2021 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive End

4/26/21: Paye had an excellent start to the 2020 season with a multi-sack game against Minnesota. Over the year, he showed improved pass-rushing moves and the versatility to line up on the inside at tackle in the sub package. With Paye's size, speed, athleticism, and improving technique, he looks like a potential first-round pick with big upside for the 2021 NFL Draft. He could be the first edge rusher drafted and has a shot of being a top-20 selection.

9/5/20: Paye had an impressive junior year, as he was a well-balanced defender at the point of attack. Paye's developed strength helps him set the edge and hold his ground. He also showed pass-rush ability with upside and he could improve with more experience. Paye has the upside to be a riser.

4/26/21: Phillips helped himself with a phenomenal pro-day workout. He showed size, speed, athleticism, explosion, and a ton of athletic upside. During the early years of his collegiate career, Phillips had some personal issues, and some teams like how he was able to overcome those problems and get focused on football. Others are worried about those issues becoming a problem again, so if Phillips slides in the 2021 NFL Draft, that will be the reason.

The Hurricanes were dealt a blow when defensive end Gregory Rousseau decided to skip the 2020 season. Miami gave Rousseau's number to UCLA transfer Jaelan Phillips, who did a nice job of continuing the disruptive presence coming from No. 15. Team sources said Phillips really impressed them and they see a lot of athletic upside with the junior. He has quality size, speed, athleticism, and strength. In 2020, Phillips totaled 45 tackles, eight sacks, an interception and three passes defended.

Phillips has a good skill set with strength to shed blocks and hold his ground in run defense. The 6-foot-5, 266-pounder really improved as a pass rusher over the course of the 2020 season, and he has quality speed to go with length and strength. Phillips could continue to grow as he gains experience.

4/26/21: Oweh flashed some edge-rush potential for Penn State, but he was not consistently productive, notching just four sacks over his last 18 games. In 2019, he totaled five sacks and 21 tackles. Oweh made 38 tackles in 2020, but he didn't notch a sack. Oweh is a workout warrior with shocking speed, but he needs development as a football player.

Team sources say Oweh's track record and college tape are that of a second-day pick, but because he is a workout warrior, they think a team could fall in love from his pro day workout, which was phenomenal. Oweh had a shocking 40 time with huge jumps that illustrated his explosive athleticism.

4/26/21: Rousseau had been the consensus top defensive end prospect for most of the 2021 NFL Draft process, but team sources from across the league felt Rousseau was vastly overrated by the media and had other prospects graded higher than him him. Multiple team sources say Rousseau is not a fast, explosive pass rusher and is also not physical. Some think he will need a year or two to develop into a power player at the NFL level and question if he ever will be able to do that. Rousseau had a disappointing pro-day performance that just reinforced the concerns about him lacking speed and explosion.

9/5/20: 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 development could be slowed down by his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. There is no substitute for experience and a year of refining pass-rushing moves, getting off blocks, taking on double teams, and improving technique. Thus, Rousseau will enter the NFL as a 1-year wonder who could require more developmental time. He might be a top-10 pick, but he will be more raw and underdeveloped compared to other recent high first-round defensive ends like Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett, Bradley Chubb, and the Bosa brothers.

4/26/21: Odeyingbo played really well for Vanderbilt in 2020, putting up solid production in the ground game and as a pass rusher. He put more pressure on the quarterback than his sack total indicates.

Odeyingbo has good size with quality speed and athleticism for a defender with his build. A number of team sources say Odeyingbo graded out in the second round, and some thought he could go as a top-50 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but then he tore an Achilles in pre-draft workouts. Some teams still have him high and in contention for their second-round pick while others have dropped him lower because of the injury.

Some team sources are really high on Odeyingbo's upside and think he could grow into being an excellent defensive tackle in the NFL. They think he could be a disruptive three-technique with speed and length.

9/5/20: Odeyingbo is a big defensive end who can set the edge and be a tough run defender at the point of attack. He has good length and the potential to be a base end in a 4-3 or a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4. Odeyingbo needs to improve his pass-rush production in 2020.

4/26/21: Basham played well overall in 2020, producing pressure on the quarterback and showing some consistency with his 2019 season. In the ground game, Basham was solid while showing a good motor and playing hard. At the Senior Bowl, Basham helped himself by showing the skills to be able to rush from tackle in the sub package. Basham looks like a safe pick to become a contributing starter as a base end in the NFL.

9/5/20: Basham showed a big improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons when went from 4.5 sacks in 2018 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 for the NFL in terms of height and weight, but has surprising quickness with an impressive ability to close for a thickly built defensive end. Basham has athletic upside and could be a riser during the draft process.

4/26/21: Tryon did not opt back in for the Pac-12's pandemic-shortened season. Some teams have Tryon graded in the second round and some have him in the third round, but there media projections of him being a first-round pick.

