Francis Han’s Top 5 Collegiate EDGE Rushers

This EDGE room for the 2024 draft class is special, but there is no clear standout EDGE1, so I decided to share my opinions on the matter. I would like to give an honorable mention to JT Tuimoloau. Let’s get right into my list.

5. Dallas Turner (Alabama)

Projection: Top 15

This former 5-star is a freak athlete, and most scouts have him at the top of their list regarding EDGE rushers, but I would disagree. His most outstanding trait is definitely his length, especially in his arms. While he has this length and a high motor, he is undersized at only 242 pounds and has little to no variety in his pass rush palette. I would like to see him with more active hands at the next level.

4. Jared Verse (Florida State)

Projection: Mid 1st Round

Jared Verse has flown across the draft boards. Coming out of high school, Jared was unranked and enrolled at the University of Albany, where he thrived. He transferred to Florida State and immediately produced. He went from the University of Albany to a projected top 5 pick. His draft stock has dropped, but he is still elite. He desperately needs to use more active hands though, and more variety in his pass-rush repertoire. He relies too much on his strength and athleticism and constantly bullrushes his opponent. At most, he does a simple hand-swipe or uses his speed to bend around the outside, but it’s pretty rare. But his build and athleticism carry him so much that he is still an elite pass rusher and will be a top-20 pick in the draft.

3. Bralen Trice (Washington)

Projection: Late 1st Round

Bralen Trice might very well be the most underrated player in this draft class. I see no reason why rushers like Dallas Turner and Jared Verse are so much more touted than Trice. Trice has an amazing variety in his pass rush repertoire so his opponent doesn’t know what to expect. He has an explosive first step and may have the most active hands out of any rusher, but he is powerful enough to bullrush right through the lineman. One problem I see is sometimes he gets too vertical but that is an easy fix. Trice has that prototypical build and motor you are looking for in an EDGE rusher.

2. Chop Robinson (Penn State)

Projection: Top 15

Chop Robinson is one of the best athletes in this draft. He is one of the quickest pass rushers I have ever seen and he will be dangerous in the NFL. He has a dangerous first step which immediately gives him leverage on his opponent and it does not slow down. He is as explosive at the start of the game as he is at the end of the game. Due to him being so freakishly quick, he relies on it a little too much. He needs to add other moves to his repertoire if he wants to be successful in the league, but if he can add more technique, he will be a big problem. 

1. Laiatu Latu (UCLA)

Projection: Top 7

Laiatu Latu should be the EDGE 1, and it isn’t close. He reminds me of Bralen Trice, but he's just better. Latu is more explosive, has a larger set of pass-rush moves, and produces more. Whenever I watch a UCLA game, it seems like every play, Latu gets pressure on the quarterback setting up plays for his team. He easily has the highest floor out of any pass-rush prospect and can only get better. When you see a player that is this dominant in the pass rush, you can’t pass up on it.