Aziz’s 2026 NFL Draft positional rankings (defense)

Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez looks on during warmups before the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. | Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Link to offensive player rankings Edge Rushers 1.

David Bailey Bailey is the best pure pass rusher in this class. The speed and explosiveness off the edge are elite, and he consistently wins with burst in a way no one else in the group can match. He is not as complete as some of the other edge defenders in the run game or in the finer details, but he is functional when asked to play contain and does enough outside of pass rushing to stay on the field.

What separates him is the ability to simply win off the edge at a high rate, and in today’s NFL that carries enormous value. Projection: Top 5 2. Rueben Bain Jr.

Bain is a powerful, explosive edge defender with long strides out of his stance, very good bend, and the strength to overwhelm blockers at the point of attack. He reads plays extremely well, which helps him impact both the run and pass game at a high level, and his overall profile is more complete than most of the other pass rushers in the class. He is not a true speed merchant, but the combination of strength, explosiveness, and feel for the game gives him one of the highest floors in the group.