9/5/20: 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, but needs refinement in run defense and to develop his pass-rushing moves. The selfish and foolish Pac-12 presidents and commissioner Larry Scott made the decision to cancel the 2020 season though, protecting their job security over considering the science that football players are more likely to die in a car accident driving to practice than from covid-19. Tryon is one of the players who is really hurt by this decision, as he opted to make the jump to the NFL even though he needed more developmental snaps.

4/26/21: Turner has good size for the NFL and displayed improvement in his pass-rush ability over his career. He is a sleeper, and team sources said he looked good at the Senior Bowl. Turner has the size to play base end in a 4-3 or end in a 3-4, and he also could move inside to tackle in the sub package. Team sources say Turner is big, strong and raw, but he has a lot of upside with good size and is a fast defender. Turner was a riser during the April draft meetings, according to team sources, and some think he could be a second-round pick in a weak class of defensive linemen.

4/26/21: Weaver is a bit of a love/hate prospect. Some teams think he could sneak into the end of the first round, but others have him as a mid-rounder. The teams that don't like him say he lacks bend and foot speed off the edge to get to the quarterback consistently at the NFL level. They also say he did not impress at the Senior Bowl.

Weaver had a solid season in 2020, putting steady pressure on the quarterback. Coming off an injury, he showed he was back to 100 percent and was able to stay healthy.

9/5/20: Weaver had a strong 2018 season to get on the radar for NFL advance scouts, but his redshirt junior year ended before it started with a season-ending injury suffered in training camp. If Weaver can stay healthy and build on his 2018 production, he could be a riser for the 2021 NFL Draft.

4/26/21: Jones enjoyed a strong 2020 season and led the nation in sacks for a time. He needs to get stronger and fill out his frame for the NFL, but he has good speed and length off the edge. His best fit as a pro could come as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Some teams have Jones graded as high as Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft, while some others like him less and have him in the early fourth round.

9/5/20: Jones had a very good 2019 season and was one of the best edge defenders in the ACC. He was solid in the ground game and productive in the pass rush. It wasn't his first year of solid tape, as he was productive in a backup rotational role as a sophomore. If Jones can get stronger and continues to improve his pass rush, he could rise as a senior.

4/26/21: Roche was solid for Miami in 2020. He has the look of a 3-4 outside linebacker for the NFL, provided he isn't too stiff.

9/5/20: 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.

4/26/21: Dimukeje had an excellent game against Boston College in Week 2 of 2020, and he kept up his strong play after that, showing a nice ability to get after the quarterback.

9/5/20: Dimukeje is a short edge defender, but he showed good pass-rush ability as a junior and really got after the quarterback. Even though he lacks length, Dimukeje has been a solid run defender for the Blue Devils over the past three seasons.

4/26/21: Sample put together a solid senior year with well-balanced play as a run defender and pass rusher. His steady performance earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Sample was a solid run defender over his career, but his pass rush was much improved in 2020.

4/26/21: Robinson was solid in 2020, putting up better production as a rusher. The Florida State defensive line disappointed, but Robinson looked better than his teammates.

9/5/20: Robinson was a rotational backup before breaking into the staring lineup as a junior. He showed some ability to defend the run, but he needs to improve his edge-pressure and pass-rush production as a senior.

4/26/21: Koonce had an excellent 2019 season getting after the quarterback, and he picked up where he left off in the shortened 2020 season. Koonce has some natural pass-rush ability, but he could stand to improve his run defense for the NFL. Koonce made it to the Senior Bowl, but it isn't clear if he really did enough there to help himself.

4/26/21: Smith declared for the 2021 NFL Draft and participated in the Senior Bowl.

9/5/20: Smith put together good sack production in 2018, but then he exploded as a junior with the third-most sacks in the FCS. Smith has good length and it would help him to have a good showing at an all-star game. For the NFL, it would help Smith to gain some weight and fill out his frame.

4/26/21: Graham was a solid defender for Texas over his career. For the NFL, he has the body type to play defensive end or tackle in a 4-3 defense. He also would be a good fit as five-technique in a 3-4. If Graham had produced more pass rush, he would be rated higher. He opted out of Texas' bowl game.

4/26/21: Ogundeji got off to a slow start in 2020, but he played well over the back half of the season, showing more pass-rush ability.

9/5/20: Ogundeji had a fast start to the 2019 season and looked like he was poised for a big year, but then his production fell off. Notre Dame was deep with a lot of edge-rushing talent, so it was difficult for Ogundeji to get playing time with Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem ahead of him on the depth chart. Ogundeji is capable of producing a good senior year and rising. He should get stronger for the NFL.

4/26/21: Hayes started out the 2020 season quietly for Notre Dame before starting to play better. He looks like a rotational designated pass rusher for the NFL, and he may not have the skill set to be a three-down starter.

9/5/20: Hayes had six tackles and a sack in 2019 before a torn labrum ended his season early. He decided to take a medical redshirt and return to Notre Dame for 2020, which was a wise decision.

