Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 draft. But when they run right at him, it's alarming.". 4/27/22: Sanders had a quality year for Bearcats even though he did not produce a big stat line. Thibodeaux is the top defensive end and is also widely regarded as one of the top players in the entire 2022 NFL Draft class. 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. He's turned all three picks in the past two drafts into starters in right guard Quinn Meinerz (2021, No. And while his length is slightly below average, Mafe compensates with his ability to win around the edge. 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. Explosive, physical, and strong, Thomas has the size and length that will leave NFL teams drooling this fall. 4/27/22: Teams sources say Williams would be a first- or second-round pick if it weren't for significant character concerns that could cause him to go undrafted. With such a deep class, there should be some diamonds in . In 2019, Gaye was playing football for the junior college program Garden City. He is a freak athlete though and a special pass rusher. 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. Like the edge rushers group of the 2022 NFL Draft, the interior defensive linemen are extremely deep and versatile. The Cincinnati pass rusher has tremendous athletic upside, with explosiveness and the ability to bend around the edge. As a result, Sanders enters the 2022 NFL Draft cycle as one of the top defensive ends in the class. As Deshaun Watson and others have proven, however, nobody knows for sure what people will do privately. Before the 2022 college football season began, Jordan Addison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were viewed as the two best wide receiver prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. [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. For the NFL, Ebiketie is undersized to be a defensive end and probably would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. 1? Charlton has the ability to be a capable edge defender, but needs to get stronger. The Ohio State defensive end has an incredible athletic profile. Pre-Snap Reads 2/28: 2023 NFL Draft could prove to be most . Additionally, Paschal received outstanding marks from teams for his football, locker room leadership, and off-the-field intangibles. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan 2. He should benefit in 2021 from Ali Gaye commanding attention across from him. Perrion Winfrey is one of the top defensive tackles on the board. 4/27/22: Mafe collected 34 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2021. [1], The league awarded the draft to Las Vegas on April 23, 2020 after the Raiders officially relocated to Las Vegas. 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. The NFL Combine is the first week of March and it will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. However, it presents a list of prospects to watch out for in the 2021 college football season. 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 . 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. Some teams are eyeing him late in the second round and early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. He totaled six sacks, three forced fumbles and 30 tackles for 2020. He totaled 5.5 sacks with 24 tackles in a solid debut. In 2019, he had 68 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. 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. Oklahoma has quite a few eligible defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft. He put together impressive games against Florida and Georgia. 1 overall pick when the Jacksonville Jaguars arrive on the clock. 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. Nik Bonitto is one of the drafts best outside linebackers. Thomas could be better in 2021 now that he has more starting experience. We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. He had 57 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one pass defended on the year. At 63 3/4, 261 pounds, Mafe has the frame density, explosiveness, speed, and the bend to sink below the corner. He had a superb freshman season for the Ducks, doing an excellent job of getting after the quarterback and totaling nine sacks, 35 tackles, a forced fumble and three passes batted. VanValkenburg played very well to close out the 2021 season, impressing in the bowl game versus Kentucky. Mafe can still work on his instincts and hand usage, but the traits are all there. Enagbare should become one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class with another season of profound performances under his belt. 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? 7/10/21: Thibodeaux recorded 32 tackles, three sacks and three passes batted in 2020. 4/27/22: Ebiketie played well for the Nittany Lions in 2021, picking up 62 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumble. 4/27/22: Charlton was decent for Mississippi State in 2021 with 35 tackles and four sacks. Some team sources view him as a mid-first-rounder while others think he belongs late in Round 1. Paschal lost his 2018 season to fighting malignant melanoma, but after beating cancer, he returned to the field in 2019 to put together a quality year for Kentucky. Paschal earned 15 tackles for loss on the year and proved to be a menace for opposing offensive linemen. If production is a pre-requisite for you at edge rusher, then youll like Cameron Thomas. That's why Georgia says they don't start him. The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder needs to get stronger and improve his run defense for the NFL, but he looks like he has the potential to be a lethal pass rusher who produces some big sack totals and makes a lot of game-changing plays to limit passing attacks. 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. 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. There's a load of heavy, stout defensive ends who played last college season at 270, 275 or 280 . He also has to up his pass-rush production with the Bulldogs. 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. What makes the top prospects stand out, though? 4/27/22: In 2021, Engabare had 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two passes batted. Zachary Carter isnt lacking in either of those departments. 1. Here are the top 20 offensive tackles in this class according to the consensus big board. Travon Walker *, Georgia 4. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? 7/10/21: Clemson played well for the Aggies in 2020, showing some ability to get after the quarterback. Hutchinson is a great athlete, standing at 66 5/8, 260 pounds. 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. The draft concluded with rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 30. Perrion Winfrey is one of the top defensive tackles on the board. 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. hes a force off the edge who wins with strength, quick feet, and ability to read the game. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 3 to SF; get Eagles' No. We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. His power certainly comes first, but he does flash great burst off the line, as well as modest ankle flexion around the edge. 1. He would be better off as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Throw in his stellar run defense, and youre looking at a tremendous three-down player. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 0:00. I wouldn't take a guy that high that isn't a three-down starter, but someone will take him up there though.". 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. On the other hand, he was very productive in 2021, recording 71 tackles, 11.5 sacks and one forced fumble. 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 is very undersized for the NFL, however, making him look like a backup who might fit only as a designated pass rusher. 7/10/21: Barno has some serious speed with a frame to get bigger as he ages in the NFL. Smith needs to become a more consistent pass rusher this coming season. Hall helped himself with a quality week at the Senior Bowl. And Isaiah Thomas also finds himself on the list of top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. Addison thrived catching passes from . Chambers recorded five sacks in 2019 and 4.5 sacks in 2018 playing at University of Houston. In 2021, Anderson totaled 32 tackles and five sacks despite limited opportunities. 98), outside linebacker Baron Browning (2021, No. Ali Gaye sneaks into our top 10 defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class. 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. Smith started playing better afterward, including putting up a big game against Penn State. Along with getting after the quarterback, Malone was a solid pursuit run defender, providing a lot of tackles for his defense. Barno must get stronger because his run defense is a real liability entering the NFL. 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. 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. 105) and tight end Greg Dulcich (2022 . Yet, theres no doubting his ability as a ferocious pass rusher. Jackson showed pass-rushing talent off the edge and played hard. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. If he is innocent, this could be a situation like La'el Collins', where a first-round talent becomes a late-round steal. Brugler's Top 100: TE1, 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. Jack Borowsky Jul 5, 2021 1:08 PM EDT The. He was a steady pass rusher and a big presence for the Michigan defense. Hutchinson plays upright a lot. 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. In 2020, he was even better than his sophomore year, recording 58 tackles with 6.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defended and a tremendous six forced fumbles. Hes one of the larger players on this list, standing around 64, 282 pounds. Of course, his monster 2021 campaign inflated those values. 7/10/21: Karlaftis recorded four tackles and two sacks in 2020 while missing time with a leg injury. While some NFL Draft prospects will ascend during the 2021 college football season, Myjai Sanders is carrying momentum from the previous campaign. On top of being very fast, Anderson shows an uncanny ability to bend his long frame. A few names have been mixed into the No. Techie with an interesting slant on player evaluation? 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. Like any preseason list, these are subject to change throughout the year as some defensive ends elevate their stock and others falter along the way. The 2022 NFL Draft big board rankings are reflective of Bucky Brooks' top five 2022 NFL Draft prospects by position 1.0 and ESPN's NFL Draft "Best Available" list. Azeez Ojulari was the featured defender, while Johnson, Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith rotated for snaps. Standing around 65, 266 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete for his size. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame. The 2022 NFL Draft was the 87th edition of the National Football League's annual draft and was held from April 2830, 2022, at the Caesars Forum on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. 39 min read Last year saw tight end Kyle Pitts, termed the "unicorn" in many circles, come off the board. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. Copyright 2019-2023. 4/27/22: In 2021, Hutchinson recorded 62 tackles, 14 sacks, three passes batted, a fumble recovered and two forced fumbles - another one was mistakenly given to a teammate. For teams that like length and high-motor rushers, Enagbare fits the bill. He has ideal size to play as a versatile defender in the trenches for Belichick, even if he's not a freaky athlete. 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. For purposes of schematic differentiation, projected stand-up rushers such as Kayvon Thibodeaux and David Ojabo were listed in our outside linebacker rankings. Projecting for defensive end roles in the NFL, the top defensive end in the 2022 NFL Draft isnt Hutchinson or Karlaftis. 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: VanValkenburg is a sleeper defensive end who could be a nice value on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. His ability to neutralize the oppositions ground game is underrated. He started slowly, but he was coming alive in the final regular-season games for Ohio State. In Perrion Winfrey, they have one of the best defensive tackles in the 2022 class. He was a consensus first-rounder prior to the injury. ** - denotes 2024 prospect. Some NFL scouts gave Johnson a high projection on their preseason watch list. Paschal does have a thick build with strength for a defensive end. Also, PFF strangely leaves off two players who should be in anyone's top 101 players. 