The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy gives his top 10 edge-rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft:
1. DE Chase Young, Ohio State, 6-5, 264
Consensus No. 1 overall prospect and likely No. 2 pick after 16.5-sack season, including four against Wisconsin, but zero in the final two games.
2. OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU, 6-3, 254
Primarily a stand-up rusher reliant on speed, unlike others in top half of this list. Scary potential when he puts it all together.
3. DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State, 6-5, 266
Long and rangy like a young Jason Pierre-Paul. Twice as many career tackles for loss (36.5) as sacks, so he is in the backfield.
4. DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa, 6-5, 275
Tape shows a strong pass-rusher with 30.5 sacks over the last two seasons. High effort, good technique make his floor still worthy of a first-round pick.
Chase Young and K’Lavon ChaissonAP, Getty Images5. DE Bradlee Anae, Utah, 6-3, 257
Three straight double-digit seasons in tackles for loss, including 14 sacks last season. Knows how to chase and finish.
6. OLB Terrell Lewis, Alabama, 6-5, 262
Missed most of the 2017 and 2018 seasons due to injury — seems he studied the game closely from the sideline — but gave up a year of eligibility.
7. OLB Julian Okwara, Notre Dame, 6-4, 252
Preseason first-round pick projection coming off under-productive season. Bigger version of brother Romeo, a Lions pass-rusher.
8. OLB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama, 6-2, 256
Potential for big tackle numbers against the run. Strikes with force and active hands to cause fumbles.
9. OLB Josh Uche, Michigan, 6-1, 245
Did not start a game until last season but was two-time All-Big Ten. More of a work-in-progress than most healthy seniors.
10. OLB Curtis Weaver, Boise State, 6-2, 265
Three-season total of 34 sacks and 47.5 tackles for loss. Acceleration and instincts stand out on tape.
Late Riser
DE Bradlee Anae, Utah: Hobbies include swimming with sharks and cliff diving. Showed at Senior Bowl and in NFL combine drills he could fit a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, standing up or hand in the dirt.
Falling Fast
DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa: Once a projected top-10 pick, Epenesa isn’t made for the NFL combine. But he fell short of reasonable expectations and now could be asked to gain weight and change his game.
Small-school Wonder
OLB Alex Highsmith, Charlotte: How did the 6-3, 248-pound Highsmith get on NFL radar? Easy. Forty tackles for loss over past two seasons, including 15 sacks in 2019. Advanced array of slippery moves.
