2022 nfl draft defensive ends
This year, the 2022 NFL Draft defensive end class is stacked with possibly five players projected to be first-round picks. Boye Mafe, Minnesota; Malik Vann, Cincinnati; Jordan Strachan, South Carolina; Ochaun Mathis, TCU; Will McDonald, Iowa State, 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. 39 min read Last year saw tight end Kyle Pitts, termed the "unicorn" in many circles, come off the board. 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 . He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? While he may not become a starter, he has the potential to be a quality rotational backup. Standing around 65, 266 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete for his size. A look at the Steelers 2022 NFL Draft Class. Some team sources view him as a mid-first-rounder while others think he belongs late in Round 1. Ali Gaye sneaks into our top 10 defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. Defensive End Rankings 2022 NFL Draft Home Positions DE ALL QUARTERBACK RUNNING BACK WIDE RECEIVER TIGHT END OFFENSIVE LINE DEFENSIVE LINE EDGE LINEBACKER DEFENSIVE BACK #1 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT 97 Aidan Hutchinson POSITION RANK #1 OUR RATING 94.8 DE All Scouts Average Overall Rank 2.7 All Scouts Average Position Rank 1 Height Feet 6-7 4/27/22: Charlton was decent for Mississippi State in 2021 with 35 tackles and four sacks. Azeez Ojulari was the featured defender, while Johnson, Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith rotated for snaps. He played well for the Gamecocks and then had a solid week at the Senior Bowl. 5 pick in 2022 draft NFL+ X Players Only Combine Presented by NOBULL Matthew Judon and Devin White join host Rhett Lewis for. 2022 NFL Draft: Defensive End Rankings 1. The sixth-round pick in this past April's NFL Draft played in nine games for the Carolina Panthers over the course of the year, totaling nine total tackles, with eight solo stops, and finishing the season with two total sacks to . 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. 164: New England Las Vegas LA Rams, No. Hall has good length and speed, but he is too light to line up every down on the inside. Smith also converts speed to power exceptionally well. 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. All Rights Reserved. 2022 September 2 2023 NFL Draft 3-4 Defensive End Rankings 2023 NFL Draft 3-4 Defensive End Rankings John Vogel September 2, 2022 in 2023 Rankings, Player Rankings - 6 Minutes 1. 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. There is no doubt that Ojabo is very fast off the edge with the ability to bend underneath offensive tackles. PFF has three Commanders ranked in the top 101, and the top-ranked Washington player will surprise you. His ability to neutralize the oppositions ground game is underrated. 126: Las Vegas Minnesota Las Vegas, No. 7/10/21: Hutchinson was excellent to open 2020, collecting 13 tackles and a pass batted before going down with an ankle fracture that required surgery. 4/27/22: Ebiketie played well for the Nittany Lions in 2021, picking up 62 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumble. Last season, in his first opportunity to be the dominant leader of the defensive line, he secured only 4.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. I wouldn't take a guy that high that isn't a three-down starter, but someone will take him up there though.". They say that his tape and skill set are superb, but the off-the-field issues could push him down into the mid-rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft or lower. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan 2. 4/27/22: Mafe collected 34 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2021. This will be followed by College Pro Days and will culminate with the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada which is set to begin on Thursday, April 28th. Team sources say Johnson beat up on some bad tackles and really struggled against Alabama left tackle Evan Neal. [3][4], Caesars Forum was used to house infrastructure for the event. 24 in passing yards allowed (4,160) and No. What makes the top prospects stand out, though? 105) and tight end Greg Dulcich (2022 . 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. He was more disruptive than the numbers illustrate. Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson has a good blend of size, athleticism, and blocking prowess to play the position at the NFL level. Aidan Hutchinson is widely projected to be the No. Given his size, the assumption is that Karlaftis wins with strength alone. 1 overall pick conversation, and Georgias Travon Walker is one of them. Thibodeaux is the top defensive end and is also widely regarded as one of the top players in the entire 2022 NFL Draft class. Hes demonstrated that he can win with pure size, strength, and hand violence. He made the right decision for his player development to go back to the Buckeyes for 2021. He follows a trend of undersized edge rushers from Clemson that includes the likes of Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson. [3][4] Parts of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard were closed to vehicle traffic to allow spectators to travel between the two sites.