Packers 2016 Draft: Ranking the top-25 edge rushers

Tier 3: Mid-Round Edge Rushers

14. Aaron Wallace, OLB, UCLA (6-3, 240, 4.57)
Wallace grabbed national attention after an impressive pro day performance this spring. Running a blazing forty and registering a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump, highlighting just how explosive of an athlete he is. I don’t normally put a lot of weight on a player’s pre-draft workout, but what Wallace’s pro day performance did do was grab my attention and make me go back to the UCLA tape.

Going back through his games, Wallace shows good burst and athleticism upfield. He also hustles and shows good strength to seal the edge against the run, and in the few times he was asked to drop in coverage, he looked adequate. As a one-year starter, he recorded seven sacks and 17 pressures, while only playing around 60% of the snaps.

Wallace possesses a lot of upside, but his instincts on the field still need some work. Hopefully, this comes with more experience and work in the film room. (Projection: Rounds 3-4)

15. James Cowser, OLB, Southern Utah (6-3, 248, 4.73)
Cowser is a powerful athlete who plays physical on the edge. However, as an undersized defensive end, Cowser will have to make the transition to outside linebacker in the NFL. He seldom dropped in coverage at Southern Utah, which could be a major challenge for him to get used to as a rookie.

However, Cowser is tough against the run, and shows an array of pass rush moves on film. After recording an impressive 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 2014 as a junior, Cowser followed this up with an even more impressive senior campaign, registering 19 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

Cowser’s eye-popping production paired with his relentless motor and solid pass rushing technique make him one of the more polished edge players in this class. He should find a key role immediately on whichever team drafts him. (Projection: Round 4)

16. Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State (6-7, 277, 4.84)
Honestly, I have no idea whether or not Nassib could make the transition to outside linebacker in the Packers defensive front. I do know though he’s a tremendous pass rusher. In 2015, he led the entire FBS in sacks with 15.5 and forced fumbles with six. Nassib is a tough, hard-nosed player with underrated athleticism. He may struggle if asked to drop in coverage or play out in space. The fact he may be limited to strictly 4-3 defensive end at the next level, not to mention only one standout season in college under his belt, hurts Nassib’s overall draft stock. (Projection: Round 4)

17. De’Vondre Campbell, OLB, Minnesota (6-4, 232, 4.58)
Despite possessing the long frame to be a pass rusher, Campbell spent a majority of his snaps at Minnesota as an off-the-ball linebacker. If Campbell added weight, many scouts and analysts feel Campbell’s best fit in the NFL is at outside linebacker in a 3-4 front, where he can use his athleticism and upfield explosion to create pressure off the edge.

92 tackles and four sacks are solid numbers for a linebacker many believe has underachieved in college. His sack production could have been much better at Minnesota if he would have been used more frequently as a pass rusher instead of a between-the-tackles run stopper. (Projection: Round 4)

18. Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington (6-4, 230, 4.50)
Feeney is coming off a solid senior campaign, where he recorded a team-high eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss, demonstrating his ability to make explosive plays behind the line of scrimmage. As a former safety, Feeney moves well in space, possesses tremendous speed, and can hold his own when dropping in coverage. Having played in the Huskies 3-4 front, Feeney is a natural fit as a rush backer at the next level.

Despite his ability to create pressure with speed off the edge, Feeney still possesses a wiry frame and really struggles to hold the point of attack on the edge, which can make him a major liability against the run. He still has the frame to add weight in the NFL, but he’s a few years away from being an impact player. (Projection: Rounds 4-5)

19. Stephen Weatherly, OLB, Vanderbilt (6-4, 267, 4.61)
Weatherly has great size, long arms, and tremendous athleticism as an edge player. He’s a natural fit at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and he is an interesting mid-round developmental prospect. On tape, Weatherly still hasn’t put it all together. Given his physical gifts, he should be making more impact plays on the field. Only 3.5 sacks in 2015 is not enough for a player whose strength is supposed to be his ability to get after the quarterback. (Projection: Rounds 4-5)

Next: Tier 4: Late-Round Edge Rushers