The Beast: One-Liners on the 2025 NFL Draft’s Top EDGE Rushers

Dane Brugler has dropped his highly-anticipated draft guide, and we’re diving in to his appraisals at a position of need.

It’s back, baby.

The most comprehensive look at the NFL draft is back, as The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released the 2025 version of The Beast for everyone to enjoy.

400+ profiles. 2,700+ prospects. In a few words, it’s an NFL Draft lover’s dream from one of the best analysts in the game.

On his cameos on The Athletic Football Show, Brugler speaks about how scouts can boil down a prospect to one line. One sentence to describe hours of film study and days of research on a kid’s potential in the NFL.

So, this year, we look at a few of the one-liners that Brugler put on some of the top names in the 2025 NFL draft at positions of need for the Atlanta Falcons.

I hope you enjoy, and please, if you haven’t, go and read The Beast. Words can’t describe how invaluable a tool it is to get an in-depth look at all the top prospects in the draft.

Positions of Need for the Atlanta Falcons

Brugler listed the following three positions as the top positions of need for Atlanta in the 2025 Draft, with the following note on the importance of this year’s draft for General Manager Terry Fontenot:

EDGE

CB

OT

Atlanta has trumpeted its collaborative approach since Terry Fontenot was hired as GM. He and Raheem Morris insist that no one in the room dominates the decision-making. This will be Fontenot’s fifth draft with the Falcons, and it could be his last if the team’s fortunes don’t change.

Top EDGE Rushers in 2025 NFL Draft

Marshall’s Mike Green

Overall, Green is a twitchy athlete with the burst and body control to win one-on-one as a pass rusher and set a violent edge in the run game.

Georgia’s Mykel Williams

Overall, Williams is more toolsy than nuanced and needs to develop a more unified pass-rush plan. The individual traits (length, strength, explosiveness), promising toughness and football character, however, are reasons to bet on his upside.

Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart

Overall, Stewart needs to mature his rush efficiency and finishing skills, but he has a rare combination of talent and motor to be a game-wrecker against both the pass and the run.

Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku

Overall, Ezeiruaku is a tad light for a stack-and-shed edge setter. But rushing the passer is his calling card, and he has the arc acceleration, body flexibility and long, active arms to break down the balance of blockers.

Tennessee’s James Pearce, Jr.

Overall, Pearce is upright and frenetic in his play style, but his blend of explosiveness and power creates consistent disruption as a pass rusher.

Arkansas’ Landon Jackson

Overall, Jackson has a different type of pass-rushing skill set because he isn’t a super-fluid athlete, but his raw power, strength in his hands and consistent effort make him effective.

Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau

Overall, Tuimoloau’s college tape is more good than exceptional, but he is competitive, skilled and doesn’t have major deficiencies that would keep him from being a dependable edge presence in the NFL.

Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen

Overall, Umanmielen won’t easily dismantle NFL tackles or tight ends at the point of attack, but his edge speed, body control and flexibility make him a dangerous two-way pass rusher.

Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer

Overall, Sawyer often plays one-dimensionally as a pass rusher and lacks ideal suddenness or length for an edge player, but his activity level and the strength in his hands make him an every-down factor.

Oregon’s Jordan Burch

Overall, Burch is a smooth edge rusher in a defensive tackle’s frame.