2021 NFL Draft: Edge Rusher Rankings

It’s NFL draft week. Four days away from the commencement of the first round, which got a lot more interesting for Ravens fans when we learned over the weekend that Orlando Brown Jr. was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. Part of the draft pick haul in return is the Chiefs first round pick. Meaning on Thursday the Ravens will pick with selections 27 and 31, if they desire.

In my opinion, edge rusher has been the Ravens top position of need this entire offseason. Moreso after not retaining either Matt Judon or Yannick Ngakoue. I’ve covered nine edge rushers over the last month in various articles here.

Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 3

Now is the time to list them in order of preference. Odds are with two first round picks, or in the event of trading down to the early second round, one of these guys will don purple and black in 2021.

Here is the order I would take these guys in. Tune into The Bank podcast the day before the draft to see how myself, and other BSL contributors rank not just edge rushers, but the top offensive linemen and top wide receivers, and intertwine the three positions into a collaborative big board, which we’ll post on the message board.

Edge Rusher Big Board

1. Kwity Paye – Michigan. 6’4”, 272 lbs.

• + Explosion score is off the charts, over 81 points.
• + Agility is off the charts, 6.46 three-cone drill. Fastest I’ve ever seen.
• + Academic All-Big Ten, smarts.
• + State champ in track in high school.
• + Incredible family history. Escaping war torn Liberia.
• –  Only started 19 games in college.
• –  Fooled by misdirection at times.

2. Jaelan Phillips, Miami (FL). 6’5”, 266 lbs.

• + Five-star recruit out of high school.
• + Like his hip bend.
• + Playmaker against the run and the pass.
• – Almost quit the game between UCLA and Miami, multiple injuries.
• – Plays tall at times.

3. Azeez Ojulari, Georgia. 6’3”, 240 lbs.

• + Team Captain as a freshman. Experienced.
• + Solid all around in pass rush and in coverage.
• – Only one move. Doesn’t show a swim, spin, etc…
• – Can be neutralized if he doesn’t win with his initial punch.

4. Zaven Collins, Tulsa. 6’5”, 259 lbs.

• + Best defensive player in the NCAA. Decorated with multiple 2020 award wins.
• + Offers a little of everything, inside backer, outside backer, signal caller.
• + Great read and react. Quick to find a hole to make tackles for loss.
• –  Some mocks list him as an “edge” only in the NFL.
• – Doesn’t have a nasty streak and lacks aggression as a pure edge, going against tackles.

5. Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma. 6’3”, 247 lbs.

• + Video shows him often being disruptive in the backfield.
• + The negative things experts say he seem meaningless, or don’t add up when you see him in the backfield so much more than these other prospects. “Has narrow hips”. Okay? So…?
• – Failed drug test, suspended prior to CFP Semi-Final game. Carried over into first five games of following season.

6. Jayson Oweh, Penn. St. 6’5”, 252 lbs.

• + Big motor, non-stop.
• + Never gives up. Will try multiple moves to win against his opponent.
• – No sacks in 2020. Zero. What clips are they going to show on draft night? “Here is where he almost got a sack. He almost got another one here as well.”

7. Gregory Rousseau, Miami (FL). 6’7”, 265 lbs.

• + Long arms, lean frame. 6’7” should play.
• + Good closing speed on the QB.
• – Worry he got by in college with size alone. Not great technique.
• – Not impressed by explosion numbers given his size. Bust potential.

8. Joe Tryon, Washington. 6’5”, 259 lbs.

• + Physical tools you want to see.
• + Drew double teams, sign of what teams think of him?
• – Shies from contact, chooses not to blow up guys in the open field.
• – Raw prospect.

9. Carlos Basham, Wake Forest. 6’3”, 281 lbs.

• + Power rather than speed to win compared to most of his peers. Will need power against NFL tackles.
• – Tweener, 281lbs. Add 15 lbs. and be a DE? Lose 15 lbs. and be an OLB?
• – When blocked at times, gets completely turned around and can’t see the play. If he sheds the block, wouldn’t know where to go next.

Thoughts…

Kwity Paye is probably out of reach for the Ravens, shooting higher up draft boards after insane pro days and incredible stories of his families history of perseverance making headlines.

Even though the edge class doesn’t have a Chase Young type in it, I still think that once one goes, more will soon follow. Some mocks only have two or three edge rushers going in round one. But it’s a premium position, elite talent or not in the draft. Top salaries go quarterback, left tackle, then edge rusher. I think at least four go in the first round just for value’s sake.

I think Collins would be a good fit for the Ravens as a guy who can line up anywhere, and play multiple roles. Especially in Don Martindale’s defense when the go to the set that puts everyone on the line and the opposition doesn’t know who is doing what job. I could see a team easily misusing Collins though, not allowing him to display his multi-faceted skill set.

Ronnie Perkins over Oweh and Rousseau? Yes. I can’t explain it any other way other than when I watched the tape, Perkins was noticeably more disruptive in the backfield against the run, and pass. A few weeks ago, Perkins started creeping up into the first round of mocks, but I haven’t seen him there recently. Perhaps his failed drug test is a major red flag. But the NFL also has vastly cut down on the testing and punishments for marijuana. Though it is a stricter rule in the NCAA, and he didn’t follow it. He missed out; his team missed out on having him for their biggest game of the year. Teams will question why he would break the rules with so much on the line.

Rousseau could prove me wrong if I’m putting too much stock in underwhelming measurables. Only 21 reps on the bench and only a 30 inch vertical (Ryan Fitzpatrick had a 30.5 inch vertical). I think he may be in over his head in the NFL. But wouldn’t be mad if the Ravens landed him either with the potential skillset given his size, and the ability to get stronger. But Tryon and Basham, though just below Rousseau on this list, are way farther behind to me. If the Ravens settled there with pick number 58, before they traded it, maybe that would have been okay. But if either is taken with a late first/early second round pick, I will not be happy about it. In the event the Ravens don’t go pass rusher at 27 or 31, their next picks are in the 3^rd round with the 94^th and 104^th overall. If Tryon or Basham are still on the board then, then I’d be more than okay reaching there.