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The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real.
Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends.
A year from now we could be looking at one of the deeper position groups. In the short time, many will focus on Bailey, Bain, Faulk, Mesidor and Howell. However, the depth of this group cannot be overlooked.
There could be as many as ten EDGE players taken from the 3rd round forward that not only project to starters but could be big impact players at the next level. There are even draft analyst darlings well into the fifth round.
Best available EDGE in 2026 NFL Draft
| Name | School | HT | WT | Range | Pick | Team |
| David Bailey | Texas Tech | 6'3 | 250 | Top 10 | 2 | Jets |
| Rueben Bain Jr | Miami | 6'3 | 270 | Top 20 | 15 | Buccaneers |
| Keldric Faulk | Auburn | 6'6 | 285 | Rd 1-2 | 31 | Titans |
| Akheem Mesidor | Miami | 6'3 | 280 | Rd 1-2 | 22 | Chargers |
| Cashius Howell | Texas A&M | 6'2 | 248 | Rd 1-2 | 41 | Bengals |
| Zion Young | Missouri | 6'5 | 262 | Rd 1-2 | 45 | Ravens |
| TJ Parker | Clemson | 6'3 | 260 | Rd 1-2 | 35 | Bills |
| R Mason Thomas | Oklahoma | 6'2 | 249 | Rd 1-2 | 40 | Chiefs |
| Derrick Moore | Michigan | 6'3 | 260 | Rd 1-2 | 44 | Lions |
| Keyron Crawford | Auburn | 6'4 | 255 | Rd 2-3 | 67 | Raiders |
| Malachi Lawrence | UCF | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 2-3 | 23 | Cowboys |
| LT Overton | Alabama | 6'5 | 283 | Rd 2-3 | 137 | Cowboys |
| Gabe Jacas | Illinois | 6'3 | 270 | Rd 2-3 | 55 | Patriots |
| Max Llewellyn | Iowa | 6'5 | 263 | Rd 2-3 | 238 | Dolphins |
| Tyreak Sapp | Florida | 6'2 | 274 | Rd 2-3 | ||
| Romello Height | Texas A&M | 6'3 | 240 | Rd 2-3 | 70 | 49ers |
| Jaishawn Barham | Michigan | 6'3 | 243 | Rd 2-4 | 92 | Cowboys |
| George Gumbs Jr | Florida | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 2-4 | 156 | Colts |
| Joshua Josephs | Tennessee | 6'3 | 240 | Rd 2-4 | 147 | Commanders |
| Wesley Williams | Duke | 6'3 | 265 | Rd 3-5 | 119 | Jaguars |
| Dani Daniels-Sutton | Penn State | 6'5 | 265 | Rd 3-5 | 120 | Packers |
| Mikail Kamara | Indiana | 6'1 | 262 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Nadame Tucker | W. Michigan | 6'3 | 250 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Caden Curry | Ohio State | 6'3 | 280 | Rd 3-5 | 214 | Colts |
| Quintayvious Hutchins | Boston College | 6'3 | 240 | Rd 3-5 | 247 | Patriots |
| Marvin Jones Jr | Oklahoma | 6'5 | 262 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Aidan Hubbard | Northwestern | 6'4 | 255 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Patrick Payton | LSU | 6'6 | 255 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Nyjalik Kelly | UCF | 6'5 | 250 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| TJ Guy | Michigan | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Vincent Anthony Jr | Duke | 6'6 | 260 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Anthony Lucas | USC | 6'5 | 285 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Eric O'Neill | Rutgers | 6'3 | 261 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Mason Reiger | Wisconsin | 6'5 | 248 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Logan Fano | Utah | 6'5 | 260 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Keyshawn James-Newby | New Mexico | 6'2 | 244 | Rd 5-7 | 252 | Eagles |
| Ben Bell | Virginia Tech | 6'1 | 235 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Jack Pyburn | LSU | 6'4 | 264 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Dean Miller | Kansas | 6'5 | 240 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Mo Westmoreland | Tulane | 6'2 | 250 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Jimmori Robinson | W. Virginia | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 5-7 |
2026 NFL Draft social media reactions to EDGE selections
Pick No. 252: Eagles select New Mexico EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby. pic.twitter.com/B3TVbCVjuF
— SleeperEagles (@SleeperEagles) April 25, 2026— DomThePatsFan (@domthepatsfan) April 25, 2026— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 25, 2026We have selected Washington DE Zach Durfee with the No. 233 overall pick!@Dream_Finders | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/DTzY27AFeT
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 25, 2026The Detroit Lions have selected Tennessee DL Tyre West with the 222nd pick of the NFL Draft#OnePride pic.twitter.com/vmGtNpJojU
— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) April 25, 2026George Gumbs to Indy‼️@GeorgeGumbs ➡️ @Colts #NFLDRAFT | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/bIy1m55luX
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 25, 2026Headed to D.C.@joshuajosephs2 ➡️ @Commanders
Round 5 | Pick 147#NFLDraft | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/vfg2SSRUbf
Trey Moore is headed to Miami 🤘@treyyymoore x @MiamiDolphins pic.twitter.com/I9XexxYPS4
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2026PACKERS DRAFT DANI DENNIS-SUTTON✅ pic.twitter.com/zV6FwB7GBM
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) April 25, 2026With Pick 119 the #Jaguars select Duke EDGE Wesley Williams pic.twitter.com/ZIPT708wKH
— SleeperJaguars (@SleeperJaguars) April 25, 2026Pro Football HOFers Drew Pearson and Tony Dorsett announced the Dallas Cowboys third-round pick:
Michigan's Jaishawn Barham ⭐ pic.twitter.com/9igBbAb1Eh
Jaishawn Barham is the best available EDGE according to ESPN's draft tracker.
GABE. JACAS. 🙂↕️@Gabeosama | @IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/MPQvnMGVLq
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 25, 2026Zion Young is a Raven❗ pic.twitter.com/6djlvUfMXn
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 25, 2026— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 24, 2026— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) April 24, 2026— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk is headed to Tennessee at No. 31 overall 💪 pic.twitter.com/oyvEkTfRvK
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 24, 2026— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) April 24, 2026— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 20262026 NFL Draft How to Watch
The 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network-- available on Fubo), The Las Vegas Raiders will likely select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
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