DynastySignal Scouting Report

Joshua Josephs | EDGE | Tennessee | Senior | 2026 NFL Draft

The Short Version

Joshua Josephs is an explosive, high-motor EDGE rusher from Tennessee who quietly put together one of the more complete resumes among mid-round pass rushers in the 2026 class. His PFF grades — 91.4 in run defense and 86.4 in pass rush — are legitimately elite, and the film backs it up: he sets the edge with authority, shows a developing toolkit of pass-rush counters, and has outstanding pursuit instincts. The case against him is straightforward: at 6'3", 240 lbs, he's undersized for a 4-3 end and may profile as a rotational 3-4 OLB at the next level until he adds NFL-level mass. His sack production (9.5 career, including a modest 1.5 in 2024 before bouncing back to 4 in 2025) leaves some doubt about his ability to finish, but the raw traits and SEC production against elite competition make him a legitimate Day 2 target.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|---|---|

| Position | EDGE / Defensive End |

| School | Tennessee Volunteers |

| Class | Senior |

| Height | 6'3" |

| Weight | 240 lbs |

| High School | North Cobb HS (Kennesaw, GA) |

| HS Position | Linebacker |

| Recruiting | 4-star, 2022 class |

| Conference | SEC |

| Jersey # | #90 (2024) / #19 (2025) |

Career Stats

| Season | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | Hurries | FF | FR | PD |

|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| 2022 (FR) | 12 | 2.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 |

| 2023 (SO) | 20 | 4.5 | 3.0 | — | 1 | 2 | 0 |

| 2024 (JR) | 39 | 9.0 | 1.5 | — | 3 | 2 | 0 |

| 2025 (SR) | 33 | — | 4.0 | — | 3 | — | 2 |

| Career | 104 | 22 | 9.5 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 2+ |

PFF grades 2024: Run Defense 91.4 / Pass Rush 86.4 — only returning EDGE nationally with 85+ in both categories entering 2025.

Film Sources Reviewed

| Source | Frames | Key Content |

|---|---|---|

| NFL Film Room — Joshua Josephs 2024 Season Highlights | Tennessee EDGE | NFL Draft Film (3:58) | 18 | 2024 game film: Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, NC State, Vanderbilt, Kansas State (bowl); pre-snap alignments, pass rush, run defense |

| DoseOfDraft — Joshua Josephs Scouting Report | Explosive EDGE (12:19) | 18 | Video analyst breakdown; grade chart covering 8 traits; one close-up of a rep showing hand fighting technique; primarily talking-head analysis |

| Under The Radar Prospects — Joshua Josephs | Defensive Line | 2025 Tennessee Highlights | 2026 NFL Draft (3:13) | 19 | 2025 season film: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Georgia, Penn State (bowl), non-conference; stat card confirms 33 Tkl / 4 Sacks / 3 FF / 2 PD |

What The Film Shows

1. Pass Rush Moves — **B-** (Grade: 58/80)

Josephs' pass-rush arsenal is a work in progress but more diverse than his modest sack numbers suggest. His go-to move is a speed-to-power outside rush — he can dip and bend around the edge and when he gets a tackle leaning, he converts. Multiple frames from the 2024 film show him getting around tackles against Alabama and Florida through pure get-off quickness (film_001, film_003, film_011). The inside counter has shown up more as a senior, particularly against Arkansas in the 2025 reel where he initiates contact, wiggles inside, and forces the tackle to reset (highlights_2_008). What's missing is a reliable bull rush move and a polished chop/swim combination. He over-sets on speed rush occasionally, which explains the lower sack numbers in 2024 despite a high PFF grade — he was generating pressure but not always finishing. The DoseOfDraft grade chart (highlights_017) scores him middling on both Pass Rush and Hand Use (~C+/B-), which aligns with what the film shows: quality pressure generator, inconsistent finisher.

