3 to SF; get Eagles' No. This year, the 2022 NFL Draft defensive end class is stacked with possibly five players projected to be first-round picks. 4/27/22: Johnson was a dangerous pass rusher for Texas A&M in 2021, recording 8.5 sacks and 31 tackles. Thomas has quality size to him to go along with speed and athleticism. NFL Draft Buzz is on the lookout for new contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the NFL draft. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 105) and tight end Greg Dulcich (2022 . Quietly productive as a freshman, Gunter has been defensively dominant in the rest of his college football seasons. Williams was phenomenal in 2021 and one of the best defensive lineman in the nation. Find out where your favorite Position stacks up against the 2023 class and view expert mock drafts. . Its close between all of them, but Johnson arguably has the most well-rounded skill set. 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. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. Sources say he bombed some interviews and team visits. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan BIG BOARD RANK: 1 Pre-Draft), while (D) denotes trades that took place during the 2022 draft. Powerful, yet surprisingly agile for his size, he also plays the game with competitive toughness. * - denotes 2023 prospect. He put together impressive games against Florida and Georgia. The Cincinnati pass rusher has tremendous athletic upside, with explosiveness and the ability to bend around the edge. He needed to show more pass-rushing talent. Nashville Tennessean. 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. Yet, they dont define what makes Enagbare one of the top defensive ends in the class. At the Senior Bowl, Ebiketie showed that he is a fast edge rusher with serious burst around the corner. Ohio State lists him at 66 and 268 pounds, and he looked impressive at Ohio States spring game. He was a tough defender for the Aggies. Jack Borowsky Jul 5, 2021 1:08 PM EDT The. He has excellent size at 65 and 258 pounds, with incredible length. 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. Anderson looked significantly better against the run in the games against Arkansas and Kentucky. 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. He showed some pass-rush potential alongside quality size and speed. Some team sources said they have Thomas graded on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft as a potential backup in the NFL. 4/27/22: Thibodeaux recorded 49 tackles, seven sacks, one pass batted and two forced fumbles in 2021, but he also spent much of the year dealing with a balky ankle. San Francisco could also use some help at defensive back after the group has been thinned out over the years. It was a big jump from his underclassmen years as a backup. 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. Coming out of H.B. Addison thrived catching passes from . Smith also converts speed to power exceptionally well. 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. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? Is Aidan Hutchinson No. At 63 3/4, Karlaftis has a dense 266-pound frame, but he was at times closer to 275-280 in college. 4/27/22: Some in the media are projecting Thomas in the first round, but team sources said they don't have him that high. The Grecian Goliath measures in at 64 and 275 pounds and is one of the strongest defensive ends in this upcoming class. 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. 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. Johnson's best fit in the NFL could come as a 3-4 outside linebacker. 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. 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. Its not much of a surprise, especially after seeing how Walker fared at the NFL Combine. 4/27/22: Gunter was solid for Coastal Carolina in 2021, but it would have helped him to have a more productive season. Anderson had an impressive pro-day workout, and his lawyer is seeking the dismissal of the charges. 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. [17] Seven picks were awarded for the 2022 draft pursuant to the resolution. 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. He only recorded 14 tackles for the season, however, because Azeez Ojulari played over him on run downs. Gaye racked up 9.5 tackles for loss with 2 sacks and a forced fumble last fall. Zachary Carter isnt lacking in either of those departments. With his skill set taking on easy competition, Hall needs to produce more in 2021. Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson has a good blend of size, athleticism, and blocking prowess to play the position at the NFL level. Thibodeaux is the top defensive end and is also widely regarded as one of the top players in the entire 2022 NFL Draft class. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will compete for the No. If production is a pre-requisite for you at edge rusher, then youll like Cameron Thomas. I'm concerned with strength. 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. 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. 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. 122, select RB Zamir White", "Defensive lineman Neil Farrell Jr. selected after Raiders trade up to No. Kayvon Thibodeaux *, Oregon 3. But when they run right at him, it's alarming.". He also has to up his pass-rush production with the Bulldogs. 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. 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. 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. That expectation does inflate Hutchinsons value a bit, but hes still an exciting prospect. 39 min read Last year saw tight end Kyle Pitts, termed the "unicorn" in many circles, come off the board. There could be as many as 10 prospects selected from the IDL class on the. 4/27/22: In 2021, Barno had 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He further helped himself with an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Here is a look back at what the team did in this year's draft. He totaled 42 tackles with four sacks. For teams that like length and high-motor rushers, Enagbare fits the bill. At the next level, Paschal has a curious projection. And he has the ankle flexion to dip and rip. Half of his sacks came in one game versus LSU. Some teams are eyeing him late in the second round and early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL Mock Draft 2023: Seahawks take surprise defensive lineman One expected pick at 5th, and then one out of nowhere at 20th overall. 