Defensive End Rankings 2027 NFL Draft

33 defensive ends ranked

DEFENSIVE END RANKINGS 2027 NFL DRAFT

Edge is top-light this year. Only one defensive end reaches our top thirty-two, a thinness matched only once in the seven classes we have graded.

Matayo Uiagalelei is the reason to look. The Oregon edge produced 52 pressures and six sacks across 726 snaps with six-pressure games against Penn State and Washington, a year after leading the Big Ten in sacks, and he stripped two fumbles. John Henry Daley was having the more productive season - ten sacks and 51 pressures, including an eight-pressure game at Baylor - before an Achilles tear ended it, and the recovery now shapes his evaluation. LSU's Jordan Ross, the consensus top edge recruit of his class, has the first-step speed and the bend but only a rotational snap count to show for it.

The class has more edge production than this suggests. Several of its most disruptive rushers stand up rather than put a hand down, and they are graded as linebackers.
LAST UPDATED: 11/08/2026

Player Rankings - Defensive End

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
15

DE/ED
Williams
Nwaneri

6-7 270lbs 4.88
DE/ED
Nebraska   Mascot
Nebraska Mascot
270lbs 6-7 4.88 54 310
81.0
Nwaneri is a developmental swing on rare tools, a former five-star with 79-inch length who led Nebraska in sacks as a redshirt freshman...
2

DE/ED
Will
Heldt

6-6 260lbs 4.80
DE/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
260lbs 6-6 4.80 6 39.2
85.6
Heldt is a complete, well-rounded edge who sets the edge against the run and rushes with length and power. He topped Clemson in sacks and...
4

DE/ED
Kenyatta
Jackson Jr.

6-6 263lbs 4.65
DE/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
263lbs 6-6 4.65 11 50.9
84.9
Jackson is a long, explosive edge whose first step and frame give him two ways to beat a tackle. He has rare timed speed for his size and...
7

DE/ED
Emmanuel
Oyebadejo

6-6 299lbs 4.72
DE/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
299lbs 6-6 4.72 19 87
84.7
Oyebadejo has one of the most unusual paths in the class, and his tools are equally rare. A former England youth basketball player who was...
8

DE/ED
Anthony
Smith

6-6 280lbs 4.75
DE/ED
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
280lbs 6-6 4.75 20 93.5
84.7
Smith is a big, powerful edge rusher who broke out in 2025 with 17.5 tackles for loss and 44 pressures, earning first-team All-Big Ten...
19

DE/ED
LJ
McCray

6-6 277lbs 4.86
DE/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
277lbs 6-6 4.86 63 360.5
77.0
McCray is a traits-and-medical evaluation, a former five-star with 78-inch length whose 2025 was wiped out by foot surgery that held him to...
32

DE/ED
Kamran
James

6-6 278lbs 4.78
DE/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
278lbs 6-6 4.78 120 671
62.0
James is an experienced edge rusher who led Florida in sacks in 2025. He has two more sacks this season, including one against FAU when he...
1

DE/ED
Matayo
Uiagalelei

6-5 265lbs 4.85
DE/ED
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
265lbs 6-5 4.85 9 44
85.9
Uiagalelei is a power-and-length edge whose pass rush has ranked with the best in the country for three seasons. He led the Big Ten in...
3

DE/ED
John Henry
Daley

6-5 252lbs 4.78
DE/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
252lbs 6-5 4.78 13 64.3
85.5
Daley turned in one of the best pass-rush seasons in the country in 2025, leading the nation with 17.5 tackles for loss, generating 51...
5

DE/ED
Jordan
Ross

6-5 246lbs 4.60
DE/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
246lbs 6-5 4.60 16 70.7
84.9
Ross is an explosive, bendy edge rusher with rare speed off the snap, and his first season at LSU has turned the traits that made him a...
6

DE/ED
Devan
Thompkins

6-5 300lbs 4.86
DE/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
300lbs 6-5 4.86 7 41.6
84.8
Thompkins is a big, versatile defensive lineman whose size and movement skills give him a clear NFL role. He has played both the Bandit end...
9

DE/ED
Dom
Nichols

6-5 245lbs 4.82
DE/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
245lbs 6-5 4.82 18 84.7
84.6
Nichols is a quick, long edge rusher who has made the most of a larger role this season. He gets off the ball quickly, reaches the tackle's...

2027 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive End

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2027 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Defensive End

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.