The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy gives his top 10 edge rushers in this year’s NFL draft, based on evaluations and conversations with people around the league:
1. Dallas Turner, Alabama, 6-3, 247
Favorite to be the first defensive player selected after 11-sack season led to SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Wins many reps with quick first step but also has advanced moves in his bag.
Bounces off run blocks.
2. Jared Verse, Florida State, 6-4, 254
Nine sacks in each of his two seasons (and 29 total tackles for loss) after transferring from Albany.
Combination of speed and power makes him a three-down, hand-in-the-dirt player.
Chirps at his opponent. Production comes — and goes — in spurts.
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA, 6-5, 259
Skilled bull-rusher with a major red flag: “Retired” after a neck injury sidelined him for two seasons at Washington.
Notched 23.5 sacks in 25 games after he was cleared by UCLA. Lives in backfield against the run.
Slides inside on passing downs.
4. Darius Robinson, Missouri, 6-5, 285
Wide array of power-rush moves. But what is his Plan B against an equally strong offensive tackle?
Sheds blocks in the run game.
Only one impact season but production was evenly spread. Fear is he’s a tweener.
5. Chop Robinson, Penn State, 6-3, 254
Nicknamed “Pork Chop” because he weighed 14 pounds at birth.
Sudden athlete who is on offensive tackles in an instant.
Managed 60 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 35 career games — but not for lack of effort. Needs to add size.
6. Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan, 6-3, 267
Former two-star recruit who keeps improving.
Raw-power bull-rusher who tallied 37 pressures last season.
Fits the edge in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Pass-rushing plan becomes a little predictable.
One game responsible for three of 4.5 sacks in 2023.
7. Adisa Isaac, Penn State, 6-4, 247
Twitchy Brooklyn native thrived with 16 tackles for loss playing opposite Chop Robinson.
Played through the whistle at Senior Bowl and rallied others to do so, too.
Needs to add strength. Can be caught straying from assignments.
8. Bralen Trice, Washington, 6-3, 245
Reportedly cut significant weight from the fall to the NFL combine.
Never takes a play off.
Wins more often to the inside because of limited bend.
Led FBS in quarterback pressures (148 total) in both 2022 and 2023, per Pro Football Focus.
9. Chris Braswell, Alabama, 6-3, 251
Only one productive year — eight sacks and three forced fumbles last season — in four at Alabama. Only-trick pony as a pass-rusher in a 3-4 scheme.
Weight-room warrior who squats 700-plus pounds.
Could be neutralized by bigger-body blockers.
10. Jonah Elliss, Utah, 6-2, 248
Former linebacker who bumped outside and had a 12-sack season.
Struggles to set the edge against the run.
Scouts undervalued brother Kaden (100-tackle linebacker for the Falcons) because of athleticism concerns.
Will they repeat the mistake of ignoring Jonah’s motor?
Late Riser
Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State, 6-1, 248
Newark native was named 2023 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, upping total to 30.5 sacks in his last 40 games.
Won’t need many snaps to make big rookie situational impact. Needs to harness his intensity.
Falling Fast
Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame, 6-4, 239
Rockland County native can’t catch a break.
Blocked on the depth chart for five years at Ohio State, he had a solid season at Notre Dame followed by food poisoning at the NFL combine, which affected his numbers.
Special teams background helps.
Small-school wonder
Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian, 6-4, 252
Switched positions and schools after three years at safety for Cornell. Speed rusher with a closing burst.
If he can detach from NFL blocks, he will hunt the ball across the field.
Can drop into coverage on disguises.
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