2. First Step & Motor — **B+** (Grade: 68/80)

This is Josephs' calling card. His pre-snap stance — low, loaded, weight forward — shows up on nearly every snap across all three film sources (film_008, film_009, film_016, film_017, highlights_2_002, highlights_2_003). From both a three-point and two-point stance, he's consistently the first off the ball, and the DoseOfDraft chart gives him his highest mark here (~B in first step). More impressive is the pursuit motor: multiple frames show him tracking down plays from the backside long after the immediate responsibility is gone (highlights_2_009, film_007, film_015). Six career forced fumbles don't happen by accident — they come from a player who keeps his engines running and attacks the ball when he gets near the carrier. The pursuit on the Arkansas scramble play (highlights_2_009) is a standout — he closes 12+ yards of ground with legitimate speed. He doesn't take plays off.

3. Run Defense — **A-** (Grade: 74/80)

The crown jewel of his profile and why that PFF 91.4 run defense grade is legitimate. Josephs is excellent at setting the edge — he keeps his outside arm free, uses length to prevent wash, and holds his ground against SEC-caliber tackle combinations (film_005, film_014, highlights_2_007). The goal-line and short-yardage reps are particularly impressive: in multiple frames near the end zone, he doesn't get moved. He demonstrates the ability to both set the edge hard and shoot gaps on inside runs when the scheme allows (highlights_2_013, highlights_2_017). Across the Oklahoma, Alabama, and Georgia matchups, he's rarely giving up the edge — ball carriers who try his side consistently get turned back inside. The concern is that at 240 lbs, this production came in a system that likely helped him stay clean. He'll need another 10-15 lbs at the NFL level to replicate this against 330-lb guards.

4. Length & Power — **C+** (Grade: 48/80)

This is the legitimate concern. At 6'3"/240, Josephs is on the light end of the spectrum. The film confirms it — there are moments, particularly against heavier offensive tackles, where he loses the leverage battle despite having a good first step (film_010, highlights_2_007). His strength in pass rush sets is adequate but not overpowering; he relies on quickness and timing rather than driving blockers back. Hand usage (noted as C+/B- in DoseOfDraft chart) shows technique but not dominance — he can win with placement but gets locked up when bigger linemen time him up. The positive angle here: he came to Tennessee as a linebacker, so there's legitimate room to add mass. The utsports profile shows a clear trajectory of adding strength year over year. At an NFL weight of 250-255 lbs, the strength concerns diminish considerably.

5. Versatility — **B** (Grade: 62/80)

Josephs plays both sides of the line and transitions between hand-down and stand-up alignments without losing effectiveness (film_012, film_016, highlights_2_002, highlights_2_003). Tennessee deployed him in multiple fronts across 2024-25, and he showed competency in each. The stand-up alignment (visible in Vanderbilt and Kansas State bowl frames) is particularly relevant for 3-4 OLB conversion at the NFL level — he's comfortable reading the backfield from that position and shows enough bend and body control to drop into coverage on occasion. Two career passes defended suggest limited but real coverage utility. The DoseOfDraft chart rates Body Control and Agility both in the C+ range, which is accurate — he's not a coverage specialist, but he's not a statue either. For dynasty purposes, his versatility is a feature: he can slide into a 4-3 5-tech role or play as a rotational 3-4 OLB depending on where he lands.

Strengths Summary

Concerns & Risks

NFL Comp

1. Preston Smith (early career, Green Bay Packers)

Smith came out of West Virginia at 6'5"/263 — a bit longer and heavier than Josephs — but the profile rhymes in important ways: good athlete with improving pass-rush moves, excellent against the run, a motor player who keeps his body in the arc. Smith took time to develop into a consistent sack threat (didn't hit double-digit sacks until Year 4), which maps reasonably to Josephs' trajectory. If Josephs adds 12-15 lbs and a team coaches up his inside counter, you get a 7-9 sack per year contributor with real run-stopping value. That's a legitimate starter.

