Packers 2018 Draft position rankings: Top 20 edge rushers

Day 2 Edge Rushers

4. Marcus Davenport, UTSA (6-6, 264, 4.58)

5. Josh Sweat, Florida State (6-4, 251, 4.53)

6. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (6-6, 250, 4.50)

7. Arden Key, LSU (6-6, 238)

8. Uchenna Nwosu, USC (6-2, 251, 4.65)

9. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma (6-1, 253, 4.77)

Overview: While I acknowledge Davenport’s impressive athletic upside, I do not buy the hype that he’s a first-round talent in the draft. His game is very raw.

Outside of an effective bull rush, he doesn’t display very many pass rush moves on tape. He does possess good straight-line burst, but his hips are stiff and he shows very little bend around the edge.

He’s more of an upright athlete who needs to improve his pad level, hand technique, and pass rushing repertoire. Plus, his level of competition also has to be a concern. Most of his production in college came against teams like Rice and North Texas–hardly stellar collegiate offensive lines.

Having said all of this, he’s still my fourth-ranked edge rusher because of his rare athletic potential at the position.

Carter, Sweat, and Key all grade out very similarly on my board–each earning early-to-mid second round projections. All three have the length, speed, and athleticism needed to excel as edge rushers in the NFL. However, their production and impact ability on the field have been inconsistent.

As a two-year starter at Georgia, Carter only recorded 9.5 sacks. Sweat only averaged a little over four sacks a year in his three seasons as a starter for the Seminoles.

And while Key had an outstanding 12-sack season as a sophomore in 2016, he all but disappeared his junior year. Playing 30 pounds heavier he looked slower on the field. There are also several major character red flags with Key, which could cause him to fall in the draft.

Nwosu and Ogbannia are more compact edge rushers who will have to play outside linebacker at the next level. However, they both play with their hair on fire and would bring relentlessness to any team’s pass rush.

Nwosu in particular is a real Day Two sleeper, in my opinion. In the right system, he could be very effective blitzer from an outside linebacker position. He recorded 9.5 sacks, nine hurries, and 11.5 tackles for loss as a senior. He also plays well in space and would be a great fit for the Packers in the second or third round.