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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Deen Worley

Arnold Ebiketie’s pass rush win rate is second among rookies in 2022

It feels like forever since the Atlanta Falcons last had a productive edge rusher. When the team hired head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot back in 2021, the top edge rushers on the team were Dante Fowler and Steven Means.

After two drafts under Smith and Fontenot, it looks like the Falcons have found a good one in rookie Arnold Ebiketie. Drafted in the second round out of Penn State, Ebiketie has been a welcome addition to the defense.

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After 12 weeks, he is second in pass rush win rate among all rookies. Ebiketie’s 12.6 percent average only trails Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Ebiketie’s three sacks are also tied for second with Jacksonville’s Travon Walker. Lions rookie Aidan Hutchinson leads the 2022 draft class with six sacks.

But while Ebiketie’s win rate is impressive, the rookie still has considerable work to do if he wants to become an impact player in the NFL. When looking at the entire league and not just the rookie class, Ebiketie is rated 42nd among players with at least 300 snaps this season in win rate.

One thing the rookie linebacker must work on is wrapping up when tackling. Ebiketie has a missed tackle percentage of 20, which is third highest among rookie edge rushers who have played at least 200 snaps in 2022. Improving in this area would likely lead to higher sack numbers.

Nonetheless, Ebiketie is a good potential building block who’s already shown enough to be apart of the team’s long-term future. Below are a couple of examples where Ebiketie uses his athletic ability to break free from the opposing offensive line and disrupt the play.

Ebiketie still has a long way to go before he’s an elite pass rusher, but the rookie is among the most promising players in the 2022 draft class. His continued progression will go a long way in turning this defense around.

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