Who's Got The Edge? Part II by Razor

 We took a look at six of the top pass rushers yesterday. Today let's delve into the best of the rest, beginning with:

Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh, 6'-4" 260 lbs. 32" arms, Consensus All-American, 42 tackles in 2020. 13 of them for loss with 9 sacks in 11 games played.

No known medical concerns

Traits include, size, strong frame, twitch, explosion, first step, change of direction, nice tool box of moves including a wicked inside spin move

Current grade 7

Potential grade 8.5

I watched Jones at senior practices and the game. He's got some speed to power, plus he's got a nice inside counter he uses off of that. He finished the game with 4 qb pressures and 2 sacks. He sets the edge well against the run, can sometimes get caught in no mans land when the offense is wide open with jet sweeps, option and play action. Overall, if he can tune up some of the inconsistencies to his game and mental processing, the sky's the limit. I would use him initially as a situational pass rusher from the blindside. 

Rashad Weaver, Pittsburgh, 6'-4" 260 lbs. 33 1/4" arms, Consensus All-American, 34 tackles in 2020. 14 of them for loss with 7.5 sacks in 9 games played.

Missed all of 2019 with an acl

Traits include, size, length, good anchor, tough to move in the run game, intelligent mental processor, technically sound, high effort

Current grade 6.5

Potential grade 7.5

Weaver isn't going to wow you with his athleticism, he doesn't possess any real elite traits but he's solid across the board. 2020 was his first year back from the acl. His ceiling isn't as high as his teammate but if he can refine his hand usage and get stronger in his lower body, he could be an immediate contributor.

Joe Tryon, Washington, 6'-5" 260 lbs. Did not play in 2020.

No known medical concerns

Traits include, size, length, varying pass rush to include stab, rip, club with good hand strength to push/pull and yank defenders out of his way, solid quicks off of stunts with some closing speed, good penetration. I noticed the Huskies occasionally would line him up at middle lb in like an amoeba type of attack.

Current grade 7

Potential grade 8

This dude is rocked up physically. Not sure he's got the bend to flatten to the qb. Bull rush could use work, and he looked to me like he's got a propensity to attack too quickly inside against the run versus outside contain. 

Carlos Basham, 6'-3 3/8" 280 lbs. Wake Forest, 5.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss while also forcing four fumbles. Opted out of teams bowl game.

Traits include, dense with natural leverage, got that gap integrity, uses his size well rushing the passer, he's got some tools to his game and seems to understand how to use both to his advantage

Current grade 6

Potential grade 6.5

Basham is a great name for a pass rusher, but unfortunately for me I don't see him as ever being that type of impact player. He's smart, has power and understands leverage but he does not possess that consistent burst, or suddenness and lacks the bend, and agility for much more at the next level.

Joseph Ossai, 6'-4" 250 lbs. Texas, consensus All-American, first player to match, Suh in a single game production of 12 tackles, 6 for loss and 3 sacks against the 6th ranked, Oklahoma St., garnering him the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, and the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week.

Suffered a shoulder injury which forced him into a harness while playing through the injury.

Traits include, speed, explosion, violent hands, good bend, disruptive, motor runs hot, some versatility 

Current grade 7

Potential grade 9

Second best pure speed rusher after Ojulari in my opinion. Comes from a visa lottery family out of Nigeria only to discover football at the age of 10. His athletic talent is off the charts but he lacks the repertoire to plan, diagnose and counter moves once his initial move is stopped. He looks good dropping in coverage. His speed can be exploited against the run, and he lacks ideal size. For those reasons he's a situational pass rusher until he adds strength and refinement.