Sports
NFL Draft 2025: Top Defensive Ends & Ideal Landing Spots
It feels like every year a new class of edge rushers enters the NFL draft with the potential to outmatch the last.
Last year’s class brought talents like Jared Verse and Chop Robinson, but the 2025 group exceeds its predecessors in top-end talent and depth.
For teams in search of starting defensive ends or outside rush help, the top five edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft are primed to make an impact.
Abdul Carter, Penn State
No hot takes here. Sometimes the consensus is right for a reason, and Carter brings a combination of quick-twitch explosion and powerful upper- and lower-body strength that cannot be matched by the other members of the class.
His refined pass-rush ability from the outside linebacker position has drawn comparisons to fellow Penn State product Micah Parsons.
Ideal NFL fit: A Browns pairing of Myles Garrett and Carter could elevate Cleveland’s defense to the next level. Garrett’s true power and Carter’s explosiveness could overwhelm AFC North offensive lines if the Browns play their cards right.
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
As far as athletes go, no one in this class matches Pearce’s pure speed. Headlining a Tennessee defensive line filled with NFL talent, Pearce’s standout numbers at the combine confirmed the athleticism that was ever-present in his college tape.
His weight is a bit of a concern, coming in at the low 240s, but a scheme that relies on speed rushers will allow him to feast in the backfield.
Ideal NFL fit: This is the type of impact edge the Bengals are coveting. In theory, he would be the perfect pairing with Trey Hendrickson, but Hendrickson’s future is uncertain. Pearce has the potential to be Cincinnati’s next marquee defender.
Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Scourton’s raw power should sell teams on him, with some of the most forceful upper- and lower-body strength of any edge rusher in the draft. Many of the top prospects this year are primarily speed rushers, but for pure strength and vicious play, look no further than Scourton.
His pocket-pushing ability also translates to quality run-stopping, where he holds his own in the gap and can even play some three-technique defensive tackle in a pinch.
Ideal NFL fit: Scourton feels like a natural fit with the Lions, a team that values bulky, well-rounded defensive linemen. Head coach Dan Campbell will be hunting for power in this year’s class to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, and Scourton could be the guy.
Jalon Walker, Georgia
Some teams view Walker as a linebacker, but his pass-rush prowess and ability to set the edge will likely determine his draft position. Defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker seems to be his likely future.
His array of pass-rush moves and relentless pursuit of the quarterback will earn him fans among defensive coordinators across the league. However, his scheme-specific nature may force him off some teams’ boards.
Ideal NFL fit: Walker could excel with the Seahawks in a role similar to the one Uchenna Nwosu currently plays. Seattle has some young depth at the position, but Walker is a tier above and could provide immediate improvement to the hybrid linebacker corps.
Mykel Williams, Georgia
Williams is the type of edge rusher you would build in a lab, with an impressive frame, weight, and muscle. He also boasts an SEC pedigree that has been battle-tested against NFL-caliber talent.
There is some injury history to consider, which has limited his ability to refine his technique as an edge rusher. However, as a developmental prospect, it doesn’t get much better than Williams.
Ideal NFL fit: The Cowboys could target Williams if they want to improve on defense. He fits Jerry Jones’ mold of prototype bodies with solid athleticism and could develop alongside Parsons into a consistent high single-digit sack player.
Sports
VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey propel Sixers past Celtics to even series
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) attempts a three-point basket against the Boston Celtics in the first half of a game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined to make 11 3-pointers and score 59 total points as the Philadelphia 76ers bounced back to even their Eastern Conference playoff series with the host Boston Celtics in a 111-97 decision on Tuesday.
Seventh-seeded Philadelphia (1-1) shook off a dismal Game 1 performance, which included making just four 3-pointers in Sunday’s 123-91 loss, with a complete reversal on the offensive end.
The Sixers shot a torrid 19-of-39 from beyond the arc in Game 2, with Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George each adding a pair of made triples to supplement Edgecombe and Maxey.
Edgecombe and Maxey were the catalysts, however. The rookie Edgecombe finished 12-of-20 from the floor, including his 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
“This is who we are. Game 1 isn’t who we are,” Edgecombe said in his postgame interview with Peacock. “We let our offense dictate our defense (on Sunday), and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Philadelphia’s flipping of the script on the offensive end on Tuesday did indeed carry over defensively. The Sixers limited the Celtics (1-1) to 35-of-89 shooting from the floor, locking down each scoring option beyond the primary two of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Brown went for a game-high 36 points, and Tatum finished with 19 points to go with his game-high 14 rebounds. No other Celtic reached double-figures scoring, however, a stark contrast from Game 1 when the entire Boston starting five notched at least 10 points.
