We are still over a month away from the NFL Draft, but it's never too early to start researching those individual defensive players to get your big board set for your rookie drafts. Let's start by looking at some of the guys whose main trait is rushing the passer. In no particular order, here are a handful of edge rushers.

Abdul Carter, Penn State

Like a previous #11 for Penn State, Carter is a freakish athlete who is just built different.  He's twitchy, explosive, and has a litany of moves to get to the quarterback.  And he's got a nose for the ball when the ball's out of the quarterback's hands, too; expect him to force and recover plenty of fumbles.  Quite frankly, he's one of those generational talents who is just too good to fail at the next level.  He will spend plenty of time on the weak side, rushing the passer and causing havoc.  Expect him to rack up a decent amount of tackles, too, making him - by far - the best defensive lineman in this rookie class, fantasy-wise.  After a couple of off-ball linebackers, he'll probably be a top pick in most rookie drafts this summer.  Of course, that assumes all goes well at his pro day when he is expected to ease concerns about a stress reaction in his foot.

James Pearce, Jr., Tennessee

Honestly, Pearce is probably just as freaky an athlete as Carter, but he tends to disappear in spells and may not have the tackling upside.  But Pearce will get to the quarterback and make big plays.  If you miss out on Carter, set your sights on Pearce.  He's a bit rangier than Carter but still exhibits all the traits you want to see in an elite pass-rusher.  He may take a little bit longer to get settled into his role, but he'll eventually stick on all three downs as a playmaker in the NFL.

Mykel Williams, Georgia

Yet another junior pass-rusher with sick traits.  Williams may be slightly overlooked with the Big Two ahead of him in most rankings, but don't sleep on him.  He's as rangy as Pearce but also built as well as Carter.  But, like Pearce, you watch his tape and find that he disappears at times.  But the highlights?  Oh, they're nice.  If he finds himself on an up-and-coming defense with talent around him, he'll shine.

Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

There are actually a couple of very solid pass-rushers hailing from College Station in this class, one being Stewart.  Stewart's athletic profile lends himself to a 4-3 defense, so analyze where he goes before spending a higher pick on him in your drafts.  He's big with some beef to him.  That said, he's not necessarily a speed rusher but blends power and quickness to get to the quarterback.  Stewart had an absolute monster of a combine.  He ran a 4.6 40-yard dash, weighing in at a freaky 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds.  He added an 11-foot broad jump, too. 

Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

The other Aggie pass rusher is Scourton, who's also quite beefy (6-foot-4, 285 pounds).  Also similar to Stewart, he has a good blend of power and explosiveness that lends itself well to a 4-3 scheme.  Where Stewart is a bit more aggressive and powerful, Scourton has a little bit more technical refinement in his game.  Either Aggie is worthy of a pick in dynasty formats.

Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

The term is somewhat overused, but Sawyer is one of those lunch-pail types who doesn't wow you with anything spectacular, but when you look at his stats, you come away impressed. Obviously, he's got the pedigree after spending his college career in Columbus, and while he doesn't have the 3-down upside of some of these other edge defenders, in the right spot, he will contribute both in a real football and fantasy sense.

Mike Green, Marshall

Don't let his alma mater fool you. Green is a legit stud in the making, and he can refine his craft at the next level.  He's got a killer first step, and while he's not as hulky as some of these other edge guys (he's just 6-foot-3, 251 pounds), he does it with technique, keeping offensive linemen guessing and off-balance with his variety of bull-rush and duck-and-dive moves.  

Conclusion

This is a pretty loaded class in terms of edge rushers.  From the ultra-elite, no-brainer in Carter to a few guys with some work to do to a nice sleeper in Green.  If you miss out on Carter or don't want to spend the draft capital (although it may be worth it), there will be other options later in your rookie draft.