Draft Preview 2024: Edge

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February 21, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in our annual draft preview series.  We’ll cover one draft position group per week both in print and on The Hog Sty Podcast leading into the draft.  The series will provide an overview on the players available, as well as specific possibilities for Washington.]

Overview

The edge position is a priority for Washington this offseason. The Commanders will likely address the deficit of talent at the position group both through free agency and the draft. Last season, in an unheard of move, Washington traded both their starting defensive ends to other teams at the deadline for draft picks. With Chase Young and Montez Sweat gone, reserve players got their chance to play, and they played like reserve players. So, new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt will have to sort out how he can generate a pass rush which is essential in today’s pass happy NFL.

Draft Pool

The top 20 players at the edge or 5-technique (defensive end) spots in the draft include:

Prospect College Pos Ht Wt Elig Round
Jared Verse Florida State EDGE 6’3″ 253 RJR 1
Dallas Turner Alabama EDGE 6’3″ 242 JR 1
Laiatu Latu UCLA EDGE 6’5″ 261 RSR 1
Chop Robinson Penn State EDGE 6’3″ 253 JR 2
Chris Braswell Alabama EDGE 6’3″ 257 SR 2
Bralen Trice Washington EDGE 6’3″ 269 RJR 2-3
Jonah Elliss Utah EDGE 6’2″ 243 JR 2-3
Kris Jenkins Michigan DL5T 6’3″ 285 SR 2-3
Adisa Isaac Penn State EDGE 6’5″ 250 RJR 2-3
Michael Hall Jr. Ohio State DL5T 6’2″ 280 RSO 3
Brandon Dorlus Oregon EDGE 6’3″ 272 RSR 3
Xavier Thomas Clemson EDGE 6’2″ 244 RSR 3
Marshawn Kneeland Western Michigan EDGE 6’3″ 268 RJR 3-4
Gabriel Murphy UCLA EDGE 6’2″ 249 RSO 3-4
Grayson Murphy UCLA EDGE 6’2″ 251 RSO 3-4
Darius Robinson Missouri DL5T 6’5″ 286 GR 3-4
Mohamed Kamara Colorado State EDGE 6’1″ 252 SR 4-6
Justin Eboigbe Alabama DL5T 6’4″ 292 RSR 4-6
Gabe Hall Baylor DL5T 6’6″ 290 RSR 4-6
Jaylen Harrell Michigan EDGE 6’4″ 251 SR 4-6

Depending on which analyst you read, Verse, Turner or Latu could be first off the board. Latu has some injury concerns, so he may go last of the three. In 2023, Turner had 11 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss and Latu had 13 sacks and 27 tackles for loss, while Verse has 9 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. One of these players may come into play for Washington, but only the team trades back in round one.

If Washington takes a quarterback with the second pick overall, they will most likely take an edge player in the second round with either pick 35 or 40. Depending who is still on the board, players like Chop Robinson, Chris Braswell, and Jonah Ellis.

Here are some Chop Robinson takes:

Chris Braswell takes:

Jonah Ellis take: