Also, PFF strangely leaves off two players who should be in anyone's top 101 players. Josh Paschal shouldve been able to register the backfield as a private domicile given how often he lived there this past season for Kentucky. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: A Debate Over the Best Defensive End Might Kayvon Thibodeaux not be the best defensive prospect in the upcoming draft class? NFL Draft picks 2022: Complete list, results, selections of Round 1. . Jackson showed pass-rushing talent off the edge and played hard. [17] Seven picks were awarded for the 2022 draft pursuant to the resolution. The Tennessee Titans ' defensive needs aren't as obvious as . 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. The defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL draft class may be one of the best classes in recent years. Kayvon Thibodeaux *, Oregon 3. 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. 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. But beyond that athleticism, Johnson is a technician with strong and powerful hands. 38", "Colts trade down in the second round of NFL Draft with Vikings", "Browns trade down from No. 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 looks like a potential three-down starter in the NFL. Stills needs to improve in both phases to rise for the 2022 NFL Draft. He possesses a delightful change-of-direction ability, remarkable lateral agility, and, to top it off, he has excellent play speed. In 2019, he had 68 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. 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 At 66, 250 pounds. Williams did a nice job of blitzing the quarterback off the edge in 2019, and he showed some nice ability to put pressure on the signal-caller. He is very undersized for the NFL, however, making him look like a backup who might fit only as a designated pass rusher. Projecting for defensive end roles in the NFL, the top defensive end in the 2022 NFL Draft isnt Hutchinson or Karlaftis. 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? Super informed fan? 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. 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. 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, Analysis QBs| RBs| WRs| TEs | OTs| OGs & Cs NFL Draft by college over last 5 years: 1-130 rankings 15 Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina Size:6-4, 265 He was not as tenacious as a pass rusher. However, beyond the statistics, Sanders is an alluring prospect. Some team sources said they have Thomas graded on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft as a potential backup in the NFL. He has one of the highest floors in this DE class and a fairly high ceiling. Addison thrived catching passes from . 2022 NFL Draft Sleepers Relative Athletic Score Standouts At Each Position Quarterback: Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati Relative Athletic Score: 9.6 We have a new consensus Top 300 NFL Draft Big Board here at PFN. And while his length is slightly below average, Mafe compensates with his ability to win around the edge. 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 2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive End *Walt taking 2014 and 2018 Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates. 4/27/22: Sanders had a quality year for Bearcats even though he did not produce a big stat line. Quietly productive as a freshman, Gunter has been defensively dominant in the rest of his college football seasons. Thomas could be better in 2021 now that he has more starting experience. 42. 1 and No. Paschal earned 15 tackles for loss on the year and proved to be a menace for opposing offensive linemen. 1? Tall, strong, and long, Gunter plays the game with a relentless motor. At 63, 260 pounds, Smith might not appear as imposing as his teammate. There could be as many as 10 prospects selected from the IDL class on the. In the NFL, Malone could be too undersized to play defensive end and might be better off as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Moreover, he appears to have developed physically over the offseason. That will be a terrifying prospect, as he establishes himself as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class. 2022 NFL Mock Draft Defensive End Rankings: Travon Walker, Georgia Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State George Karlaftis, Purdue 7/10/21: Karlaftis recorded four tackles and two sacks in 2020 while missing time with a leg injury. 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. 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. Of the top five, all are projected as first-round. Alongside the release of that big board, new positional rankings have also been compiled. 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 He was listed over 280 pounds in college, but at the NFL Combine, he measured in at 62 5/8, 268 pounds. The top-ranked Commander is defensive end Montez Sweat, who ranks No. With such a deep class, there should be some diamonds in . 7/10/21: In 2020 Sanders was a dangerous edge rusher for the Bearcats, notching seven sacks with 31 tackles and five passes batted. Subsequently, NFL teams that like having bigger edge rushers would jump at the chance to add Karlaftis. 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. Techie with an interesting slant on player evaluation? This has provided a further showcase of his athletic ability to impact multiple phases of the game. 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. USC hurt his production by moving him around, playing him somewhat at outside linebacker, dropping him into coverage, and reducing his pass-rushing opportunities. 39 min read Last year saw tight end Kyle Pitts, termed the "unicorn" in many circles, come off the board. He has risen during the 2022 NFL Draft process, and he will probably end up as one of the first players drafted. Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. The 2023 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 27 and ends on Saturday, April 29. 4/27/22: Stills recorded 36 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2021. 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. 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. Anderson should be a top-10 or top-15 pick if he keeps playing like he did against Clemson. Oklahoma has quite a few eligible defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft. Sources are wondering why Anderson was at home and not at the team hotel. The top 100 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft were littered . Aidan Hutchinson is widely projected to be the No. You're correct in his get-off being reminiscent of Von Miller at Texas A&M. The draft concluded with rounds 47 on Saturday, April 30. Team sources say Walker is big, athletic and speedy. 4/27/22: Mafe collected 34 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2021. 38: Carolina NY Jets NY Giants Atlanta, No. 7/10/21: Charlton was a solid defender for Central Florida in 2020. 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. 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. Easily the most physically imposing of all the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft, George Karlaftis combines size, power, and explosion to be a dominant defensive lineman. He is a 1-year wonder who could find his best fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He had 40 tackles and four sacks in 2019. The 64, 240-pounder significantly elevated his stock in a season where he accounted for half of the Gamecocks sacks. 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. 2022 NFL Draft l Day 2 ends with yet another receiver picked By The Associated Press April 29, 2022 LAS VEGAS (AP) The Latest on the NFL draft. He put together impressive games against Florida and Georgia. 