Ranking The Ten Best EDGEs In The NFL

EDGE is one of the most fun positions to watch and consists of some of our favorite players. There is often a lot of discussion about who the best EDGEs are, so we took a close look at all of the best ones to rank them all together using our signature grading formula. A ton goes into the EDGE position, as mentioned in the EDGE Positional Analysis, and here we discuss everything necessary about each top player. As there are a ton of good EDGE rushers, an honorable mentions list is given for those who were close but didn’t make the cut. A plus (+) sign is given to those who are projected to continue to get better. Use promo code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100.

EDGE Formula key

Grading scale: 1-7

Honorable Mentions

Montez Sweat (85.8), Brian Burns (84.9), Matt Judon (84.8), Za’Darius Smith (84.7) Josh Allen (84.5), Trey Hendrickson (84.0), Chase Young (83.6), Haason Reddick (83.2)

Montez Sweat is an extraordinarily large EDGE with world-class athletic traits. He is one of the best run-defending EDGEs in football. Brian Burns is (pun intended) a classic burner at EDGE. He is a consistent pressure-getter and is one of the most explosive guys on this list. Matt Judon really broke out as a patriot and is a guy that can reliably get sacks every season. Za’Darius Smith is a unique pass-rushing specialist. He often wins with sheer size and strength.

Josh Allen is one of the most fun players on this list. He’s a terrific all-around athlete and has borderline elite finesse moves. Trey Hendrickson is a unique pass-rushing specialist. He may lack length but his get-off and finesse more than makeup for it. Chase Young is an uber-talented player who is far from scratching the surface of his ceiling. Haason Reddick has world-class speed and is one of the best pure speed rushers in the league. He would be much higher if it weren’t for his lackluster run defense skills.

10. Khalil Mack

D-line Stats

Khalil Mack, while a legendary pass rusher, is not the same old player he used to be. This is mostly due to old age, but Mack doesn’t have that same impact that changes games. He is known for his strength and bend, which he still has, but he is not nearly as explosive.
When it comes to rushing with a plan and being ahead of your opponent mentally, Mack is one of the best. His arm length still gives him an advantage, and the grown man’s strength is also there. His pass-rush moves are now limited due to his lack of athleticism and juice. Mack is one of the headiest players in run defense and can still make key run stops. While his play this past season doesn’t warrant this ranking, he’s ultimately this high because of his name.

9. Rashan Gary

D-line Stats

Rashan Gary is a massive freak athlete who is often underrated by fans and people across the league. At 6’5, 277 lbs, Gary ran a 4.58 forty-yard dash and measured over 34-inch arms. Though he isn’t just pure athleticism – he has proven that he can rush at a very high level for two years now. After a slow start to his career, he has been a dominant pass rusher who can nearly take over games.
His length and explosiveness allow him to be a ferocious bull rusher. On top of that, he can rush with bend and use a bit of finesse. More importantly, Gary can rush with a mean and aggressive chop move, and his hands are always active. As a run defender, he’s not easily moved, but he doesn’t do much to get out of the way of blocks. While he lacks run instincts, his get-off and size alone make up for it. Gary may not be the most well-rounded player, but he is surely a force to be reckoned with.

8. Danielle Hunter

D-line Stats

Daniell Hunter is one of the more underrated players in football. He’s a special athlete who excels in run defense and as a pass rusher. To be built like a defensive end and to be able to move like a safety is simply rare. With elite power and long arms, Hunter can execute a number of traits at a very high level.

He can execute cross chops and has some of the most lethal hands you’ll ever see. While he can win with pure speed, he often opts to run through you or use finesse moves such as a swipe. Furthermore, Hunter also has one of the NFL’s best motors at the defensive end. Considering how dominant he can be as a pass rusher and how well he plays in run defense, it is impossible not to include Hunter in the top ten.

7. Von Miller

D-line Stats

Von Miller is arguably the most famous and well-known player on this list. He is most famous for his bend and elite set of speed moves. Over the years, however, he has developed into a much more well-rounded player despite not being the same level athlete. He plays with excellent functional strength and rushes with a better balance of power moves.
Miller still has a superb dip move which he occasionally packages into a dip-and-rip move. He also can bull rush, long arm, and occasionally pulls off an effective spin move. In run defense, Miller excels as well, where he is very consistent and good at setting the edge. You see him occasionally blow up runs in the backfield, and he also has a great anchor. While Miller is all-around exceptional, he lacks elite physical traits that prevent him from still being a top-five EDGE in the league.