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. Nik Bonitto is one of the drafts best outside linebackers. In addition to being a phenomenal pass rusher, Thibodeaux is impressive against the run. He has everything you Travon Walker is a prospect who is still a better athlete than a football player. However, it presents a list of prospects to watch out for in the 2021 college football season. 7/10/21: Thomas contributed somewhat in the pass rush in 2020, but he did not produce well in run defense. 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. Team sources say Clemons could be a third- or fourth-round pick who develops into being a starter in the NFL. We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. On the year, he had 47 tackles and six sacks. He has risen during the 2022 NFL Draft process, and he will probably end up as one of the first players drafted. Ojabo is superb at slapping at the ball while taking the quarterback down as well. He is a freak athlete though and a special pass rusher. Some team sources view him as a mid-first-rounder while others think he belongs late in Round 1. Azeez Ojulari was the featured defender, while Johnson, Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith rotated for snaps. During the Senior Bowl game, Mafe was impossible to block, and it was a glimpse of what he can become in the NFL. Team sources say Walker is big, athletic and speedy. Hes one of the larger players on this list, standing around 64, 282 pounds. David Ojabo *, Michigan 5. With Chase Young out for almost all of the season, Sweat was the Commanders . Hutchinson has been the most dominating pass-rusher in college football during the 2021 season and easily outperformed the presumptive top p 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. Additionally, in the Buck position for South Carolina, he has been tasked with dropping back into coverage. There's a load of heavy, stout defensive ends who played last college season at 270, 275 or 280 . And Isaiah Thomas also finds himself on the list of top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. 2. The production alone was impressive. We have a new consensus Top 300 NFL Draft Big Board here at PFN. In Perrion Winfrey, they have one of the best defensive tackles in the 2022 class. 166: Arizona Philadelphia Houston Chicago Cincinnati, No. 7/10/21: Some NFL advance scouts had Anderson with the highest preseason grade of any player on their preseason watch list. 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. With such a deep class, there should be some diamonds in . Strengths Similar to Karlaftis, dont be fooled into thinking that size only equals power. On top of his size and power, Karlaftis has an underrated finesse element. Tall, strong, and long, Gunter plays the game with a relentless motor. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. Oklahoma has quite a few eligible defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft. Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. 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. Ferguson is a durable and experienced tight end, playing in 47 . As a result, Sanders enters the 2022 NFL Draft cycle as one of the top defensive ends in the class. He totaled six sacks, three forced fumbles and 30 tackles for 2020. 1-5. 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. While some NFL Draft prospects will ascend during the 2021 college football season, Myjai Sanders is carrying momentum from the previous campaign. Techie with an interesting slant on player evaluation? From the college perspective, here are the best defensive end and edge rusher prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. Best of Defensive Backs | 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Moreover, he accounted for 60% of South Carolinas forced fumbles. Sources are wondering why Anderson was at home and not at the team hotel. 4/27/22: Scouts were buzzing about Walker in the early going of the 2021 season, and he really helped move himself up boards for the 2022 NFL Draft. Ultimately, he opted to return to the Bearcats for his senior season. He was a steady pass rusher and a big presence for the Michigan defense. This will be followed by College Pro Days and will culminate with the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada which is set to begin on Thursday, April 28th. 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 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. He flashed more pass-rush ability in 2019 and 2017. He follows a trend of undersized edge rushers from Clemson that includes the likes of Vic Beasley and Shaq Lawson. 2022 NFL Draft: DL Dominique Robinson, Miami (OH), Round 5, Pick 174 Bears Draft Report Brought to you by Bears draft defensive end Dominique Robinson Apr 30, 2022 at 02:30 PM Larry Mayer Bears Senior Writer RELATED: Stay up-to-date with all the Bears' draft picks with ChicagoBears.com's Draft Tracker. While he may not become a starter, he has the potential to be a quality rotational backup. 4/27/22: Charlton was decent for Mississippi State in 2021 with 35 tackles and four sacks. He is a riser who could go in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. What makes Thibodeaux so special? Enagbare creates power out of his frame while possessing excellent length. Ojabo uses his hands and feet at the same, showing the ability to translate speed to power. 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. 1 overall pick conversation, and Georgias Travon Walker is one of them. He could conceivably play as a 3-4 defensive end or a 3-technique in a base 4-3 scheme. Carter was very productive for the Gators this past season and flashed numerous times at the Senior Bowl in early February. Seahawks 2023 NFL pre-draft visits tracker 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, Day 2 open thread: Defensive backs and special teams The opportunity cost of re-signing (or tagging) Geno Smith Furthermore, he tallied 7.5 sacks while registering his first career forced fumble. With some analysts predicting big things for LSU this season (admittedly, Im not one of them), Gaye could be the riser in this defensive end class. Ojabo could stand to get better as a run defender for the NFL. These are the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. carry receiving threats up the seam or play man-to-man against tight ends. 