The work never seems to end in theplayer evaluation world, which means front offices have already turned their attention toward the upcomingseason in advance of the 2024. With that in mind, let's continue our CBS Sports summer prospect series. We've covered the offensive side of the ball with,,,, and . Now we flip to the defensive side of the ball with one of its most valuable positions: edge rusher. Seven were selected in the first round of the 2023 , the most first-round picks for any position last April. Overall PickDraft TeamPlayer3. (Alabama)7 (Texas Tech)13 (Iowa)15 (Iowa State)28 (Clemson)30 (Georgia)31 (Kansas State)"It's a very deep cla s from what I've seen so far" former longtimegeneral manager and current CBS Sports HQanalyst Rick Spielman said of this year's cla s on August 4 on an episode of the "" podcast. "There are guys that are going to rise, just like they do every year. Initially, I could see five go in the first round."Here's an in-depth look at the current top edge rushers with some pro comparisons from Spielman and CBS Sportsanalyst Ryan Wilson, plus some names who could rise through the ranks in the season to come. The edge rushers are ranked by their readine s for the entering the 2023season. Honorable Mentions:Chop Robinson (Penn State)Height:6-foot-5 |Weight:265 poundsAccolades/notable statistics: 2022 first-team All-Pac 12; tied for fifth-most quarterback pre sures (65) in FBS in 2022 with Alabama's Will Anderson Jr.; led UCLA in sacks (10.5, eighth-most in FBS and second-most in Pac-12) and tackles for lo s (12.5) in 2022; 2022 Comeback Player of the Year co-winner (medically retired after having neck surgery and returned to football in 2022)Rick Spielman's comp: ()"His history with the neck injury is a major concern. He will be the most scrutinized player medically at next year's combine by the 32 teams because you do not want to screw around with someone's neck. I've Quinn Hughes Men Jersey been around too many situations where guys have had neck injuries. Those are things will take very seriously. Where he goes is dependent on the neck. It's huge that he proved he could play a full season and his neck held up. A lot will depend on the MRIs and the specifics of his surgery. He has the talent and ability, but will he be able to pa s physicals when teams get their hands on him? This guy is very fluid in his hips and can set offensive linemen up with his dips and bends. He could also stand to improve against offensive tackles when defending the run."Ryan Wilson's comp: ()"He's a high-motor guy, but his injury history can make you pause. He had a really good season last year. He's a fantastic football player. The medical stuff will have to sort itself out. He was a productive player with plenty of ability. Latu had 1.5 sacks last year against USC and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams."Games to circle:at Utah (Sep. 23), at USC (Nov. 18)Draft range:Second or third roundFinal thoughtsLaiatu Latu's top traits -- his ability to dip and bend his hips to get lower than opposing offensive tackles to create leverage -- were on full display against Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams and USC. In the clip below, Latu gets around the edge to gain a step on the left tackle before Trevor Linden Women Jersey breaking down lower to smack Williams from behind for a sack. That play encapsulates all of the nice things Latu can provide when defending the pa s. However, when defending the run, he can get caught up in the wash of the play at times, failing to separate from the muck offensive linemen can create when run-blocking. If he can remain healthy and improve against the run, Latu's NFL future could be bright. UCLAs Laiatu Latu is having a big night against USC. Beats the Trojans LT here with a swipe for the sack.Latu has been one of the biggest risers this season. Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) Height:6-foot-4 |Weight:274 poundsAccolades/notable statistics:2022 first-team All-Pac 12; led FBS in quarterback pre sures (70) in 2022; led Washington in sacks (10.0, T-11th-most in FBS and third-most in Pac-12); 2022 Valero Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP vs. Texas (six tackles and two sacks)Rick Spielman's comp: (Bengals)"I think he has enough size and length. He has a high motor, going 100 miles an hour when defending the run or rushing the pa ser. I do believe he's a little stiff in his lower body. A little tight as an athlete. He needs to be more consistent using his hands, some technical things that can be cleaned up with good coaching. He does need to balance a little better. He sometimes falls down separating from offensive tackles or out in space because of his stiffne s. He gives excellent effort in pursuit. He can collapse the pocket with a bull rush. He had a really quick counter move to the bull rush inside."Ryan Wilson's comp: ()"He lined up out wide on the line of scrimmage at the seven and nine technique to rev up and attack the edge off the line of scrimmage. Troy Stecher Women Jersey I feel like he has some technique things to clean, but incredible effort play in and play out."Games to circle:at USC (Nov. 4), vs. Utah (Nov. 11)Draft range:First or second roundFinal thoughtsBralen Trice is relentle s. His primary pa s-rush move, the bull rush, requires continuous effort and energy for all four quarters because it's e sentially just putting the shoulder down and blowing through offensive linemen. Trice is very proficient at that at the college level, but he probably needs to add more moves to his repertoire in order to become more than a pa sing downs-only player. His constant effort allows him to finish well by turning pre sures into sacks at a solid rate. If Trice can grow with his fundamentals and technique, he could climb up the draft boards in a hurry. Washingtons Bralen Trice plays with heavy hands and can create some serious power as a pa s rusher. Also plays his tail off every snap.Trice had 12 TFLs and nine sacks in his first season starting for the Huskies. One of the top SR edge defenders in the 2024 NFL Draft. Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) Height:6-foot-4 |Weight:270 poundsAccolades/notable statistics:2022 first-team All-Big Ten; only player since 2000 with multiple sacks (2.0), multiple interceptions (two), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same game (did so against Penn State in 2022, where he helped force all four Penn State turnovers in 44-31 Buckeyes win)Rick Spielman's comp: ()"The one thing you can't teach that this kid has is the energy and effort that he plays with. Not only in the run game, but also in the pa s game as well. You see the traits for him to be a first-round pick and for him to be a good edge rusher in the NFL. There are some technical things he can work on. He was probably more disruptive than productive. That should change this year in terms of his sacks total. It seems like he has a much bigger effect on the game than his numbers would indicate. I think he's a late-to-mid-round first-round pick right now, but he could climb up the draft boards with his length, athleticism and how hard he plays. I think he's a more fluid athlete as an edge rusher than Lukas Van Ne s the Packers' first-round edge rusher in the most recent draft ."Ryan Wilson's comp: ()"He just turned 20 in May, so he won't be 21 until next summer. He can add more weight. I don't know if you want him to get much bigger than that."Games to circle:vs. Penn State (Oct. 21), at Michigan (Nov. 25)Draft range:First roundFinal thoughtsJT Tuimoloau is a little more dynamic than some of the other edge rushers on this list in that when he drops back into coverage, he can hold his own relatively speaking. He's instinctual when dropping back into coverage, always keeping an eye on the quarterback. As a pa s rusher, his bull rush move is strong as he can push opposing tackles into their quarterbacks. Tuimoloau has room to add more moves to his pa s-rush arsenal, something that will likely come as he continues to mature while playing the highest levels of football in college and the NFL. full reel of an game by 44 in Happy Valley! Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) Height:6-foot-4 |Weight:242 poundsAccolades/notable statistics:2021 Freshman All-American (247 Sports and FWAA); 2021 All-SEC Freshman TeamRick Spielman's comp: (Eagles)"Will Anderson Jr. had a thicker lower half, but Dallas Turner is just as explosive of a pa s rusher to me. This kid is maybe 15 pounds lighter, but his body will physically mature as he ages. There is no question about this kid's motor, how hard he plays, or his ability to rush the pa ser off the edge. He's probably a smoother Christopher Tanev Jersey athlete dropping back into coverage than Will Anderson Jr. was. For a guy that's under 250 pounds, he plays with great strength despite being a lean, wiry build."Ryan Wilson's comp: (former Seahawk)"He was overshadowed at times by Will Anderson Jr., but one-on-one he's a problem. He plays much bigger than his size. He won't be 21 until after the upcoming college football season, and what you notice about him is his motor. Also how he wins at the point of attack."Games to circle:Alabama practiceDraft range:First round, top 15 picks (Ryan Wilson) Final thoughtsA player like Dallas Turner probably wouldn't have been a projected first-round pick 15 years ago, but with the way football has shifted to becoming more of a pa s-friendly game at all levels over the years, there's plenty of space for a player with his frame to dominate. The clip below against LSU in which he runs acro s the entire line of scrimmage to tackle LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is so impre sive. The speed and hustle he exhibits while e sentially moving sideline to sideline is phenomenal. As the 20-year-old continues to fill out his body with time, Turner could reach an even higher ceiling in the NFL. Dallas Turner (ED 15) His hustle is a vibe Draft Guy Jared (@DraftGuyJared) Height:6-foot-4 |Weight:260 poundsAccolades/notable statistics:2022 first-team All-ACC; four games with at least 2.5 tackles for lo s in 2022 (tied for the most among Power 5 players along with USC's Tuli Tuipulotu)Rick Spielman's comp: (former Viking)"When you put on that first game of the season against LSU, and you're watching it, you're like, 'Who the heck is this guy and where did he come from?' He had a dominant game against LSU in that opener three tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2.5 tackles for lo s , and I had a chance to see him play live against the Miami Hurricanes down in Miami last year. This is a long, linear athlete. Very explosive. I thought he played bigger and stronger than his size. He has a great feel as an edge pa s rusher. He's very athletic with his combination moves. When I look at him, I thought he was a smoother athlete than when came out of Florida State last year. I thought he would have been a potential top 10 pick Thatcher Demko Jersey last year if he had come out. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a top 10 pick if he plays like he did in that LSU game all year."Ryan Wilson's comp: (Texans)"He was absolutely dominant last year. Slowed a little bit by a knee injury, but toward the end of the season when he got healthier, he showed that twitch and the explosivene s. Had he come out last year, there would've been eight edge rushers go in the first round."Games to circle:at Clemson (Sep. 23), vs. Miami (Nov. 11)Draft range:First round, top 10 picks (Ryan Wilson)Final thoughtsJared Verse is the prototype for the modern edge defender: slender, quick, and full of spring-loaded athleticism. Most of his pa s-rush wins last season came thanks to his electrifying speed and fast-twitch movements, but he also does nice work with his hands to free himself from opposing offensive tackles. If Verse can break free from an offensive lineman, he is going to finish the play by making contact with the quarterback or ball-carrier. It's easy to see why he enters the 2023 college football season as the top edge rusher prospect. The consensus No. 1 EDGE for the 2024 NFL draft is Florida State's Jared Verse, and it's pretty easy to see why.Explosive, agile, and one of the best collection of high-end plays in the nation. Verse has only played 412 snaps at the FBS level Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve)
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