Additionally, in the Buck position for South Carolina, he has been tasked with dropping back into coverage. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. Additionally, OLB Nik Bonitto is one of the best at his position. He still could sneak into Round 1, but multiple team sources said they graded Mafe on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft. 7/10/21: In limited action because of a lot of cancellations in 2020, Smith was solid. 3 Overall", "Chiefs Trade WR Tyreek Hill to Miami Dolphins", "Lions to trade Matthew Stafford to Rams in blockbuster deal involving Jared Goff, picks", "Packers make a trade with Vikings to move up and take WR Christian Watson", "Jets trade up with Giants, draft running back Breece Hall in second round", "Jets trade Sam Darnold to Panthers for three draft picks", "Falcons Trade with Giants, Select Arnold Ebiketie at No. 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. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. The defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL draft class may be one of the best classes in recent years. Lets take a look. Nashville Tennessean. Which defensive ends currently round out the top 10? Hes one of the larger players on this list, standing around 64, 282 pounds. $$ Pure WalterFootball with no advertisements for $7.99 a month. 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. For the NFL, Ebiketie is undersized to be a defensive end and probably would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. 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. 2022 NFL Draft: Top Defensive Tackles Georgia's Jordan Davis (99) is Eddie Brown's top-rated defensive tackle in the upcoming NFL Draft. Coming out of H.B. Given his size, the assumption is that Karlaftis wins with strength alone. 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. 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. He was impressive there, but no one could have predicted that he would outstrip his JUCO production in his first campaign in the SEC. Ojabo has the speed and strength to be a tough battle for pro offensive tackles. Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson has a good blend of size, athleticism, and blocking prowess to play the position at the NFL level. Team sources say Walker is big, athletic and speedy. Paschal needs to improve his pass-rush production as a senior. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame. video. Standing around 65, 266 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete for his size. Copyright 2019-2023. He missed a few games with the ankle injury and decided to skip Oregon's bowl game in favor of draft preparation. You dont earn 14 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and take home Heisman runner-up honors on accident. They think he is safe pick to turn into a solid, if unspectacular, pro. The 2022 NFL Draft might not have the high-end quarterback talent, but the amount of . Pro Football Network, LLC. Some team sources view him as a mid-first-rounder while others think he belongs late in Round 1. 2022 NFL Mock Draft Defensive End Rankings: Travon Walker, Georgia Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State George Karlaftis, Purdue hes a force off the edge who wins with strength, quick feet, and ability to read the game. As well as impressive pass-rush ability, the Oklahoma DE is an extremely competent run defender. He could be more of a backup designated pass-rusher in the NFL. But when they run right at him, it's alarming.". 2022 NFL Draft Defensive End Rankings includes a prospect ranking, a breakdown of scouting for the position, key questions about the position, and a link to learn more. To view the players scouting report, click on the name of the player you want to learn . 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. 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. Clemons has quality size with some quickness and athleticism on the edge. He has one of the highest floors in this DE class and a fairly high ceiling. Hes adept at combining speed with a high motor to finish plays. 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. He was more disruptive than the numbers illustrate. He only recorded 14 tackles for the season, however, because Azeez Ojulari played over him on run downs. Improving his pass-rush production would help Hutchinson, but he is a phenomenal run defender who flashes an ability to get to the quarterback. 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. 98), outside linebacker Baron Browning (2021, No. Then theres Isaiah Thomas. With the 2022 NFL Draft fast approaching, who are the top defensive ends in the class? Travon Walker *, Georgia 4. 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. 7/10/21: Paschal was a tough competitor in the ground game in 2020, but he did not produce much in the pass rush. Ali Gaye sneaks into our top 10 defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class. 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. Aidan Hutchinson goes first overall in 2022 NFL Mock Draft Raiders officially relocated to Las Vegas, No. His natural instincts to go for the strip sack are phenomenal. 7/10/21: Stills showed pass rush potential in 2019 when he recorded seven sacks for the Mountaineers. 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. 1 overall pick when the Jacksonville Jaguars arrive on the clock in late April. Sanders did not stand out at the Senior Bowl. In 2019, Gaye was playing football for the junior college program Garden City. The NFL will absolutely love Gayes size and football smarts. 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. USC hurt his production by moving him around, playing him somewhat at outside linebacker, dropping him into coverage, and reducing his pass-rushing opportunities. 2. The top 100 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft were littered . In addition to the high number of defensive selections, nine offensive linemen were taken in the first round, the most since 2013. Perrion Winfrey is one of the top defensive tackles on the board. 