Joshua Josephs committed to the University of Tennessee in 2022 as a four-star edge from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. As a true freshman in 2022, Josephs flashed potential, appearing in 12 games and recording his first career sack. In 2023, Josephs served as a rotational defensive end. His junior season, 2024, was his most impressive to this point. He appeared in all 13 games and started 5, and was one of the top 10 highest graded edge rushers in the country according to PFF. In 2025, Josephs became the full-time number one edge rusher, playing and starting in 11 games. He did not shy away from the spotlight, earning a 90.0 PFF pass rush grade, which ranked third in the SEC and nineteenth in the entire FBS. His successful senior season led to recognition, including being included on the 2025 Senior Bowl Top 300 List and being named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in late September.
Josephs has very good athletic ability. He is slightly undersized for an NFL edge, standing at 6-3, 242 pounds, but possesses an extremely impressive 82-inch wingspan. Additionally, he possesses tantalizing speed paired with impressive acceleration. A weak point in his athleticism is his weight. He struggles with play strength and can be shut down by stronger opponents simply due to not weighing enough. Fortunately, he has a good frame that can be filled in once he gets on an NFL weight plan. An underrated aspect of Josephs’ profile is his very good mental ability. Josephs is a smart player who is able to recognize screens, runs, and other plays prior to the snap. He can process different formations and motions as well as understand his role. He also carries a serious competitive toughness, always playing with a high motor and never giving up on the play.
The 22-year-old has good pass rush ability. Josephs lives and dies by his speed. His speed, paired with his heavily utilized push-pull move, is a scary sight for tackles. He lacks any real bull or power ability, and due to a lack of flexibility in his lower body, struggles with his bend. It seems he doesn’t quite have a plan when he rushes, and more so, improvises as he goes. Also, he struggles with finishing. Despite having an impressive PFF rush grade, his sack numbers, only 4 in 2025, have not matched. He excels at rushing the quarterback when he effectively is able to convert his speed to power, thanks to his very good get off. His athletic nature and burst allow for his get off to be one of his strongest weapons if deployed correctly. When his get off is on, he more than likely wins the rep, and causes tackles to be on their heels and open their hips. Josephs has good hand usage. His active, violent hands keep tackles from latching on, and he employs good hand control and timing, understanding how to effectively catch the hands of blockers. When rushing in the interior, if bigger defenders latch on, he struggles to use his hands to break free, which in part is due to his lack of strength.
Josephs employs adequate run defense. While he plays with violence and has high gap discipline and effectively sets the edge on runs, he occasionally locks his eyes in the backfield and fades inside, leaving his gap. Furthermore, he struggles with tackling, with a concerning missed tackle rate of 23.5%. On runs, he doesn’t anticipate crack or down blocks and can be displaced. Josephs possesses very good coverage ability for an edge rusher. Tennessee trusted
him in coverage regularly, and he answered the call. He understood his zone responsibility and demonstrated effective route matching on running backs.
Overall, Joshua Josephs is a fast, high-motor edge rusher with strong burst, length, and pass rush upside, thriving off speed and active hands while showing solid awareness and effort. However, his lack of size, play strength, pass rush plan, and tackling consistency limit his current effectiveness, especially against stronger opponents. He projects as a situational pass rusher early with the potential to develop into a solid starting defensive end.
Scheme and Team Fit:
Josephs’ optimal scheme fit would be a defense which employs a 4-3 defense in which he can start off as a designated situational pass rusher. A team fit for Josephs is the Chicago Bears. The Bears are currently in search of a situational edge, as it seems to be their biggest weakness as they push for a Super Bowl next season. He would thrive in their 4-3 scheme, and, if they are very high in his upside, it would make sense for them to take him in the late second, where they have pick 60, or they can take him in the third. He would instantly make an impact as a situational speed rusher deployed on obvious passing downs, and then down the road, as he grows and gains strength, he can be turned into a primary, three-down end. The opportunity for Josephs is there as Chicago lacks a mainstay edge besides Sweat, who is set to hit free agency in 2 years.
NFL Player Comp: Will McDonald IV
Josephs’ NFL player comparison is Jets’ edge rusher, Will McDonald IV. Both ends are undersized, leading to a shared commonality of struggling with tackling and power moves. They are also similar to their deployment of hands, length, and speed to win pass rush reps.
Projection: League Average Starter
While initially Josephs’ will be a rotational end who thrives and brings the energy on obvious passing third downs, utilizes his speed on worn down tackles. As his game grows and he fills in his frame, he can become a full-time starter who does his job well.
Grade: 5.15
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