Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2026 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds starts the previews with the outside linebacker position, offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at outside linebacker.
Josh Queipo then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top edge rusher prospects while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely outside linebacker for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3 and in Rounds 4-7.
What The Bucs Have At Outside Linebacker
The Bucs have a rather pedestrian unit at outside linebacker with Yaya Diaby, the team’s leading sacker in 2025 with seven, leading the way. Diaby has been in the top 10 in the league over the last two seasons with pressures, and is entering a contract year. The team is interested in re-signing him and hopes that he can continue to develop as a pass rusher and possibly reach double digits in sacks and not plateau as a single-digit sacker.
Haason Reddick was a waste of $14 million last year, as it quickly become clear that 31-year old edge rusher who was signed in free agency had lost a step. The team wisely moved on from Reddick, who has failed to land elsewhere in free agency. The Reddick signing wound up being an expensive mistake that was compounded the failed development of Chris Braswell, a 2024 second-round pick, and the fact that David Walker, last year’s fourth-round pick, tore his ACL on the third day of training camp and was out for his entire rookie season.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today
Braswell has just 2.5 sacks in two seasons in Tampa Bay and the team is quickly losing faith in his ability to elevate his game and his roster spot in 2026 is not assured. The Alabama product plays the run well and can set the edge, but does not have the juice or the instincts to effectively rush the passer. Tampa Bay recognized that during his rookie season, which led to the Bucs selecting Walker last year on Day 3.
He’s a very athletic, instinctive pass rusher who was incredibly productive at Central Arkansas. Walker is expected to return to action this offseason and be ready for training camp, and should factor into the competition for OLB3 on the depth chart.
To help the team’s pass rush the Bucs signed Lions edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, who is coming off an 11-sack season at age 30. Is Muhammad a late bloomer or a one-year wonder, who benefited from playing opposite Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson? Time will tell, but at just $4 million for one year, signing Muhammad is a risk worth taking and he should be an upgrade over Reddick.
Anthony Nelson is entering his eighth season in Tampa Bay and is the elder statesman of the outside linebacker room. Todd Bowles values his veteran savvy as a key reserve, as well as his 6-foot-7 length and ability to set the edge in the run game. Nelson is better against the run than he is as a pass rusher.
Mohamad Kamara, who was on the practice squad last year, and Benton Whitley will provide training camp depth and competition this summer.
What The Bucs Need At Outside Linebacker
The Bucs have a glaring need at outside linebacker, needing to upgrade the talent at the position after the failure of second-rounder Chris Braswell to develop and last year’s high-priced free agent, Haason Reddick, not working out. The fact that David Walker remains a virtual unknown commodity after last year’s season-ending knee injury doesn’t help, either.
Even though the team signed free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad this offseason, he’s 31 and was signed to a one-year deal as stopgap help at outside linebacker. The Bucs need to draft at least one outside linebacker with some serious pass rush ability to start opposite Yaya Diaby, who is poised to be retained with a contract extension before the start of free agency in 2027.
Tampa Bay might even elect to double dip at the position if the team elects to keep six outside linebackers this year. This would mean keeping two rookies, Diaby, Walker, Muhammad and possibly Anthony Nelson while parting ways with Braswell because he seems like a bust.
Top Outside Linebackers In 2026 NFL Draft
*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.
1. Ohio State Edge Rusher Arvell Reese – Junior – 6-4, 241, 4.46
Reese was an explosive playmaker at Ohio State working as an off-ball linebacker who could get after the passer in exotic looks as a fifth or sixth rusher. He’s seen by many draft analysts as an edge in the NFL because of his elite athleticism and fantastic bend. Reese recently told ESPN’s Ben Solak that he really wasn’t taught how to rush the passer at Ohio State, which made his 23% pressure rate all the more impressive.
Reese has an explosive first step and twitchy lateral movements. Everything he does is with a violent nature, from his hand fighting to play through contact – he loves creating and inviting chaos. The best part of Reese’s evaluation is that he has a path to a successful future as a linebacker if he doesn’t quite figure out the edge rusher path.
2. Texas Tech Edge Rusher David Bailey – Senior – 6-4, 251, 4.50
Bailey had one of the most productive seasons for an edge rusher in recent college history as he led the FBS in sacks with 14.5. He pairs excellent burst off the line and speed up the arc with plus bend as one of the best high-side winners in this draft class. Bailey can corner without sacrificing any speed helping him finish with authority. It’s his ability to modulate his speed gives him access to his trump card at any point in the rep and keeps offensive tackles constantly on their heels.
