While the 2025 NFL Draft is still about six months away, it’s never too early to get to know the top prospects in the upcoming draft class. Some sickos may say that it is always draft season, and we should all get used to it.

Our team of NFL Draft contributors at A to Z Sports, eight in total, decided to rank our top five prospects at every position collectively. That included a very talented EDGE group with a lot of talented players, and an interesting debate to figure out the hierarchy.

We each ranked our top five players, then tallied the point totals similar to what you have likely seen with the AP Poll in college football to create our top EDGE defenders who are expected to hear their names called in the 2025 NFL Draft. Here is how that list shook out.

1. Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State

Highest Ranking: 1

Lowest Ranking: 3

Out of the eight A to Z draft analysts who were a part of the ranking, four ranked Carter as their top EDGE in the class. Two others ranked him at two, and the other two had him at three. In total, he received 30 points, which was five more than the second closest.

After beginning his career as a stacked linebacker, Carter moved to defensive end as a junior. The 6-3, 253-pound pass rusher went through a maturation period early on in the season, but he has really rounded into form. An explosive athlete, the production is starting to match the overall talent, and the arrow continues to point up.

2. James Pearce Jr., EDGE Tennessee

Highest Ranking: 1

Lowest Ranking: 5

Coming into the season, many NFL Draft analysts had Pearce penciled in at the top of the position. He narrowly finished second for A to Z Sports in this updated ranking, finishing with 25 total points, just five behind Carter. Two different members had him ranked as their top EDGE, while two had him second, two had him third, and one other had him at five.

Pearce was dominant in 2023 for the Volunteers, collecting 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. 2024 has been a bit slower of a start, but Pearce has been beating up lately. Incredibly explosive and bendy, Pearce currently sits with six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, with his play trending upward.

3. Mykel Williams, EDGE Georgia

Highest Ranking: 1

Lowest Ranking: 5

A lot has been expected of Williams going into 2024, heading into the year with expectations to contend as the top EDGE in the 2025 class. Things have not gone quite as planned, playing through an injury so far this season. In total, he has played in just five games, recording five tackles for loss and two sacks.

Despite that limited sample size, the A to Z Sports staff is still very high on him. Two members of the staff still rank him as their top EDGE of the group, with three others ranking him second. The 6-5, 265-pound pass rusher certainly looks the part, possessing all the talent and upside you would want at the position.

4. Nic Scourton, EDGE Texas A&M

Highest Ranking: 2

Lowest Ranking: 9

Scourton is a bit of a divisive prospect for the A to Z staff. One analyst had him ranked as their second best EDGE, with two having him third, and three others having him at the fourth spot. The outlier of the group is someone having him ninth, which certainly hurt his final ranking.

Previously playing for the Purdue Boilermakers, Scourton has really come on strong for the Aggies. Over the last two seasons, he has recorded 28 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. At 6-4 and 280 pounds, Scourton is a dense pass rusher who can do a lot for a defense from an alignment perspective.

5. Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State

Highest Ranking: 4

Lowest Ranking: 5

The ranking of Sawyer is interesting, who only received two votes from the A to Z Sports staff. One ranked him as their fourth ranked EDGE, while the other ranked him fifth. With no other rankings to his name, there wasn’t a lot of more data to pull his average down. To a degree, he was the fifth ranked player by default.

If you are a follower of the recruiting rankings, then Sawyer is probably someone you are very familiar with. Sawyer has been more of a grinder for the Buckeye defender over the years than a playmaker. In four seasons, the 6-4, 265-pound defender has recorded 23 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.