[5]. George Karlaftis *, Purdue 6.. Raiders officially relocated to Las Vegas, No. Perhaps they got addicted to the catch radius of 2021 first-round tight end Kyle Pitts and preferred London as the . At 63 3/4, 258 pounds, with near 35 arms, Enagbare has an impressive physical profile. You dont earn 14 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and take home Heisman runner-up honors on accident. His agility emphasized by a fantastic 6.73 three-cone doesnt always show up in full capacity on tape, but his leverage may have something to do with that. Despite losing Ronnie Perkins to the NFL, the Oklahoma Sooners have sneakily got one of the best pass-rush units in college football this fall. 4/27/22: Anthony was playing well for LSU and on his way to a good season, but he suffered a non-contact knee injury versus Central Michigan that ended his 2021 season. When he has a runway, Thomas builds up speed and pressures tackles. He showed some pass-rush potential alongside quality size and speed. Some teams are eyeing him late in the second round and early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Sanders did not stand out at the Senior Bowl. I'm concerned with strength. Henderson to Panthers for TE Dan Arnold", "TRADE ALERT: Broncos trade their 75th overall selection to the Houston Texans for their 80th and 162nd overall picks", "New Orleans Saints complete trade with Houston Texans for CB Bradley Roby", "Miami Dolphins trade up to take Notre Dame offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg", "Falcons trade QB Matt Ryan to Colts for 2022 third-round pick", "2022 NFL Draft: Titans end Malik Willis' slide at No. $$ Pure WalterFootball with no advertisements for $7.99 a month. when the Browns took defensive end Myles Garrett, in which a QB isn't the first player off the board. Boye Mafe will be a 24-year-old rookie, but regardless of age, his sheer upside should have teams jumping to the podium in the top 50. Hes a chess piece and a disruptor all in one. He could be even better now that he has a year of experience, and NFL advance scouts were impressed with his 2020 tape. He totaled 5.5 sacks with 24 tackles in a solid debut. 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. If he is innocent, this could be a situation like La'el Collins', where a first-round talent becomes a late-round steal. 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. Gaye racked up 9.5 tackles for loss with 2 sacks and a forced fumble last fall. Hutchinson plays upright a lot. 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 is an interesting player because team sources say he shows some ability as a pass rusher, including functional strength to get off blocks, but that does not translate to defending the run, where he needs to get stronger for the NFL. Johnson was wise to go back to school and improve before going to the next level. 145", "Roster Move: Bears trade Miller to Texans", "2022 NFL draft: Bills trade up in Round 5, select WR Khalil Shakir", "Texans trade up, pick Stanford DL Thomas Booker in fifth round", "Eagles trade two 2021 draft picks to Washington Football Team for one 2022 pick", "No. 4/27/22: Hall broke out for the Cougars in 2021, showing length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to set the edge. 2022 NFL Draft: Top Defensive Tackles Georgia's Jordan Davis (99) is Eddie Brown's top-rated defensive tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Ohio State defensive end has an incredible athletic profile. Hall looks like the rare five-technique prospect who is capable of putting pressure on the quarterback. As a pass rusher, Ojabo can burn tackles with a speed rush, and he is explosive off the ball. Here are the top 20 offensive tackles in this class according to the consensus big board. He had a decent week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. Along with getting after the quarterback, Malone was a solid pursuit run defender, providing a lot of tackles for his defense. Nick Suss. 4/27/22: Paschal was a difference maker once again for Kentucky in 2021. On the contrary, he is deceptively athletic for his size. For his redshirt junior year, Phelps transferred to the University of Kansas, where he produced 7 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss for the Jayhawks and in 2022, was voted to the second squad of . He also flashes the agility to redirect to the inside or sink his hips while running the loop on the outside. Paschal earned 15 tackles for loss on the year and proved to be a menace for opposing offensive linemen. Players are identified as Pro Bowlers if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career. As well as impressive pass-rush ability, the Oklahoma DE is an extremely competent run defender. After his impressive practices in Mobile, more team evaluators think Johnson will go late in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. The 2022 NFL Combine's 40-yard dash is a chance for some defensive linemen to really improve their stock. A few names have been mixed into the No. From the college perspective, here are the best defensive end and edge rusher prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft in April, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks recently released his top five draft-eligible defensive ends. A number of NFL sources have Walker graded higher than Aidan Hutchinson. Impressed? At 65, he has stellar height for the position. 