And while Brown shot 5-of-12 from long distance, Boston’s other shooters combined to go just 8-for-38.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, got 19 points from George and 12 from Oubre. After foul trouble limited him in Game 1, Andre Drummond came off the bench to provide the Sixers quality minutes on the interior with 10 points and eight rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luis Garcia Jr.'s 4-hit effort powers Nationals past Braves
Apr 21, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) hits a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Luis Garcia Jr. had four hits and drove in three runs, Curtis Mead socked a three-run homer and the host Washington Nationals ended the Atlanta Braves’ six-game winning streak with an 11-4 win on Tuesday.
James Wood hit his eighth homer of the season, walked four times and scored three runs for Washington, which leveled the four-game series at one victory apiece.
Nationals starter Foster Griffin (3-0) allowed three runs on five hits over six solid innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Drake Baldwin and Eli White homered for the Braves, and Mauricio Dubon had two hits.
Atlanta starter Reynaldo Lopez (1-1) allowed four runs in one-plus inning and gave up five hits and three walks while fanning one. Braves pitchers issued 12 walks.
Ronald Acuna Jr. was in the Atlanta lineup and went 1-for-5 one day after being hit by pitch twice, including once on the left hand.
The first six Nationals reached base in a three-run first. Wood walked and Garcia singled him to third, then stole second. Jacob Young lined a single to center, scoring Wood. CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile walked, with Lile getting an RBI. Nasim Nunez singled to score Young with the third run.
Back-to-back two-out doubles by Dubon and Michael Harris II got the Braves within 3-1 in the second.
Wood homered leading off the bottom half, and Lopez was done for the night after Garcia singled.
Baldwin’s solo homer in the third pulled the Braves within 4-2.
White homered in the fifth to make it 4-3, but the Nationals answered in the bottom half when Brady House singled, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Garcia to make it 5-3.
In the seventh, the Nationals loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Garcia followed with a two-run double, and another runner came home on a groundout by Young.
Austin Riley’s RBI groundout pulled the Braves within 8-4 in the eighth, but a pair of walks and Mead’s three-run homer put things out of reach in the bottom half.
The Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, and they promoted Dylan Dodd from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the roster spot.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luke Keaschall powers late rally as Twins dump Mets
Apr 21, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall (15) hits a RBI single in the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Luke Keaschall’s second RBI single of the game snapped a ninth-inning tie Tuesday night and helped the visiting Minnesota Twins rally past the slumping New York Mets 5-3.
In losing its 12th straight game, New York coughed up a 3-0 lead as closer Devin Williams melted down during the top of the ninth. Williams (0-1) didn’t retire any of the five hitters he faced, walking three.
That included Matt Wallner, whose free pass with the sacks filled forced Ryan Jeffers home with an insurance run, inspiring angry boos from the listed crowd of 32,798 as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza hooked Williams.
Minnesota’s bullpen retired all 12 hitters it faced. Cole Sands (1-1) pitched the last two innings to earn the win, fanning Tyrone Taylor for the last out.
Needing something good to happen early in the opener of its nine-game homestand, New York got it in the bottom of the third. Mark Vientos led off with a single and was forced at second on Carson Benge’s grounder.
Benge swiped second and Marcus Semien walked. After working a full count, Lindor crushed a 3-2 offering an estimated 410 feet into the second deck in right field. It was his second homer and quadrupled his RBI total from one to four.
Nolan McLean mowed down the first 15 hitters he faced before finding trouble in the sixth. Wallner broke up his perfect game with a leadoff single and trotted home with two outs when Byron Buxton lofted a two-run homer, his fourth of the year, just over the leaping Benge and over the left field wall.
Minnesota equalized an inning later when Kody Clemens lined a double to right and scored on Keaschall’s line-drive single to center. One out later, McLean was gone after fanning 10 in 6 2/3 innings while permitting five hits and three runs.
Keaschall’s hit got Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson off the hook after he pitched five innings, yielding four hits and three runs with three walks and two strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
