July 17, 2026
Premium Users get access to ad-free content on Debacled | Check-In.

2028 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive End

Charlie Campbell Charlie Campbell15 mins


*Walt taking 2014 and 2018
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in '15, '16, '17, '18, '20, and '21
Led all NFL media in correct picks for the 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024 NFL Drafts.
2nd Place in all NFL media with correct picks for 2021
2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1

The top 2028 Defensive End prospects available for the 2028 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2029 prospect. ** – denotes 2030 prospect.

This page was last updated July 17, 2026. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2026 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2027 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

1. South Carolina image Dylan Stewart, DE, South Carolina
Height: 6-5. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 1.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
  • ’26 – David Bailey, Texas Tech
  • ’25 – Abdul Carter, Penn State

7/15/26: In 2025, Stewart had 33 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. Stewart flashed big-time ability as a freshman in 2024 and was an immediate contributor for the Gamecocks. In his debut season, Stewart recorded 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 23 tackles. He jumped out, and he looks like a player with special talent.



2. Texas image Colin Simmons, DE/OLB, Texas
Height: 6-3. Weight: 255.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2028): 1.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Colin Simmons, Texas
  • ’26 – Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
  • ’25 – Mykel Williams, Georgia

7/15/26: In 2025, Simmons had 43 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes broken up. In 2024, Simmons had an excellent debut for Texas and showed serious pass-rush ability with nine sacks. He also had three forced fumbles, 48 tackles, two passes defended, and one interception. Simmons has upside and could be even better after gaining experience.



3. Alabama image Yhonzae Pierre, DE/OLB, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 244.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2028): 1-2.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
  • ’26 – Keldric Faulk, Auburn
  • ’25 – James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

7/15/26: Pierre has been a tough defender for the Crimson Tide in 2025. He has been a dangerous edge rusher with speed and physicality to push through blocks. In 2025, Pierre had 52 tackles with eight sacks, three forced fumbles, and one pass batted. He is an ascending player with a ton of upside.



4. Clemson image Will Heldt, DE, Clemson
Height: 6-6. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 1-2
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Will Heldt, Clemson
  • ’26 – Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
  • ’25 – Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

7/15/26: In 2025, Heldt has 39 tackles with 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Heldt has played well for Clemson, showing speed and athleticism off the edge. Heldt played well for Purdue in 2024, recording 56 tackles with five sacks. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has good size, a surprising burst, and plays really hard. Heldt has upside, and he could be a nice value pick in the first or second round.



5. Oregon image Matayo Uiagalelei, DE/OLB, Oregon
Height: 6-4. Weight: 266.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 1-3.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State
  • ’26 – Akheem Mesidor, Miami
  • ’25 – Donovan Ezeiruaka, Boston College

7/2/26: Uiagalelei has a good skill set with size, speed, and athleticism. However, he was an underachiever in 2025 with 34 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes defended. He looked special on some plays, but was inconsistent and had some quiet stretches where he played down to competition that he should be getting the better of. Uiagalelei needs to improve his motor and play harder. Uiagalelei flashed for the Ducks in 2024, recording 10.5 sacks with two forced fumbles, one interception, one pass batted, and 38 tackles.



6. Louisville image Clev Lubin, DE, Louisville
Height: 6-2. Weight: 267.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2028): 2-3.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
  • ’26 – Zion Young, Missouri
  • ’25 – J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State




7. Notre Dame image Boubacar Traore, DE, Notre Dame
Height: 6-4. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2028): 2-3.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Clev Lubin, Louisville
  • ’26 – Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
  • ’25 – Mike Green, Marshall




8. Miami image Damon Wilson II, DE/OLB, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 241.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 2-3.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame
  • ’26 – T.J. Parker, Clemson
  • ’25 – Nic Scourton, Texas A&M




9. Arkansas image Quincy Rhodes Jr., DE, Arkansas
Height: 6-6. Weight: 273.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2028): 2-4.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Damon Wilson II, Miami
  • ’26 – Gabe Jacas, Illinois
  • ’25 – Jordan Burch, Oregon




10. Michigan image John Henry Daley, DE/OLB, Michigan
Height: 6-4. Weight: 247.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 2-4.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
  • ’26 – R. Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
  • ’25 – Landon Jackson, Arkansas




11. Kentucky image Mi’Quise Humphrey-Gray, DE, Kentucky
Height: 6-3. Weight: 269.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-4.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – John Henry Daley, Michigan
  • ’26 – Derrick Moore, Michigan
  • ’25 – Jack Sawyer, Ohio State




12. Penn State image Ikenna Ezeogu, DE, Penn State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 247.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-4.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Mi’Quise Humphrey-Gray, Kentucky
  • ’26 – Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
  • ’25 – Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss




13. Michigan State image Keahnist Thompson, DE, Michigan State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-5.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Ikenna Ezeogu, Penn State
  • ’26 – Mason Reiger, Wisconsin
  • ’25 – Bradyn Swinson, LSU