With a leaner frame Bailey struggles to defend the run at a level that will hold up well at the next level. He will get displaced by doubles and stronger offensive tackles who will big-boy him. And at this point Bailey’s pass rush excels due to his athleticism. His plan, hand fighting, and tool box are all underdeveloped. Their progression will be the crux of his developmental success in the NFL.
Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Michael C. Johnson
3. Miami Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr. – Junior – 6-2, 263, N/A
Bain is built like and plays like a bull in a china shop. He uses a quick get off and violent approach to overwhelm offensive linemen and plays through them as if they weren’t even there. He uses his hands well showing an advanced pass rush arsenal that includes club, swim and swat techniques. Bain’s combination of power and bend give him rare upside that other edge rushers lack.
Bain’s biggest limitation is his arm length, which can really limit how effective he can be at the NFL level where he will encounter better athletes that can match his speed with the length to neutralize him. And his lateral speed gets exposed when defending wide zone runs where he has a knack for giving up the corner. Still, his relentless nature and explosive effort make for one of the better prospects in this draft – likely in the top 10.
4. Miami Edge Rusher Akheem Mesidor – Sixth-Year Senior – 6-3, 259, N/A
Mesidor is the most advanced technical pass rusher in this draft class. An older prospect, he has developed a pass rush plan that is deep and varied. He can win high-side or on an inside counter, on the edge or over center/guard. He has speed and bend as well as speed-to-power with violent hands. He’s the best bet to be an immediate contributor for a team that needs pass rush help in year one.
With some age and injury concerns – he missed most of his 2023 season after having two surgeries on his feet – Mesidor is not a perfect edge rusher prospect. But the fact that he generated 35.5 sacks, including 12.5 sacks in his final year with the Hurricanes might make him one of the most NFL-ready defensive players in this draft class and worthy of a first-round pick.
5. Auburn Edge Rusher Keldric Faulk – Junior – 6-6, 276, 4.67
Faulk is a heavy edge with a power profile that makes him a potential three-down starter. He has the anchor to set the edge in the run game and will take on pullers and blockers with authority. His power and length work well in close-quarters combat. He can knock blockers back and get into the backfield to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Faulk’s best reps as a pass rusher come when he kicks inside as a three-technique on passing downs.
But when he’s on the edge, Faulk lacks the speed and repertoire to be a threat as a pass rusher. He struggles to get off the line quickly, which leads to poor attempts to time snaps and offsides issues. His size and lack of athleticism mean he won’t be a factor as a dropper and his tweener body may mean he has no role sooner rather than later. After seven sacks as a sophomore, Faulk mustered just two sacks last year.
6. Clemson Edge Rusher T.J. Parker – Junior – 6-4, 263, 4.68
Parker has the size and power to excel as a three-down winner. He was one of the most productive pass rushers in the nation in 2024 when he had 19.5 tackles for loss 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. But his 2025 was a disappointment as he declined in every area. Parker lives off of his speed-to-power and long arm. When they land, he can stress tackles through the corner.
Parker is also a smart defender with strong eye-discipline, with a knack for sniffing out screens and keeping his eyes in the backfield to find the ball. Parker’s limited lateral agility hampers his ability to change direction and he displays inconsistent bend. And as a power rusher, Parker needs to improve his inside counter and his ability to clear the arc with a rip move to be successful at the NFL level. He’s ideally suited to be a 4-3 defensive end and a second-round selection.
Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Ken Ruinard
7. Missouri Edge Rusher Zion Young – Senior – 6-6, 262, 4.75
Young profiles as a heavy end who can thrive on early run downs and survive as a pass rusher. His strength shows all the time as he uses his strong hands to keep blockers off his frame while bullying them where he wants them to go. Young uses a bull rush to win as a pass rusher most often and can clear blockers with his hand usage. He has a strong inside counter move that is required of power rushers, giving him a legitimate way to win in a second direction. Young’s leadership qualities show up in his effort against the run as he competes all the way to the sideline.
Young’s pad level is inconsistent, and he has a penchant for getting flags called on him. And his inside move will need to be how he wins in the NFL a la Yaya Diaby because his speed on the outside isn’t a weapon. Perhaps the biggest flag on Young is a string of off-the-field incidents that teams will need to investigate and feel comfortable with before drafting him in the second round.
8. Oklahoma Edge Rusher R Mason Thomas – Senior – 6-2, 241, 4.57
Thomas has a strong burst/speed profile and profiles as an elite designated pass rusher who wins on the outside with fantastic bend and cornering ability. He can also blend with a versatile defensive scheme because Thomas has strong coverage skills for an edge defender displaying smooth hips and comfortable drops.
But Thomas is small, even by today’s edge defender standards. This limits his strength at the point of attack and makes him a liability fitting the run. His speed to power is intermittent and if his cross face doesn’t win with suddenness he gets locked up easily. And Thomas’ pass rush arsenal is limited to relying on his quick twitch athleticism. Thomas’ short arms also cause him to miss opportunities others would finish. He did post 15.5 sacks and four forced fumbles combined over the last two years.
9. Texas A&M Edge Rusher Cashius Howell – RS Senior – 6-2, 253, 4.59
Howell is a twitchy and explosive pass rusher with a thinner frame but a strong bag of tricks, including a euro-step, cross-chop, dip-and-rip, inside spin, arm-over and ghost step. This makes him a legitimate threat both inside and outside of the arc. But he struggles to set the edge and has a slower processor which makes him a liability in the run game.
Howell posted 9.5 sacks at Bowling Green before transferring to Texas A&M where he was a rotational piece with four sacks in 2024 before a breakout season in 2025 with 11.5 sacks. That led the SEC and is the type of production that could see him get drafted in the second round despite having arms that are shorter than ideal.
Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jerome Miron
10. UCF Edge Rusher Malachi Lawrence – RS Senior – 6-4, 253, 4.52
Lawrence was a breakout star in 2025, refining his pass rush toolbox and plan to become one of the more technical winners in all of college football. He can modulate his plus speed up the arc to win both high-side and on inside counters. His hand fighting is advanced, and he used those tools to pressure quarterbacks at one of the highest levels in the class.
The only thing missing from his pass rush repertoire is a personal belief in his ability to tap into his speed-to-power. It’s better than he thinks it is. He also isn’t a plus run defender, and this is in part due to a lack of efficiency in his feet. Those additional steps help offensive linemen gain an advantage on him. He will also mistime snaps, inviting penalties. Lawrence tested incredibly well at the Combine and had a 7.5 sack season three years ago at UCF and a seven-sack season last year.
11. Illinois Edge Rusher Gabe Jacas – Senior – 6-4, 260, 4.69
Jacas has enviable size, length and power. He’s cut in the mold of Yaya Diaby, with less athletic and explosive traits. He converts pressures to sacks at an elite rate, leading to 11 quarterback takedowns in 2025. He’s quick off the line and likes to convert that explosive get-off into power and attack through tackles, using his long arms to keep linemen off his frame. And his powerful lower half helps him anchor well in the run game.
Despite his quick get-off, Jacas fails to keep his speed up the arc and let’s tackles beat him to the corner. And his pass rush repertoire is limited to a chop-and-dip and crossing face to the inside. There’s not much beyond that. Jacas, who is Illinois’ second-leading sacker all-time with 27, also struggles to stretch with toss and wide zone plays.
12. Michigan Edge Rusher Derrick Moore – RS Junior – 6-4, 255, N/A
Moore is a high-floor edge who can play well against both the run and pass while improving every year throughout his college career. He has a good burst and accelerates well through the arc while showing plus hand usage. But he will need to improve his ability to sniff out how the offense is attacking and show consistent urgency to reach his potential.
Moore had a good showing at the Senior Bowl and could sneak into the third round, but the fourth round seems like his floor. If he had more to his pass rush toolkit than just bull rushes and long arms he might be a more polished prospect.
13. Texas Tech Edge Rusher Romello Height – Sixth-Year Senior – 6-3, 239, 4.64
Height is a smaller, speed/bend pass rusher who held his own across from David Bailey at Texas Tech. He consistently held his own in a defense that had stars up and down the lineup. His first step is electric, and he adds a frenetic approach to the arc that allows him to win both inside and outside. He has a developing pass rush plan that showed progress and are a result of his active hands.
With less-than-ideal mass there is legitimate concern that he can’t survive as a three down rusher who can hold up against the run. His stat sheet is filled with TFLs but those are mostly backside chase downs and when offenses run at him, he struggles to set the edge and not get pushed around.
Texas Tech edge rusher Romello Height – Photo by: IMAGN Images –
14. Penn State Edge Rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton – Senior – 6-6, 256, 4.63
Dennis-Sutton is a long, linear athlete who uses that length to command the point of attack and get his arms up to cause forced fumbles on quarterback throwing motions. He’s got juice but struggles to bend around the arc, leaving him to win through or inside tackles. Dennis-Sutton tries to time snaps , which turns into offsides penalties on occasion and his dip/cornering leaves something to be desired.
15. Auburn Edge Rusher Keyron Crawford – Senior – 6-4, 253, N/A
Crawford played second fiddle to Keldric Faulk at Auburn, but I’m not so sure he won’t be the better pro. Auburn kept him on the field on “gotta have it downs” more often than they did Faulk. He’s quick and twitchy and brings juice to his high-side rushes and hip flexibility to twist inside with efficiency. He invites contact and converts speed to power while maintaining balance through contact.
