Joshua
Josephs.
Joshua
Josephs.
Tennessee· 6'3"· 242 lb
R5 · #147 · Washington Commanders"Long, upright SEC edge with NBA-caliber wingspan, plus takeaway instincts, and a linear rush plan that needs bend, counters, and mass to convert Sundays."Pre-draft read
Aligning from wide-9 or 5-technique, he leverages length and explosive get-off over bend. From a two-point stance, he uses a long-arm to stab the tackle's outside shoulder, controlling the frame before disengaging into the alley on run plays. As a rusher, his profile features long, upfield strides, an inside jab to freeze the set, and occasional cross-chops outside. Not a natural knee-bender, his wins stem from length, effort, and quick-twitch handwork rather than tight cornering.
He widens the C-gap on run downs, spilling plays to the perimeter and deliberately swiping at the ball, with the strip-sack as a clear aim. Coverage snaps are minimal, as his role is defined by run defense, enabled by his exceptional length, and pass rush derived from his burst.
Washington runs a 4-3 one-gap attacking front, focusing on disruption up front and forcing turnovers.
Rotational edge rusher who can develop into a starting 5-tech as he physically matures.
A two-gap 3-4 defense where he is asked to absorb blocks and hold ground in the trenches.
Josephs' length, burst, and takeaway instincts align perfectly with an aggressive, pressure-oriented defense, though he needs to add play strength.
Tennessee EDGE Joshua Josephs 2026 NFL Draft Highlights
Career highlight reel showcasing length, get-off, and takeaway plays.
Joshua Josephs 2026 NFL Combine interview
Combine week interview covering rush plan, background, and process.
Deep dive: Joshua Josephs physical profile
Breakdown of frame, wingspan, and athletic archetype.
Evaluators viewed this prospect as a developmental C-gap end whose tools offered potential, rather than immediate impact. His pre-draft grade centered on his length and notable takeaway instincts, with a projected role as a sub-package pass rusher on obvious passing downs. The trade-off involved clear flags regarding hip flexibility and functional power, which indicated a need for significant physical development at the professional level.
He developed across four years at Tennessee, initially positioned behind older talent. His production steadily increased, culminating in his senior season with 33 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles over 11 starts. His six career forced fumbles were a significant statistical highlight. The evaluation also considered his usage in key moments, notably two forced fumbles against Oklahoma in 2024, which brought him to the attention of scouts looking for Day 2/3 talent.
The consensus among evaluators placed him as a mid-Day 3 prospect. Concerns about his tight hips and limited power conversion were recurring themes, suggesting a one-track rush plan and potential struggles against anchored tackles. He was ultimately drafted by the Washington Commanders with the 147th pick.
- 01
Play Strength & Length
Significant wingspan (34 1/4" arms) and a long-limbed frame allow him to stack blockers at the point of attack.
- 02
Pass Rush Get-Off
Explosive get-off from a two-point stance enables him to eat up ground with long, upfield strides, immediately putting tackles on their heels.
- 03
Takeaway Instincts
Exceptional takeaway instincts, with six career forced fumbles, demonstrating a deliberate aim at the throwing arm during rush finishes.
- 04
Edge Setting
Effectively sets a hard edge against the run by using long-arm extension to widen the C-gap, spilling plays wide and closing on the perimeter.
- 05
Consistent Effort
Plays with consistent effort and finish, chasing plays across the field and showing a knack for punching out the ball.
- 01
Hip Flexibility
Displays tight hips at the top of the arc, hindering his ability to sink and trim the corner tightly, often funneling his rush into a linear path.
- 02
Speed to Power Conversion
Struggles with converting speed to power, causing his bull rush and speed-to-power reps to stall against well-anchored tackles.
- 03
Rush Plan Variety
Possesses a one-note rush plan, primarily relying on his get-off and inside jab, and lacks a functional inside counter or hesitation package.
- 04
Eye Discipline
Frequently drops his eyes into blocks, leading to lost gap discipline and an inability to diagnose play design.
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Tennessee | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | Tennessee | 12 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Tennessee | 13 | 39 | 1.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | Tennessee | 11 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | — | 48 | 101 | 7.5 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Rotational C-gap setter and situational third-down speed off the corner whose Day-3 investment paid off after two years of adding counters and mass.
Length-first edge developmental profile with plus takeaway feel and a linear rush arc that flashes strip-sack production before rounding out the plan.
Undersized SEC edge with length and effort who never adds the counters or power to graduate past special-teams roster fringe.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Pre-draft context
Joshua Josephs arrived in Knoxville in 2022 as a Top247 recruit from North Cobb (Kennesaw, GA), buried behind Byron Young and later James Pearce Jr. He rotated in for two years — 2.5 TFL as a freshman, 4.5 as a sophomore — before stepping into a starter's share as a junior with 9.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a team-high 3 forced fumbles. His senior tape at 6-3, 242 with 34 1/4" arms sold length, takeaway instincts, and a chase-and-strip habit that produced 4 sacks, 6 TFL, and 3 more forced fumbles across 11 starts. The Combine gave him a 6.24 grade and a Jalyx Hunt comp from Lance Zierlein; without published testing splits, the board leaned on Pro Day looks and the signature Oklahoma game in 2024 where he punched out two footballs in a 25-15 upset win. The projection was consistent: mid-Day 3, developmental C-gap end with tools worth waiting on.
NFL fit — Washington Commanders
Washington took him at pick 147 as depth behind Dan Quinn's edge rotation, a group that had cycled through veterans and needed a length-and-effort archetype on the back end of the roster. The Combine grade tagged him as an eventual average starter, and the Commanders' plan is clearly a Year 1 special-teams contributor with sub-package snaps on obvious passing downs, where his get-off can win before the tackle sets. The developmental checklist is public: add 8-10 pounds of functional mass, pair the get-off with a real inside counter, and stop dropping his eyes on combo blocks so the run-defense floor holds against NFL power. If year one is spent hitting a training-camp weight target and passing the strip-sack tape from Tennessee into a rotational role, the arc looks like Jalyx Hunt's — three years of tools before the pop arrives.
Retrospective
Too early to call as a rookie, but the archetype is honest and the grade priced it correctly. The evaluation rewarded takeaway production and length over bend and power, and the outcome will hinge on the two flags every scout circled: hips and mass. If either gets fixed, the pick returns starter equity from round five. If neither does, he settles into the four-phase teams role his tools already earn — which for a 147th selection is already a fair return on the bet.