Every EDGE taken in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real.
Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends.
A year from now we could be looking at one of the deeper position groups. In the short time, many will focus on Bailey, Bain, Faulk, Mesidor and Howell. However, the depth of this group cannot be overlooked.
There could be as many as ten EDGE players taken from the 3rd round forward that not only project to starters but could be big impact players at the next level. There are even draft analyst darlings well into the fifth round.
Best available EDGE in 2026 NFL Draft
| Name | School | HT | WT | Range | Pick | Team |
| David Bailey | Texas Tech | 6’3 | 250 | Top 10 | 2 | Jets |
| Rueben Bain Jr | Miami | 6’3 | 270 | Top 20 | 15 | Buccaneers |
| Keldric Faulk | Auburn | 6’6 | 285 | Rd 1-2 | 31 | Titans |
| Akheem Mesidor | Miami | 6’3 | 280 | Rd 1-2 | 22 | Chargers |
| Cashius Howell | Texas A&M | 6’2 | 248 | Rd 1-2 | 41 | Bengals |
| Zion Young | Missouri | 6’5 | 262 | Rd 1-2 | 45 | Ravens |
| TJ Parker | Clemson | 6’3 | 260 | Rd 1-2 | 35 | Bills |
| R Mason Thomas | Oklahoma | 6’2 | 249 | Rd 1-2 | 40 | Chiefs |
| Derrick Moore | Michigan | 6’3 | 260 | Rd 1-2 | 44 | Lions |
| Keyron Crawford | Auburn | 6’4 | 255 | Rd 2-3 | 67 | Raiders |
| Malachi Lawrence | UCF | 6’4 | 250 | Rd 2-3 | 23 | Cowboys |
| LT Overton | Alabama | 6’5 | 283 | Rd 2-3 | 137 | Cowboys |
| Gabe Jacas | Illinois | 6’3 | 270 | Rd 2-3 | 55 | Patriots |
| Max Llewellyn | Iowa | 6’5 | 263 | Rd 2-3 | 238 | Dolphins |
| Tyreak Sapp | Florida | 6’2 | 274 | Rd 2-3 | ||
| Romello Height | Texas A&M | 6’3 | 240 | Rd 2-3 | 70 | 49ers |
| Jaishawn Barham | Michigan | 6’3 | 243 | Rd 2-4 | 92 | Cowboys |
| George Gumbs Jr | Florida | 6’4 | 250 | Rd 2-4 | 156 | Colts |
| Joshua Josephs | Tennessee | 6’3 | 240 | Rd 2-4 | 147 | Commanders |
| Wesley Williams | Duke | 6’3 | 265 | Rd 3-5 | 119 | Jaguars |
| Dani Daniels-Sutton | Penn State | 6’5 | 265 | Rd 3-5 | 120 | Packers |
| Mikail Kamara | Indiana | 6’1 | 262 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Nadame Tucker | W. Michigan | 6’3 | 250 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Caden Curry | Ohio State | 6’3 | 280 | Rd 3-5 | 214 | Colts |
| Quintayvious Hutchins | Boston College | 6’3 | 240 | Rd 3-5 | 247 | Patriots |
| Marvin Jones Jr | Oklahoma | 6’5 | 262 | Rd 3-5 | ||
| Aidan Hubbard | Northwestern | 6’4 | 255 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Patrick Payton | LSU | 6’6 | 255 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Nyjalik Kelly | UCF | 6’5 | 250 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| TJ Guy | Michigan | 6’4 | 250 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Vincent Anthony Jr | Duke | 6’6 | 260 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Anthony Lucas | USC | 6’5 | 285 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Eric O’Neill | Rutgers | 6’3 | 261 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Mason Reiger | Wisconsin | 6’5 | 248 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Logan Fano | Utah | 6’5 | 260 | Rd 4-6 | ||
| Keyshawn James-Newby | New Mexico | 6’2 | 244 | Rd 5-7 | 252 | Eagles |
| Ben Bell | Virginia Tech | 6’1 | 235 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Jack Pyburn | LSU | 6’4 | 264 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Dean Miller | Kansas | 6’5 | 240 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Mo Westmoreland | Tulane | 6’2 | 250 | Rd 5-7 | ||
| Jimmori Robinson | W. Virginia | 6’4 | 250 | Rd 5-7 |
2026 NFL Draft social media reactions to EDGE selections
Pick No. 252: Eagles select New Mexico EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby. pic.twitter.com/B3TVbCVjuF
— SleeperEagles (@SleeperEagles) April 25, 2026
QUINTAYVIOUS HUTCHINS
WELCOME TO THE PATRIOTS pic.twitter.com/tc5xtozBvg
— DomThePatsFan (@domthepatsfan) April 25, 2026
Takin’ it to the Max! 💯
With the 238th pick, we have selected Max Llewellyn from @HawkeyeFootballpic.twitter.com/FrPpJGomYX
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 25, 2026
We have selected Washington DE Zach Durfee with the No. 233 overall pick!@Dream_Finders | #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/DTzY27AFeT
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 25, 2026
The Detroit Lions have selected Tennessee DL Tyre West with the 222nd pick of the NFL Draft#OnePridepic.twitter.com/vmGtNpJojU
— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) April 25, 2026
George Gumbs to Indy‼️@GeorgeGumbs ➡️ @Colts#NFLDRAFT | #GoGatorspic.twitter.com/bIy1m55luX
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) April 25, 2026
Headed to D.C.@joshuajosephs2 ➡️ @Commanders
Round 5 | Pick 147#NFLDraft | #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/vfg2SSRUbf— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 25, 2026
With the No. 136 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Saints select Bryce Lance.
NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/lkC6G25nFa— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2026
Trey Moore is headed to Miami 🤘@treyyymoore x @MiamiDolphinspic.twitter.com/I9XexxYPS4
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 25, 2026
PACKERS DRAFT DANI DENNIS-SUTTON✅ pic.twitter.com/zV6FwB7GBM
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) April 25, 2026
With Pick 119 the #Jaguars select Duke EDGE Wesley Williams pic.twitter.com/ZIPT708wKH
— SleeperJaguars (@SleeperJaguars) April 25, 2026
Pro Football HOFers Drew Pearson and Tony Dorsett announced the Dallas Cowboys third-round pick:
Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham ⭐ pic.twitter.com/9igBbAb1Eh
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 25, 2026
The pick is in.
EDGE Romello Height from Texas Tech is selected by the San Francisco 49ers.@height_romello | @TexasTechFB | @49ers#TheDraftStartsInMobilepic.twitter.com/Xn702H4FMg
— Panini Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) April 25, 2026
DRAFTED✅
Congratulations to Tyler Onyedim from @AggieFootball on being drafted by the @Broncos in the 2026 #NFLDraft#ShrineBowlPRO | #BroncosCountrypic.twitter.com/OpddAfrx4L
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) April 25, 2026
Jaishawn Barham is the best available EDGE according to ESPN’s draft tracker.
GABE. JACAS. 🙂↕️@Gabeosama | @IlliniFootballpic.twitter.com/MPQvnMGVLq
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 25, 2026
Zion Young is a Raven❗ pic.twitter.com/6djlvUfMXn
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 25, 2026
With the No. 44 overall pick, the Detroit Lions select Derrick Moore 🚨
Moore was the No. 94 overall ranked player in the 2022 class.https://t.co/O4G7gOaWkQpic.twitter.com/gDPrJF0aNp
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 24, 2026
Cincy adds chaos.
With the 41st pick in the 2026 #NFLDraft, the @Bengals select, Cashius Howell. pic.twitter.com/GLVsFGQA1H
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) April 24, 2026
With the No. 40 overall pick in the 2026 @NFLDraft, the @Chiefs select R Mason Thomas.
NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/gmNwlLHU7g— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk is headed to Tennessee at No. 31 overall 💪 pic.twitter.com/oyvEkTfRvK
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 24, 2026
The moment Malachi Lawrence became our 5th first rounder in program history…
📺 2026 #NFLDraft April 23-25 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/jO4Rosteur
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) April 24, 2026
The @Chargers make Akheem Mesidor the 22nd overall pick!
2026 NFL Draft starts on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/2WFvWTF0IU— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
The @Buccaneers select Rueben Bain Jr. from @CanesFootball with the 15th pick!
2026 NFL Draft starts on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/vKTd3aFOZm— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
“It’s surreal to me.”
David Bailey is eager to bring some pass rush to the @nyjets 💪
2026 NFL Draft starts on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/zxmzQHn0q9— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
2026 NFL Draft How to Watch
The 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network– available on Fubo), The Las Vegas Raiders will likely select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.