2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive End

9/23/23: Latu has recorded seven tackles, four sacks, one interception and one forced fumble in 2023. After recording 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022, Latu is proving to be a dangerous quarterback hunter. He is quick off the edge with athleticism and a strong build.

With Washington, Latu had injury issues that cost him the 2020 and 2021 seasons. A serious neck injury caused former Huskies coach Jimmy Lake to say that Latu’s career was over after consulting specialists, but he transferred to UCLA after Lake and his staff were let go. Latu then received medical clearance from UCLA before resuming his career.

9/23/23: Against LSU, Verse had two tackles and came close to a strip-sack, but it was ruled incomplete. He was active in the ground game versus Boston College. In 2023, Verse has six tackles and zero sacks.

9/2/23: Verse had a great start to open 2022, showing pass-rush ability and speed around the corner in a dominant performance versus LSU while recording three sacks and seven tackles. On the year, Verse recorded 47 tackles and nine sacks.

Team sources who have seen Verse in person say he is a good-looking kid with strength and athletic ability. They note he runs well, plays hard, and has impressive tools. However, they feel Verse is raw and not naturally instinctive. Those issues are not surprising considering the huge jump in competition that Verse made for 2022. However, he still impressed last season.

Verse started out his collegiate career at Albany before transferring to the Seminoles for 2022. At Albany, Verse was very undersized and added weight while switching from tight end to defensive end. Playing in 15 games over two seasons, Verse totaled 74 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

9/23/23: On the year, Trice has eight tackles.

8/19/23: Trice put together an excellent sophomore season in 2022, recording 30 tackles and seven sacks. In 2021, he had 14 tackles and two sacks.

9/23/23: Robinson has five tackles and a pass batted at this point in 2023.

8/19/23: Robinson plays defensive end for Penn State, but for the NFL, he may have to move to outside linebacker given his size. If Robinson is any smaller than his listed numbers, he definitely will need be too small to play end on an every-down basis. In 2022, Robinson recorded 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, two passes batted, one forced fumble and 26 tackles. Playing for Maryland in 2021, he totaled 19 tackles and two sacks.

9/23/23: Braswell has 13 tackles two sacks and a forced fumble on the season.

8/30/23: Braswell is known to be an athletic freak with serious speed and strength, but he has yet to put together a big season for Alabama. Braswell flashed some edge-rush ability in 2022, recording three sacks, 4.5 tackles for a loss and 21 tackles. With Will Anderson in the NFL, Braswell could take on a big role in 2023.

9/23/23: Jones has five tackles and a sack so far this year.

8/30/23: Jones could be a fast riser for the 2024 NFL Draft if he plays up to his skill set. He is fast off the edge with size, length and strength. In 2022, Jones recorded 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 23 tackles. He has the potential to be a breakout star in 2023.

9/23/23: Tuimoloau has seven tackles thus far in 2023.

9/2/23: As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Tuimoloau turned in a good season for the Buckeyes, showing an ability to produce big plays. He recorded 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions and two passes broken up on the year. Tuimoloau could rise for the 2024 NFL Draft if his pass-rush and sack production improve in 2023.

9/23/23: On the season, Sawyer has collected 10 tackles.

9/2/23: Sawyer flashed potential for the Buckeyes as a freshman in 2021 with 13 tackles and three sacks in a backup role. In 2022, he recorded 24 tackles, one pass defended and 4.5 sacks. Sawyer has a good skill set and upside, so the former five-star recruit could break out during 2023.

9/23/23: Mesidor has five tackles thus far.

9/2/23: Mesidor flashed some ability in 2022 with seven sacks, four passes batted and 38 tackles. If Mesidor can build on that production, his draft stock could rise. Mesidor has tweener end/tackle size that will be problematic for him to find a natural position in the NFL.

9/23/23: Tupuola-Fetui has five tackles and two sacks thus far this year.

8/19/23: Tupuola-Fetui flashed pass-rush ability in the shortened 2020 season, recording seven sacks. The 2021 season was limited to only five games because of an injury from spring practice. In 2022, he returned to the field, but he was a rotational player who put up 4.5 sacks and 28 tackles. Tupuola-Fetui needs to produce more and stay on the field as a senior to rise.

9/23/23: Duke is an undersized edge rusher who team sources are projecting to be a designated pass rusher in the NFL. Thus far in 2023, Duke has six tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. In 2022, he had 44 tackles, three sacks and a pass broken up.

9/23/23: A knee injury cost Bennett the season opener. He has five tackles across his two games this year.

9/2/23: Bennett enjoyed a breakout 2022 season that included seven sacks, 34 tackles and two forced fumbles. He showed vast improvement over his underclassmen seasons. Bennett could stand to get stronger for the NFL. He will need to at least stay consistent with, if not build on, his 2022 season in 2023 to be an early-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.

9/23/23: At this point in the season, Harvey has recorded five tackles and a sack.

9/2/23: Harvey showed some pass-rush potential in 2022, suggesting the upside to improve as he gains experience. Harvey recorded 5.5 sacks and 31 tackles in 2022. He could be better in 2023.

9/23/23: Carter has totaled 12 tackles, a sack and two passes batted in 2023.

9/2/23: Carter was a tough defensive end for Western Michigan in 2022, recording 68 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. It was a huge jump in production after 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks in the previous season. If Carter thrives now that he is in the Big Ten, he could be a riser for the 2024 NFL Draft.

9/23/23: Strachan has five tackles, a sack and pass batted at this point in 2023.

8/19/23: Strachan flashed intriguing ability in 2020 when he had 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 41 tackles in a breakout season. He was coming off a knee injury in 2019, but in 2021, his numbers dipped to 22 tackles and three sacks. In 2022, Strachan looked like he was finding his 2020 form, but a torn ACL ended his season after two games. Strachan has to stay healthy and productive in 2023.

9/23/23: This season, Collins has four tackles and a pass defended.

9/2/23: Collins is a big defensive end who has the size to move inside. He was a solid run defender over the past three seasons, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production in 2023.

9/23/23: Amaewhule has 10 tackles and one sack thus far in 2023.

8/19/23: Amaewhule totaled 23 tackles and two sacks in 2022. He played better in 2021, recording 5.5 sacks, and in 2020, when he had seven sacks. Amaewhule needs to have a big final season for the Miners.

9/23/23: Ritzie has six tackles on the year.

9/2/23: Ritzie is an inside/outside defensive lineman who is a capable run defender but needs to show more pass-rush ability in 2023.

9/23/23: So far in 2023, Williams has recorded three tackles.

9/2/23: Williams flashed in 2021, recording 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He looked like he had a lot of potential and upside, but Williams disappointed in 2022, recording only 13 tackles. He needs to earn more playing time and produce.