The 2026 Draft Thread - Day 3

Hey ESPN, we're all watching to see who the picks are, and film of them, not all the other stupid crap you keep putting up there.
 
Josephs may have been another unreported Top 30 visit. Interesting.
 
I did not expect to pick an edge, especially one who only had 4 sacks this season, but I don’t know much at this point in the draft, so maybe there is more there.
 
skinsinparadise said:
I posted on him a little while ago, ranked high by the scouts, had some character concerns.
Click to expand...
His draft bio by NFL seems more like that of a 6th or even 7th round guy. A lot like Baptiste but smaller.

Has one move, is smallish, doesn't have much bend to him.

What's the thinking here?
 
1777141642603.png
 
8th ranked edge from the scouts

www.golongtd.com

Part 8, Edge: Deep 2026 class promises to torment quarterbacks

David Bailey, Rueben Bain will go early, but they're far from alone. NFL scouts dissect one of the deepest Edge classes in recent memory. As always, however, there are red flags to examine.
www.golongtd.com www.golongtd.com

8. JOSHUA JOSEPHS, Tennessee (6-3, 243, 4.73, 2-3): Spent four seasons in Knoxville, starting 16 games (11 as a senior). “One of the top edge rushers in the draft,” one scout said. “Not a sexy rusher. He’s is a long-armed speed-to-power rusher who has consistently created vertical rush. He won’t get as much love as Zion Young because he doesn’t look as athletic nor will he get the love of Rueben Bain because the hype isn’t there. However, he has a chance to produce more than either one because his style will carry over to the NFL more efficiently. He’ll most likely go in the second round and should be a career starter capable of eight to 12 sacks per season due to his speed-to-power conversion and relentless motor.” Finished with 104 tackles (22 for loss), 9 ½ sacks, six forced fumbles and nine batted passes. Had a vertical jump of 38 1/2. Arms were 34 ¼, hands were 10. “Good athlete,” a second scout said. “He’s long, but not that big and can get washed off pretty quickly. He’s not going to run through everybody. Kind of wins with his athleticism more than he does anything else. You’ll see more speed to power out of him. He did not have a good interview so I know some teams will be worried with the character.” Four-star recruit from Kennesaw, Ga.
 

Pre-Draft Analysis​

Josephs' length allows him to keep offensive linemen off his chest and gives him an advantage when working on the edge. He will need to continue developing his pass rush arsenal and mix in more moves to become more consistent as a rusher, but he does show deceptive play strength, having the ability to push the pocket and drive offensive tackles backward. Josephs plays with active hands, too. He has traits that can translate to the next level and plays with high energy, giving him the potential to develop into a productive player with continued refinement. -- Scouts Inc.
 
  • That 82-inch wingspan creates problems before the snap even happens, allowing him to strike offensive tackles at range while keeping his body clean from their punch attempts.
  • First step explosiveness is legitimately special, with a 4.68 forty time that shows up on tape as elite get-off that leaves SEC linemen lunging at air.
  • When setting the edge against the run, he plays with discipline and gap integrity that belies his age, anchoring hard and forcing ball carriers back inside.
  • Pass rush repertoire has developed nicely with a devastating cross-chop, effective push-pull, and a bull-to-rip sequence that gave Alabama and Oklahoma fits.
  • Shows legitimate football intelligence when diagnosing screen passes and misdirection, rarely biting on the eye candy that fools less patient rushers.
  • Long arm technique converts his speed to power effectively, delivering shocking jolts that knock SEC tackles off their spot and reset the line of scrimmage.
  • Closing speed on the quarterback is electric, and once he turns the corner his natural bend lets him flatten to the passer at angles tackles cannot mirror.
  • Plays with a genuine mean https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Joshua-Josephs-DL-Tennessee#google_vignette
  • streak when games hang in the balance, hunting down pressure opportunities with the killer instinct you cannot coach.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 2, Members: 0, Guests: 2)

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.

    You haven't joined any rooms.
    Top