Joshua Josephs NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tennessee's Joshua Josephs brings a ton of explosiveness to the table as one of the top edge defender prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, with flashes of high-end potential on film that could entice a team to take a chance on his upside at some point on Day 2. A deep class at the position could keep him on the board until Day 3, though, which could make him a bargain pick for the right team.

Here's everything NFL fans need to know about Josephs heading into this year's draft:

Joshua Josephs' Vitals

Height: 6-3

Weight: 240

Age: 22

Joshua Josephs' Strengths

With a lightning-quick first step, Josephs jumps off the tape immediately with his ability to explode off the ball and challenge opposing blockers around the arc. He shows natural bend to turn the corner and maintain balance while flattening his route to the quarterback, exposing any physical shortcoming or technical flaw in his opponent. His impressive length allows him to maintain control at the point of attack, setting up a wide range of moves that give him the ability to attack outside or inside. He can quickly convert speed to power effectively, surprising offensive tackles with his strength and wingspan, leaving them scrambling to keep up throughout the rep. Josephs is a high-effort player who brings a ton of energy, even in late-game situations.

Joshua Josephs' Weaknesses

Josephs still needs plenty of work as a run defender, as his lean frame limits his ability to anchor on the edge and keep the line of scrimmage from resetting in his direction. Bigger, stronger blockers can consistently drive him off the ball and out of the play in the ground game, and he’s still developing the ability to quickly diagnose the run and put himself in position to make a play in the backfield. Despite impressive physical traits as a pass rusher, Josephs never logged more than four sacks in a season in college, totaling just 9.5 sacks over four years. 

Final Analysis

The explosiveness, length, and pass-rushing moves are enough to give Josephs a solid floor as a situational pass rusher at the next level, with big-play upside in key moments that will have tons of value. But if he wants to truly unlock his potential as an every-down player, he’ll need to get stronger and improve his processing and anchoring ability as a run defender.

2026 NFL Draft Projection: 3rd/4th Round