5 Best Edge Prospects for the Buffalo Bills

There is one position of need for the Buffalo Bills in the 2024 NFL Draft that dries up very quickly, and that’s at edge. Gems are found every year, but the consensus about this draft class is that it isn’t particularly strong in the pass rush department, outside the top of the class.

So, would a pass rusher be an option at Pick 28? The defensive front could use a talent injection with Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa slated to start on the edges and not much depth behind them. If one of the following names is available, it would definitely be worth considering.

Laiatu Latu, UCLA

If Laiatu Latu falls into the laps of the Bills because of injury concerns, Beane should call in the pick while laughing all the way to the bank, but it might be wishful thinking. Latu suffered a neck injury during preseason workouts at the University of Washington in 2020, was advised to medically retire from football, and didn’t play football for two years – but as of now, after two years of great production at UCLA and no medical setbacks, there doesn’t seem to be much chatter about his injury.

Jared Verse, Florida State University

Of this list, the first three names should be considered “unlikely” to be available to the Bills at 28, but you never know what will happen on draft night. Jared Verse, a pass rush artist brimming with athleticism, has plenty of proverbial clubs in his bag and can beat you in a variety of ways. Verse peaked in 2023, posting a 28% pass rush win rate, recording nine sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Verse has a fast first step and a relentless motor.

Dallas Turner, Alabama

Last year, it was Will Anderson making his mark in the NFL after coming from Alabama. Dallas Turner called next. Turner stepped up with a 19.2% pressure rate and 32% pass rush win rate in 2023, leading to 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. Turner has a high football IQ, sheds blocks with ease, and is well-suited to step in and contribute in year one.

Chop Robinson, Penn State

If you like your pass rushers to have elite athleticism and flashes of extremely high potential, then Chop Robinson is your man. Robinson is slightly undersized for an edge at just under 6’3”, but his testing at the Combine showcased his rare athleticism. Robinson flashed with a 4.48 40-yard dash, a 34’5” vertical, and a 10’8” broad.

Robinson’s upside at the next level is incredibly high, but it does take a bit of projection. He lined up in a 4-3 scheme with his hand in the dirt, and only generated 4.0 sacks in 2023, and 11.5 over his three-year college career. The production isn’t there, but the film and the athleticism are. Pair that with the fact that he’s one of the youngest players in this draft, and Robinson is a bit of a project with a massive ceiling.

Darius Robinson, Missouri

When you get an invitation to draft night as a player, there’s a pretty high chance that you’re getting selected in the first round. Darius Robinson, who is a bit of a tweener between a 3T defensive tackle and an edge rusher, got that invitation.

Robinson, at 6’5” 296 lbs, has plenty of size on his frame, but he moves and bends with ease. He can contribute from a variety of positions along the defensive line – Robinson started his college career primarily lining up in the B gap for the first two seasons and then was asked to move outside the tackle for a majority of snaps in 2023. That move led to an increase in production, logging nine sacks and six quarterback hits. Robinson and flexibility to rush outside or contribute in the interior of the defensive line makes him very appealing for Buffalo’s scheme fit.