126", "2021 NFL Draft trade tracker: Full details of every move", "Texans acquire Brandin Cooks in trade with Rams", "Full details of the Trinity Benson trade between the Lions and Broncos", "Chiefs trade up with Seahawks for Kentucky OT Darian Kinnard at pick No. In 2021, Thomas put up 71 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks. Super informed fan? 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. Who among Aidan Hutchinson, George Karlaftis, and Jermaine Johnson II takes the top spot? Like the edge rushers group of the 2022 NFL Draft, the interior defensive linemen are extremely deep and versatile. It starts with insane athletic traits. 166: Arizona Philadelphia Houston Chicago Cincinnati, No. As a result, Sanders enters the 2022 NFL Draft cycle as one of the top defensive ends in the class. In 2021, VanValkenburg totaled 58 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Anderson and Johnson both flashed, with Johnson recording four sacks and 14 tackles in backup duty. He helped himself with a good week at the Senior Bowl and worked out well at the combine. Who should you be watching out for during this college football season? He has some quickness, strength, and athleticism that was illustrated with good workouts. ** - denotes 2024 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. Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. 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. 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. Anderson looks like a bolt of lightning off the ball with his amazing first-step. However, his stock is rapidly on the rise, with the potential to elevate himself into first-round contention. Like Sanders above him, Kingsley Enagbare returned to school despite receiving significant interest in the previous draft cycle. Meanwhile, he flashed further defensive disruption with 5 pass breakups. 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. INDIANAPOLIS - The 2023 NFL draft shapes up as a referendum on bigger-than-average edge rushers. In the NFL, Malone could be too undersized to play defensive end and might be better off as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Johnson has good size and speed off the edge. 154: Washington Philadelphia Jacksonville, "Giants trade 11th draft pick to Chicago Bears", "End Of An Era: Seahawks Trade Russell Wilson To Denver Broncos", "New York Jets trade Jamal Adams to Seattle Seahawks, get two first-round picks", "2022 NFL draft trade tracker: Every deal for a first-round pick", "Browns trade for Texans QB Deshaun Watson in deal that includes three first-round picks", "Sources: Fins deal No. While some NFL Draft prospects will ascend during the 2021 college football season, Myjai Sanders is carrying momentum from the previous campaign. [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]. He isn't George Karlaftis is a freakish athlete with an elite massive frame and is a natural dominating pass rusher. SEC Defensive Tackles with the highest . Johnson was wise to go back to school and improve before going to the next level. As Cincinnati emerged as a genuine College Football Playoff contender, Sanders amassed 31 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. Gunter has quality size to be an edge defender in the NFL. He is a massive man even by the . Similar to Karlaftis, dont be fooled into thinking that size only equals power. Listed at 65 and 268 pounds, Thomas has the frame to add more weight and strength this season. Thomas could be better in 2021 now that he has more starting experience. Ultimately, he opted to return to the Bearcats for his senior season. In 2021, Anderson totaled 32 tackles and five sacks despite limited opportunities. He is going to be freak at the combine and pro day. He totaled 9.5 sacks, 52 tackles, four forced fumbles, 13.5 tackles for a loss and three passes batted on the year. 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. Johnson does get hurt with teams giving him bad marks for football character and have concerns about dealing with him. [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. What makes Thibodeaux so special? The 2022 NFL Combine's 40-yard dash is a chance for some defensive linemen to really improve their stock. From the college perspective, here are the best defensive end and edge rusher prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. He made big plays in run defense and the pass rush. A few names have been mixed into the No. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. 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. Similar to teammate Lakia Henry, Williams is a junior college product who could be better in his third season with Ole Miss. With such a deep class, there should be some diamonds in . The first round was held on Thursday, April 28, and was followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29. He showed some pass-rush potential alongside quality size and speed. * - denotes 2023 prospect. Prospects No. George Karlaftis *, Purdue 6.. He also brings a violent disposition with his hands. San Francisco received an additional third-round selection and another 2023 third-round selection when Miami hired 49ers offensive coordinator. 4/27/22: VanValkenburg is a sleeper defensive end who could be a nice value on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. He had the reputation of being a good guy and teammate. The Grecian Goliath measures in at 64 and 275 pounds and is one of the strongest defensive ends in this upcoming class. Hes incredibly explosive, demonstrates excellent body movement, and exhibits tremendous play speed. The first round will take place on Thursday, with rounds two and three on Friday and the last four on Saturday. He would be better off as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. Nevertheless, the Buckeyes are ready to rely on Harrison more this year following the loss of an abundance of defensive production. 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. 4/27/22: Robinson only recorded 28 tackles in 2021, but he flashed some pass-rush ability by recording 4.5 sacks. 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. What makes the top prospects stand out, though? The top 2022 Defensive End prospects available for the 2022 NFL Draft. 