3 burning questions for Florida Panthers entering 2026 offseason
Florida Panthers Face Key Decisions Ahead of 2026 Offseason
The 2026 NFL Draft is here, focusing on EDGE prospects with significant depth. Key players to watch include Bailey, Bain, Faulk, Mesidor, and Howell, with potential starters available from the 3rd round onward.
Best available EDGE in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results, top prospects still on board originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real.Â
Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends.Â
A year from now we could be looking at one of the deeper position groups. In the short time, many will focus on Bailey, Bain, Faulk, Mesidor and Howell. However, the depth of this group cannot be overlooked.Â
There could be as many as ten EDGE players taken from the 3rd round forward that not only project to starters but could be big impact players at the next level. There are even draft analyst darlings well into the fifth round.
| Name | School | HT | WT | Range | Pick | Team |
| David Bailey | Texas Tech | 6'3 | 250 | Top 10 | ||
| Rueben Bain Jr | Miami | 6'3 | 270 | Top 20 | ||
| Keldric Faulk | Auburn | 6'6 | 285 | Rd 1-2 | ||
| Akheem Mesidor |
The 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network-- available on Fubo), The Las Vegas Raiders will likely select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
Key EDGE prospects include Bailey, Bain, Faulk, Mesidor, and Howell.
There could be as many as ten EDGE players taken from the 3rd round onward.
The 2026 NFL Draft is challenging traditional positional priorities, with EDGE players gaining more attention at the top.
Many EDGE prospects are projected to be starters and could make a significant impact at the next level.
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| Miami |
| 6'3 |
| 280 |
| Rd 1-2 |
| Cashius Howell | Texas A&M | 6'2 | 248 | Rd 1-2 |
| Zion Young | Missouri | 6'5 | 262 | Rd 1-2 |
| TJ Parker | Clemson | 6'3 | 260 | Rd 1-2 |
| R Mason Thomas | Oklahoma | 6'2 | 249 | Rd 1-2 |
| Derrick Moore | Michigan | 6'3 | 260 | Rd 1-2 |
| Keyron Crawford | Auburn | 6'4 | 255 | Rd 2-3 |
| Malachi Lawrence | UCF | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 2-3 |
| LT Overton | Alabama | 6'5 | 283 | Rd 2-3 |
| Gabe Jacas | Illinois | 6'3 | 270 | Rd 2-3 |
| Max Llewellyn | Iowa | 6'5 | 263 | Rd 2-3 |
| Tyreak Sapp | Florida | 6'2 | 274 | Rd 2-3 |
| Romello Height | Texas A&M | 6'3 | 240 | Rd 2-3 |
| Jaishawn Barham | Michigan | 6'3 | 243 | Rd 2-4 |
| George Gumbs Jr | Florida | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 2-4 |
| Joshua Josephs | Tennessee | 6'3 | 240 | Rd 2-4 |
| Wesley Williams | Duke | 6'3 | 265 | Rd 3-5 |
| Dani Daniels-Sutton | Penn State | 6'5 | 265 | Rd 3-5 |
| Mikail Kamara | Indiana | 6'1 | 262 | Rd 3-5 |
| Nadame Tucker | W. Michigan | 6'3 | 250 | Rd 3-5 |
| Caden Curry | Ohio State | 6'3 | 280 | Rd 3-5 |
| Quintayvious Hutchins | Boston College | 6'3 | 240 | Rd 3-5 |
| Marvin Jones Jr | Oklahoma | 6'5 | 262 | Rd 3-5 |
| Aidan Hubbard | Northwestern | 6'4 | 255 | Rd 4-6 |
| Patrick Payton | LSU | 6'6 | 255 | Rd 4-6 |
| Nyjalik Kelly | UCF | 6'5 | 250 | Rd 4-6 |
| TJ Guy | Michigan | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 4-6 |
| Vincent Anthony Jr | Duke | 6'6 | 260 | Rd 4-6 |
| Anthony Lucas | USC | 6'5 | 285 | Rd 4-6 |
| Eric O'Neill | Rutgers | 6'3 | 261 | Rd 4-6 |
| Mason Reiger | Wisconsin | 6'5 | 248 | Rd 4-6 |
| Logan Fano | Utah | 6'5 | 260 | Rd 4-6 |
| Keyshawn James-Newby | New Mexico | 6'2 | 244 | Rd 5-7 |
| Ben Bell | Virginia Tech | 6'1 | 235 | Rd 5-7 |
| Jack Pyburn | LSU | 6'4 | 264 | Rd 5-7 |
| Dean Miller | Kansas | 6'5 | 240 | Rd 5-7 |
| Mo Westmoreland | Tulane | 6'2 | 250 | Rd 5-7 |
| Jimmori Robinson | W. Virginia | 6'4 | 250 | Rd 5-7 |