NFL Draft OLB/Edge rush breakdown: Nick Bosa, Josh Allen both top-5 locks

The NFL Draft is Thursday-Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. Each day leading up to the first round, the Tribune-Review is compiling a positional preview of the top draft prospects.

Today: Edge rushers/outside linebackers

1. Nick Bosa

Ohio State, 6-4, 266

The younger brother of Joey Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick in 2016, Nick is expected to be the first non-quarterback taken in the draft even though he played only three games in his junior season. He made a difference when he was on the field, however, recording 14 tackles (6 for loss), four sacks and a forced fumble before he suffered a core muscle injury. He was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2017 when he only started four games. He had 34 tackles (15 for loss) and eight sacks that season.

2. Josh Allen

Kentucky, 6-5, 262

Allen is another edge rusher who will go early in the first round. He won the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy last season while being named a first-team All-American. For the year, Allen had 88 tackles, including 21 1/2 for loss, and he was second in the nation with 17 sacks and five forced fumbles. As a junior, he chipped in seven tackles and 9 1/2 tackles for loss.

3. Montez Sweat

Mississippi State, 6-6, 260

Sweat spent his first two seasons at Michigan State, earning a redshirt as a freshman. He was suspended from the team for the next season and transferred to a junior college. He enrolled at Mississippi State and he became a two-time, first-team All-SEC selection. He had 10 1/2 sacks as a junior and 11 1/2 in his senior season. He also had 14 tackles for loss in his final year with the Bulldogs.

4. Brian Burns

Florida State, 6-5, 249

In three seasons at Florida State, in which he was a full-time starter for two, Burns accrued 24 sacks. He had 9 1/2 as a hybrid edge/rush linebacker as a freshman, and he had 4 1/2 sacks and 13 1/2 tackles for loss while playing defensive end as a sophomore. He was a first-team all-ACC pick as a junior when he led Florida State with 15 1/2 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He also forced three fumbles.

5. Clelin Ferrell

Clemson, 6-4, 264

Ferrell won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end as a junior after being named a finalist as a sophomore. He had 11 1/2 sacks and 19 1/2 tackles for loss in his final year at Clemson while also breaking up four passes and forcing three fumbles en route to helping the Tigers win the national championship. The previous year, Ferrell had 18 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks with two forced fumbles.

6. Jaylon Ferguson

Louisiana Tech, 6-5, 271

Ferguson set the NCAA career sacks record during his four-year stay at Louisiana Tech, taking down the quarterback 45 times. As a senior, he had 17 1/2 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. He also broke up three passes and forced two fumbles in 13 games. Ferguson also had 14 1/2 sacks as a sophomore.

7. Jachai Polite

Florida, 6-3, 258

Polite was a disruptive force as a junior at Florida before he declared for the draft. Although he started just five of 13 games, he had 11 sacks and 17 1/2 tackles for loss in his final season, while leading the nation with six forced fumbles. He was named a second-team All-American. His sophomore season was cut short after seven games because of a shoulder injury.

8. D’Andre Walker

Georgia, 6-2, 251

Walker didn’t start a game at Georgia until his senior year when he played like he was trying to make up for lost time. He led the Bulldogs with 11 tackles for loss and had 7 1/2 sacks in 13 games. He played in 41 games as a backup the previous three seasons and he had 13 1/2 tackles for loss and 5 1/2 sacks as a junior.

9. Chase Winovich

Michigan, 6-3, 256

The Thomas Jefferson graduate was a productive player at Michigan, beginning with his sophomore year in 2016 when he had 9 1/2 tackles for loss and five sacks. As a junior, he had 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks, which set up a strong senior season. Winovich was a first-team All-Big Ten pick when he led Michigan with 17 tackles for loss. He also chipped in five sacks.

10. Ben Banogu

TCU, 6-3, 250

Banogu made an official visit to the Steelers in the top-30 predraft process. He began his college career at Louisiana-Monroe, but eager for improved competition he transferred to TCU in 2016. After sitting out a season, he was named a first-team All-Big 12 player when he had 8 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss as a junior. He punctuated his career by leading the Horned Frogs with 18 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 sacks last season.

Homegrown

Shareef Miller

Penn State, 6-4, 254

Miller left Penn State after his redshirt junior season. In his final year with the Nittany Lions, he had 41 tackles, including 15 for loss, and 7 1/2 sacks while serving as the co-winner of the team’s defensive MVP award. He had 11 tackles for loss and five sacks as a junior while starting 12 games. He also played in 14 games as a freshman.

Best fit for Steelers

Chase Winovich

Michigan, 6-3, 256

Winovich said it would be a dream come true to be drafted by the Steelers, and he could get his wish if he’s still on the board when it’s the Steelers turn to pick on the second day. They could use either the No. 52, No. 66 or No. 83 picks on a pass rusher. The Steelers would like to add another edge rusher to go along with starters T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree and backup Anthony Chickillo.

Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.