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. In 2019, Gaye was playing football for the junior college program Garden City. 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. He has ideal size to play as a versatile defender in the trenches for Belichick, even if he's not a freaky athlete. If he is innocent, this could be a situation like La'el Collins', where a first-round talent becomes a late-round steal. 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. In 2021, it would help him to continue to improve as a rusher while adding strength to be a tougher run defender. "He's only 230 pounds and really struggles to add weight because of a high metabolism. Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 draft. Additionally, OLB Nik Bonitto is one of the best at his position. Super informed fan? 1. 2. 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. The draft concluded with rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 30. All Rights Reserved. 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. The 2022 NFL Draft is now in the books, and the Steelers selected five offensive players and two defensive players to add to the mix. Get the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. 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. Smith also converts speed to power exceptionally well. . 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. It was the first draft to be held in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and the state of Nevada. He showed some pass-rush potential alongside quality size and speed. 7/10/21: In 2020 Sanders was a dangerous edge rusher for the Bearcats, notching seven sacks with 31 tackles and five passes batted. 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. He started slowly, but he was coming alive in the final regular-season games for Ohio State. 0:29. Nik Bonitto is one of the drafts best outside linebackers. That's why Georgia says they don't start him. Given the timing, the injury could easily cause him to miss his rookie season. As a result, Sanders enters the 2022 NFL Draft cycle as one of the top defensive ends in the class. 7/10/21: Jackson played well in 2020, recording 20 tackles, two sacks and an interception. 7/10/21: Mafe played well in the shortened 2020 season, totaling 27 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two passes batted. 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 is a freak athlete though and a special pass rusher. 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. Throw in his stellar run defense, and youre looking at a tremendous three-down player. Pro Football Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Some team sources said they have Thomas graded on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft as a potential backup in the NFL. 7/10/21: Williams had a solid 2020 season, showing run-stuffing skills and some ability to play in pass coverage. 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 defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL draft class may be one of the best classes in recent years. The Coastal Carolina defensive end also led the nation with 6 forced fumbles in 2020. 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. This year, the 2022 NFL Draft defensive end class is stacked with possibly five players projected to be first-round picks. He has risen during the 2022 NFL Draft process, and he will probably end up as one of the first players drafted. Aidan Hutchinson is widely projected to be the No. 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. 94: Kansas City New England Carolina, No. With that size, hes not the highest-tier athlete, but Carter still brings good burst, and his power capacity helps elevate his game. 4/27/22: Tragedy struck for Ojabo when he tore his Achilles during Michigan's pro-day workout. PFF has three Commanders ranked in the top 101, and the top-ranked Washington player will surprise you. It was a big jump from his underclassmen years as a backup. In the months between the end of the NFL Draft and the start of the college football season, weve poured over hours of tape to compile our top defensive ends for the 2022 cycle. But beyond that athleticism, Johnson is a technician with strong and powerful hands. 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. George Karlaftis *, Purdue 6.. Ojabo is superb at slapping at the ball while taking the quarterback down as well. He also flashes the agility to redirect to the inside or sink his hips while running the loop on the outside. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. hand-in-the-dirt defensive ends that can rush . The Oregon pass rusher also possesses great length. He came up with some clutch plays in USC's comeback win over Washington State. Hutchinson plays upright a lot. NFL Mock Draft 2023: Seahawks take surprise defensive lineman One expected pick at 5th, and then one out of nowhere at 20th overall. 4/27/22: Gunter was solid for Coastal Carolina in 2021, but it would have helped him to have a more productive season. He also has to up his pass-rush production with the Bulldogs. Here is what one area scout said about Anderson around the same time, "I think he goes in the first, but I wouldn't take him in the first because of his run defense and he's just a designated pass rusher. He likely fits best as a 3-4 defensive end at the next level, where hell see more interior reps. 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. He broke out as a sophomore for the Wolverines as a tough defender who flashed pass-rush ability. 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. Furthermore, Karlaftis has the ability to play both inside and out, making him extremely versatile. Anderson looked significantly better against the run in the games against Arkansas and Kentucky. Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson has a good blend of size, athleticism, and blocking prowess to play the position at the NFL level. Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. 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. Ojabo has the speed and strength to be a tough battle for pro offensive tackles. At 63 3/4, 261 pounds, Mafe has the frame density, explosiveness, speed, and the bend to sink below the corner. Hall helped himself with a quality week at the Senior Bowl. Like the edge rushers group of the 2022 NFL Draft, the interior defensive linemen are extremely deep and versatile. 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. 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. 7/10/21: Some NFL advance scouts had Anderson with the highest preseason grade of any player on their preseason watch list. 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. With Chase Young out for almost all of the season, Sweat was the Commanders . He still could sneak into Round 1, but multiple team sources said they graded Mafe on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft. And he has the ankle flexion to dip and rip. He was a tough defender for the Aggies. Rookie defensive end Amar Barno put together a solid start to his professional career in his debut season in 2022. 7/10/21: Thibodeaux recorded 32 tackles, three sacks and three passes batted in 2020. 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. Standing around 65, 266 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete for his size. NFL Draft picks 2022: Complete list, results, selections of Round 1. . 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. That expectation does inflate Hutchinsons value a bit, but hes still an exciting prospect. carry receiving threats up the seam or play man-to-man against tight ends. With his skill set, Jackson has the upside to improve his production as he gains more experience. 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? Hes incredibly explosive, demonstrates excellent body movement, and exhibits tremendous play speed. Last fall, the Cincinnati pass rusher was a late riser up draft boards, earning buzz as a potential Day 2 selection. Ojabo uses his hands and feet at the same, showing the ability to translate speed to power. Team sources say Johnson beat up on some bad tackles and really struggled against Alabama left tackle Evan Neal. 7/10/21: Paschal was a tough competitor in the ground game in 2020, but he did not produce much in the pass rush. Hutchinson has good size for the next level in that he could be a base end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 five-technique defensive end. Kayvon Thibodeaux *, Oregon 3.