Caden Curry Scouting Report | Ohio State EDGE | 2026 NFL Draft

Player Snapshot

School: Ohio State
Position: EDGE (Defensive End)
Height: 6-3 / Weight: 260 lbs
Class: Senior
Hometown: Greenwood, Indiana

Caden Curry is a compact, power-based edge defender with strong production, positional versatility, and a relentless motor developed within Ohio State’s defensive line rotation. A multi-year contributor who broke out with a highly productive senior campaign, Curry projects as a sturdy, scheme-versatile EDGE who wins with power, effort, and technique rather than elite bend or twitch. His profile fits best as a strongside defensive end with rotational starter upside.

Player Background & Production

Curry arrived at Ohio State as a four-star defensive line recruit and steadily developed into a key contributor across multiple seasons, appearing in dozens of games within one of college football’s deepest defensive fronts. His early career featured rotational usage before he assumed a larger role as an upperclassman.

His 2025 season marked a clear breakout, finishing with 66 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks while handling increased snap volume against top Big Ten competition. He also recorded 40 solo tackles and a forced fumble, highlighting his ability to impact both the run and pass game from the edge.

That production surge elevated him firmly onto draft boards, as scouts noted a significant jump in backfield disruption and overall defensive impact during his final season.

Strengths

Power & Edge Setting: Curry plays with strong hands and natural power at the point of attack. He consistently sets a firm edge in the run game, using leverage and physicality to control blockers and maintain gap discipline.

Motor & Competitive Toughness: He is a high-effort defender who plays through the whistle and pursues aggressively across the formation. His nonstop motor shows up in backside pursuit and second-effort pressures.

Pass-Rush Power & Bull Rush: Curry generates pressure primarily through power and hand usage rather than pure speed. His bull rush can collapse the pocket, and he shows the ability to grind through contact and compress tackles into the quarterback.

Versatility Along the Front: Ohio State deployed him in multiple alignments, including traditional edge and interior looks in sub-packages. This alignment flexibility increases his value as a rotational defensive lineman at the next level.

Hand Usage & Technique: He shows refined hand fighting and active counters, including rip and spin flashes. His technical approach helps compensate for average elite twitch and allows him to win reps methodically.

Run Defense Consistency: Curry is a disciplined run defender who plays with patience and physicality. He anchors well, maintains contain responsibilities, and rarely loses assignment integrity against downhill rushing concepts.

Areas for Improvement

First-Step Explosiveness: Curry’s get-off is solid but not elite compared to top-tier edge rushers. He relies more on power and technique than sudden burst to win the edge.

Bend & Cornering Ability: While flexible enough to flatten occasionally, he lacks elite ankle flexion and edge bend to consistently run the arc against NFL-caliber tackles.

Length & Separation: His arm length and overall reach appear average for the position, which can lead to longer engagements with offensive tackles once they get into his frame.

Top-End Pass-Rush Ceiling: He projects more as a complementary rusher than a true high-end sack specialist. His pressure profile is more power-driven than explosiveness-based.

Role Projection: Curry’s skill set fits best as a strongside EDGE rather than a pure speed rusher, which may limit his ceiling in schemes that prioritize elite twitch off the edge.

Medical History & Durability: No major publicly documented injuries or illnesses that significantly impacted multi-season availability. He appeared consistently across multiple seasons and handled increased workloads during his breakout year.

Film Traits & Measurables

• Physical Frame: 6-3, 260-pound EDGE build (school listing)
• Athletic Profile: Power-oriented athlete with good functional quickness and strong play strength
• Alignment Usage: EDGE, strongside DE, and occasional interior sub-package alignments
• Play Style: High-motor, power-based edge defender built on strength, technique, and run defense
• Pre-Draft Testing: no verified official Combine drill results fully published as of the draft cycle

Draft Projection & NFL Fit

Curry projects as a Day 3 selection, most commonly in the Round 4-6 range, driven by his production spike, versatility, and reliable edge-setting ability. His 11-sack senior season and increased tackles-for-loss output significantly boosted his draft profile.

He fits best in 4-3 or multiple defensive fronts that value strongside defensive ends who can defend the run, rush with power, and rotate across the line. Early in his career, he profiles as a rotational EDGE (DE2/DE3) with immediate value on early downs and clear upside as a reliable three-down strongside defender in a power-based scheme.

Summary

Caden Curry is a productive, power-driven edge defender whose breakout senior season, strong motor, and physical run defense define his NFL projection. He wins with strength, effort, and technical hand usage rather than elite burst or bend, making him a dependable strongside EDGE with rotational starter upside. While his average first-step explosiveness and pass-rush ceiling may limit his profile as a pure speed rusher, his versatility, toughness, and proven Big Ten production provide a strong floor as a reliable NFL defensive end in a multiple-front defensive system.

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