Defensive End Rankings 2027 NFL Draft

LAST UPDATED: 08/03/2026

Player Rankings - Defensive End

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
13

DE/ED
Kam
Franklin

6-5 275lbs 5.00
DE/ED
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
275lbs 6-5 5.00 26 174
79.9
Franklin is a high-volume, high-effort edge who produced at a rare rate of usage, with thirty-eight run stops and forty-eight pressures...
17

DE/ED
Braylan
Shelby

6-5 265lbs 4.65
DE/ED
USC   Mascot
USC Mascot
265lbs 6-5 4.65 47 516.5
76.4
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...
4

DE/ED
Kenyatta
Jackson Jr.

6-6 265lbs 4.65
DE/ED
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
265lbs 6-6 4.65 31 43
85.6
Jackson broke out in his first year as a full-time starter, pairing a quick get-off with 78-inch length to win the edge and turning it into...
6

DE/ED
Will
Heldt

6-6 260lbs 4.80
DE/ED
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
260lbs 6-6 4.80 13 54.8
85.1
Heldt is a complete, well-rounded edge whose even, well-rounded game tells the story of a player without a soft spot, and he led Clemson...
7

DE/ED
Anthony
Smith

6-6 285lbs 4.75
DE/ED
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
285lbs 6-6 4.75 16 78
84.2
Smith is a heavy, powerful edge whose 285-pound frame lets him win with a bull rush and kick inside on passing downs, and the production...
15

DE/ED
LJ
McCray

6-6 268lbs 4.86
DE/ED
Florida   Mascot
Florida Mascot
268lbs 6-6 4.86 35 249
77.7
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...
9

DE/ED
Williams
Nwaneri

6-7 265lbs 4.88
DE/ED
Nebraska   Mascot
Nebraska Mascot
265lbs 6-7 4.88 32 230
83.3
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...

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.