10 overall. On top of his size and power, Karlaftis has an underrated finesse element. 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. Some teams are eyeing him late in the second round and early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. A look at the Steelers 2022 NFL Draft Class. He is a freak athlete though and a special pass rusher. Paschal is a tough run defender who can contribute some pass rush. 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. Additionally, in the Buck position for South Carolina, he has been tasked with dropping back into coverage. In our latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft, that's exactly what happens as both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions bolster the edge of their lines at No. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. 2022 NFL Draft: The top 11 interior defensive linemen Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. 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. It starts with insane athletic traits. Florida Football: DT Zachary Carter NFL draft 2022 profile GatorSports.com Schedule Teams SEC Alabama Arkansas Auburn Georgia LSU Tennessee Texas A&M ACC Clemson UNC Big Ten Iowa Michigan. . Is Aidan Hutchinson No. Hall has good length and speed, but he is too light to line up every down on the inside. Some team sources view him as a mid-first-rounder while others think he belongs late in Round 1. 7/10/21: Stills showed pass rush potential in 2019 when he recorded seven sacks for the Mountaineers. Tall, strong, and long, Gunter plays the game with a relentless motor. 4/27/22: Gunter was solid for Coastal Carolina in 2021, but it would have helped him to have a more productive season. ** - denotes 2024 prospect. 5 pick in 2022 draft NFL+ X Players Only Combine Presented by NOBULL Matthew Judon and Devin White join host Rhett Lewis for. His natural instincts to go for the strip sack are phenomenal. Which defensive ends currently round out the top 10? He wants to with suddenness and athletic ability as a run defender, moving and slanting. What makes the top prospects stand out, though? He further helped himself with an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl. He was wise to go back to school. 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. Given the timing, the injury could easily cause him to miss his rookie season. Additionally, OLB Nik Bonitto is one of the best at his position. 7/10/21: In 2020, Johnson was part of a loaded group of edge rushers at Georgia. Here is a look back at what the team did in this year's draft. He broke out for the Boilermakers in 2019, totaling 7.5 sacks with 54 tackles in his debut. The following is the breakdown of the 262 players selected by position: In the explanations below, (PD) indicates trades completed prior to the start of the draft (i.e. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. Mar 04, 2023. Moreover, he appears to have developed physically over the offseason. He's turned all three picks in the past two drafts into starters in right guard Quinn Meinerz (2021, No. Instead, its Florida States Jermaine Johnson II. As Deshaun Watson and others have proven, however, nobody knows for sure what people will do privately. 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. 126: Las Vegas Minnesota Las Vegas, No. 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. He had 30 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2020. In 2021, it would help him to continue to improve as a rusher while adding strength to be a tougher run defender. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama, 6-foot-4, 310 pounds. Powerful, yet surprisingly agile for his size, he also plays the game with competitive toughness. He could be even better now that he has a year of experience, and NFL advance scouts were impressed with his 2020 tape. 94: Kansas City New England Carolina, No. On the other hand, he was very productive in 2021, recording 71 tackles, 11.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Charlton has the ability to be a capable edge defender, but needs to get stronger. 2. This year, the 2022 NFL Draft defensive end class is stacked with possibly five players projected to be first-round picks. Explosive, physical, and strong, Thomas has the size and length that will leave NFL teams drooling this fall. video Kyle Hamilton's 2022 NFL. 7/10/21: Williams had a solid 2020 season, showing run-stuffing skills and some ability to play in pass coverage. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? He was impressive there, but no one could have predicted that he would outstrip his JUCO production in his first campaign in the SEC. There could be as many as 10 prospects selected from the IDL class on the. 7/10/21: Ebiketie impressed NFL advance scouts with his 2020 performance while playing for the Temple Owls. For purposes of schematic differentiation, projected stand-up rushers such as Kayvon Thibodeaux and David Ojabo were listed in our outside linebacker rankings. 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? 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. On the year, Paschal had 52 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. 2023 NFL Draft Defensive End Rankings. 