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 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. Azeez Ojulari was the featured defender, while Johnson, Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith rotated for snaps. He totaled 9.5 sacks, 52 tackles, four forced fumbles, 13.5 tackles for a loss and three passes batted on the year. Raiders officially relocated to Las Vegas, No. He could conceivably play as a 3-4 defensive end or a 3-technique in a base 4-3 scheme. Zachary Carter isnt lacking in either of those departments. 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. 126: Las Vegas Minnesota Las Vegas, No. Hutchinson can be successful across the line due to his size and length. He only recorded 14 tackles for the season, however, because Azeez Ojulari played over him on run downs. Throughout the 2020 campaign, Sanders showed improved hand usage at the line of scrimmage. From the college perspective, here are the best defensive end and edge rusher prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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 is a riser who could go in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 7/10/21: Clemson played well for the Aggies in 2020, showing some ability to get after the quarterback. ", "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. 7/10/21: In 2020, Johnson was part of a loaded group of edge rushers at Georgia. The production alone was impressive. 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. 1 overall pick, and at least four others should come off the board in the first 50 picks. . Who among Aidan Hutchinson, George Karlaftis, and Jermaine Johnson II takes the top spot? When he pieces everything together, Smith breezes past offensive tackles with relative ease. 4/27/22: VanValkenburg is a sleeper defensive end who could be a nice value on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. He missed a few games with the ankle injury and decided to skip Oregon's bowl game in favor of draft preparation. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. 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. DJ Dale, Alabama HT: 6025 WT: 300 4-star (0.9076) Super Junior from Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, AL) Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 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. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. 4/27/22: In 2021, Jackson totaled 37 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. Very tricky thing to do is first weed out guys that are defensive ends in college that will be 3-4 OLB's in college. The Grecian Goliath measures in at 64 and 275 pounds and is one of the strongest defensive ends in this upcoming class. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama, 6-foot-4, 310 pounds. 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. He needed to show more pass-rushing talent. NFL Draft Buzz is on the lookout for new contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the NFL draft. Last fall, the Cincinnati pass rusher was a late riser up draft boards, earning buzz as a potential Day 2 selection. The first round was held on Thursday, April 28, and was followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29. He has good strength and length to set the edge, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production dramatically as a senior in order to rise for the 2022 NFL Draft. He is quick at the point of attack and causes a lot of disruption behind the line of scrimmage. 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. 7/10/21: Johnson flashed some pass-rush ability in 2020, but he also illustrated limitations in the ground game. He had 57 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one pass defended on the year. While Thibodeaux was solid, he didn't dominate on the field and he also showed a poor motor with taking plays off consistently. * - denotes 2023 prospect. Although a confluence of circumstances ensured that 2020 was a disappointing affair, theres every reason to believe that Karlaftis can recapture the freshman form that catapulted him into national attention. He further helped himself with an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Equally adept at terrorizing quarterbacks or setting the edge in the run game, his usage at Coastal gives him additional versatility. 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: 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. 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. He has plenty of time to add weight and grow stronger over the next year. Barno broke out in 2020, recording 6.5 sacks with 43 tackles, two forced fumbles and two passes batted. They wonder and question if he snuck out after curfew and bed check, so Anderson's situation is a huge mess for his draft stock. Instead, its Florida States Jermaine Johnson II. 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. Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. He could rise as a senior if he can leverage his experience to build off his four-sack junior year. [3][4], Caesars Forum was used to house infrastructure for the event. He would be better off as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. hand-in-the-dirt defensive ends that can rush . The hype comes on the back of a sensational first season at the FBS level. 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. 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. ", Not all evaluators were high on Anderson because of him being a backup and rotational player. 4/27/22: Thomas played well for Oklahoma in 2021, getting after the quarterback. We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. He has great strength, violent hands, and a relentless motor. 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. "He's only 230 pounds and really struggles to add weight because of a high metabolism. He was a tough defender for the Aggies. New York may not have many more big free-agent signings in store, but it will get to add some talented young players during the 2022 NFL draft, which is set for April 28-30. We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. At 65, he has stellar height for the position. 7/10/21: Jackson played well in 2020, recording 20 tackles, two sacks and an interception. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will compete for the No. 4/27/22: Johnson totaled 70 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes batted in 2021. He had the reputation of being a good guy and teammate. Its reasonable to expect that his playing weight could be over 270 in the NFL. Nashville Tennessean. He likely fits best as a 3-4 defensive end at the next level, where hell see more interior reps. 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. 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. 0:29. Ebiketie has size limitations for the NFL, but some team sources have compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. He also has to up his pass-rush production with the Bulldogs. [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. Johnson's best fit in the NFL could come as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Sanders has speed and athleticism on the edge, but he needs to get stronger and fill out his frame. But when they run right at him, it's alarming.". Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Additionally, OLB Nik Bonitto is one of the best at his position. 1 overall pick when the Jacksonville Jaguars arrive on the clock. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has the strength to set the edge in the ground game and has the length to play 3-4 five-technique defensive end. Hes incredibly explosive, demonstrates excellent body movement, and exhibits tremendous play speed. Johnson does get hurt with teams giving him bad marks for football character and have concerns about dealing with him. 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. Its not much of a surprise, especially after seeing how Walker fared at the NFL Combine. Similar to Karlaftis, dont be fooled into thinking that size only equals power. 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. 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. 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. 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.