An IDL prospect has not gone before an edge rusher since the 2012 NFL draft. The 2024 class has two names looking to make history.
Positional value has taken over draft discourse. On the defensive side of the ball, the value of edge rushers has never been higher. Conversely, interior defensive linemen are seeing their value decrease slightly. When there is an elite interior prospect, those players still go high, but not as high as the ones on the edge. Georgia’s Jalen Carter was making substantial headway to break the decade-long trend until some off-field issues pushed him down the board.
This trend is becoming more and more iron-clad as each draft passes. The last time an interior defensive lineman was taken before an edge rusher was the 2012 NFL draft, which was over a decade ago. That class saw Dontari Poe, Fletcher Cox, and Michael Brockers go in picks 11, 12, and 14. Three interior defensive linemen going before any edge rushers is unheard of in the modern era. However, the 2024 NFL draft may be more similar than most think.
IDL Names to watch in the 2024 NFL Draft
There are currently two defensive tackles tearing up the college football world. Illinois’ Jer’zhan Newton and Miami’s Leonard Taylor are among the best defensive players in the nation. Taylor may be unlikely to be taken before any edge rushers, but Newton has emerged as a one-man wrecking crew in the Big 10. Taylor has been the star of a Hurricanes defense that has been causing havoc through an undefeated September.
Leonard Taylor with a great swim move to get the QB and then shows off his strength by bringing the QB down by his shirt.
Good work here from LT3#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/yFnKNK4MmI
— Luke Sims (@LukeSimswalker) September 26, 2023
Questions on the edge
The 2024 edge class isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. There are just more questions than there were in the Summer. Is there a Will Anderson or Aidan Hutchinson in this class? Not by a long shot; but there are still several first-round talents.
A massive reason that this question even arises is because of the player at the top. A transfer from Washington, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu has been tearing up the PAC-12 this year and is making a strong case to be a top-ten pick. However, his draft ceiling is muddied with injury history. Latu medically retired during the shortened 2020 season due to a lingering neck injury and fear of paralyzation if he continued to play football. After transferring to UCLA, Latu was given the green light to continue his playing career. Latu is a phenomenal player but could see his name taken off several draft boards because of medical red flags.
Laiatu Latu off the EDGE..pic.twitter.com/bHwFJmRZyF
— Smart Football (@SmartfootbalI) September 25, 2023
A popular name in summer big boards was Florida State’s Jared Verse. A transfer from Albany, Verse burst onto the scene in 2022 with Seminoles. Verse heavily considered entering the 2023 NFL draft, but ultimately decided to stay in school. He has not seen the same dominant production. Verse missed some time in training camp so it may be an injury that is slowing him down. Regardless, the top-ten pick hype has somewhat subsided.
Another name to watch on the edge is Dallas Turner out of Alabama. Turner is the name that could make all of this irrelevant. He has been simply sensational this year. He has the pressure and sack numbers to make scouts drool. Turner has the makeup of an elite pass rusher. As he continues to play, his draft stock continues to rise.
Trend breakers
Jer’zhan Newton is the best chance at breaking this trend. His tape against Penn State is some of the best that you will see from any defensive player in this class. Newton single-handedly kept his team in the game. He was living in the Nittany Lions’ backfield all afternoon. Newton has a case to call himself the best defensive player in the country.
Illinois IDL Jer’Zhan Newton
A blend of explosion, power, and first step quickness out of the starting blocks. Consistent first level penetrator. pic.twitter.com/hIpvugPLmd
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) July 27, 2023
Miami’s Leonard Taylor has been rising up draft boards this season. Recently, he was dominant against Temple, totaling six pressures on quarterback EJ Warner. Taylor has been making plays in both the run game all season. Should Newton and Taylor keep playing like this, they could find themselves in a rarefied air of interior defensive linemen in the NFL draft.
Main Image: Andy Lewis-USA TODAY Sports
