A four-year Tennessee edge rusher with a near seven-foot wingspan, Joshua Josephs was called the 'biggest steal' of the 2026 NFL Draft after Washington took him in the fifth round.
Joshua Josephs built four steady seasons off the edge for Tennessee, racking up over 100 tackles and nearly two dozen tackles for loss, before Washington drafted him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. USA Today singled him out as the draft's biggest steal, and he now joins the Commanders' pass-rush rotation as a rookie.
Path to the league
A standout at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, where he was named Cobb County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior with 121 tackles and 8 sacks, Josephs played four seasons at Tennessee from 2022 to 2025. Washington selected him in the fifth round (No. 147 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Over 48 games at Tennessee, Josephs recorded 104 tackles and 22 tackles for loss. His production built steadily each year, culminating in a junior season in 2024 where he earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade among Tennessee's defensive players. His measurables, including a wingspan just short of seven feet and 34-inch arms, stood out at his pro day.
2025 season recap
Josephs opened his senior season with four sacks in Tennessee's first five games and finished the year with four sacks, four quarterback hits and three forced fumbles as a situational pass rusher, production that helped fuel his rise up draft boards and into Washington's fifth-round selection.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Joshua Josephs
- NFL.com: Joshua Josephs
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Tennessee
- Hometown
- Kennesaw, GA, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