7/10/21: Thomas enjoyed a breakout 2020 season, racking up 8.5 sacks with 32 tackles, 13 for a loss, two passes defended and one forced fumble. The six-year NFL veteran and Minnesota Vikings stud defensive end, Danielle Hunter is well deserving of a spot as one of the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings. The injury also could cost Ojabo a spot in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft. It would help Thibodeaux (6-5, 242) to gain more strength, as he will need more weight to hold up as a run defender and to shed blocks from NFL offensive linemen. Josh Paschal shouldve been able to register the backfield as a private domicile given how often he lived there this past season for Kentucky. The draft concluded with rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 30. He isn't George Karlaftis is a freakish athlete with an elite massive frame and is a natural dominating pass rusher. Ojabo uses his hands and feet at the same, showing the ability to translate speed to power. Ojabo has the speed and strength to be a tough battle for pro offensive tackles. Teams are worried, however, about how much Thibodeaux loves football and the focus he has on "his brand." 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. 7/10/21: Williams had a solid 2020 season, showing run-stuffing skills and some ability to play in pass coverage. Multiple team sources who said they had spoken to recent Georgia staffers and recent former teammates of Anderson all reported those around the Bulldogs program were surprised and didn't believe he was that kind of guy. 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. That versatility, in a way, could make him more coveted. 44 with the Texans, pick up 68, 108, 124", "Chargers Acquire Six-Time Pro Bowl Outside Linebacker Khalil Mack", "2022 NFL draft: Bills trade back twice in second round with Buccaneers, Bengals", "Atlanta Falcons trade Julio Jones to Tennessee Titans", "Broncos trade star LB Von Miller to Rams for two 2022 NFL Draft picks", "Jaguars trade 2020 first-round CB C.J. Equally adept at terrorizing quarterbacks or setting the edge in the run game, his usage at Coastal gives him additional versatility. Chambers recorded five sacks in 2019 and 4.5 sacks in 2018 playing at University of Houston. Hes adept at combining speed with a high motor to finish plays. Gunter has quality size to be an edge defender in the NFL. He didn't do enough in 2021 to be a riser and build momentum for the 2022 NFL Draft. These are the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has one of the highest floors in this DE class and a fairly high ceiling. Some team sources are wondering about the timing as the incident occurred the night before the Georgia game versus Florida. Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. He is very undersized for the NFL, however, making him look like a backup who might fit only as a designated pass rusher. But when they run right at him, it's alarming.". Hes still raw from a hand usage standpoint, and the way Georgia used Walker, he was rarely rushing the edge in a pure defensive end role. If Mafe were taller and had more length, he would have a better shot at being first-round pick. Top Edge Rushers 2022 NFL Draft 2022 NFL Draft - Top Edge Rushers Most Recent Update: 4/27/2022 7:00 PM EST Position/Conference Rankings OT RB-C WR-S EDGE DL 1-TECH DL 3-TECH DL 5-TECH OLB ILB SAFETY CB KICKER PUNTER SEC ACC BIG-10 BIG-12 PAC-12 AAC M-WEST MAC C-USA SUN BELT 2021 RANKINGS 2020 RANKINGS Rank O/A Chng Player/School Ht/Wt Elig. Apr 15, 2022, 4:52pm ET in NFL News Top 10 Best defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft Teams in need of a dynamic edge rusher are going to have plenty of opportunities to fill that role as the 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with top defensive ends. He totaled 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks and six passes broken up in 2021. 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BIO 1 Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. The 64, 240-pounder significantly elevated his stock in a season where he accounted for half of the Gamecocks sacks. With strong, precise hands, Enagbare can maximize his length and combat extensions. 7/10/21: Tisdale is a big defensive end who is a tough run defender at the point of attack. 94: Kansas City New England Carolina, No. 3 to SF; get Eagles' No. At 63 3/4, 261 pounds, Mafe has the frame density, explosiveness, speed, and the bend to sink below the corner. [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. They feel he could add 10 pounds and be a speedy defensive tackle like DeForest Buckner, or drop 10 pounds and be a standup outside linebacker, or stay as is and be solid base end like Cam Jordan. However, it presents a list of prospects to watch out for in the 2021 college football season. Moreover, he accounted for 60% of South Carolinas forced fumbles. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? Paschal is a tough run defender who can contribute some pass rush. The 2022 NFL Draft was the 87th edition of the National Football League's annual draft and was held from April 28-30, 2022, at the Caesars Forum on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.The first round was held on Thursday, April 28, and was followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29. ** - denotes 2024 prospect. For the NFL, Ebiketie is undersized to be a defensive end and probably would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His 4.53 40-yard dash, 38 vertical, and 125 broad jump are all reflections of his elite athleticism. Multiple sources from around the league say that Thibodeaux does not love football, wears on his teammates, and is focused on himself above all else. The Tennessee Titans ' defensive needs aren't as obvious as . Ever since his explosive freshman season when the college football world was introduced to Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Oregon DE has been earmarked to be at the top of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. However, his stock is rapidly on the rise, with the potential to elevate himself into first-round contention. On top of his size and power, Karlaftis has an underrated finesse element. Brugler's Top 100: TE1, No. That tells you a lot about what they think of Anderson's skill set considering he enters his senior year having only been a rotational player and never having been a three-down starter. Thomas had four sacks in 2020 and 5.5 in 2019. NFL Draft picks 2022: Complete list, results, selections of Round 1. . Ohio State running back Miyan Williams (3) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.. 7/10/21: Hall was listed as a defensive tackle on NFL teams' preseason watch list, but at his current size, he would have to move to defensive end in the NFL. While Thibodeaux was solid, he didn't dominate on the field and he also showed a poor motor with taking plays off consistently. Anderson is tremendous pass rusher who produces quarterback pressure at an insane rate. He can be more consistent there, but Karlaftis has the tools to eventually be one of the top defensive ends from the 2022 NFL Draft class. 1? Is Aidan Hutchinson No. 4/27/22: Scouts were buzzing about Walker in the early going of the 2021 season, and he really helped move himself up boards for the 2022 NFL Draft. He's turned all three picks in the past two drafts into starters in right guard Quinn Meinerz (2021, No. They think he is safe pick to turn into a solid, if unspectacular, pro. Gunter was forced to sit out the 2019 season before transferring back to Coastal Carolina for 2020. Multiple NFL team sources say there isn't a significant difference between Johnson and top-10 picks like Aidan Hutchinson. Anderson should be a top-10 or top-15 pick if he keeps playing like he did against Clemson. 120: New Orleans Washington Carolina, No. With that size, hes not the highest-tier athlete, but Carter still brings good burst, and his power capacity helps elevate his game. And he has the ankle flexion to dip and rip. Aidan Hutchinson goes first overall in 2022 NFL Mock Draft He was impressive there, but no one could have predicted that he would outstrip his JUCO production in his first campaign in the SEC. He is a 1-year wonder who could find his best fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Johnson contributed some pass rush in previous years, so he could rise now that he has some starting experience, plus he has a good end in Michael Clemons drawing attention on the other side. 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. He was a dynamic pass rusher and showed improved run defense. 42. Of course, his monster 2021 campaign inflated those values. "He's only 230 pounds and really struggles to add weight because of a high metabolism. He is a massive man even by the . 4/27/22: VanValkenburg is a sleeper defensive end who could be a nice value on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. 1 overall pick, and at least four others should come off the board in the first 50 picks. Last fall, the Cincinnati pass rusher was a late riser up draft boards, earning buzz as a potential Day 2 selection. Who should you be watching out for during this college football season? Here's how a team's director of player personnel summarized Hutchinson, "I think he's a good athlete with speed and a pretty good get-off. 4/27/22: Thibodeaux recorded 49 tackles, seven sacks, one pass batted and two forced fumbles in 2021, but he also spent much of the year dealing with a balky ankle. [2], Draft activities were held around two main locations on the Las Vegas Strip; invited players walked a red carpet stage constructed on the man-made lake in front of the Bellagio and its fountains. Techie with an interesting slant on player evaluation? He needed to show more pass-rushing talent. 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. After a relatively disappointing defensive draft last April in terms of first-round pass rushers, the top of the 2022 NFL Draft could feature multiple defensive ends. The LSU pass rusher can already be found in several first-round mock drafts, including from Pro Football Networks Cam Mellor. Half of his sacks came in one game versus LSU. He has some quickness, strength, and athleticism that was illustrated with good workouts. Additionally, OLB Nik Bonitto is one of the best at his position. With some analysts predicting big things for LSU this season (admittedly, Im not one of them), Gaye could be the riser in this defensive end class. Team sources say Thibodeaux is worthy of being a high first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and feel he has the upside to possibly be a Khalil Mack-type rusher at the next level. In the NFL, Malone could be too undersized to play defensive end and might be better off as a 3-4 outside linebacker. 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.
2022 nfl draft defensive ends