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: 11/03/2026

Player Rankings - Defensive End

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
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...
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...
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...
28

DE
Max
Granville

6-3 252lbs 4.52
DE
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
252lbs 6-3 4.52 84 509
63.4
Granville is an exceptionally fast edge rusher who piled up sacks in high school and reached college a year early. Few prospects in the...
10

DE/ED
Anto
Saka

6-4 255lbs 4.60
DE/ED
Texas A&M   Mascot
Texas A&M Mascot
255lbs 6-4 4.60 22 99.7
84.6
Saka is a fast, explosive edge rusher whose athletic traits stand out in this class. He has rare speed off the edge, he was named to Bruce...
11

DE/ED
Kameryn
Crawford

6-5 255lbs 4.80
DE/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
255lbs 6-5 4.80 23 106.7
83.2
Crawford is a young, developing edge defender whose production has grown each season at USC. He made 21 pressures and 25 run stops in 2025,...
22

DE/ED
Dakyus
Brinkley

6-3 255lbs 4.60
DE/ED
Kansas   Mascot
Kansas Mascot
255lbs 6-3 4.60 77 481
68.6
Brinkley is a fast, athletic edge rusher from a family of elite athletes. He has the speed to win around the corner, and he has made plays...
14

DE/ED
J'Mond
Tapp

6-3 256lbs 4.68
DE/ED
Memphis   Mascot
Memphis Mascot
256lbs 6-3 4.68 33 190.7
81.1
Tapp is the definition of a late bloomer with blue-chip tools. He arrived at Texas as a prized Louisiana recruit, barely played in Austin,...
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...
16

DE/ED
Melkart
Abou Jaoude

6-5 260lbs 4.75
DE/ED
North Carolina   Mascot
North Carolina Mascot
260lbs 6-5 4.75 41 237.7
80.1
Few players in college football have a better origin story than Abou Jaoude, a Lebanese-born wrestler whose highlight tape reached Delaware...
30

DE/ED
Braylan
Shelby

6-5 260lbs 4.65
DE/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
260lbs 6-5 4.65 127 707
62.4
Shelby is a speed-based edge who wins the corner with a quick first step, and he turned that burst into thirty pressures and five sacks as...
33

DE/ED
Solomon
Tuliaupupu

6-3 260lbs 4.78
DE/ED
Montana   Mascot
Montana Mascot
260lbs 6-3 4.78 102 581
61.8
Tuliaupupu is a story of perseverance, a former USC signee who lost roughly five seasons to injuries and resurfaced at Montana as an...

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.