Aidan Hubbard is a 6’4’’, 260 lb high-motor, finesse-based edge defender who developed into a productive and reliable player on Northwestern’s defensive front, finishing his career at number 5 all-time in career sacks at Northwestern. With a lean, athletic frame and good overall speed for the position, Hubbard wins more with burst, effort, and movement rather than with raw power or point of attack strength. His game is built around his ability to play fast, pursue heavily, and operate effectively in space, making him an active and disruptive presence when allowed to work on angles rather than taking on blocks head-on.
From a mental and technical standpoint, Hubbard shows a good understanding of defensive structure and assignment responsibility. He plays with discipline in the run game as he maintains gap integrity while executing surf techniques and slants with consistency. His patience navigating through traffic and ability to work laterally allow him to find the football without overcommitting, and he consistently plays with a high level of competitive toughness and effort regardless of game situation. While his processing speed is solid, there is a noticeable difference in his play speed when he diagnoses quickly versus when he is forced to react late.
As a pass rusher, Hubbard is of the finesse-oriented edge archetype who relies heavily on his initial move and motor to generate pressure. His best work comes when he is able to attack with speed and utilize moves based on arm-over techniques, which serves as his most consistent and effective rush. He flashes the ability to convert speed to power, but lacks the lower-body strength and finishing power to consistently collapse the pocket once offensive linemen anchor. His pass-rush plan remains underdeveloped, with limited counter usage, inconsistent sequencing throughout a rep, and a lack of playing “chess” with offensive linemen (setting up rushes for success later in games). He’s shown flashes of good bend and body lean, but it’s inconsistent, and strong-handed offensive linemen can stand him up and drain his rush. Additionally, his rush angles and inconsistent bend can lead him to overrun the quarterback and, at times, fail to level him, further limiting his finishing ability despite strong pursuit effort.
In the run game, Hubbard is a more complex case. He is a disciplined and technically sound defender who understands his responsibilities and executes movement-based assignments effectively. However, his lack of play strength and inability to consistently hold the point of attack create limitations that show up against stronger offensive linemen and double teams. He can be displaced from his gap and does not consistently reset the line of scrimmage, making him susceptible to being targeted in downhill run schemes. While he is effective when slanting, shooting gaps, or working laterally, he is more of a block-avoider than a true block controller, which caps his effectiveness as an early-down run defender.
The Big Picture
Aidan Hubbard is a high-motor, finesse-based edge defender who wins with burst, effort, and movement rather than with power or point-of-attack strength. He projects best as a rotational pass rusher in a one-gap, attacking front where he can operate from wide alignments and contribute through slants, stunts, and pursuit, but his lack of play strength and limited pass rush plan restrict his ability to consistently win against NFL tackles. Hubbard’s combination of effort, discipline, and situational pass-rush ability gives him a path to stick as a depth edge defender, with his long-term upside tied to improvements in pass-rush sequencing and functional strength.
Scheme and Team Fits
Hubbard is best as a rotational edge defender in a 4-3 one-gap, attacking front that emphasizes penetration, slants, and stunts. His skill set is best utilized when aligned in wide techniques such as a 5, 7, or 9, allowing him to operate as a true edge rusher and play with speed and leverage. He can also provide value as a sub-package edge in 3-4 looks, particularly in nickel and dime situations, where his role can be limited to pass rushing and movement-based responsibilities. In these environments, Hubbard’s motor, burst, and ability to navigate through traffic can be maximized while minimizing exposure to his limitations at the point of attack.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are a strong schematic fit for Hubbard as a rotational edge defender within a system that utilizes movement, simulated pressures, and front multiplicity. He would not be relied upon as a primary edge-setter, allowing him to play fast and operate within stunt- and slant-heavy concepts. Here, Hubbard’s motor and pursuit ability can translate into consistent secondary pressure while minimizing his limitations at the point of attack.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams offer an ideal developmental environment for Hubbard as a depth edge defender in a rotational front. The Rams have proven to be a breeding ground for the development of disruptive pass rushers. Their defensive structure allows role players to contribute through effort and scheme-created opportunities rather than requiring consistent one-on-one wins. Hubbard would also benefit from reduced early down responsibilities while growing into a situational pass rusher within a young, evolving defensive line, especially with high-level producers like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske taking pressure and attention off of him.
Houston Texans
Houston provides a strong fit in an attacking front that allows edge defenders to play with vertical burst and aggression. Within a rotational role, Hubbard can contribute as a sub-package rusher while being protected from consistent point of attack responsibilities with guys like Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson carrying the load. His effort, pursuit, and ability to win on the move would allow him to add value as a complementary piece to an already-established front.
NFL Player Comparison: Jacob Martin
Hubbard’s game closely mirrors Jacob Martin’s as a finesse, speed and finesse-based edge rusher who wins with burst, angles, and effort rather than power. Martin has carved out a role in the NFL as a rotational edge defender, and Hubbard projects similarly as a player best utilized in sub-package situations rather than a full time and early downs edge player. Like Martin, Hubbard is most effective when working in space or off movement, where he can attack upfield and avoid direct contact rather than consistently taking on blocks at the point of attack. He shows similar limitations in play strength and can struggle when forced to anchor or play through stronger offensive linemen, which impacts his ability to contribute on early downs. While Martin is shorter and lighter than Hubbard, the comparison remains strong due to their shared play style, usage, and reliance on speed, effort, and angles rather than power.
Draft Projection: Mid to late Round 6-7 (Day 3)
Hubbard projects around the mid-to-late Round 6 area with the potential to slip into Round 7 due to the depth of the 2026 edge class. He contains traits that teams value, like a high motor, solid athletic profile, and developmental upside as a finesse pass rusher, which could push him slightly higher for teams willing to bet on his growth. However, limitations in play strength, downhill run defense, and an underdeveloped pass-rush plan may lead some teams to view him as a role-specific player, ultimately affecting his draft position.
Grade: 3.71
Hubbard holds a 3.91 tape grade before a curve, with a 27.39/49 trait grade. The curve adjustment lowered his final grade to a 3.71, reflecting his need for further development at the NFL level. While he flashes NFL traits on tape and possesses a strong physical profile, his current limitations prevent him from immediately impacting the game against higher-level competition.
This projects Hubbard as a depth to rotational edge defender with late Day 3 draft value. Early in his career, he most likely won’t be a full-time contributor, but his motor, discipline, and situational effectiveness carve a path for him to stick on an NFL roster. However, his long-term ceiling will depend on his ability to expand his pass rush arsenal and improve his ability to hold up against NFL-level strength in the run game.
Leave a Reply