6. Maxx Crosby

D-line Stats

Maxx Crosby is another that lies in the category of underrated players in the NFL. He is the definition of a late bloomer, as he didn’t get drafted high nor did he break out till his third season. Crosby may not be the most physically gifted, but he, most importantly, has an elite first step. The most surprising aspect of his game is how deep of a pass-rush arsenal he has. In addition, some of his pass-rush wins look entirely dominant.
Very few players convert speed to power, as well as Crosby. He utilizes an aggressive and effective cross-chop move and executes some of the best bull rushes in football. He also has a fantastic swim move and hits the occasional spin move, which tops off his pass-rush skill set. As a run defender, Crosby was one of the most dominant players in 2022. He was getting multiple run stops a game consistently. All in all, Crosby is a phenomenal player, and if it weren’t for lack of elite physical traits, he would be a top-three EDGE in football.

5. Joey Bosa

D-line Stats

Joey Bosa is one of the most consistently dominant players in football. This past year wasn’t his most remarkable, as he tore his groin in week three and didn’t return till the end of the season. He is known for being an absolute technician as a pass rusher. This is because of his elite hand usage and ability to execute a large array of pass-rush moves. Bosa also possesses elite length and power, allowing him to excel in several areas.
His best pass-rush move is what’s called a scissors move. He also utilizes a very effective bull rush and swim move. Bosa is great at adapting his pass-rush moves to the reaction of the offensive lineman – which is why his football IQ is graded so high. He does not give up much ground in run defense, but the effort and consistency aren’t always there. Despite having a poor temper, he is still a heck of a player to watch.

4. T.J. Watt

D-line Stats

T.J. Watt is one of those players that’s impossible not to love. He has an extraordinarily high-level character and has continuously improved since entering the league. Like Crosby, he could be more physically gifted, but he has all of the intangibles you look for at EDGE. Watt arguably has the most refined and consistent cross-chop. His ability to get off the line of scrimmage is world-class.
Additionally, he can dip and rip about as well as anyone else. The most impressive quality of Watt is his toughness and motor. He is one of the most determined players in football and brings an intensity that instills fear in opponents. He brings a full package of finesse moves and is one the best edge setters in football. He could be better at the point of attack but consistently shows great run instincts. Even though Watt may not be a top-three EDGE currently, he certainly is in the tier of the very best in the league.

3. Micah Parsons

D-line Stats

No player optimizes the word special other than Micah Parsons, a freak of nature. He is simply the most physically gifted player in his size range, as he has 4.39 speed paired with elite power at 245 lbs. He may not have the best arm length, but his sheer speed and strength entirely overwhelm offensive linemen.
Due to having such absurd speed at EDGE, he can win countless times with just a speed rush. Then once the Tackle expects the speed rush, he catches them off balance by hitting them with a bull rush or a lethal spin move. Furthermore, he has a rip move which is near-impossible to stop as he has elite upper-body strength and flexibility.

He has yet to develop the most refined pass-rush moves, but he is only scratching the surface of his potential. He has only been a full-time EDGE for this past season and still brings the elite ability to drop into coverage. Due to the lack of arm length, he isn’t the ideal player to shed blocks, but he still finds ways to elude blockers. Parsons is an unbelievable talent and someone we should all cherish as he continues progressing to greatness.

2. Myles Garrett

D-line Stats

Myles Garrett is simply an alien of a player. His rare movement skills, combined with his size alone, are too much for an offensive lineman to handle. He then packages those physical traits with some of the best pass-rush moves in the league. What’s most impressive is how damn consistent he is game-to-game. He is a total menace of a player. He draws more double teams than almost any other EDGE and still finds ways to rack up crazy numbers.
His pass-rush repertoire goes very deep as he has loads of physical tools. Because he can win with pure speed, it gives him plenty of opportunities to pull off moves to throw the Tackle off balance. He is most well known for his euro step, which he packages into combo moves. He can package it into a devastating cross-chop move which looks astonishing to watch. In addition, Garrett bull rushes as well as anyone, can long-arm and execute beautiful arm-overs. His sheer size alone makes a huge difference in run defense. Even though he isn’t the most likable human, he is an overwhelming player to watch every time he steps on the field.

1. Nick Bosa

D-line Stats

No other current player dominates games quite like Nick Bosa has this season. He is a rare blend of size, power, astonishing quickness, and world-class get-off. Bosa’s lack of top-end speed forces him to win with get-off, technique, and power. As mentioned in the EDGE Positional Analysis, Bosa regularly clocks 10-yard splits below 1.50, which is on par with elite receivers. On top of that, his technique off the line of scrimmage is superior to anyone else. Similar to his brother, his go-to move is the family’s famous move called the scissors move. This move allows him to react and adapt to the opposing O-lineman mid-play, and no one has quicker reactionary skills. With elite play strength and long arms, Bosa can bullrush violently and ferociously. Finally, there are currently no other EDGEs in football who can make the impact Bosa does in run defense. His ability to stack-and-shed and blow up runs in the backfield is unequivocally the best. Even though Parsons is on his way to the top, Nick Bosa is the one most deserving of the EDGE crown due to his long-proven resume of dominance.