The former five-star recruit who was ranked as the best player in the state of Ohio in the 2019 recruiting class has yet to produce to the level of expectation statistically. 39 min read Last year saw tight end Kyle Pitts, termed the "unicorn" in many circles, come off the board. He played well for the Gamecocks and then had a solid week at the Senior Bowl. Five Georgia defensive players were also taken during the first round, the most from an individual school in a draft. He started slowly, but he was coming alive in the final regular-season games for Ohio State. 7/10/21: In limited action because of a lot of cancellations in 2020, Smith was solid. He could rise as a senior if he can leverage his experience to build off his four-sack junior year. Affectionately named The Grecian Goliath by our own Oliver Hodgkinson, George Karlaftis is a superb power rusher whose ability to generate point-of-contact force inspires awe. We first try to identify a position, but often list both possibilities. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. At 65, 272 pounds, with outrageous 35 1/2 arms, Walker ran a 4.51, had a 35.5 vertical, a 123 broad jump, and a 6.89 three-cone. He totaled 35 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass batted. He made the right decision for his player development to go back to the Buckeyes for 2021. Whichever kind of defensive end you project a prospect to be, power and play strength are fairly important elements of success at the next level. With his skill set taking on easy competition, Hall needs to produce more in 2021. His best fit in the NFL could be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. On the year, he had 47 tackles and six sacks. 4/27/22: In 2021, Barno had 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. On the year, Thomas collected 21 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defended. 2022 NFL Draft's best defensive scheme fits: Quay Walker, Kyle Hamilton With that size, hes not the highest-tier athlete, but Carter still brings good burst, and his power capacity helps elevate his game. 10 overall. George Karlaftis *, Purdue 6.. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. Techie with an interesting slant on player evaluation? If Mafe were taller and had more length, he would have a better shot at being first-round pick. The NFL advance scouts listed Mafe as an outside linebacker, but at his size, he could grow into being a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. 1. The first round was held on Thursday, April 28, and was followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29. Paschal is a tough run defender who can contribute some pass rush. 1 overall pick, and at least four others should come off the board in the first 50 picks. The draft also saw a record nine draft-day trades with first-round picks, which resulted in less than half of the first round selections being made by the teams that initially owned them. Thomas was quietly very productive over the past couple of seasons, with 12.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss through 2020 and 2021. After sending Tarron Jackson to the NFL just months ago, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have the potential to send another pass rusher to the pros. If Harrison showcases those more consistently while adding a more explosive presence, he will cement his place as one of the best pass rushers in the class. 4/27/22: Thomas was unimpressive in 2021 despite having some really good talent next to him on the inside of the Clemson line in the early going of the year. 3 Commanders make PFF's top 101 players of the 2022 NFL season He didn't do enough in 2021 to be a riser and build momentum for the 2022 NFL Draft. 2. Heres a look at the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. But if he plays with a hand in the dirt at the NFL level, it could help him attain better leverage, while maximizing his athletic traits. That helps him be a menace at the line of scrimmage both in terms of winning as a pass rusher and making plays on the ball in the air. Now that he has a year of experience, Thomas could be even better in 2021 and rise for the 2022 NFL Draft. With his production, its no surprise that Thomas brings a constant motor from start to finish. Ebiketie has size limitations for the NFL, but some team sources have compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. Ranking NFL's top defensive linemen of 2022: Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt As a result, he returns to Michigan for the 2021 season. 7/10/21: Thomas contributed somewhat in the pass rush in 2020, but he did not produce well in run defense. Johnson has good size and speed off the edge. In 2021, it would help him to continue to improve as a rusher while adding strength to be a tougher run defender. If he continues on an upward curve with all those attributes, he will comfortably end up as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL draft dilemma: Plus-size defensive ends abound, but do they have Throw in his stellar run defense, and youre looking at a tremendous three-down player. Last season, six edge rushers were drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Teams are worried, however, about how much Thibodeaux loves football and the focus he has on "his brand." Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. Even with the extra attention, Hutchinson was a consistent force to get after the quarterback, and Hutchinson helped teammate David Ojabo to have a breakout season across from him. * - denotes 2023 prospect. Ohio State running back Miyan Williams (3) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.. 7/10/21: Thibodeaux recorded 32 tackles, three sacks and three passes batted in 2020. 122, select RB Zamir White", "Defensive lineman Neil Farrell Jr. selected after Raiders trade up to No. 7/10/21: Over the past two seasons, Gunter was a dangerous edge rusher for the Chanticleers. 126: Las Vegas Minnesota Las Vegas, No. Hunter, who has posted at least 12.5 sacks in three of his first six seasons appeared in just seven contests last season after tearing his pectoral muscle. The NFL will absolutely love Gayes size and football smarts. With Chase Young out for almost all of the season, Sweat was the Commanders . Anthony Richardson Combine Results: Florida Star Makes Case for QB1, Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland | NFL Draft Scouting Report, 2023 NFL Combine Hand Size Results: Notable Quarterback Measurements and More, 2023 NFL Combine Risers: Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks, and Brian Branch Perform Well. The statistics are sensational. NFL Draft Notebook: Christian Watson is a true playmaker Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. "He's only 230 pounds and really struggles to add weight because of a high metabolism. If he is there in the early third round for the Broncos, he is one of a handful of guys who merit strong consideration with their back-to-back selections. The LSU pass rusher can already be found in several first-round mock drafts, including from Pro Football Networks Cam Mellor. Top 10 Best defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft At 63 3/4, 261 pounds, Mafe has the frame density, explosiveness, speed, and the bend to sink below the corner. These are the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. In addition, it further increases his value as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. [Shrug emoji]", A director of player personnel sent the following on Anderson earlier in the year: "I think he's a first-rounder; I haven't done enough tape to finalize how high, but he has all the traits. 4/27/22: In 2021, Karlaftis recorded 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles. On the contrary, he is deceptively athletic for his size. He has an elite combination of size, strength, a Drake is a quality prospect who possesses impressive athletic ability: he has a unique combination of speed, agility, power as wel David Ojabo may have the greatest upside of any player in the 2022 NFL Draft class with a unique combination of size, strength, an Arnold Ebiketie is an impressive pro prospect who has top-level athletic skills - he's explosive, has elite speed around the edge, Johnson has been rocketing up draft boards after his dominating 2021 season with FSU. The plans were similar to those originally intended for the 2020 draft, although a plan for players to be transported onto the stage by boat was scrapped in favor of using walkways. It wasnt just Paschals skill set that stressed offenses, but also how he was used because he could take on a multitude of different roles. Paschal does have a thick build with strength for a defensive end. A top-five finisher in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting seven consecutive seasons, Donald also already has a Super Bowl championship -- along with 6.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 10 . video Kyle Hamilton's 2022 NFL. Hes a chess piece and a disruptor all in one. There is no doubt that Ojabo is very fast off the edge with the ability to bend underneath offensive tackles. And he has the ankle flexion to dip and rip. Yet, they dont define what makes Enagbare one of the top defensive ends in the class. 2022 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Edge Defenders - PFF His power certainly comes first, but he does flash great burst off the line, as well as modest ankle flexion around the edge. 126", "2021 NFL Draft trade tracker: Full details of every move", "Texans acquire Brandin Cooks in trade with Rams", "Full details of the Trinity Benson trade between the Lions and Broncos", "Chiefs trade up with Seahawks for Kentucky OT Darian Kinnard at pick No. Coming out of H.B. