing him to stab and control offensive tackles before they can get hands on his frame.
- Possesses rare first-step quickness that consistently puts offensive linemen in recovery mode – the type of get-off that can't be taught or developed.
- Plays with exceptional discipline against the run, setting a hard edge and maintaining gap integrity while showing rare patience for a player with his explosiveness.
- Natural bend and flexibility when turning the corner lets him flatten to the quarterback at sharp angles that offensive tackles simply can't mirror.
- Shows impressive processing of backfield action – rarely bites on misdirection and consistently diagnoses screen passes before they develop.
- Converts speed to power effectively, delivering a shocking jolt with his long arm technique that consistently rocks SEC tackles backward.
- Varied pass rush arsenal includes a devastating cross-chop and inside counter that was particularly effective against Alabama and Oklahoma tackles.
- Plays with genuine nasty streak in crucial situations – when Tennessee needed a momentum-shifting play against Kentucky, he hunted it down relentlessly.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Still needs to add functional strength to his lower half, as powerful offensive tackles can occasionally anchor against his initial rush and neutralize him.
- Hand technique remains inconsistent – flashes elite hand usage followed by reps where he fails to efficiently disengage once blockers latch onto his frame.
- Sack production hasn't matched his pressure rate, suggesting he needs refinement in how to finish rushes when he reaches the quarterback.
- Occasionally plays too high in his stance, negating his natural leverage advantage and allowing offensive linemen to get under his pads.
- Despite athletic gifts, can sometimes be a half-step slow recognizing developing run plays that attack him directly, particularly on zone concepts.
Scouting Report: Summary
Joseph's rare length and first-step quickness give him immediate NFL tools, but his tendency to play too high and occasional difficulty shedding blocks once engaged will limit his early impact. The flashes are tantalizing – the strip sack against Kentucky showed a player who can wreck games in critical moments – yet his tackling inconsistency and unrefined finishing ability remain concerning for a player with his physical gifts.Watching his film against SEC competition reveals a defender who thrives in multiple alignments with the versatility to play in any front. His run defense fundamentals and edge-setting discipline immediately translate to Sundays, though his pass rush arsenal needs expansion beyond his favored long-arm technique. He doesn't just win with athleticism; he processes backfield action quickly and rarely bites on misdirection, yet must improve his ability to convert pressures into sacks to maximize his considerable ceiling. Defensive coordinators will value his versatility while working to refine his hand usage and lower-body strength.
The 2025 season offers Josephs the stage to silence doubters and demonstrate growth in his game's rougher edges. If he maintains his elite run-stopping prowess while developing a more diverse pass rush plan and improving his tackling consistency, he'll cement himself as one of this draft's most complete edge defenders. His athletic traits and productivity against top competition will attract attention, but it's the refinement of his technical skills that will ultimately determine whether he becomes a situational player or an every-down difference maker who defensive play-callers build game plans around come April 2026.
How other scouting services rate Joshua Josephs (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
75.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.