Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs was selected No. 147 by the Washington Commanders in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 25.
Josephs is a very experienced pass rusher who could be versatile in some defensive schemes. He follows in the footsteps of recent UT edge rushers who’ve played well in the NFL.
Byron Young was All-SEC in 2022. He was drafted in the third round by the Los Angeles Rams. He made the 2023 NFL All-Rookie team and the 2025 Pro Bowl.
James Pearce was All-SEC in 2023 and 2024. He was drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons and was a finalist for 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Here’s what Josephs brings to the Commanders based on his career with the Tennessee Vols.
Josephs is an intriguing defender because of his speed off the edge and exceptional wingspan. But he has a tweener body type that could transition into an edge rusher or outside linebacker in the NFL.
Josephs is 6-foot-3, 242 pounds. That’s undersized for an edge rusher out of a three-point stance, but he could easily add weight to fill out. He may also transition to outside linebacker, especially in a 3-4 scheme.
This is a typical question for many college edge rushers, so Josephs’ situation isn’t unique. In either position, his burst and reach suggest that he has potential as a play-making pass rusher.
Josephs is an effective pass rusher. He had among the highest pass-rushing grades in college football, according to Pro Football Focus.
He played well against top competition. Against Georgia, he had two tackles-for-loss, a sack and forced fumble. Against Alabama, he had a tackle-for-loss and fumble recovery.
NFL scouts like Josephs’ wide wingspan, speedy burst and effort. But he needs to gain weight and further develop his pass-rushing moves.
Josephs played four seasons at Tennessee with 48 games and 15 starts.
He recorded 104 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, 9.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hurries, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, nine pass breakups and one fumble returned for a touchdown.
In the 2025 season, he had 33 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Washington Commanders pick Tennessee's Joshua Josephs in 2026 NFL Draft