2022 NFL Draft: Top Defensive Tackles Georgia's Jordan Davis (99) is Eddie Brown's top-rated defensive tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft. It was a big jump from his underclassmen years as a backup. 38: Carolina NY Jets NY Giants Atlanta, 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. Early on, WalterFootball.com caught up with a director of college scouting from a playoff team that is one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, and here is what they had to say about Anderson prior to the off-the-field trouble: "Talk about holding a guy back; Georgia is definitely doing that. 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. Anderson had an impressive pro-day workout, and his lawyer is seeking the dismissal of the charges. 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. Mar 04, 2023. 29: San Francisco Miami Kansas City New England, No. 4/27/22: Smith had a slow start to the 2021 season, and his lack of pass-rush pressure really hurt Ohio State against Oregon and Minnesota. The 2022 NFL Draft is chock full of pass-rushing talent at the top of the class and deep into Day 2. Its reasonable to expect that his playing weight could be over 270 in the NFL. 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 . He was listed over 280 pounds in college, but at the NFL Combine, he measured in at 62 5/8, 268 pounds. At the Senior Bowl, Ebiketie showed that he is a fast edge rusher with serious burst around the corner. 7/10/21: Johnson flashed some pass-rush ability in 2020, but he also illustrated limitations in the ground game. We first try to identify a position, but often list both possibilities. 4/27/22: Tragedy struck for Ojabo when he tore his Achilles during Michigan's pro-day workout. 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. They will gather on the field for the first time when the team holds their rookie minicamp May 13-15. 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. He is a 1-year wonder who could find his best fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His best fit in the NFL could be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. San Francisco could also use some help at defensive back after the group has been thinned out over the years. He was a good defender for West Virginia. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. By the end of this weekend, we'll have a much clearer idea on how the Arizona Cardinals, . He decided to transfer to Mississippi State after the season. 0:29. On the year, Paschal had 52 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. PFF has three Commanders ranked in the top 101, and the top-ranked Washington player will surprise you. Now which teams will regret it? He's sufficient versus the run because he can find it and can win with quicks and athletic ability. He was more disruptive than the numbers illustrate. 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? He has vehemently denied the accusation, and some team sources believe Anderson is innocent and could get acquitted. Along with the 1972 and 2000 drafts, it marked the third time defensive players were the first two picks after the first three picks in the previous year's draft were quarterbacks. It was the first draft to be held in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and the state of Nevada. 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. 4/27/22: Hall broke out for the Cougars in 2021, showing length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to set the edge. 7/10/21: Stills showed pass rush potential in 2019 when he recorded seven sacks for the Mountaineers. They feel is a well-rounded defender with a lot of upside and versatility. These are the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. Super informed fan? 7/10/21: In 2020 Sanders was a dangerous edge rusher for the Bearcats, notching seven sacks with 31 tackles and five passes batted. He made big plays in run defense and the pass rush. 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. They think he is safe pick to turn into a solid, if unspectacular, pro. Anthony will need to increase his pass-rush production and show improvement as a run defender to rise. (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press) Looking. On the year, Thomas collected 21 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defended. And Isaiah Thomas also finds himself on the list of top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has plenty of time to add weight and grow stronger over the next year. 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. 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. 4/27/22: Malone collected 94 tackles, nine sacks, four passes defended and four forced fumbles in 2021. The top 2022 Defensive End prospects available for the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2020, he improved as a run defender, upping his stops from 23 to 35, but his pass rush was not as good with only two sacks on the season. Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in '15 , '16 , '17 , '18 , '20 , and '21 Led all NFL media in correct picks for the 2017 and 2019 NFL Drafts With his skill set, Jackson has the upside to improve his production as he gains more experience. Yet, they dont define what makes Enagbare one of the top defensive ends in the class. Five Georgia defensive players were also taken during the first round, the most from an individual school in a draft. Some team sources said they have Thomas graded on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft as a potential backup in the NFL. 1-5. The NFL will absolutely love Gayes size and football smarts. Listed at 65 and 268 pounds, Thomas has the frame to add more weight and strength this season. Analysts attributed the high number of trades to eight teams entering the draft without a first-round selection and a general absence of highly-touted prospects. 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. Although there are some areas for improvement, the Ohio State pass rushers length, speed, and strength combined with his ability to disrupt both around the outside track and from the interior make him one of the best defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class.