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? The 2022 NFL Draft might not have the high-end quarterback talent, but the amount of . A number of NFL sources have Walker graded higher than Aidan Hutchinson. Some team sources are wondering about the timing as the incident occurred the night before the Georgia game versus Florida. Hill to Cincinnati Bengals for OL Billy Price", "Green Bay Packers trade CB Ka'Dar Hollman to Houston Texans", "Falcons make it official, trade for tight end Lee Smith", "Ravens Trade for Tight End Josh Oliver, a Former Third-Round Pick", "Rams ship CB Aqib Talib, fifth-rounder to Dolphins", "Patriots reportedly trade for Dolphins receiver Isaiah Ford", "Panthers put Troy Pride Jr. on IR, trade Greg Little", "Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach 53-Man Roster Limit; Acquire OL Yasir Durant in a Trade with Kansas City", "Bills agree to acquire quarterback Case Keenum in trade with Browns", "Titans trade first-round pick Isaiah Wilson to Dolphins", "Short-handed Denver Broncos send draft choice to Minnesota Vikings for Stephen Weatherly", "Chargers trade #254, #255 to Bears for 2023 6th-round pick", "The NFL draft was just another wild night in Vegas. The draft concluded with rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 30. Last season alone, he neared 100 pass-coverage reps, using his length and athletic ability to add another dimension to his threat as a pass rusher. when the Browns took defensive end Myles Garrett, in which a QB isn't the first player off the board. The first round will take place on Thursday, with rounds two and three on Friday and the last four on Saturday. (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press) Looking. Half of his sacks came in one game versus LSU. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame. One of the best fits in this year's draft class for the Patriots on the interior of the defensive line, Mathis is compared to Lawrence Guy by Pro Football Focus. 4/27/22: Johnson totaled 70 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes batted in 2021. To view the players scouting report, click on the name of the player you want to learn . He was impressive there, but no one could have predicted that he would outstrip his JUCO production in his first campaign in the SEC. Punctuated by a year on the sidelines in 2019, Gunter racked up 14 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 2018, followed by 12.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks last fall. In 2020 as a part-time designated pass rusher, Anderson was tremendous at putting heat on the quarterback, collecting 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass batted. Since the 2021 draft, the NFL, under 2020 Resolution JC-2A, rewards teams for developing minority candidates for head coach and/or general manager positions. 164: New England Las Vegas LA Rams, No. He has everything you Davis surprisingly gave up the chance to enter the 2021 NFL Draft, but given his impressive play of late, it looks like to have be Travon Walker is a prospect who is still a better athlete than a football player. Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson has a good blend of size, athleticism, and blocking prowess to play the position at the NFL level. And Isaiah Thomas also finds himself on the list of top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. He follows a trend of undersized edge rushers from Clemson that includes the likes of Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson. You're correct in his get-off being reminiscent of Von Miller at Texas A&M. Off the snap, it is as if he has been shot out of cannon as he explodes upfield with shocking speed. What makes the top prospects stand out, though? Here are the top 20 offensive tackles in this class according to the consensus big board. Sanders did not stand out at the Senior Bowl. Last fall, the Cincinnati pass rusher was a late riser up draft boards, earning buzz as a potential Day 2 selection. Travon Walker *, Georgia 4. Given his height and weight, however, Ebiketie is not a good fit as a hand-in-the-ground base end for a 4-3 defense. They feel is a well-rounded defender with a lot of upside and versatility. NFL Hokies: 2022 season recap - Virginia Tech Athletics The imposing defensive end racked up 12 tackles for loss amongst 31 total tackles. Latest 2022 NFL Draft big board: Defensive Line | Top 10 Tuesday 2022 NFL Mock Draft: A Debate for the Best Defensive End He has vehemently denied the accusation, and some team sources believe Anderson is innocent and could get acquitted. 2022 NFL draft: The top 11 tight ends - Yahoo! Its not much of a surprise, especially after seeing how Walker fared at the NFL Combine. Despite his late introduction to the sport, the Purdue pass rusher racked up 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in the 2019 campaign. Top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft | 1-5, Top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft | 6-10. 19 defensive prospects the Tennessee Titans may fall in love with at 2023 NFL combine. I wouldn't take a guy that high that isn't a three-down starter, but someone will take him up there though.". With his skill set, Jackson has the upside to improve his production as he gains more experience. When is the 2023 NFL Draft? Date, start time, location, Round 1 order The South Carolina DE has plenty of juice to take off after the passer. Now which teams will regret it? 2022 NFL Draft Defensive End Rankings includes a prospect ranking, a breakdown of scouting for the position, key questions about the position, and a link to learn more. 2022 NFL draft: 20 best defensive line prospects Free Agency NFL Draft Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts. Hutchinson has good size for the next level in that he could be a base end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 five-technique defensive end. The hype comes on the back of a sensational first season at the FBS level. Josh Paschal shouldve been able to register the backfield as a private domicile given how often he lived there this past season for Kentucky. 