Kelly: A breakdown of the NFL’s 2025 class of rushers | Opinion
There is no Myles Garrett or Joey Bosa in this draft class.
The defensive end and outside linebacker prospect board isn’t stacked with talent this year, and it really comes down to each team’s taste level.
Whether a team’s looking for a traditional defensive end or an edge rushing outside linebacker there’s a couple of prospects available. But teams that wait on them might be left empty-handed.
That’s why we should expect a run on edge rushers and defensive ends in the two to three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Those teams that wait till the third day will be forced to make the best of what’s still available, which isn’t an ideal spot to be in at such a critical position.
Top Prospects
▪ Penn State’s Abdul Carter — Carter’s first step is unmatched, and he displayed a wide range of effective pass-rushing moves during his three collegiate seasons, where he produced 172 tackles (39.5 for loss), 23 sacks and forced five fumbles. He’s an elite athlete who can take over a game solo, but he’s nursing a shoulder injury he sustained at the end of the 2024 season, and it might lead to him getting off to a slow start in the NFL.
▪ Georgia’s Mykel Williams — Williams’ huge frame, ideal length (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) and athleticism make teams look at him like a ball of clay. He can be molded into an effective NFL starter with proper coaching, but he’s still learning to maximize his skill set and needs to diversify his pass-rushing moves. Once he becomes consistent with using his hands he will produce more than the 14 sacks he delivered in three seasons at Georgia.
▪ Texas A&M’s Shermar Stewart — The natural talent is there. He’s a five-star recruit who blew everyone away at the NFL Combine, showcasing his exceptional movement skills. He’s explosive off the ball and knows how to convert speed to power. But he’s not a playmaker (65 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one fumble forced and two fumbles recovered in 37 games through three seasons), and his technique needs a ton of refinement. He’s an ideal fit as an end in a 3-4 scheme, but don’t expect him to become a star.
▪ Marshall’s Mike Green — Green, who recorded 131 tackles (32.5 for loss), 22.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in his three collegiate seasons, has a lightning-quick first step. He has effective technique, which allows him to use a wide range of moves to beat offensive tackles. And he’s strong (28 reps of 225 pounds). But he wasn’t facing a high level of competition when he produced his 17-sack season at Marshall last year, so whatever team takes him is making a calculated gamble.
▪ Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. — Pearce has an impressive first step and the strength needed to push offensive tackles into the backfield because he can convert speed into power. However, there are concerns that Pearce beat up on lower level competition and disappeared against the NFL-caliber talent he faced. He also has a few luggage items (baggage) as teams questioning his character and work ethic, which could lead to him sliding in the draft.
▪ Sleeper: Arkansas’ Landon Jackson — Jackson brings some intriguing physical traits to the tackle, possessing the size (6-7, 280 pounds), length, strengths and quickness to play in any scheme. His best attribute is his ability to stack and shed blockers effectively, which makes him an asset against the run. He plays with a level of violence that will be attractive to some of the NFL’s more physical teams.
▪ Best of the rest — Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, Ohio State’s J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard, Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen and Jared Ivey are the best of a relatively thin group of pass rushers in this draft. Everyone else — such as Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, Michigan’s Josiah Stewart or Central Arkansas’ David Walker — have blemishes like they are undersized, or have inconsistent levels of productivity.
▪ Teams in need — Just about every team drafts pass rushers early because teams rarely ever have enough. Some teams select them even when they don’t need them.Tennessee, the New York Giants, Carolina, Dallas, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay, Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit and Philadelphia are the teams expected to draft one, or a couple in the early rounds.
▪ Dolphins focus — Chop Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick, had a productive rookie season, contributing 26 tackles and six sacks in his 565 defensive snaps. But he’s a one-trick pony right now, only able to pass rush, which is why his starting opportunities were limited as a rookie. The Dolphins desperately need Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb to come back from their knee injuries as forceful edge players, but there’s risk involved considering their individual medical history. Miami will potentially address this position in the 2025 Draft because Chubb’s out of guaranteed money (and had his contract reworked this offseason), and Phillips is playing on the fifth-year option, and will likely become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