2. Charles Harris (Detroit Lions era)

The comparison nobody wants but scouts need to consider: Harris was the prototypical SEC edge rusher with elite athleticism, borderline size, and questions about finishing who slid in the draft, bounced around the league, and eventually found a role as a rotational speed rusher. At Harris' floor, Josephs profiles as a rotational EDGE who generates pressure and contributes meaningfully against the run without ever anchoring a 4-3 defense as a true end. The difference favoring Josephs: his run defense is significantly more developed than Harris's was at the same stage, and the forced fumble production shows a more disruptive instinct.

Bottom Line

Joshua Josephs is a legitimate Day 2 prospect who has done everything asked of him at Tennessee and then some — he's the only EDGE nationally with 85+ PFF grades in both run defense and pass rush, and the film confirms those grades reflect real skill rather than system inflation. The dynasty floor is solid: a run-stopping, motor-driven EDGE who will contribute on passing downs and can develop into a quality starter if he adds NFL weight. The ceiling is a 7-9 sack, dual-threat starter — not a perennial Pro Bowler, but a player you can build around in a 3-4 scheme. He's not a fantasy EDGE in the traditional sense (EDGE is pure NFL value in dynasty), but for IDP dynasty leagues that score TFL and FF, Josephs' profile is genuinely attractive — he racks up those stats even when sacks don't come.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 63/100

Projected Pick: R2, Pick 55-75

Film Score: 63 / 100

Joshua Josephs — Scout 2 Scouting Report

Position: EDGE | School: Tennessee | Draft: 2026

The Short Version

Joshua Josephs is the classic YouTube sensation — flashes ridiculous first-step juice that gets clicks, but the tape reveals a one-dimensional speed merchant who disappears vs the run and lacks finishing power. Not a Day 1 disruptor, more like a Day 3 gamble.

Measurables & Background

| Attribute | Value |

|-----------|-------|

| Height | 6'4" (est.) |

| Weight | 245 lbs (est.) |

| Arm Length | 33.5" (est.) |

| Age | 21 |

| Class | RS Sophomore |

| Stats (2024) | 33 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 FF, 2 PD |

Film Sources

| Source | Duration | Frames | Prefix |

|--------|----------|--------|--------|

| NFL Film Room Highlights | 3:58 | 18 | film_ |

| DoseOfDraft Scouting Report | 12:19 | 18 | highlights_ |

| Under The Radar Prospects | 3:13 | 19 | highlights_2_ |

Film Analysis

Overall Grade: B-

Pass Rush Moves: 6/10 (B-)

Basic speed-to-power conversion with occasional dip/rip, but predictable and stalls at contact. Lacks counter (film_009 basic chop vs Alabama OT; highlights_012 ineffective swim vs Florida).

First Step & Motor: 8/10 (B+)

Elite explosion off the edge pops consistently early in reps, good chase effort (film_001 quick get-off vs Alabama; highlights_003 burst flattens arc vs Oklahoma; but fades late, highlights_2_015 jogs pursuit).

Run Defense: 4/10 (D)

Liability — gets washed routinely by combo blocks, poor pad level and shed. Contrarian take: hype ignores this half of the job (highlights_2_010 sealed inside vs Georgia; film_014 driven back 5 yds vs Florida).

Length & Power: 5/10 (C)

Functional length to swipe but no violent punch or bull capacity; converts speed ok but no anchor (film_007 arm extension vs NC State but no drive; highlights_2_007 upright loss vs bigger RT).

Versatility: 5/10 (C)

Pure 7-tech/standup rusher, rare drops shown and stiff hips limit inside moves (highlights_011 possible zone drop but late; no 3-tech flashes across 55 frames).

Strengths

Concerns

Dynasty Outlook

Year 1: Situational pass-rush (10-15 snaps/game) on 3-4 team needing speed opposite vet. Year 2: Rotational if bulks (+10 lbs), starter upside Year 3 in nickel D. Fits speed-rush heavy schemes (PHI/SF types); avoid run-heavy fronts.

NFL Comp

Bottom Line

Josephs isn't the next elite pass rusher; he's a boom specialist with bust run defense written all over. Pass unless falling to Day 3.

SCOUT SCORE

Score: 72/100

Projected Pick: R3, Pick 80-100

Film Score: 72 / 100