2021 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Ends

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2021 defensive end prospects available for the 2021 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2022 prospect. ** – denotes 2023 prospect.

This page was last updated Feb. 21, 2020. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

1. Gregory Rousseau**, DE, Miami
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 260.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
   Projected Round (2021): 1-2.
   2/21/20: Rousseau was one of the best edge defenders in college football during 2019. Despite being a redshirt freshman, he collected 15.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and 54 tackles on the year. Rousseau has an excellent skill set with upside to develop. His sack numbers may decline as a redshirt sophomore and/or junior with double teams and scheming, but he could become a more developed player in the years to come.





2. Joe Tryon*, DE/OLB, Washington
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 262.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
   Projected Round (2021): 1-3.
   2/21/20: After serving as a backup during his freshman season, Tryon broke out in 2019 as one of the top pass-rushers in the Pac-12. He totaled eight sacks with 41 tackles and one pass batted on the year. Tryon has a lot of upside and could be a player who develops well under Jimmy Lake.



3. Quincy Roche, DE/OLB, Miami
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 235.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
   Projected Round (2021): 2-4.
   2/21/20: Roche decided to transfer from Temple following the 2019 season and landed at Miami. Over three seasons in Philadelphia, he totaled 26 sacks.
   
   Roche has created a buzz in the scouting community, and scouts feel he will get bigger. Team evaluators really like his initial explosion off the snap and how he closes on the quarterback. They feel he will get develop as he ages and grows in a pro strength and conditioning program.
   
   One team source said they had graded Roche as a fourth- to fifth-rounder, but three others said Round 3 and one said third- to fourth-rounder. However, Roche could rise if he works out well. There are a few issues that keep teams from grading him in the early rounds, and the most cited one is lower body stiffness. Source feel there is a lack of lower body strength and believe he doesn’t play hard all the time. Thus, Roche could improve his grade if he gets stronger in the lower body while also showing an improved motor in 2020.



4. Carlos Basham, DE, Wake Forest
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 275.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.85.
   Projected Round (2021): 2-4.
   2/21/20: Basham showed a big improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons when went from 4.5 sacks to 11 in 2019. His run defense remained steady with 64 tackles as a sophomore and 57 as a junior. In his a breakout redshirt junior year, Basham also had three forced fumbles and three passes batted. He has good size size the NFL with height and weight.





5. Jonathan Garvin, DE/OLB, Miami
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 256.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
   Projected Round (2021): 2-4.
   2/21/20: Garvin wasn’t as effective in 2019 as he was in the previous season. He totaled 37 tackles with five sacks and two forced fumbles for 2019. Joe Jackson was supposed to be the Hurricanes’ top edge defender in 2018, but Garvin was their best defensive end in a breakout sophomore season. Garvin totaled 17 tackles for a loss, 60 tackles, five passes batted and 5.5 sacks on the year. Garvin could bounce back as a senior due to his increased experience and developing physically.



6. Thomas Booker*, DE, Stanford
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 281.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.88.
   Projected Round (2021): 3-4.
   2/21/20: Over his first two seasons at Stanford, Booker was a solid defender at the point of attack. He had 3.5 sacks with 29 tackles as a freshman and improved in his sophomore year with 50 tackles, four sacks and three passes batted. Booker has quality size to him with upside to develop.



7. Brenton Cox Jr.*, DE/OLB, Florida
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 247.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
   Projected Round (2021): 3-4.




8. Daelin Hayes, DE/OLB, Notre Dame
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 260.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
   Projected Round (2021): 4-6.


9. Patrick Johnson, DE, Tulane
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 250.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
   Projected Round (2021): 5-7.


10. Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE/DT, Wisconsin
    Height: 6-7. Weight: 300.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.89.
    Projected Round (2021): 5-7.


11. Kylan Wilborn, DE, Arizona
    Height: 6-2. Weight: 248.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
    Projected Round (2021): 7-FA.

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