# Joshua Josephs
**Joshua Josephs** (full name Joshua Kalebe Josephs) is an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) edge rusher for the [Washington Commanders](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-commanders) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), selected in the fifth round (pick 7, No. 147 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft after playing college football at Tennessee.[1](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/) He is a long, athletic defender, listed at 6 feet 3 inches and about 240 pounds with 34 1/4-inch arms, whose evaluation centered on his length and pass-rush traits against questions about his play strength and run defense.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/) • [3](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position / size | Edge defender (EDGE), 6'3", 240–242 lbs, 34 1/4-inch arms[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/) • [3](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft) |
| College | Tennessee, 2022–2025; career totals of 104 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hurries, and 6 forced fumbles[4](https://utsports.com/news/2026/4/25/football-mccoy-josephs-west-taken-on-final-day-of-2026-nfl-draft) |
| 2026 NFL Draft | Washington Commanders, Round 5, Pick 7 (No. 147 overall); NFL.com grade 6.24[1](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee) |
| Recruiting | Four-star prospect and top-15 national edge rusher per 247Sports and On3; verified 82-inch wingspan at North Cobb High School[5](https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/joshua-josephs/22012) |
| Hometown | Kennesaw, Georgia[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/) |
| Draft evaluations | The Draft Network ranked him No. 12 among edge prospects (No. 52 overall) with a Round 3 grade; FantasyPros projected Round 3[3](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft) • [6](https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/02/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-joshua-josephs-edge-tennessee/) |
| Signature trait | Exceptional arm length, described by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein as an "NBA-caliber wingspan"[1](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee) |
## Background and recruiting
Josephs played at North Cobb High School in [Kennesaw, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/kennesaw-georgia), under coach Shane Queen, where he was a team captain and led the school to two consecutive Region 3 championships. As a senior he recorded 104 tackles and six sacks on a defense that allowed 17.5 points per game, after a junior season of 98 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks.[5](https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/joshua-josephs/22012)
Recruiting services split on him: 247Sports and On3 rated him a four-star prospect and a top-15 edge rusher nationally (On3 ranked him No. 71 overall and No. 8 in Georgia), while ESPN and Rivals listed him as a three-star. The 247Sports Composite placed him as the No. 23 edge rusher in the nation. He committed to Tennessee in November 2021 over 26 other Division I offers, including five other SEC programs, and enrolled in June 2022.[5](https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/joshua-josephs/22012)
## College career at Tennessee
Josephs rotated into Tennessee's defense from his true freshman season, with production that rose each year: 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack in 2022; 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks in 2023; and 39 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in 2024, when he made five starts.[6](https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/02/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-joshua-josephs-edge-tennessee/) Early in his career he played behind James Pearce Jr. on the depth chart.[7](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25292445-joshua-josephs-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-washington-commanders-edge)
In his senior season of 2025, his fourth as a contributing player, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 4 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 33 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles.[3](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft) He forced three fumbles in each of the 2024 and 2025 seasons.[6](https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/02/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-joshua-josephs-edge-tennessee/) His four-year career totals were 104 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hurries, and 6 forced fumbles.[4](https://utsports.com/news/2026/4/25/football-mccoy-josephs-west-taken-on-final-day-of-2026-nfl-draft) He never logged more than four sacks in a college season, a production total several evaluators flagged against his physical traits.[8](https://athlonsports.com/nfl/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2026)