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. Paschal is a tough run defender who can contribute some pass rush. The statistics are sensational. Standing around 65, 266 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete for his size. On the other hand, he was very productive in 2021, recording 71 tackles, 11.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Of course, his monster 2021 campaign inflated those values. The 2022 NFL Draft is chock full of pass-rushing talent at the top of the class and deep into Day 2. After his impressive practices in Mobile, more team evaluators think Johnson will go late in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. 4/27/22: Anderson was charged with rape in November and turned himself into the police. As a pass rusher, Ojabo can burn tackles with a speed rush, and he is explosive off the ball. 4/27/22: In 2021, Karlaftis recorded 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles. 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. 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. USC hurt his production by moving him around, playing him somewhat at outside linebacker, dropping him into coverage, and reducing his pass-rushing opportunities. 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. In 2019, he had 68 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. Johnson does get hurt with teams giving him bad marks for football character and have concerns about dealing with him. He helped himself with a good week at the Senior Bowl and worked out well at the combine. He really doesn't want that smoke as a run defender. Hall looks like the rare five-technique prospect who is capable of putting pressure on the quarterback. Anderson is tremendous pass rusher who produces quarterback pressure at an insane rate. 7/10/21: Malone was a dangerous quarterback hunter over the past three seasons for the Hilltoppers. This gives Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry a true . 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. 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. He possesses a delightful change-of-direction ability, remarkable lateral agility, and, to top it off, he has excellent play speed. Having made little impact in his first three seasons with the Sooners, Thomas exploded into life during his redshirt junior campaign. 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. He's sufficient versus the run because he can find it and can win with quicks and athletic ability. Hutchinson plays upright a lot. Anderson should be a top-10 or top-15 pick if he keeps playing like he did against Clemson. 7/10/21: Paschal was a tough competitor in the ground game in 2020, but he did not produce much in the pass rush. 7/10/21: Williams had a solid 2020 season, showing run-stuffing skills and some ability to play in pass coverage. Johnson has good size and speed off 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 The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder has the upside to get better. 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. 7/10/21: In 2020 Sanders was a dangerous edge rusher for the Bearcats, notching seven sacks with 31 tackles and five passes batted. 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. Alongside the release of that big board, new positional rankings have also been compiled. 7/10/21: Clemson played well for the Aggies in 2020, showing some ability to get after the quarterback. 164: New England Las Vegas LA Rams, No. Boye Mafe will be a 24-year-old rookie, but regardless of age, his sheer upside should have teams jumping to the podium in the top 50. 4/27/22: Johnson totaled 70 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes batted in 2021. The 2022 NFL Draft might not have the high-end quarterback talent, but the amount of . Plant High School, Christian Watson was a lightly recruited prospect who was viewed as a developmental player due to his . He also flashes the agility to redirect to the inside or sink his hips while running the loop on the outside. You're correct in his get-off being reminiscent of Von Miller at Texas A&M. 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. 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. 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 They think he is safe pick to turn into a solid, if unspectacular, pro. After finishing the 2022 season with a 3-14 record, the Chicago Bears have the No.1 pick in the NFL draft, in addition to seven other selections. He is a 1-year wonder who could find his best fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Get ready for the 2023 NFL Draft with positional and big board rankings from the team at The NFL Draft Bible. Punctuated by a year on the sidelines in 2019, Gunter racked up 14 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in 2018, followed by 12.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks last fall. 7/10/21: Mafe played well in the shortened 2020 season, totaling 27 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two passes batted. He started slowly, but he was coming alive in the final regular-season games for Ohio State. when the Browns took defensive end Myles Garrett, in which a QB isn't the first player off the board. He didn't do enough in 2021 to be a riser and build momentum for the 2022 NFL Draft. 1 overall pick, and at least four others should come off the board in the first 50 picks. That helps him be a menace at the line of scrimmage both in terms of winning as a pass rusher and making plays on the ball in the air. 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. 7/10/21: Over the past two seasons, Gunter was a dangerous edge rusher for the Chanticleers. 4/27/22: VanValkenburg is a sleeper defensive end who could be a nice value on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft. We first try to identify a position, but often list both possibilities. He's turned all three picks in the past two drafts into starters in right guard Quinn Meinerz (2021, No. 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? 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. 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. San Francisco received an additional third-round selection and another 2023 third-round selection when Miami hired 49ers offensive coordinator. Ebiketie has size limitations for the NFL, but some team sources have compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. Team sources view Hutchinson as being a safe pick to be a solid pro, but they don't see huge upside.