The Draft "Expert" - 2022 NFL Draft New Year's Prospect Rankings

Jan 14, 202216 min read

Updated: Jan 17, 2022

Welcome one and all the first OFFICIAL Draft "Expert" Prospect Rankings of the new year! So, before we get started, I feel it's only right to welcome everyone to 2022! I hope your new year's resolution was to be as smart as me. Sadly though, like most new year's resolutions, it won't be met.

All jokes aside, in this blog post we will be going over every position group for the 2022 NFL Draft and giving you our thoughts on who the best players are per position. Now, you will notice some position groups have more players listed than others, that's because we wanted to make sure that if a player wasn't in the top 10, that they still got their flowers by at least getting mentioned.

Along with the top 10 players per position, there will be a a bonus section at the bottom, where we reveal our top 50 overall prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft!

So, without further ado, here is the first OFFICIAL Draft "Expert" blog post of the new year! Enjoy!

Podcast Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NeNEwkffhIScwO5sRRDR6?si=6a5960b1c86341fc

Recent Mock Draft: https://www.theloganblackmanshow.com/post/the-draft-expert-2022-pre-bowl-season-mock-draft

Pictured: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon; Ikem Ekwonu, iOL/OT, NC State; Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

BOLD = Top 50 Prospect

(#) = Previous Ranking

Quarterback (B-)

Kenny Pickett, Pitt (3)
1. "Joe Burrow esc." confidence
2. Put fourth an insane final season at Pitt
  1. 4,319 passing yards 42 passing touchdowns 8 rushing touchdowns
  2. Broke almost every significant Pitt and ACC passing record
  3. Finished third in the Heisman Trophy race
3. Strong arm and great at extending plays
  1. Does have "small" hands, which is why he wears gloves, we'll see if that effects him throughout the process
Matt Corral, Ole Miss (1)
1. Might be the toughest player in the draft
  1. Did get injured in Ole Miss' bowl game, we'll see how that effects him
2. Great leader
3. Strong arm and great mobility
  1. 20 passing and 11 rushing touchdowns in 2021
Malik Willis, Liberty (2)
1. Best overall skillset out of the quarterbacks
2. Very strong arm, insanely elusive athlete
  1. Similar to Michael Vick
3. Struggles at times with consistency and trying to do too much; needs to stop playing "hero ball"
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (5)
1. Has everything you're looking for in a franchise quarterback
  1. Size (6'4" 215 lbs.), arm talent, and athleticism
    1. 3,334 passing yards 30 touchdowns in 2021
    2. 2,179 career rush yards 28 touchdowns
2. Very high upside
  1. Like we said above, very elite/versatile skill set
3. Became a more consistent passer in 2021, which is what people wanted/needed to see
Carson Strong, Nevada (4)
1. As is his name, Strong has a very strong arm
  1. Throws the best deep ball in the '22 class
  2. Throws an insanely catchable ball
2. Precise passer, will pick opposing defenses apart
3. Not that mobile, which could cause him to go later than he should
  1. Also has a knee injury that could cause some concern
Sam Howell, North Carolina (6)
1. Battled a lot of inconsistencies in 2021
  1. Career lows in completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and set a new career high in interceptions
  2. Did lose a lot of key players from last season with Javonte Williams, Micheal Carter, Dazz Newsome, and Dyami Brown all going to the NFL
2. Showed how good of an athlete he is
  1. Totaled 828 yards on the ground with 11 touchdowns
    1. Totaled over 100 yards rushing on five occasions this season
3. Does have a very strong arm and showed excellent toughness this season
  1. Got sacked a career high 48 times
  2. Totaled 183 carries
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky (N/A)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA (9)
Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M (N/A)
EJ Perry, Brown (N/A)

Dustin Crum, Kent State (N/A)
Brock Purdy, Iowa State (N/A)
Chase Garbers, Cal (N/A)

Running Back (B)