14. Texas A&M image T.J. Searcy, DE, Texas A&M
Height: 6-5. Weight: 261.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-5.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Keahnist Thompson, Michigan State
  • ’26 – Romello Height, Texas Tech
  • ’25 – Fadil Diggs, Syracuse




15. Indiana image Tobi Osunsanmi, DE, Indiana
Height: 6-1. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-5.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – T.J. Searcy, Texas A&M
  • ’26 – Keyron Crawford, Auburn
  • ’25 – Tyler Baron, Miami




16. Oregon image Teitum Tuioti, DE/OLB, Oregon
Height: 6-2. Weight: 261.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-5.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana
  • ’26 – Vincent Anthony, Duke
  • ’25 – Jared Ivey, Ole Miss




17. Clemson image Jahiem Lawson, DE, Clemson
Height: 6-1. Weight: 241.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 3-5.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
  • ’26 – Tyreak Sapp, Florida
  • ’25 – Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina




18. Georgia image Gabriel Harris Jr., DE, Georgia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Jahiem Lawson, Clemson
  • ’26 – Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
  • ’25 – Kyle Kennard, South Carolina




19. Ole Miss image Jonathan Maldonado, DE, Ole Miss
Height: 6-5. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Gabriel Harris Jr., Georgia
  • ’26 – Mikail Kamara, Indiana
  • ’25 – Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech




20. Iowa State image Isaac Terrell, DE, Iowa State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 253.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Jonathan Maldonado, Ole Miss
  • ’26 – T.J. Guy, Michigan
  • ’25 – Saivion Jones, LSU




21. Memphis image K’Mond Tapp, DE, Memphis
Height: 6-3. Weight: 257.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Isaac Terrell, Iowa State
  • ’26 – Max Llewellyn, Iowa
  • ’25 – Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State




22. Michigan image Cameron Brant, DE, Michigan
Height: 6-3. Weight: 276.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – K’Mond Tapp, Memphis
  • ’26 – Caden Curry, Ohio State
  • ’25 – Ashton Gillotte, Louisville




23. Oklahoma image Adepoju Adebawore, DE, Oklahoma
Height: 6-4. Weight: 253.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Cameron Brant, Michigan
  • ’26 – Logan Fano, Utah
  • ’25 – Sean Martin, West Virginia




24. Texas Tech image Trey White, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
Height: 6-1. Weight: 252.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 4-6.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Adepoju Adebawore, Oklahoma
  • ’26 – Jack Pyburn, LSU
  • ’25 – Jah Joyner, Minnesota




25. Auburn image Da’Shawn Womack, DE, Auburn
Height: 6-4. Weight: 253.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Trey White, Texas Tech
  • ’26 – Cian Slone, N.C. State
  • ’25 – Barryn Sorrell, Texas




26. Boise State image Jayden Virgin-Morgan, DE/OLB, Boise State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 254.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Da’Shawn Womack, Auburn
  • ’26 – Ethan Burke, Texas
  • ’25 – Jalen Logan-Redding, Minnesota




27. Florida image Kamran James, DE, Florida
Height: 6-5. Weight: 274.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise State
  • ’26 – Patrick Payton, LSU




28. LSU image Princewill Umanmielen, DE/OLB, LSU
Height: 6-3. Weight: 242.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Kamran James, Florida
  • ’26 – Anthony Lucas, USC




29. Minnesota image Anthony Smith, DE, Minnesota
Height: 6-6. Weight: 279.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Princewill Umanmielen, LSU




30. USC image Braylan Shelby, DE, USC
Height: 6-4. Weight: 255.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Anthony Smith, Minnesota




31. Texas A&M image Anto Saka, DE, Texas A&M
Height: 6-3. Weight: 256.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Braylan Shelby, USC




32. Vanderbilt image Miles Capers, DE, Vanderbilt
Height: 6-3. Weight: 249.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 5-7.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Anto Saka, Texas A&M




33. Arizona image Tre Smith, DE, Arizona
Height: 6-4. Weight: 257.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2028): 6-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Miles Capers, Vanderbilt




34. Missouri image Darris Smith, DE, Missouri
Height: 6-4. Weight: 247.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 6-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Tre Smith, Arizona




35. North Carolina image Melkart Abou Jaoude, DE, North Carolina
Height: 6-4. Weight: 257.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2028): 6-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Darris Smith, Missouri




36. Ohio State image James Smith, DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 294.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 6-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Melkart Abou Jaoude, North Carolina




37. Indiana image Joshua Burnham, DE, Indiana
Height: 6-3. Weight: 258.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2028): 7-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – James Smith, Ohio State




38. Ohio State image Beau Atkinson, DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 265.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2026): 7-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Joshua Burnham, Indiana




39. Oklahoma State image Jaleel Johnson, DE, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 272.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2028): 7-FA.
Previous Seasons
  • ’27 – Beau Atkinson, Ohio State




2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2026 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2027 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P



Related News