2024 NFL Draft | Rookie EDGE Rankings: Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, Chop Robinson, Darius Robinson and More
A closer look at evaluating the top EDGE prospects from the 2024 NFL Draft class, including Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, Chop Robinson, Darius Robinson and more.
Ranking the top edge pass rushers from this 2024 NFL Draft isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. In today’s NFL, there are so many different assignments, formations, roles and tactics that it’s a bit of an oversimplification.
Are these 4-3 defensive ends? Are these 3-4 outside linebackers? That’s up to the specific teams to decide, and frankly, it’s probably above my pay grade. However, I can still provide my two cents and share my thoughts on this upcoming 2024 NFL Draft class.
To the best of my ability, this is how I’d rank the top edge players in the 2024 NFL Draft.
More 2024 Draft Rankings: Quarterbacks and Running Backs
1. Jared Verse, Florida State
Blessed with a next-level motor, elite first step, and the hints of an all-around game, Verse is my top edge prospect over Dallas Turner. Great instincts and an improving anchor give him early three-down potential to stay on the field.
Frame has plenty of room for added mass. His hands are combative and Verse shows an excellent awareness of how to disengage from a blocker, swipe away arms and sneak through crowded lanes.
Ultimately, it may boil down to NFL readiness if you like Verse, Turner, or Laiatu Latu as your top edge this year. Turner is the most raw, Verse is somewhere in the middle, and Latu looks to be the most ready to play right now. Some draft for ceiling, some prefer what a player can do right now. There’s no wrong answer.
2. Dallas Turner, Alabama
Turner is an explosive and disruptive player with a lethal first step. He climbs into higher gears when closing in on the quarterback. He is a raw prospect who will only get better with better hand technique and anchor.
He will only get better as he adds weight and gets coached up. Incredible speed and short area quickness. I wouldn’t be surprised if much of his rookie year is spent on the sidelines or in a part-time rotation as he further rounds out his run game chops.
Off-the-charts athleticism and suddenness make him one of the top edges in this class.
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
The appeal to Latu is there’s a certain immediacy to his game in that he is one of the more NFL-ready edge prospects. He already possesses a cadre of pass-rush moves and techniques. With his height and strength, he finds a way to create mismatches.
He is a tremendous asset and leader to his team. There is a medical red flag in that he had a serious neck injury that kept him sidelined for two seasons, but it’ll be up to the teams to determine how that affects their evaluation.
He needs to work harder on run plays and get off his block. He can disappear into the game if the pass rush doesn’t succeed early. That said, Latu is a serious handful when his motor is going and gets after the quarterback with tenacity, great hand placement and motor.
4. Chop Robinson, Penn State
Elite athleticism and electric energy off the snap put Robinson firmly in the top five. He finds great lines to the quarterback and does well to close in and latch on to his opponents to bring them down. Good bend when hitting the edge and can sometimes swat away blockers to disengage.
Robinson is another example of a player best served with a redshirt year. A certain level of control is needed to add some nuance to his game because he is a bit one-dimensional as a pass rusher.
He’ll need to add some moves and be more methodical with his hand placement. His stats don’t jump off the page for a player of his caliber. He plays a bit recklessly and off-balance, allowing blockers to disrupt his approach or redirect him off-target. He will need more coaching in Year 1.
Darius Robinson, Missouri
Robinson is more of a traditional 4-3 defensive end in that he is bigger, heavier, and stronger than some of the other players here. He relies heavily on his heavy hands to shock blockers or dig into their bodies to collapse the pocket.
Despite his huge size, Robinson has freaky athleticism, with an incredible vertical explosion in his lower half. He also has incredible length, big hands, and a huge frame and could grow more into a 3-4 defensive end over the years.
Pass rush is still a work in progress. Telegraphs his moves at times and gets swallowed up by the block. Robinson can be a half-beat slow in play recognition and needs to play with his eyes more when engaged with a blocker to adjust better as the play develops.