But Crawford can be late to react when his first move doesn’t hit the way he plans. His smaller frame means he will have trouble holding up in the run game against massive tackles and he’s always thinking attack leading to lapses against the run. There wasn’t much sack production for Crawford at Auburn with just five last year.
Best Of The Rest
16. Michigan Edge Rusher Jaishawn Barham – Senior – 6-3, 240, 4.64
With his small frame, Barham will struggle to be anything more than a designated pass rusher. But he may be the best of that Day 3 designated pass rusher group. He has the explosiveness off the snap that every line coach covets, and Barham gains speed through the corner. A linebacker convert, he can play all around the front seven in exotic looks and packages. But Barham can over pursue plays and is slow to react to misdirection and eye-candy. Still trying to develop himself as a pass rusher, Barham is a project worthy of investment.
17. Tennessee Edge Rusher Joshua Josephs – Senior – 6-3, 242, 4.73
Josephs tries to weaponize his speed-to-power profile but has yet to harness his control of his efforts. He can flip his hips working off of hand fighting more than he bends and gives earnest effort and impact in the run game. But Josephs’ lack of strength and over-aggressiveness tend to get the best of him leaving him out of position and missing tackles.
18. Alabama Edge Rusher L.T. Overton – Senior – 6-3, 274, 4.87
Overton is an edge/defensive tackle tweener who could still go either way depending on how the team that drafts him sees him personally. He relies on his arm length to win in most situations. When Overton can lock out, he can keep blockers off his frame in the run game and control his pass rush both inside and outside on the edge as a pass rusher. But his lack of burst off the line and inconsistent snap timing make Overton a liability overall.
19. Iowa Edge Rusher Max Llewellyn – RS Senior – 6-6, 258, 4.81
Llewellyn loves leveraging his quick get off to get inside the pads of offensive tackles and a motor that never quits. His hand usage is a plus and Llewellyn loves using an arm-over as a winning strategy. He struggles with stiff hips and pad level which limits Llewellyn’s effectiveness. Despite his bigger frame, he struggles to anchor in the run game.
20. Western Michigan Edge Rusher Nadame Tucker – Sixth- Year Senior – 6-2, 247, 4.73
Tucker is a speed/bend winner who has age (26) and frame concerns. His build requires elite athleticism, but Tucker doesn’t quite hit that threshold. His best role is that of a designated pass rusher on long and late downs where he can threaten the edge with an explosive lower half. Tucker’s smaller frame makes him a liability at the point of attack in the run game, but he can slip and penetrate gaps to create plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Bucs Best Bets – By Scott Reynolds
ROUNDS 1-3: Miami OLB Akheem Mesidor
Mesidor has appeared in the last two Pewter Report 2026 7-Round Bucs Mock Drafts as the team’s first-round selection. And with good reason. Tampa Bay had a formal interview with Mesidor at the NFL Scouting Combine and he’s one of the most productive and polished pass rushers in this year’s draft. After spending four years rushing from the interior at defensive tackle for West Virginia and Miami, the Hurricanes had Mesidor lose 20 pounds and get down to 259 pounds where he racked up a team-leading 12.5 sacks. Mesidor, who turned 25, will be an older prospect, but does have a great deal of physical and mental maturity.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor is the Hurricanes pass rush coach and has added a great deal of pass rush prowess to Mesidor’s game over the last few years. Taylor says Mesidor is “all business” and attacks the game like a professional. What makes Mesidor stand out is his relentless playing style. He’s a physical player with good bend and a wide array of pass rush moves. He would be an ideal first-round pick for the Bucs as he could play on the edge on early downs and kick inside to win versus guards in nickel rush situations.
ROUNDS 4-7: Western Michigan OLB Nadame Tucker
The Bucs likely won’t wait until Day 3 to address the outside linebacker position, but if they do, Tucker would be an intriguing option. While undersized at 6-2, 247 pounds, Tucker has some good power for his size, but he wins with his speed and agility up the arc. Tucker has some serious bend to turn the corner and pursue the quarterback, registering 14.5 sacks last year in his first full season as a starter at Western Michigan after transferring from Houston where he struggled to see the field for his two years with the Cougars. Tucker also forced four fumbles last year.
The Bucs have shown plenty of interest in Tucker, who is an older prospect who turns 26 this summer. The team formally interviewed him at the NFL Scouting Combine and also had him in for an official 30 visit. Tucker would likely be a rotational designated pass rusher rather than a candidate to be an every-down starter opposite Yaya Diaby. Ideally, the Bucs draft a starting-caliber edge rusher in the first three rounds and then double dip at the position and select Tucker on Day 3 for depth on third-and-long and obvious passing downs.