2027 NFL Draft Rankings: Edge Defender

As the 2026 football season draws near, it's time to take an early look at the top edge defender prospects eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Next year's class features a pair of elite talents in Texas' Colin Simmons and South Carolina's Dyland Stewart, both of whom could end up being top-five picks while contending to be the first non-quarterback off the board. There's a strong second tier behind them, too, headlined by potential first-round talents like Arkansas' Quincy Rhodes Jr. and Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei, both of whom could have been fairly early picks in the 2026 draft, but opted for another year of polish and experience before making the jump to the pros.

Miami's Damon Wilson Jr. will benefit from the guidance of Canes assistant coach (and Hall of Fame defensive end) Jason Taylor, who just helped put Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor both in the first round of this year's draft, while Ohio State's Kenyatta Jackson is coming off an impressive 2025 campaign for the Buckeyes.

As we get ready for the start of a new football season, here's an early look at how I stack the board for the top edge defenders eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft: