Will Heldt

The Player

Heldt is a tall, long-armed, well-proportioned edge with an ideal frame and average top-end speed. As a pass rusher, he fires off the ball with good initial quickness, especially with his hand in the dirt, and can create disruption crossing a tackle’s face or reducing inside. His speed-to-power move has upside when he plays with low pads and extends his long arms, and his inside spin has developed into a legitimate counter. For a player who’s nearly 6-foot-7, his ability to redirect is impressive. He showcases quick feet, good body control, and better short-area change of direction than most players his size.

Against the run, Heldt has the length, initial pop, and upper-body strength to disrupt at the point of attack. He locates the football well and can be highly productive when he stays clean, but his biggest concern remains holding up in tight quarters. His pads rise after contact, and bigger tackles or lead blockers can move him when they get square into his frame. Double-teams can also give him problems. He needs to continue improving his leverage and lower-body anchor, an issue that was still evident against LSU in Week 1 of 2026.

Heldt offers legitimate alignment versatility. He has experience on both edges, can rush from a two-point stance or with his hand in the dirt, and has even shown a little more explosiveness out of a three- or four-point stance. He can also spot-drop into underneath zones, although his best NFL role is as a multiple-front edge who rushes first, defends the run, and occasionally drops.

There is still room for improvement in his situational awareness and gap discipline, but I love the way Heldt plays. He is aggressive, fierce, and relentless, flying around the field with a good closing burst and consistently working through the whistle. His length also shows up when he’s finishing, allowing him to lasso quarterbacks and ballcarriers even as they begin to escape.