4/27/22: Tisdale recorded eight tackles and zero sacks in 2021 from playing over four games before going out for the season in early October. He could conceivably play as a 3-4 defensive end or a 3-technique in a base 4-3 scheme. And at his peak, Walker can be a game-wrecker. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. The top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft; The most pressing need for each NFC East team; A Big 12 corner who will turn heads at the NFL Combine; And much more; Taking a look at Christian Watson. . NFL Draft picks 2022: Complete list, results, selections of Round 1. . These are the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. 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. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. He isn't George Karlaftis is a freakish athlete with an elite massive frame and is a natural dominating pass rusher. 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. 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. Anderson is tremendous pass rusher who produces quarterback pressure at an insane rate. Equally adept at terrorizing quarterbacks or setting the edge in the run game, his usage at Coastal gives him additional versatility. 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. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. All Rights Reserved. He has some quickness, strength, and athleticism that was illustrated with good workouts. [17] Seven picks were awarded for the 2022 draft pursuant to the resolution. There's also a lot of talent on the defensive line, although many of the big names will likely go in Round 1. Jack Borowsky Jul 5, 2021 1:08 PM EDT The. However, it presents a list of prospects to watch out for in the 2021 college football season. At 63 3/4, 261 pounds, Mafe has the frame density, explosiveness, speed, and the bend to sink below the corner. 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. 7/10/21: Some NFL advance scouts had Anderson with the highest preseason grade of any player on their preseason watch list. He missed a few games with the ankle injury and decided to skip Oregon's bowl game in favor of draft preparation. Like Sanders above him, Kingsley Enagbare returned to school despite receiving significant interest in the previous draft cycle. carry receiving threats up the seam or play man-to-man against tight ends. 2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Midseason Defensive Positional Rankings by Austin Smith November 5, 2021 Heading into another great college football weekend, here are the top defensive positional rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft Prospects, including Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux being the top-rated defensive end. 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. SEC Defensive Tackles with the highest . 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. Throughout the 2020 campaign, Sanders showed improved hand usage at the line of scrimmage. We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. 4/27/22: Paschal was a difference maker once again for Kentucky in 2021. Although Zach Harrison may not be cut from the same cloth as Chase Young and the Bosa brothers, he can still be one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. Anderson had an impressive pro-day workout, and his lawyer is seeking the dismissal of the charges. 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. 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. That's why Georgia says they don't start him. ", "Las Vegas will play host to 2022 NFL Draft", "2022 NFL Draft is going full Las Vegas, but will be missing one key detail from the original plan", "Caesars Entertainment ecstatically hosts the 2022 NFL Draft after a prolonged wait", "What to know about traffic around Las Vegas during the NFL Draft", "Browns will get extra NFL Draft picks because Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as GM", "Texans set to hire Ravens assistant David Culley as head coach", "Falcons hire Terry Fontenot as general manager, Saints to receive draft compensation", "49ers' development of Saleh nets two third-round draft picks", "Washington hires Mayhew as GM; 49ers to get 2023 comp pick", "49ers will gain a draft pick by losing executive Martin Mayhew", "Updated Chiefs 2022 NFL draft picks after Bears' hiring of Ryan Poles", "Rams are 1st team to earn compensatory picks thanks to NFL's new hiring initiative", "Dolphins hire Mike McDaniel as new head coach", "New Orleans Saints to forfeit 6th-round pick in 2022 draft for COVID-19 violations", "NFL approves plan to reward teams with draft selections for developing minority coaches, GMs", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_NFL_Draft&oldid=1142812347, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 14:18. But beyond that athleticism, Johnson is a technician with strong and powerful hands. Projecting for defensive end roles in the NFL, the top defensive end in the 2022 NFL Draft isnt Hutchinson or Karlaftis. Yet, he has the tools to be a big EDGE as well for teams who like to move their linemen around and exploit matchups. Nik Bonitto is one of the draft's best outside linebackers. 