Every NFL Draft class is different, with some years having a deep group of talent at certain positions and being very depleted for talent at others. With three quarters of the college football season still to go, a lot can change. The NIL world has also led to more players staying in college rather than entering the NFL Draft. However, in speaking to team sources, they feel that the 2026 class could be a good year for edge rushers in the early rounds of the draft.
In speaking to sources at a few teams, there were a number of edge rushers who are currently considered to have early-round potential. That group of players includes but is not limited to Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton, Notre Dame’s Boubacar Traore, Illinois’ Gabe Jacas, Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei, Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson, Northwestern’s Anto Sake, and Clemson’s Will Heldt. There are other intriguing players with the potential to rise aside from that group of 11. Thus, the potential is there for a deep class of edge rushers.
Many of those prospects were projected to go in the first or second round of my latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft. With those players, and others capable of breaking out, the 2026 NFL Draft could be an excellent year for NFL teams to find pass-rushing help.
