Anthony Lucas is an EDGE from USC who is ranked No. 95 on my NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Lucas’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
Anthony Lucas’s NFL Draft Potential
Anthony Lucas is a former five-star recruit who has struggled to achieve the production to back up his pedigree. Nevertheless, some of his production goes overlooked on the stat sheet. Per PFF, he has a pressure rate of 11% this year, and while he only has two sacks, there have been games — the Michigan State game, for example — where Lucas was unblockable in stretches. At 6’5″, 272 pounds, with over 33″ arms, Lucas has excellent size and lean mass, and he combines that size with exceptional short-area twitch, quickness, recalibration, and burst off the line.
Lucas still has room to improve his counter efficiency, and with his larger, high-cut frame, he’ll never have high-end bend. Still, Lucas has a power and run defense profile that can make a dent on Day 1 in the NFL, and his upside is that of a quality, scheme-diverse starter.
CFB Week 9 Update
USC was on a bye in Week 9, but in Week 10, the Trojans will return to action in a standoff against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska’s offensive line has been below average all year, and Dylan Raiola has a tendency to hold the ball too long looking to create at times, so this game could be a good chance for Lucas to sustain some pass-rush production. His tools have flashed brightly in 2025, but consistent production remains elusive, and time is slowly running out for him to change that ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft cycle.
CFB Week 10 Update
Lucas had a strong performance against Nebraska in Week 10, logging 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. His motor was constant, and a key factor in him securing the sack. He got off the ball quickly with his first step, ran the arc and beat the tackle with a rip move. A chipping RB contributed to Lucas losing his balance, but he quickly regained his composure and got past the RB, then careened into the QB and forced the ball loose.
Multiple times, Lucas made an impact as a pass-rusher, showing off impressive quickness and cornering ability around the apex for his 272-pound frame. Meanwhile, in run defense, he was able to stack edge-setting blocks, prevent displacement, and stay active in pursuit. His discipline on option plays can be inconsistent, and his overall sequencing of counters still needs greater refinement, but Lucas’ raw tools and relentless motor present plenty of appeal.
CFB Week 11 Update
After a strong showing against Nebraska, Lucas fell off a bit against Northwestern. He struggled to gain consistent pressure as a pass-rusher, and failed to withstand displacement at times against the run. Though Lucas did secure a fumble recovery as a heads-up play, his overall two-phase operation still requires more consistency. It’s unlikely that he’ll attain that before reaching the NFL, but his potential nonetheless intrigues.
CFB Week 12 Update
It was a relatively quiet outing for Lucas against Iowa, as the former five-star recruit only logged one pressure on 16 pass-rush reps, per PFF. But in a rainy, run-heavy outing, it was Lucas’ run defense that took the focus more. And in that phase, Lucas shined.
He stacked and controlled blocks effectively on the edge, he met pullers with voracious intensity and quickly broke through anchors to make tackles in pursuit, and his athleticism proved crucial for chasing plays down and staying in the hunt. The down-to-down execution — particularly as a pass-rusher — still needs more work with Lucas, but his upside will be tantalizing for NFL evaluators.
Where Is Lucas Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Lucas currently holds the No. 167 overall rank among prospects, reflecting his standing among mid-round prospects. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 143.3 as of November 19 reflects that he is typically being selected in the middle rounds.
Interestingly, his ADP is higher than his rank, suggesting that users are targeting him more aggressively than his positional ranking might indicate.
Users controlling the San Francisco 49ers have been the team that selected Lucas the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 1.1% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Anthony Lucas Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Lucas is currently ranked No. 95 overall in my November 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. Among EDGE prospects, Lucas ranks 11th at the position, trailing prospects like Rueben Bain Jr., Keldric Faulk, David Bailey. Currently ranked in the top 100, Lucas will look to increase their draft stock in the coming months.
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