Ranking the Top 15 Edge Rusher Prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft

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4. Markus Golden, 6’2, 260, Missouri

Even though Ray has the most polished pass-rushing skills of the Missouri defensive ends, Golden may end up being the better all-around player. He’s sturdy enough to stick at 4-3 defensive end if necessary, though he’d be a natural convert to 3-4 outside linebacker considering that he played linebacker at Mizzou before switching to the defensive line as a junior.

He has great speed off the line of scrimmage, and his short-burst speed is phenomenal. He’s a high-effort player, and he can be counted on to take advantage of any second-effort opportunities that come his way.

Golden needs to work on consistently staying low when he comes out of his stance, and he’ll need to further develop his pass-rushing technique as he ascends to the next level, since he won’t be able to rely on as many of the straight-line rushing opportunities that he encountered while at Mizzou.

If Golden hadn’t suffered an early-season hamstring injury which limited him until about halfway through the season, he would likely be considered a better prospect than Ray. Now, his status as a first-rounder is up in the air, but he should be a high-value pick whenever he ends up going.

Next: 3. Bud Dupree