Hayes totaled 31 tackles with five tackles for a loss, one pass batted and two sacks in 2018. He flashed some serious speed and edge-rushing ability, and he was excellent in the 2018 season opener against Michigan, putting a lot of pressure on the quarterback. After that though, Hayes had a lot of quiet games.

According to NFL teams' 2018 preseason data provided by team sources, Hayes checked in at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds with 32.5-inch arms, 9.5-inch hands and a 78.38-inch wingspan. They had him running the 40-yard dash in 4.70 seconds. Hayes totaled 30 tackles with three sacks as a sophomore. He has upside to do more as a senior.

4/26/21: Clemons had a respectable season 2020. He showed some pass-rush ability, but his run defense was not impressive.

9/5/20: Clemons has potential, but he has not yet produced a big year for Texas A&M. Clemons, however, has enough upside that scouts place him on their preseason watch lists. The senior needs to produce more in 2020.

4/26/21: Toney had a solid 2020 season, getting after the quarterback and showing some improvement as a run defender. His best would come as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

9/5/20: Toney has increased his sack production each year with Penn State, showing improvement in his ability to get pressure on the quarterback. His production in run defense has also improved, but Toney has to get stronger for the NFL. At his present listed numbers, he will have to move to outside linebacker.

4/26/21: Cooper flashed at times in the shortened 2020 season, including a good performance against Clemson in the playoff. He then participated in the Senior Bowl. Cooper did not produce much in run defense over his career. He could be a developmental backup prospect for the NFL with some upside because he was in a crowded depth chart during his career at Ohio State.

4/26/21: Jackson played well for Coastal Carolina in 2020 and was tough in both phases. His steady play earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

9/5/20: Jackson lacks length for the NFL, but he has a stout build and a nose for the quarterback. He broke out in 2019 with double-digit sacks. Jackson needs to stay consistent in 2020 with his sack production and perform well at an all-star game to rise.

4/26/21: Bradley-King was solid for the Bears in 2020 and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He needs to gain weight and grow stronger as a run defender for the NFL.

9/5/20: Bradley-King is a graduate transfer who previous played at Arkansas State. He had two straight solid seasons for the Red Wolves, showing an ability to get after the passer. As a junior, his run defense was improved as well. For the NFL, he needs to get stronger.

4/26/21: Spencer had a decent 2020 season for Mississippi State. He looks like a backup run defender, and his best fit could come as an end in a 3-4 defense.

9/5/20: encer played in four games of 2019 before going out for the year with an upper body injury. Prior to that, Spencer was a rotational backup for Mississippi State. He needs to stay healthy and produce as a senior

4/26/21: Golston played well for Iowa in 2020, showing improved run defense and sack production.

9/5/20: Golston was a solid base end for Iowa in 2019, doing a dependable job in ground support and contributing some to the pass rush. Golston needed a shot to up his sack production as a senior.

4/26/21: Herring played defensive end for Georgia and is a sturdy base defender at the point of attack. He was solid against the run, but he was not productive or a real presence in the pass rush. Herring has a tweener tackle/end body type, and for the NFL, he might be better off gaining weight and being a full-time defensive tackle. Herring did not produce enough in the pass rush to be viewed as a potential three-down starter.

4/26/21: Hubert got after the quarterback in 2020. There is no doubt Hubert was a good college player, but he could have physical limitations for the next level.

9/5/20: Hubert showed improved pass-rush ability as a junior and did a solid job of pressuring the quarterback for Kansas State. He needs to continue that trend in 2020 to move up draft boards.

4/26/21: Kaidoh was decent for the Seminoles, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production. He should have gone back to school, but he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.

9/5/20: Kaidoh only played in four games during the 2019 season before going down with a season-ending injury, but he had quality production for a backup player during his sophomore and freshman seasons. Kaidoh should get stronger and fill out his frame for the NFL, but he has good length to go with some quickness and athleticism.

4/26/21: Hines put up solid production in Toledo's six-game 2020 season.

9/5/20: Hines does not have big production, but NFL advance scouts put him on their preseason watch list. Hines needed to increase his pass-rush production and grow stronger. Going to an all-star game and playing well there would help Hines' stock for the 2021 NFL Draft.

4/26/21: Manac was a good defender for La.-Lafayette in 2020.

9/5/20: Manac put together modest production over the past two seasons, but he also showed enough of a skill set that the NFL advance scouts put him on their preseason watch list. Manac needs to improve his production as a senior, plus it would help him to impress at an all-star game or the combine.

4/26/21: Tisdale did not impress in 2020.

9/5/20: Tisdale is a heavy defensive end who could end up moving inside to tackle if he gains more weight. While he did not have big production in 2019, Tisdale was solid and stout at the line of scrimmage. It would help the senior to improve his sack production in 2020.