FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at Tennessee EDGE rusher Joshua Josephs.
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2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joshua Josephs
Joshua Josephs (EDGE – Tennessee)
6-foot-3 | 240 Pounds
Background
Joshua Josephs rotated into Tennessee’s defense since his true freshman season (12-2.5-1.0 in 2022, 20-4.5-3.0 in 2023) before making five starts in 2024 and recording a line of 39-9.0-1.5. He started in all 11 of his appearances this past season but played the same number of snaps, finishing with a 33-6.0-4.0 line.
Positives
A long-limbed rush linebacker with escalating production in each season over the past four years. Plays the game with more physicality and toughness than you’d expect. Willing to take on blocks in the run game, and has more functional strength than anticipated. Does a nice job of using his length to keep opposing blockers out of his pads.
Josephs locates the ball well and shows the ability to shed blocks and make stops when in position. Plays with discipline on the backside. Brings it on a snap-to-snap basis, showing a good motor in pursuit. Solid tackler with a wide radius. As a pass-rusher, he does a good job of mixing in outside rushes, inside rushes and speed-to-power to keep blockers guessing.
Long strides allow Josephs to challenge the edge on passing downs. Shows good flexibility in his lower body when coming around the edge. Long strides and above-average lateral quickness also allow him to threaten with inside moves. Good hand-fighter. Shows some understanding of how to use pace changes to create opportunities for himself.
Josephs’ rush approach doesn’t undermine the team’s run fits. Has forced three fumbles in each of the past two seasons. Able to make the occasional spot drop into zone coverage.
Negatives
Rotated off the field pretty regularly, even this past season, and never really stuffed the stat sheet. A bit of a one-speed player who’s smoother than he is fast or explosive. More physical and competitive in the run game than he is powerful, and may struggle to hold the point of attack when run at.
Occasionally gets sucked in a bit by misdirection, and probably doesn’t have the raw speed to get back to the ball-carrier. Uses a speed-to-power approach as a rusher, but doesn’t walk back a lot of tackles with his bull rush. Active with his hands when his initial move is unsuccessful, but tends to end up hanging near the line of scrimmage on those snaps. Could use a more decisive repertoire of counters.
Summary
A jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none off the edge, who plays the game the right way and uses his length and technique to effectively defend the run and generate pressure on passing downs.
However, Josephs doesn’t have ideal bulk or power, nor does he have the eye-popping speed and explosiveness of some of the other similarly-sized rush linebackers in the class. Consequently, he might slip into the third round or so, but could turn into a solid contributor on an odd front.
Projection: Round 3
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