NFL Draft Sleeper Comparison: Edge Rusher
By Chase Petersen
This EDGE class is very deep at the top. Within the first 64 picks, 10-12 pass rushers may be off the board. And take my word for it, teams better get them while they can. There is a major drop off after those top guys, and it made finding 2 EDGE sleepers difficult. But for you guys, I managed to do it. Today we look at Virginia Tech’s Amare Barno and Western Kentucky’s DeAngelo Malone:
Amare Barno, Virginia Tech
Pros:
- Explosive off the snap
- Athletic enough to drop in coverage or spy
- NFL EDGE build
- Led the ACC in TFL (2020)
Cons:
- Inconsistent hand usage
- Has no pass rush plan
- Poor play strength
Amare Barno has the requisite size and athleticism to play the EDGE in the NFL. The first thing you’ll notice about him when watching his tape is that he has burst and can explode off the line of scrimmage. He has well above average explosiveness off the ball, and it shows on just about every snap.
His frame and his athleticism will definitely get him looks. Standing at 6’4” 240lbs, he is the perfect height and weight to play the edge in the NFL. With his length he’ll be able to compete with even the best tackles in football at the point of attack. He proved this his first year at VT, where he racked up 16 TFL and 6.5 sacks.
As for his negatives, there are a few glaring ones. When Barno knew what move he was going to use pre-snap, he was almost unblockable. However, he rarely looked like he had planned out his next move ahead of time. He routinely came off the ball, punched his hands, and just tried to run through the OT. It didn’t often work in the ACC, so it certainly won’t in the NFL.
The reason why is because of his next knock. He has below average play strength, and while his length allows him to push some pockets, he doesn’t physically man handle tackles at any point. If he is going to win consistently at the next level, he is going to have to learn a few more moves and when best to use them.
Comparison: Arden Key
My Grade: 3rd-4th Round
Current Draft Stock: 4th-7th Round
DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky
Pros:
- Excellent length
- Above average explosiveness
- Good bend
- Incredible college production
Cons:
- Play strength
- Lack of secondary moves
- No pass rush plan
DeAngelo Malone is cut from the same cloth as Amare Barno. Malone is another very long pass rusher with good explosiveness off the ball. A pass rushers’ get-off is the first thing I’m looking for in this process. Being explosive off the ball sets up all your moves, and gives the OL less time to react to you. Malone passes this test with flying colors, as when he is locked in, he can come off the ball in a hurry.
Next for Malone is his bend. While he isn’t a top tier bendy athlete, there are reps on his tape that proves he is capable of getting there. If he can improve his bend and mix that with his fast first step off the ball, it will put less athletic OL’s in a bind.
Lastly for his positives is his consistent production. 4 seasons with 9+ TFL and in those same 4 seasons he had at least 6 sacks each year, with 32.5 sacks and 59 TFL overall. While he wasn’t doing it in a Power 5 conference, being that consistent proves that none of it was a fluke. He was winning reps, consistently, every game, for 4 straight seasons.
As for his cons, Malone doesn’t have elite play strength. He doesn’t get completely blown off the ball ever, but he can get moved out of his gap rather effortlessly on some reps, specifically on power run plays. He has a ton of room on his body to add weight and muscle, so this problem has a chance to go away, but as of today holding up against the run in the NFL would be a struggle for him.
Malone’s last two cons work together. He will explode off the ball, get stood up by the OL, and then he’s just blocked. He doesn’t have the strength to win with a bull rush, but a majority of his pass rushing snaps that’s what he attempts to go with. If he can learn just one or two consistent moves off the bull rush it would go a long way toward helping him win more reps.
Finally, like I said these last two cons play off of each other. Malone more often than not looks like he has no idea what to do post-snap. He showed a strong rip move, and proved the ability to be a good hand fighter – he just didn’t show it enough. Too many times the OL would get their hands on Malone, and that was the end of the rep. With his explosion, if he came off the ball with a plan in mind, he could’ve been unblockable for the level of CFB he was playing at.
Comparison: Barkevious Mingo
My Grade: 3rd-4th Round
Current Draft Stock: 4th-5th Round
The Verdict
These players are very similar. Both lanky athletes with good explosion, who have the tendency to look lost at times. In my opinion, Amare Barno appeared to have the longer arms, better athleticism, and played at a higher level. Malone played stronger, but had less pass rushing moves. It is for these reasons that if I had to choose between the two, I would take my chances with Amare Barno. However, if both of these guys get in the weight room, add some body mass and improve their play strength, they could get consistent snaps in the NFL.
2022 Best EDGE Sleeper: Amare Barno
CHASE PETERSEN
NFL DRaft ANALYST
From just outside Kansas City Missouri, Chase has been obsessed with the NFL Draft for as long as he can remember. An avid Minnesota Vikings and Texas Longhorns fan, connect with Chase on Twitter @SportsTalkCenter