The 2022 NFL Draft has been lauded as a weaker class, lacking more than a handful of blue-chip talent in the top rounds. Despite this being a down year in terms of overall skill, there are still a few positions that are quite deep with plenty of incredible players across the board. One of those groups is the pass rushers, who are regarded as the most talented in the 2022 NFL Draft. There isn’t a Myles Garrett or Chase Young type of prospect at the top but what’s there is impressive nonetheless.
There is a bevy of different body types and styles in this edge class that gives teams a golden opportunity to find a guy that fits their team. Sure, there are plenty of versatile talents, some of which will fit better with certain teams than others. This fit can be based on team, a certain body type a team may covet or it could be surely predicated on culture fit as well.
Below I detail five edge rushers from the 2022 NFL and which teams they match with the best.
Cameron Thomas – San Diego State – Ideal Fit: New York Jets
The other day I put out a tweet that if the New York Jets were unable to select one of the top edge rushers in the 2022 NFL with their top ten picks, then San Diego State’s Cameron Thomas would be a great consolation prize. Most predictive mock drafts have the Jets taking an edge rusher with one of their first two picks, but their recent attempts at adding another receiver may change that. As such, using one of their day two picks on another pass rusher to pair with Carl Lawson may be necessary.
Thomas makes plenty of sense for the New York Jets. He’s a big defensive end that can also kick inside on sub-packages to rush from the interior. Additionally, Thomas is at his best when he’s out wide which is a staple in Robert Saleh’s 4-3 defensive philosophy (I know he’s not the defensive coordinator). Thomas shows great speed around the edge and playing more wide-nine looks could prove effective in getting the most out of him at the next level.
This is likely unnecessary for the Jets given who they’re rumored to like. However, Thomas is a seamless fit for New York.
Arnold Ebiketie – Penn State – Ideal Fit: Seattle Seahawks
Under newly appointed defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt, the Seattle Seahawks are moving to a more substantial 3-4 front philosophy. Before 2022, the Seahawks often blurred the lines between 4-3/3-4 defensive fronts but largely kept to 4-3 alignment. Additionally, the players they have added over the years were high upside pass rushers with plus athleticism for hybrid versatility. The signing of Uchenna Nwosu and the recent selection of Darrell Taylor has only reaffirmed that dedication to a versatile defensive front.
Arnold Ebiketie, at least from a body type perspective, fits the edge rusher mold the Seahawks tend to covet. Ebiketie weighed in at the NFL Combine at 6’2’’, 250 with vines for arms. But it doesn’t end at body type, Ebiketie is a top-end pass rusher with speed around the edge who can develop as a run defender. With experience rushing from the three-point stance, he’d be the perfect prospect to slide into the LEO role in Hurtt’s defense.
George Karlaftis – Purdue – Ideal Fit: Kansas City Chiefs
Outside of the glaring need at edge rusher from a depth perspective, the Kansas City Chiefs simply must get better at the position. Last season when Frank Clark went down with an injury, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo shifted All-Pro DT Chris Jones outside to the edge and the result was not ideal. The Chiefs need a force multiplier and one that can play a number of different roles.
Spagnuolo’s defensive ends tend to be a bit bigger and stronger which he likes to scheme into one-on-one matchups for ideal pressure. Players who fit this mold are Olivier Vernon, Kerry Wynn, and Alex Okafor who have all had their roles in Spagnuolo’s fronts.
George Karlaftis is a big edge rusher who excels in applying pressure with strength and power at the point of attack. His ability to set a physical edge against the run is also important, with the need for defensive ends to defeat blocks and keep contain is a key component of their defense. Karlaftis is the ideal 4-3 defensive end and would be an immediate force for this front.
Kingsley Enagbare – South Carolina – Ideal Fit: Dallas Cowboys
Dan Quinn loves defenders who can play multiple roles, which dates back to his time in Seattle as their defensive coordinator. He made the 2013 Seahawks defensive front shine with players such as Cliff Avril, Chris Clemons, Michael Bennett, and Bruce Irvin as their core pass rushers. Quinn asks his edges to play as stand-up rushers in addition to placing their hand in the dirt.
Kingsley Enagbare is a great candidate to replace Randy Gregory in the Dallas Cowboys defense. While not as dynamic of an athlete as the other defenders Quinn is used to, his speed off the edge is admirable which allows him to convert power in his rushes. In regards to his run defense, Enagbare plays with great leverage at the point of attack and could be a key player in that regard.
Enagbare is a solid Day Two option the Cowboys must consider if they are to improve their pass rush.
Myjai Sanders – Cincinnati – Ideal Fit: Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons need talent across the board so drafting based on the scheme may be a luxury. Even so, there are plenty of talented players that can fit their offensive and defensive philosophies so this shouldn’t be too hard for them to figure out. The Falcons added more 3-4 looks under defensive coordinator Dean Peas, and their drafting has shown a need for athletic pass rushers. Myjai Sanders seems to fit that mold of an athletic 3-4 jack linebacker to a T and could be a key contributor early on.
At Cincinnati, Sanders was tasked with putting his hand in the dirt as a five-technique for defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. However, Sanders’ best reps came when he was asked to play in a two-stance and rush from space, using his short-area speed to help put pressure on the quarterback. During his time with the Tennessee Titans, Peas put Harold Landry in wide alignments to use his speed to full effect and Sanders could be deployed in a similar fashion. Sanders needs to develop his hands and add some mass, but overall he could be a difference-maker for Atlanta’s defense.