Another edge prospect we should be talking about more
The EDGE class in the 2025 NFL Draft is simply insanely deep and talented. It seems as though everywhere you turn, every piece of tape you put on, there’s another edge defender who could be an impact player at the NFL level.
Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku has been on the periphery of the discussion of this year’s edge defender class, but he deserves much more attention. He combines natural leverage with a fluid lower body and solid athleticism, all of which played a part in a breakout 2024 season with 21 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks.
The New York Giants lost speed rusher Azeez Ojulari in free agency, though they added to the depth of their front. A third pass rusher who can rotate on in relief of a starter or in obvious passing downs wouldn’t go astray. Could the Giants look at Ezeiruaku if he slips out of the first round?
Prospect: Donovan Ezeiruaku (6)
Games Watched: vs. Florida State (2024), vs. Missouri (2024), vs. Syracuse (2024)
Measurables
Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football
Strengths
Best traits
- Athleticism
- Length
- Leverage
- Football IQ
- Technique
Donovan Ezeiruaku is a skilled and explosive edge defender who’s coming off of a remarkably productive breakout season in 2024 that saw him rack up 21 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks.
Ezeiruaku has a great blend of natural leverage at 6-foot-2 but with 34-inch arms. He further maximizes that leverage with solid lower body flexibility and body control. Ezeiruaku does a good job of timing the snap and fires out of his stance with good pad level. The combination of his relative lack of height, flexible lower body, and explosiveness allows him to consistently stress offensive tackles.
And unlike many rushers at the collegiate level, Ezeiruaku is also a skilled and savvy technician. He has very active hands with pro-ready technique which should allow him to be productive right away. He understands how to rush with a plan and does a great job of mixing a variety of techniques to keep tackles from predicting his rushes. Ezeiruaku mixed a chop, chop-rip, club-rip, arm-over, long-arm, and straight bullrush in the tape viewed, and did a good job of matching his moves to what opponents were prepared for.
He isn’t a big edge defender at 249 pounds, but has enough play strength to set a solid edge in run defense. More importantly, he understands how to leverage his positioning and force ball carriers back to his help. Ezeiruaku also has great competitive toughness and is consistently willing to fight through multiple blockers or give full effort in pursuit – even if he’s on the opposite side of the field from the play.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Top end athleticism
Ezeiruaku is a versatile and well-rounded edge defender with few real weaknesses in his game.
If there are nits to pick, it’s that Ezeiruaku doesn’t quite have “great” play strength. He can set a firm edge and deliver a jolt as a bull rusher, and knows how to use his natural leverage to his advantage. However, he lacks the mass to hold blockers, nor the raw power to drive them back as a power rusher.
The flip side of that coin is that while Ezeiruaku is able to drop into shallow zones to muddy quarterbacks’ reads, he really shouldn’t be asked to hold up in coverage. He lacks the hip fluidity and speed to really play coverage against tight ends or running backs.
Game Tape
(Ezeiruaku is the Boston College edge defender wearing number 6 with no sleeves.)
Projection
Donovan Ezeiruaku projects as a starting edge defender at the NFL level.
He doesn’t quite have full schematic versatility and would likely be best in a “multiple” defense or a one-gap 3-4 front. That said, he does have the ability to rush from a 3-point stance and can be a 4-3 defensive end in nickel situations.
Ezeiruaku should be able to hit the ground running at the NFL level, and he very well could have been in the conversation for “EDGE 1” in a less-stacked draft class. He might slide a bit, but that gives him the opportunity to land on a good team and he’ll be a good bet to outplay his draft slot.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes
Final Word: A later first or early second round talent