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. 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, Analysis QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OTs. The versatile DE has the physicality to play multiple positions along the defensive line. Aidan Hutchinson goes first overall in 2022 NFL Mock Draft Top 10 Defensive Ends in the 2022 NFL Draft | 6-10, Kayvon Thibodeaux and David Ojabo were listed in our outside linebacker rankings, projected to be the No. 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. Aidan Hutchinson is widely projected to be the No. It's part of a significant overhaul of a defense that allowed 27.5 points per game a season ago (31st in the NFL), plus ranked just No. Barno must get stronger because his run defense is a real liability entering the NFL. His best fit in the NFL could be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. 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? 4/27/22: Hall broke out for the Cougars in 2021, showing length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to set the edge. He showed some pass-rush potential alongside quality size and speed. He was not as tenacious as a pass rusher. He has everything you Travon Walker is a prospect who is still a better athlete than a football player. He has massive upside as a pass rusher with Hall is an amazing athlete possessing an elite combination of strength, height, long arms, and ridiculous speed as well as change Cameron Thomas is rocketing up draft boards at the moment and with good reason, he's athletic with an incredible set of pass-rushi Mafe Boye has been rocketing up draft boards since his impressive Senior Bowl outing. Zachary Carter isnt lacking in either of those departments. PFF has three Commanders ranked in the top 101, and the top-ranked Washington player will surprise you. Who among Aidan Hutchinson, George Karlaftis, and Jermaine Johnson II takes the top spot? Who should you be watching out for during this college football season? Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. If he is innocent, this could be a situation like La'el Collins', where a first-round talent becomes a late-round steal. 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 . At the next level, Paschal has a curious projection. Walkers athleticism is legitimately otherworldly, and on tape, his power is just as potent. 4/27/22: In 2021, Karlaftis recorded 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles. . 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. 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 . Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will compete for the No. 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. And while his length is slightly below average, Mafe compensates with his ability to win around the edge. 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. The statistics are sensational. Top Defensive Ends 2022 NFL Draft 2022 NFL Draft - Top Defensive Ends (5-Technique DT) Most Recent Update: 4/27/2022 7:00 PM EST Position/Conference Rankings WR-S DL 1-TECH DL 3-TECH DL 5-TECH ILB KICKER BIG-12 AAC M-WEST C-USA SUN BELT 2021 RANKINGS 2020 RANKINGS Rank O/A Chng Player/School Ht/Wt Elig. 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 . 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. What makes Thibodeaux so special? NFL Draft Buzz is on the lookout for new contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the NFL draft. Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. Similar to teammate Lakia Henry, Williams is a junior college product who could be better in his third season with Ole Miss. 6", "Philadelphia Eagles trade QB Carson Wentz to Indianapolis Colts for two draft picks", "Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints shake up first round of 2022 NFL draft with multipick trade", "Packers trading Davante Adams to Raiders; WR signing 5-year, $141.25M deal", "Ravens trade WR Marquise Brown to Cardinals for first-round draft pick", "49ers Make Blockbuster Pre-Draft Trade Up to No. 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. He put together impressive games against Florida and Georgia. 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. I'm concerned with strength. 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 possesses a delightful change-of-direction ability, remarkable lateral agility, and, to top it off, he has excellent play speed. He looks like a potential three-down starter in the NFL. Thomas did play on the interior at times for the Aztecs, so he could feasibly cut weight and move to DE full-time in the NFL. They feel he could have issues with strength holding up against inside runs, and they say Thomas is not overly twitchy or explosive. Thibodeaux was productive in 2021 despite playing at less than 100 percent and teams sending a steady amount of extra blocking his direction or moving plays away from him. Coming out of H.B. He made big plays in run defense and the pass rush. 86 overall in Round 3 after trading up with Raiders", "Carolina Panthers use 3rd-round draft pick on QB Matt Corral amid Baker Mayfield trade speculation", "Colts trade up and draft Maryland safety Nick Cross in the third round", "Vikings acquiring TE Chris Herndon from Jets in trade following Irv Smith Jr.'s knee injury", "New Vikings CB Akayleb Evans Ready to Learn From Patrick Peterson", "Panthers trade into 4th round, select LB Brandon Smith", "Raiders trade up to No. The top group of defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft is full of different player types, and South Carolinas Kingsley Enagbare is just one example. 