4/27/22: Some in the media are projecting Thomas in the first round, but team sources said they don't have him that high. 2022 NFL Draft l Day 2 ends with yet another receiver picked Subsequently, NFL teams that like having bigger edge rushers would jump at the chance to add Karlaftis. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan BIG BOARD RANK: 1 The consensus among draft analysts and scouts, though, is this year's class is loaded with pass rushers be it 290-pound defensive ends or smaller edge rushers who would fit well in a 3-4 . 2022 NFL Draft: Defensive End Rankings - AthlonSports.com | Expert Regardless, Paschal still has great density and power capacity, and he has the explosiveness (37.5 vertical and 123 broad) to move between 3-technique and wide 9-technique. 2022 NFL Draft: DL Dominique Robinson, Miami (OH), Round 5, Pick 174 Bears Draft Report Brought to you by Bears draft defensive end Dominique Robinson Apr 30, 2022 at 02:30 PM Larry Mayer Bears Senior Writer RELATED: Stay up-to-date with all the Bears' draft picks with ChicagoBears.com's Draft Tracker. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. He's turned all three picks in the past two drafts into starters in right guard Quinn Meinerz (2021, No. Mafe had a career season at Minnesota in 2021 and followed it up with a stellar showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Who should you be watching out for during this college football season? That expectation does inflate Hutchinsons value a bit, but hes still an exciting prospect. It was a big jump from his underclassmen years as a backup. However, his stock is rapidly on the rise, with the potential to elevate himself into first-round contention. He also has to up his pass-rush production with the Bulldogs. As Cincinnati emerged as a genuine College Football Playoff contender, Sanders amassed 31 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. Improving his pass-rush production would help Hutchinson, but he is a phenomenal run defender who flashes an ability to get to the quarterback. Some sources say that Johnson's football character is worse than Kayvon Thibodeaux, and that played a role in Johnson leaving Georgia. 7/10/21: In 2020 Sanders was a dangerous edge rusher for the Bearcats, notching seven sacks with 31 tackles and five passes batted. 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver rankings: Quentin Johnston headlines top While Jackson was highly regarded in scouting circles, Jeffrey Gunter has the potential to be even better as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class. Its close between all of them, but Johnson arguably has the most well-rounded skill set. He had 57 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one pass defended on the year. Top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft include Kayvon Thibodeaux, George Karlaftis After an offense-heavy draft in 2021, there is more defensive promise in 2022. Who will be the top defensive ends for the 2022 NFL Draft? Additionally, Paschal received outstanding marks from teams for his football, locker room leadership, and off-the-field intangibles. Conversely, only one quarterback (Kenny Pickett) was selected in the first round at 20th overall, the lowest for a draft's first quarterback since 1997, and no running backs were taken in the first round for the first time since 2014. The first five selections were defensive players, the second-most taken at the start of a draft after the six in 1991. At 64, 267 pounds, Thomas is more of a power rusher, but hes shown he can employ hand moves at the apex and stack counters. There is a deep group of defensive backs, and we know that the New York Giants will be in the market for back-end help, specifically at cornerback, a position widely regarded as deep in this year . Smith also converts speed to power exceptionally well. With Aidan Hutchinson commanding a lot of attention, Ojabo broke out in 2021, recording 35 tackles, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and three passes defended. He has some quickness, strength, and athleticism that was illustrated with good workouts. 0:00. He has seen time at multiple alignments in the Michigan defense, ranging from a traditional defensive end to a 3-technique, and even lined up over the center. Anderson is tremendous pass rusher who produces quarterback pressure at an insane rate. Hutchinson has been the most dominating pass-rusher in college football during the 2021 season and easily outperformed the presump Thibodeaux has out-of-this-world athletic ability and as a result, is in the running for being the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft George Karlaftis is a freakish athlete with an elite massive frame and is a natural dominating pass rusher. Johnson was a high-effort player for the Seminoles, making a lot of stops in the ground game along with putting steady pressure on the quarterback. 2022 NFL Draft: Ranking the top-10 interior defenders this year Florida Football: DT Zachary Carter NFL draft 2022 profile - Gators Wire