Jared Zhang's 2026 NFL EDGE BIG BOARD
Image 1: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr (4), my highest graded EDGE prospect in the 2026 NFL draft class
INTRODUCTIONS
My name is Jared Zhang, and I have been doing draft evaluations for the past few years. While I started off doing this as a hobbyist, I have been blessed with the opportunity to write for a draft publication and intern for an agent during my scouting journey so far. Throughout the draft cycle, I will be dropping positional big boards when I get a sufficient amount of names watched and written up. Though I will not be listing my thoughts on the prospects on this list, I can fully elaborate more on my grades via dms and Substack/X/Reddit comments. This document will be updated throughout the cycle with updated grades, new players, and linked reports.
For positions where players may switch positions in the NFL (this is mainly talking about OL), I will give a brief note at the beginning of my rankings articles on where I have the player listed currently (Ex. in 2025 I would have listed on the top of my 2025 OT big board that I had Grey Zabel as an OG despite him being a college OT).
GRADING
With grading being different per evaluator, I am grading not based on where I believe players will go in the NFL, and more on what I believe they can be as an NFL player. I have what I look for in each grade for an EDGE prospect listed below. For anyone who has any off-field/profile issues, I will be noting them down with a * with a note explaining the issue (Ex. I would put a * down for Josh Simmons due to his patellar tendon injury and reported off-field concerns). While many prospects fit round grades, I do have players that teeter between rounds (a second/third round grade is someone I believe should go in the late second or early third).
First round - Players with immediate pass rush polish and high-end NFL tools (rare and generally only seen in players who go T5) or players with high-end NFL tools who are ready enough to provide value as run defenders, loopers, and crashers. Everyone in this tier must have the physical tools needed to force OTs into bad positions. Players with this grading should be capable of eventually being a team’s number one pass rusher that is capable of playing on run and passing downs (a number one pass rusher is a player you design your pass rush around getting this player the most efficient/easy way to get to the QB) (Ex. Will Anderson Jr, Nick Bosa, Aidan Hutchinson).
Second round - Players who can provide immediate value as run defenders, loopers, and crashers but lack the tools needed to develop into a three-down number one pass rusher. These players either lack the athleticism to force OTs into bad positions or lack the size/length/strength to be effective on run-downs. Though they are going to be doing secondary roles on the DL and could remain as rotation players, they should have the potential to develop into a high snap count starter (Ex. JT Tuimoloau, Keion White, Nik Bonitto).
Third round - Players who can provide immediate value as run defenders, loopers, and crashers but lack the tools needed to develop into a three-down number one pass rusher. The main difference between second and third round prospects is that third round prospects are going to be less refined and/or less toolsy. Though these players can play early on in a rotation, they should ideally be on the low end of snaps in year one. Though they are going to be doing secondary roles on the DL and could remain as rotation players, they should have the potential to develop into a high snap count starter (Ex. Byron Young, Alex Wright, Yaya Diaby).
Fourth round - Players who do not have the physical tools to be high-snap count starters, but can provide value in year one by being capable of performing specific roles. This is the grade where you tend to see quality specialized rotation players like designated pass rushers or early down run defenders. While these players can develop into rotation players, they ideally play a back-end rotational or special teams role early on. This grade is also given to players who have the talent to develop into high snap count starters (and even potential number one pass rushers), but they have medical or character issues (Ex. Nick Herbig, Tavius Robinson, Maxx Crosby).
Fifth round - Players who do not have the physical tools to be high-snap count starters, but they can provide value in year one by being capable of performing specific roles. The main difference between fourth and fifth round players is going to be the difference in athleticism. While these are players that can develop into rotation players, the effectiveness in these roles is going to be more limited as they lack the athletic tools seen in players graded higher. This is the grade where you tend to see good college players who lack the tools to produce the same way in college. While these players can develop into rotation players, they ideally play a back-end rotational or special teams role early on (Ex. Javon Solomon, Mohamed Kamara, Austin Booker).
Sixth round - Players that have enough tools and technique to perform roles on a DL, but are not toolsy enough to be more than adequate while needing further development. This is the grade where you tend to find players who have unconventional body types for the NFL and end up as back-of-the-roster players who primarily play on special teams or in case of injury. If development does not occur, then these players generally are common cut candidates within their rookie contract (Ex. Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Victor Dimukeje, Titus Leo).
Seventh round - Players with solid athletic tools who are too poor technically to be playable year one or special team prospects who lack the tools to be rotation players. These players often find themselves on the roster bubble unless they prove themselves capable enough to provide depth-level play. This is the grade also given to IPP-eligible players eligible for the draft and talented players who have medical or character concerns (Ex. Myles Cole, Jaylen Harrell, Johnathon Cooper).
PUDFA - Players who are too small or unathletic to get drafted, but provide enough value as a special teamer to be locked for a practice squad spot and have a chance to compete for a 53-man roster spot. This is the grade also given to IPP-eligible players who are not draft eligible (Ex. Chazz Chambliss, Elijah Ponder, Mapalo Mwansa).
UDFA - Players who are too poor of athletes to be drafted, but have an interesting enough size profile to be considered a lock for a T90 with a chance of competing for a practice squad spot (Ex. Xavier Carlton, Keith Cooper Jr, Ali Gaye)
Camp - Players who have lots of snaps and experience, but are too poor of tools or technique prospects to be considered locks for a preseason T90. These generally are players who have high levels of college production, but lack the tools to be considered locks for a preseason T90 (Ex. Nate Lynn, Paris Shand, Desmond Little).
Reject - Players I don’t believe have any realistic future in the NFL. These players can have a future in alternative leagues (UFL, CFL, etc), but they often retire from the sport or go into coaching.
GRADES
Rueben Bain Jr (First Round)
Kenyatta Jackson (First/Second Round)
Tyre West (Second Round)
LT Overton (Second Round)
Romello Height (Second Round)*
Several Season Ending Injuries
Older prospect
Keldric Faulk (Second/Third Round)
Dani Dennis-Sutton (Second/Third Round)
Malachi Lawrence (Third Round)
Cashius Howell (Third Round)
Jack Pyburn (Third Round)
Zion Young (Third Round)
Joshua Josephs (Third Round)
TJ Parker (Fourth Round)
R Mason Thomas (Fourth Round)
Derrick Moore (Fourth Round)
George Gumbs Jr (Fourth Round)*
Season ending knee injury
Gabe Jacas (Fifth Round)
Caden Curry (Fifth Round)
David Bailey (Fifth Round)*
Character concerns with on-field incidents
Nyjalik Kelly (Sixth Round)
Max Llewllyn (Seventh Round)
Anthony Smith (Seventh Round)
Melkart Abou Jaoude (UDFA)
Tyreak Sapp (UDFA)
Keyshawn James-Newby (Camp)
If there are any draft EDGEs you want grades on, then let me know in the comments of this article or cross posted platforms. If you want a detailed scouting report (Here is an example of my report on Rueben Bain Jr), then consider subscribing to my substack where paid subscribers can commission one report per month.
Date Published: 12/6/2025
Date Last Updated: 12/6/2025