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. If Anderson is exonerated, he could return to being an early-round pick, but right now, it looks like he would be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent until his legal situation is resolved. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan 2. Gunter has quality size to be an edge defender in the NFL. The 64, 240-pounder significantly elevated his stock in a season where he accounted for half of the Gamecocks sacks. The Cincinnati pass rusher has tremendous athletic upside, with explosiveness and the ability to bend around the edge. Despite not having a standout defensive prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft, Tyreke Smith joins Harrison to give the Buckeyes two of the top 10 defensive ends in the class. 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. When he pieces everything together, Smith breezes past offensive tackles with relative ease. From the college perspective, here are the best defensive end and edge rusher prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 2022 NFL Combine's 40-yard dash is a chance for some defensive linemen to really improve their stock. The hype comes on the back of a sensational first season at the FBS level. Best of defensive ends | 2022 NFL Scouting Combine Watch the highlights of the defensive end, EDGE rusher group at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. 7/10/21: Thibodeaux recorded 32 tackles, three sacks and three passes batted in 2020. hes a force off the edge who wins with strength, quick feet, and ability to read the game. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. Yet, they dont define what makes Enagbare one of the top defensive ends in the class. Furthermore, Karlaftis has the ability to play both inside and out, making him extremely versatile. Additionally, Paschal received outstanding marks from teams for his football, locker room leadership, and off-the-field intangibles. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 draft. * - denotes 2023 prospect. 1. Defensive Line Rankings 2022 NFL Draft Home Positions DL 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 Like the edge rushers group of the 2022 NFL Draft, the interior defensive linemen are extremely deep and versatile. [16] The resolution rewards teams whose minority candidates are hired away for one of those positions by awarding draft selections, which are at the end of the third round, after standard compensatory selections; if multiple teams qualify, they are awarded by draft order in the first round. 1 and No. Sanders did not stand out at the Senior Bowl. The top 100 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft were littered . He notched 38 tackles, seven sacks, three passes batted and three forced fumbles on the year. He has massive upside as a pass rusher with Leal is a difficult player to scout - he no doubt has good athletic ability, good size, elite arm length with impressive strength, Hall is an amazing athlete possessing an elite combination of strength, height, long arms, and ridiculous speed as well as change Devonte Wyatt has become an important part of the best defense in college football during 2021 and is an excellent pro prospect. With Chase Young out for almost all of the season, Sweat was the Commanders . Johnson does get hurt with teams giving him bad marks for football character and have concerns about dealing with him. A few names have been mixed into the No. While Thibodeaux would benefit from refinement of his pass-rush toolbox, his ability to convert speed to power effortlessly will leave many offensive linemen embarrassed this fall. [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]. Josh Paschal shouldve been able to register the backfield as a private domicile given how often he lived there this past season for Kentucky. 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. BIO 1 18 -- Travon Walker Georgia 6'5" 272 JR 7/10/21: Jackson played well in 2020, recording 20 tackles, two sacks and an interception. Hes demonstrated that he can win with pure size, strength, and hand violence. 2022 NFL Draft - 4-3 Defensive End Rankings. It was a big jump from his underclassmen years as a backup. You're correct in his get-off being reminiscent of Von Miller at Texas A&M. Paris Johnson Jr. - Ohio State. 154 overall: Conner is the selection", "Browns acquire WR Amari Cooper in trade with Cowboys", "Sources: Vikes ship Ngakoue to Ravens for picks", "Jaguars agree to trade DE Yannick Ngakoue to Vikings", "2022 NFL Draft: Jaguars Pick Up Future 4th Round Pick in Trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers", "New England Patriots acquire WR DeVante Parker in trade with Miami Dolphins", "New York Jets trade LB Avery Williamson to Pittsburgh Steelers", "Raiders OT Trent Brown expected to be traded to Patriots", "Raiders trade No.