94: Kansas City New England Carolina, No. With his production, its no surprise that Thomas brings a constant motor from start to finish. It was a big jump from his underclassmen years as a backup. Watch the best moments from the defensive backs at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. At the Senior Bowl, Ebiketie showed that he is a fast edge rusher with serious burst around the corner. 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 . 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. Led by Oregons Kayvon Thibodeaux, there are several first-round prospects. The draft concluded with rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 30. A look at the Steelers 2022 NFL Draft Class. 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 problem is, that athleticism and power are the main two qualities that Walker wins with at the moment. The 2022 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 28. . 4/27/22: In 2021, Jackson totaled 37 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. There are even more pass-rush playmakers ready and waiting to push their way up draft boards this fall. 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. Now that he has a year of experience, Thomas could be even better in 2021 and rise for the 2022 NFL Draft. 42. The imposing defensive end racked up 12 tackles for loss amongst 31 total tackles. Charlton has the ability to be a capable edge defender, but needs to get stronger. He's turned all three picks in the past two drafts into starters in right guard Quinn Meinerz (2021, No. Yet, he has the tools to be a big EDGE as well for teams who like to move their linemen around and exploit matchups. This has provided a further showcase of his athletic ability to impact multiple phases of the game. He had 57 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one pass defended on the year. At 64, 267 pounds, Thomas is more of a power rusher, but hes shown he can employ hand moves at the apex and stack counters. 7/10/21: Enagbare started to make his presence felt as a sophomore, but showed real improvement as a pass rusher during his junior season. 7/10/21: Ebiketie impressed NFL advance scouts with his 2020 performance while playing for the Temple Owls. 1-5. The hype comes on the back of a sensational first season at the FBS level. 10 overall. The 2023 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 27 and ends on Saturday, April 29. Of the top five, all are projected as first-round. He really doesn't want that smoke as a run defender. SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. With Chase Young out for almost all of the season, Sweat was the Commanders . Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. He totaled six sacks, three forced fumbles and 30 tackles for 2020. Strengths 7/10/21: Johnson flashed some pass-rush ability in 2020, but he also illustrated limitations in the ground game. The NFL Combine is the first week of March and it will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1 overall pick, and at least four others should come off the board in the first 50 picks. 2022 NFL Draft Sleepers Relative Athletic Score Standouts At Each Position Quarterback: Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati Relative Athletic Score: 9.6 Impressed? 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. During the Senior Bowl game, Mafe was impossible to block, and it was a glimpse of what he can become in the NFL. Projecting for defensive end roles in the NFL, the top defensive end in the 2022 NFL Draft isnt Hutchinson or Karlaftis. However, it presents a list of prospects to watch out for in the 2021 college football season. He has excellent size at 65 and 258 pounds, with incredible length. 1 and No. This was after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 NFL Draft, originally scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, to take place remotely via video conferencing. 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. Powerful, yet surprisingly agile for his size, he also plays the game with competitive toughness. The South Carolina DE has plenty of juice to take off after the passer. We have a new consensus Top 300 NFL Draft Big Board here at PFN. [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. For purposes of schematic differentiation, projected stand-up rushers such as Kayvon Thibodeaux and David Ojabo were listed in our outside linebacker rankings. It wasnt just Paschals skill set that stressed offenses, but also how he was used because he could take on a multitude of different roles. 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. SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. 4/27/22: Thomas played well for Oklahoma in 2021, getting after the quarterback. New York Giants select defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with No. . 7/10/21: Some NFL advance scouts had Anderson with the highest preseason grade of any player on their preseason watch list. In 2019, he had 68 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. His power certainly comes first, but he does flash great burst off the line, as well as modest ankle flexion around the edge. If he is there in the early third round for the Broncos, he is one of a handful of guys who merit strong consideration with their back-to-back selections. Smith needs to become a more consistent pass rusher this coming 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. On the year, he had 47 tackles and six sacks. In addition to being a phenomenal pass rusher, Thibodeaux is impressive against the run. 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 second day of the NFL draft ended appropriately with another wide receiver being selected. 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. They feel is a well-rounded defender with a lot of upside and versatility. Last fall, the Cincinnati pass rusher was a late riser up draft boards, earning buzz as a potential Day 2 selection. 4/27/22: In 2021, Karlaftis recorded 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles. With that size, hes not the highest-tier athlete, but Carter still brings good burst, and his power capacity helps elevate his game.