Breece Hall, Iowa State (1)
1. Touchdown MACHINE
  1. Broke the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown
  2. 50 career touchdowns
2. Has been more involved in the passing game
  1. Career high 36 receptions in 2021
3. Great balance
4. Only real "issue"; amount of carries, does he have enough "tread on the tires?"
  1. 718 career carries over three years
5. Great/ideal size
  1. 6'1" 220 lbs.
Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State (2)
1. Went off in his lone season at Michigan State
  1. Carried Michigan State's offense
    1. 263 carries 1,636 yards (6.2 ypc) 18 touchdowns
    2. 89 broken tackles
  2. Was he a one season wonder?
2. Powerful back that possesses great burst past the line
  1. Very explosive
  2. Averaged 6.2 yards per carry this season
  3. Four games of 150+ rushing yards
    1. Fours games with 2+ touchdowns
3. Not the greatest in the pass game
  1. Has registered 19 catches over his college career
  2. Career high 13 during the '21 season
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M (3)
1. Powerful back that has very impressive breakaway speed
  1. Averaged over 5 yards a carry every year of his career (5.4, 5.5, 5.6)
2. Didn't register a lot of catches in '21, but doesn't drop passes
  1. No drops in '21 on catchable passes (per PFF)
Kyren Williams, Notre Dame (4)
1. Best receiver out of the running backs in the '22 class
  1. 78 career receptions, averaged 8.7 yards per reception
  2. Set a new career high in receptions with 42
2. Very consistent in the run game
  1. 2020 - 211 carries 1,125 yards (5.3 ypc) 13 touchdowns
  2. 2021 - 204 carries 1,002 yards (4.9 ypc) 14 touchdowns (58 broken tackles)
3. Very good blocker in the pass game
  1. Overall, a very complete back
  2. Size may be somewhat of a concern; 5'9" 199 lbs.
Zach Charbonnet, UCLA (5)
1. Very tough runner who displays very good balance
  1. Bounces off of tacklers
  2. Does not go down easily
2. Breakaway speed
  1. Averaged over six yards a carry in four games this season (two with 10+ yards per carry)
  2. Most complete game vs Cal
3. Can be your bell cow at running back
  1. six games with over 20 carries
4. Hasn't officially declared yet
Rachaad White, Arizona State (N/A)
Brian Robinson, Alabama (6)
D'vonte Price, Florida International (10)
James Cook, Georgia (N/A)
Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State (10)

Zonovan Knight, NC State (N/A)
Zamir White, Georgia (7)
Hassan Haskins, Michigan (N/A)
Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss (10)
Dameon Pierce, Florida (N/A)
Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky (9)
Tyler Allgier, BYU (8)
Sincere McCormick, UTSA (10)
Tyler Goodson, Iowa (10)
Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma (N/A)

Wide Receiver (A-)

Jameson Williams, Alabama (6)
1. Best deep threat in the draft
  1. 20.1 yards per reception; 5th in the nation
  2. Williams totaled 75 catches in 2021, next closet player in regards to catches in the top 5 in ypr was 57
  3. For how fast he is, he has great size; 6'2" 189 lbs.
2. Top 5 in the nation in yards (1,507) and touchdowns (15)
3. Typical Alabama wide receiver
  1. Is a complete wideout, will make plays in the run game and special teams as well
4. Coming off an ACL injury from January 10th
Treylon Burks, Arkansas (1)
1. Most underrated receiver in the '22 draft class
  1. His combination of size (6'3" 225 lbs.), athletic ability, and versatility is second to none
    1. 66 catches 1,104 yards (16.7 ypr) 11 touchdowns
    2. 14 rushes 112 yards (8 ypc) 1 touchdown
    3. Even threw two passes this season
  2. Can out jump and out muscle every defender in college football
2. With Arkansas' run first offensive mentality, Burks is a very solid run blocker
  1. His size and power allow him to drive back defenders with ease
3. Mean SOB
  1. Will definitely move up more boards after the combine/pro day
Drake London, USC (3)
1. Great athlete with great natural size out wide
  1. Former basketball player at USC
  2. At 6'5" 210 lbs., London can out jump any defender
2. Massive catch radius
  1. Made a habit of making circus catches during this past season at USC
3. Can lineup outside or in the slot
  1. His size from the slot makes him almost impossible to guard
4. The only downside is that he's coming off an ankle injury, hopefully he comes back and is fully healthy
Garrett Wilson, Ohio State (4)
1. DAWG
  1. Out of Ohio State's three headed monster out wide, Wilson was the main man
2. Ability to play both outside and inside, played more outside in '21 due to Jaxon Smith-Njigba occupying the slot
3. Best pure route runner in the class
  1. Previously working in the slot has helped in that aspect
Chris Olave, Ohio State (2)
1. Touchdown machine
  1. 35 career receiving touchdowns; Ohio State's all time touchdown record
  2. Most in the class
2. Great deep threat
  1. Second best deep threat in the class after Jameson Williams
3. Good route runner
Jahan Dotson, Penn State (5)
John Metchie III, Alabama (8)
1. Coming off an ACL injury from December 4th
David Bell, Purdue (7)
George Pickens, Georgia (N/A)
Wan'Dale Robinson, Kentucky (N/A)

Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama (10)
Romeo Doubs, Nevada (9)
Justyn Ross, Clemson (N/A)
Alec Pierce, Cincinnati (N/A)
Khalil Shakir, Boise State (N/A)

Tight End (C+)

