2026 NFL Draft Rankings: Edge Defender

Key Points

• The 2026 NFL Draft class should feature a deep group of talented edge defender prospects, headlined by Miami's Rueben Bain Jr.
• Edge defenders are players who line up on the edges of the defensive front (outside linebackers in a 3-4 alignment, or defensive ends in a 4-3 alignment).
• Penn State's Abdul Carter was the first edge defender selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, going No. 3 overall to the New York Giants.

The 2025 NFL regular season is only a month old, but it’s never too early to look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The edge defender class might be the deepest position group in 2026, with arguably the top overall prospect in the entire draft (Miami's Rueben Bain Jr.), and a handful of promising players who could land in the first round.

As NFL defenses continue to become more creative and dynamic, versatility continues to be one of the most valuable traits for edge defender prospects, as the ability to rush the passer, defend the run, drop into coverage, and attack from a wide range of different alignments and assignments gives defensive coordinators endless options when deploying those positions.

As the season keeps rolling, here’s the latest look at how I rank the top edge defender prospects eligible for next year’s draft: