Top 10 Edge Defenders for Broncos in 2026 NFL Draft

This is one of the premium positions in the NFL, so the Broncos will be scouting the class.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Denver Broncos have a logjam in their outside linebacker room after extending Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, drafting Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson, and finding Dondrea Tillman. The Broncos could trade one of the pieces and clear up the logjam, with Cooper and Elliss being the two common names being thrown out there. This draft class has options, but the Broncos will want to be wary of exacerbating the logjam at rush linebacker.

Why it matters

The Broncos have invested heavily in their outside linebacker room, but with a surplus of talent, they may need to make a trade to clear up the depth chart. Scouting the top edge defenders in the 2026 draft class could help them identify potential trade targets or future replacements.

The details

David Bailey of Texas Tech is projected to be the first pure edge player selected in this class, though he has close competition behind him. Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami (FL) and Akheem Mesidor, also of Miami (FL), are other top prospects. Keldrick Faulk of Auburn, Cashius Howell of Texas A&M, R Mason Thomas of Oklahoma, TJ Parker of Clemson, Gabe Jacas of Illinois, Zion Young of Missouri, and Derrick Moore of Michigan round out the top 10 edge defenders in the 2026 draft class.

  • The Broncos will be scouting this draft class throughout the 2025 college football season.

The players

David Bailey

Bailey is projected to be the first pure edge player selected in this class, though he has close competition behind him. The issue with Bailey is that he struggles to disengage from blocks and work through them, but he is an explosive athlete who can work around them.

Rueben Bain Jr.

Bain has a chance to overtake Bailey, and they are two different types of players, so preference is going to matter here. The arm length from Bain is a concern, but he is thick and powerful, and he knows how to drive through leverage, which the shorter arms can actually help with.

Akheem Mesidor

Playing on the opposite side of Bain, Mesidor didn't quite get the attention from opposing teams that a player of his caliber normally would. He is also a testament to turning flashes and splash plays into consistency, as he leaped forward during the 2025 season.

Keldrick Faulk

There are so many traits to work with when it comes to Faulk, including the fact that he is only 20 years old. He has a 6-foot-6 and 270-plus-pound frame, with room to add more. The athleticism and power consistently flash, but the football technique is lacking, leading to some production concerns.

Cashius Howell

Right now, Howell is a pass-rush specialist with a lot of work to do not to be a liability as a run defender. He should test well at the combine as a juiced-up athlete and could push for the quickest 10-yard split in the position group.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The Broncos have a lot of options to consider in the 2026 NFL Draft when it comes to edge defenders. They'll need to carefully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect to determine which one best fits their needs and scheme, while also being mindful of their current depth chart and potential trade opportunities.