The 2026 NFL Draft is over and teams are getting comfortable with their new draft picks. The next class of players is getting prepared now for another year of college football. Each position will be analyzed in the coming days. Here is the 2027 NFL Draft prospect watchlist: Edge Rushers.
Quincy Rhodes, Arkansas Razorbacks
Rhodes was a four-star recruit in the class of 2023 who stayed in-state to play for Arkansas. He didn’t play much in his first season, then his role increased in year two, when he had two tackles for loss and one sack. Rhodes broke out in 2025, finishing the year with 44 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He was a bright spot on an Arkansas team that struggled.
At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, Rhodes is a bigger edge rusher with good arm length. He has a good motor and sets the edge as a run defender. Rhodes has plenty of pass-rush moves in his arsenal to utilize. He could be a tweener that has hard finding a role inside or out. Rhodes doesn’t have great burst at the snap and his pad level gets elevated too much. Another good season will prove he is more than a one-year wonder.
Dylan Stewart, South Carolina Gamecocks
As a five-star recruit in the class of 2024, Stewart joined South Carolina from the DC area. As a freshman, he impressed with 23 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. His play helped the Gamecocks win nine games. Although the Gamecocks didn’t play well during the 2025 season, Stewart was successful with 33 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
He has a good frame at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, but will need to continue filling it out. Stewart is a great athlete with a quick first step to set him up for success. He is a solid run defender, but also has a nice pass rush move, a ghost move. Adding play strength and improving his hand usage should help him shed faster and increase his effectiveness.
Colin Simmons, Texas Longhorns
Simmons was a five-star recruit in the class of 2024 who stayed in-state to play for the Texas Longhorns. He had a great freshman season, registering 48 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Simmons helped the team win 13 games that season. In 2025, Simmons totaled 43 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Texas was only able to win 10 games, but Simmons played well and his stock is high.
He isn’t the biggest, at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds and he can continue to fill out his frame. He is a good athlete that is used in a variety of different ways, including being a quarterback spy and dropping in coverage. Simmons has good speed and can convert that into power. He’s flexible and has a great motor as well. At times, he struggles against bigger offensive linemen and can add more moves to his tool box.
Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon Ducks
Uiagalelei was a four-star recruit in the class of 2023 who signed with Oregon out of California. He registered just two sacks as a freshman. His role increased in 2024, as Uiagalelei had 12.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He helped the Ducks win 13 games that season. In 2025, Uiagalelei had another solid season, tallying 34 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Oregon went back to the CFP with Uiagalelei leading them.
At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Uiagalelei has nice measurables for the position. He has nice burst at the snap and sets the edge well against the run. Uiagalelei is a nice athlete for his size and has a nice spin move that he utilizes well. He needs to keep adding pass rush moves and could shed faster to make a bigger impact.
Damon Wilson, Miami Hurricanes
Wilson was a five-star recruit in the class of 2023 who signed with Georgia out of Florida. He saw limited playing time in his first year, registering 0.5 sacks. In 2024, Wilson upped his production to have 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He decided to transfer to Missouri in 2025, with him really breaking out with 9.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He helped the Tigers win eight games, but transferred to Miami before this season.
He has ok size for an edge rusher at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds and it looks like he can add to his frame as well. Wilson is a great athlete who gets a good jump at the snap. He has a few pass rush moves that he can utilize, but his speed on the edge can also work as well. Wilson isn’t a great power rusher and can fail to set the edIiiiiiige against the run.
Other Draft Prospects
John Henry Daley, Michigan Wolverines
Daley spent a season at BYU then one at Utah where he didn’t play much. He then broke out for the Utes in 2025 with 11.5 sacks. Daley transferred to Michigan before the 2026 season.
Will Heldt, Clemson Tigers
In his first two years at Purdue, Heldt had five sacks. He decided to transfer to Clemson for the 2025 season and upped his output to 7.5 sacks. More is expected of him this season.
Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State Buckeyes
Jackson has good size and athleticism with good burst at the snap. Last season was the best he has had with the Buckeyes, as he registered 6.5 sacks.
Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama Crimson Tide
He is only 220 pounds, making him a smaller edge player, but he has plenty of athleticism. He had eight sacks last season and will look to build on that in 2026.
Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Traore has improved every season at Notre Dame. Last season, he had 6.5 sacks and this year he will lead a defense with a lot of great talent.
Princewill Umanmielen, LSU Tigers
Umanmielen went to Nebraska for two seasons, but didn’t see much success there. He had nine sacks at Ole Miss last season and then followed Lane Kiffin to LSU this offseason.
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