## Scouting evaluation
**Length was the consensus calling card.** PFF called his arm length a major plus that should fall well above the 50th percentile, and NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, an NFL Analyst, described an "NBA-caliber wingspan" on a long, upright frame with room to keep filling out.[9](https://www.pff.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-summer-scouting-edge-rusher-overview) • [1](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee) The Ringer's profile identified his ability to convert speed to power as his defining pass-rush trait, using length and violent hands to keep blockers off his frame, and noted his pass rush win rate placed him among the top tier of the 2026 class.[10](https://www.theringer.com/todd-mcshay/players/joshua-josephs)
Evaluators also credited his athleticism and motor. The Draft Network highlighted a quick first step that forces tackles to set deep and opens inside counters, plus the versatility to align across the front seven, including as a stand-up rusher over the center or guard.[3](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft) FantasyPros noted his mixing of outside rushes, inside rushes, and speed-to-power, good hand-fighting, and occasional drops into zone coverage.[6](https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/02/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-joshua-josephs-edge-tennessee/)
**Run defense and refinement were the main criticisms.** PFF wrote that his hands can look flailing and out of control, that he dips his head when bull rushing, and that he needs more pass-rush refinement.[9](https://www.pff.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-summer-scouting-edge-rusher-overview) Zierlein called his rush track predictable, the same on every snap, and said he is not a natural bender, making added go-to moves and a functional inside counter essential.[1](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee) Against the run, Athlon Sports and The Ringer both described a lean frame that limits his ability to anchor, with bigger blockers able to drive him off the ball, and The Ringer noted a high missed tackle rate.[8](https://athlonsports.com/nfl/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2026) • [10](https://www.theringer.com/todd-mcshay/players/joshua-josephs) FantasyPros added that he rotated off the field regularly and never stuffed the stat sheet, projecting him as a Round 3 pick and a possible solid contributor on an odd front.[6](https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/02/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-joshua-josephs-edge-tennessee/)
## 2026 NFL Draft
Pre-draft projections varied with the depth of the edge class. The Draft Network gave him a Round 3 grade as an adequate starter and ranked him the No. 12 edge prospect and No. 52 player overall; Wolf Sports ranked him No. 11 at the position and No. 69 on its big board with an NFL comparison to [Kayvon Thibodeaux](https://www.edgepedia.org/kayvon-thibodeaux); Athlon projected the third or fourth round.[3](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft) • [11](https://wolfsports.com/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-edge-joshua-josephs/) • [8](https://athlonsports.com/nfl/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2026)
The Washington Commanders selected him in Round 5 with the seventh pick of the round, No. 147 overall, and NFL.com assigned him a grade of 6.24.[1](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/) He was one of three Tennessee defenders taken on the draft's final day, alongside [Jermod McCoy](https://www.edgepedia.org/jermod-mccoy) and Tyre West, bringing the Volunteers' 2026 total to five picks.[4](https://utsports.com/news/2026/4/25/football-mccoy-josephs-west-taken-on-final-day-of-2026-nfl-draft) He entered the league listed with the Commanders as a linebacker, No. 48, at age 22.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/)
## References
1. [Tennessee 2026 EDGE Draft Prospects, NFL.com Draft Tracker 2026](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/edge_tennessee)
2. [Joshua Josephs Stats, News and Video, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/joshua-josephs/)
3. [Joshua Josephs NFL Draft Scouting Report, The Draft Network](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/04/03/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft)
4. [McCoy, Josephs, West Taken On Final Day of 2026 NFL Draft, University of Tennessee Athletics](https://utsports.com/news/2026/4/25/football-mccoy-josephs-west-taken-on-final-day-of-2026-nfl-draft)
5. [Joshua Josephs, Football Roster, University of Tennessee Athletics](https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/joshua-josephs/22012)
6. [2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joshua Josephs, FantasyPros](https://www.fantasypros.com/2026/02/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-joshua-josephs-edge-tennessee/)
7. [Joshua Josephs NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Washington Commanders Edge, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25292445-joshua-josephs-nfl-draft-2026-scouting-report-washington-commanders-edge)
8. [Joshua Josephs NFL Draft Scouting Report, Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/nfl/joshua-josephs-scouting-report-nfl-draft-2026)
9. [2026 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Edge Rusher Overview, PFF](https://www.pff.com/news/2026-nfl-draft-summer-scouting-edge-rusher-overview)
10. [Joshua Josephs Draft Profile & Scouting Report, The Ringer (Todd McShay)](https://www.theringer.com/todd-mcshay/players/joshua-josephs)
11. [2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: EDGE Joshua Josephs, Wolf Sports](https://wolfsports.com/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-edge-joshua-josephs/)
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