Every Pass Rusher
Ranked and Tiered

Reese is the headliner of this class and, at just 20 years old, arguably its most tantalizing long-term bet. He came into 2025 as a raw athlete with a ceiling that made scouts salivate, and he left it having vindicated every bit of that hype. Under James Laurinaitis and Matt Patricia at Ohio State, he developed into a legitimate two-way threat — effective as a stand-up edge rusher or dropping into coverage as an off-ball linebacker. That positional flexibility alone will push him into the top ten on draft night. His pass rush toolkit is still expanding, but the bend-and-dip combination he already flashes — paired with a quick first step that clocked 1.58 seconds in the ten-yard split — gives opposing tackles almost no margin for error. He's not a finished product, and that's precisely the point. You're drafting who Reese is becoming, not just who he is.

If Reese is the headliner, Bailey is the most underrated name in the top fifteen. He plays with a quick, guard-like footwork style that offensive tackles simply aren't built to handle — he's constantly attacking from angles that defeat kick-slide technique before linemen can reset. His ten-yard split (unofficial 1.62s) and a 35-inch vertical reveal a lower half that generates explosive burst off the snap. The concern scouts keep circling back to is his anchoring ability against power runs — at 251 pounds, he can get walked off his spot when blockers get into his frame. But here's the thing: the NFL has evolved. Pass-rush specialists who can generate consistent pressure from 3-4 alignments are extraordinarily valuable, and Bailey's production metrics ranked among the highest in the entire class (98.14 production score). Compare him to Nik Bonitto coming out of Oklahoma in 2022 — similar size, similar quickness profile, and Bonitto just put up 17.5 sacks across his first two NFL seasons. Bailey could have an even higher ceiling.

Bain is the power-and-violence option in this class — a thumper with above-average closing speed who wins through sheer physicality more than finesse. He plays at 268 pounds and his run defense is significantly more reliable than Bailey's or Reese's, which matters to teams that want a true 4-3 defensive end rather than a hybrid. His pass rush game is built around a heavy hand punch that disrupts linemen's timing and a spin move counter that has flashed splash plays against top competition. The floor here is a starting 4-3 DE who earns his contract in the run game; the ceiling is an All-Pro snapper if the pass rush refines. Day 1 starter either way.

Faulk came into the 2025 season as a name only Auburn fans knew and left it as one of the most intriguing edge prospects in the class. His get-off is excellent, his motor doesn't stop, and he has the kind of long arms (32.5-inch arm length projection) that let him threaten the pass pocket from outside the tackle's reach. He's not yet a finished product as a pass rusher — his counter moves are underdeveloped and he can be neutralized by patient blockers — but his athletic foundation and production trajectory support a first-round grade. Teams running a 3-4 scheme with a premium on standup OLBs will covet him.

Young doesn't wow you on any single measurable. His first step is good, not explosive. His production was consistent, not eye-popping. But his film tells a story of a technically refined player who wins in more ways than most. He uses his hands earlier and better than almost any edge prospect in this class — he's one of the few you'll watch who actively controls the engagement, rather than reacting to the blocker. That's a trait that typically emerges from years of coaching refinement, not raw talent, which makes him a safer bet to produce immediately at the next level. Comp is Za'Darius Smith at a similar draft stage: underrated, technically sound, and eventually dominant.

Mesidor is the second Miami edge rusher in this class and he profiles very differently from Bain. Where Bain wins with power, Mesidor is more of a speed-first player who can dip and bend around the corner. He's explosive off the snap but less reliable once a blocker is into his frame. His upside in nickel and dime packages as a situational rusher is real. Teams looking to add a rotational piece with starting upside will find him attractive in the late first or early second round.

A prospect whose draft stock feels dependent almost entirely on combine performance — the measurables either confirm the film or raise more questions. On tape, Howell is a finesse rusher with good length, a nice outside speed move, and deceptive power in his hands. He flashes impact plays with regularity but disappears for stretches of games, which is the one pattern that scouts keep flagging. If the combine validates his athleticism, he becomes a top-40 pick. If not, he's a Day 2 dart throw with real starter potential.

Jacas played in relative obscurity at Illinois but earned his draft stock on tape. He's a high-effort, technically competent player who wins with hustle and positioning more than athleticism. The ceiling is a reliable starter in a 4-2-5 scheme. The floor is a quality depth piece who makes rosters on special teams early in his career. He'll be a steal somewhere in Rounds 3–4.

A Harbaugh-system product who benefited from elite positional coaching but showed enough to suggest the production is real. Barham is best in a straight-line pass rush — he can dip and bend, he's relentless off the snap, and his motor runs hot from the first snap to the last. The question is how his game translates out of a scheme that generated significant rush help from stunts and games. He's worth a Day 2 pick for teams willing to find out.

The length (6'5", plus arm length) makes Dennis-Sutton impossible to ignore. He's exactly the frame teams want when projecting a player to add 15 pounds of functional muscle over his first two seasons. His current pass rush toolbox is limited — he relies on an outside speed rush and hasn't developed consistent counters — but his upside as a run-stopping base end while the passing game develops is real. Patience rewarded.