2020 NFL Draft Pass Rusher Rankings – Top 5 Pass Rushers: It is no secret that the NFL’s recent rule changes have certainly benefitted offenses and resulted in a more pass-happy league overall, and in response, defenses have put a premium on pressuring quarterbacks. Elite pass rushers are more valued than ever before, and every coach is looking for the next Von Miller-type edge rusher who can strike fear in opposing quarterbacks and throw off the timing of any offense. With the 2020 NFL Draft still set for April, albeit in a modified fashion, it is time to take a closer look at the next crop of pass rushers.
2020 NFL Draft Pass Rusher Rankings: Top 5 Pass Rushers
1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes
Arguably the best overall player in the 2020 draft, Young was a Heisman finalist and an absolute terror off the edge for the Buckeyes last year. He led the country with 16.5 sacks in 2019, and while it is easy to become enamored by his power and quickness, Young is much more than just an athletic freak of nature. He already has an arsenal of pass-rushing moves, and he knows how to position his body and use his hands to handle whatever opposing coaches to do try to slow him down. Young also has the ability to rush with his hand in the ground and as a stand-up linebacker. He is the clear No. 1 option at his position, and he has the potential to be a perennial All Pro. Look for Young to be selected No. 2 overall in April.
2. K’Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU Tigers
Coming off an ACL tear, Chaisson led LSU in sacks in 2019. More importantly, he has that freakish combination of size, length, quickness and athleticism that gets NFL general managers drooling. His on field-production doesn’t jump off the page by any means, but he has the physical traits to be a dynamic playmaker off the edge at the next level, and teams know that is something you can’t teach. Even though Chaisson has a chance to be the next name added to the long list of over-hyped pass rushers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him selected in or around the top 10. He has that type of upside.
3. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State Nittany Lions
Gross-Matos has been the anchor of Penn State’s pass rush over the past two seasons, piling up 34.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. He moves well enough to play a stand-up, linebacker-type role at times, but at 6-5, he is built to play defensive end. Armed with a variety of technique and a relentless engine, Gross-Matos might not have elite athletic tools, but he is a high-floor prospect who should be a productive starter in the NFL. He is an ideal option for a team drafting in back half of Round 1 in need of a little extra juice for their pass rush.
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4. A.J. Epenesa, DE/OLB, Iowa Hawkeyes
Epenesa might be the toughest prospect to evaluate this year. There is no question that he has the ability to take over games. He had 10.5 sacks as a role player in 2018, and he closed last year with eight sacks and four forced fumbles in the last five games for the Hawkeyes. On the flip side, he didn’t consistently dominate games as a full-time starter in 2019, and his performance at the Scouting Combine left something to be desired. At this point, the question marks are more about his dedication and motor than any of his physical tools, but I think those question marks cause him to slip a bit, even though he may be the second-best pass rusher in this draft.
5. Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama Crimson Tide
After multiple serious injuries marred his collegiate career, Lewis is more about potential than production at this point. However, he has the size, length and athleticism that you can’t teach, and after flashing his potential this past season, I believe he is exactly the type of player teams will take a chance on early in the second round. There will be plenty of coaching staffs that feel they can transform the physical attributes that made him a five-star prospect into on-field production at the next level.
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