Trey McBride, Colorado State (2)
1. Most complete tight end in the draft
2. Led all tight ends in both catches and receiving yards
  1. 90 catches 1,121 yards
  2. Did only score one touchdown this season, which is kind of crazy
3. Very physical player, as you'd expect from the tight end position
  1. 6'4" 260 lbs., he's a very very good blocker in the run game
Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M (1)
1. Very complete tight end
  1. Athletic tight end that does well in the pass game but also in the run game
    1. Not as dominant in the run game as McBride though
2. Can play on the outside and on the line of scrimmage
  1. Faster than most linebackers
  2. Can outmuscle most (if not all) defensive backs
Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina (5)
1. Insane athlete, will continue to rise up boards
  1. 6'4" 240 lbs.
  2. Could very well end up becoming TE2 by the time the draft comes around
2. Better receiver than blocker
  1. 59 catches 912 yards 12 touchdowns
  2. Totaled 27 career touchdowns, never had below five touchdowns in a season
3. Should develop into a good blocker at the next level
Charlie Kolar, Iowa State (7)
1. Massive tight end
  1. 6'6" 260 lbs.
  2. Best red zone target out of the tight ends
    1. No drops in 33 red zone targets across four years (per PFF)
2. Good receiving tight end
  1. 168 catches 2,181 yards 23 touchdowns over four years
3. Better receiver than blocker
  1. His natural size and athletic ability should help him develop into a nice run blocker
Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State (6)
1. Stats won't blow you away
  1. 54 catches 615 yards 12 touchdowns over four year career
  2. Played with the best wide receiver trio in college football, so won't be the quarterbacks first read
    1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave
2. Very good run blocker
  1. His size (6'5" 252 lbs.) and athleticism allows him to stay engaged with the fastest defenders
3. Should develop into a nice receiver in the NFL
  1. He has very strong hands, can pluck the ball out of the air, and runs good routes
Cole Turner, Nevada (4)
Jahleel Billingsley, Alabama (3)
Cade Otton, Washington (9)
Josh Whyle, Cincinnati (10)
Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin (N/A)

Offensive Tackle (A-)

Evan Neal, Alabama (1)
1. Insane mixture of size and athletic ability from the tackle position
  1. 6'7" 350 lbs.
  2. Every year at Alabama he played a different position
    1. 13 games at left guard (freshman), 14 games at right tackle (sophomore), 14 games at left tackle (junior)
2. Powerful in the run game
  1. His athleticism allows him to brush past defenders and make it to the second level
3. Equally adept in pass protection
  1. Allowed zero sacks in 2021 for Alabama
Ikem Ekwonu, NC State (2 iOL)
1. Powerful/mauler
  1. Absolutely bullies people from the point of attack and doesn't let up
  2. "Pancake King"
  3. Best when run blocking
2. Can play both guard and tackle
  1. Most recently played at left tackle
  2. Should be able to stay at tackle in the NFL
3. Very good athlete
Charles Cross, Mississippi State (2)
1. Possibly has the highest upside out of the tackles
  1. Insane athlete that has nice size for the position; 6'5" 310 lbs.
2. Elite pass blocker
  1. Played 719 pass blocking snaps and only allowed 16 pressures
3. The only real issue is that Mississippi State didn't run the ball
  1. Mississippi State ranks last in rushing plays and rushing yards
    1. 270 carries 821 yards (63.2 ypg)
  2. His lack of reps in the run game could cause him to slide a little further than his athletic ceiling says he should; think of Andre Dillard
Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa (3)
1. Much like Ekwonu, Penning is an absolute mauler
  1. Dominant in the run game, but equally stout in the pass game
  2. Very experienced, three year starter at UNI (33 career starts)
    1. Greatest tackle duo in FCS history? (Spencer Brown and Trevor Penning)
2. Great size for the position
  1. 6'7" 321 lbs.
3. Moves very very well
Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan (N/A)
1. Former tight end
  1. Very good athlete
    1. 6'7" 305 lbs.
    2. Weighed 240 lbs. during his freshman year
  2. Moved to tackle after his sophomore year at Central Michigan
  3. Should be one of the fastest risers in the 2022 NFL Draft during the Senior Bowl/Combine/Pro Day
2. Very good in pass protection
  1. One sack allowed in 762 pass blocking snaps over his career
  2. Allowed zero pressures during his final six games, per PFF
3. Being a former tight end, Raimann is also a very nice run blocker
Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State (4)
1. Looked at a little different after the Michigan game
  1. Got beat up by Aidan Hutchinson, so did a lot of people though so he shouldn't beat himself up about that
  2. Was seen as a possible top 20 pick before that game, could get back up there if he works out well
2. Can play either left or right tackle
  1. Started at right tackle in 2020 before moving to left tackle in 2021
3. Very strong in pass protection
  1. Natural footwork and quick to the point of attack
  2. Had somewhat of a stinker against Hutchinson and Ojabo vs Michigan
Daniel Faalele, Minnesota (6)
Jaxson Kirkland, Washington (5)
Abraham Lucas, Washington State (7)
Max Mitchell, Louisiana (10)

Zion Nelson, Miami (10)
Braxton Jones, Southern Utah (N/A)

Interior O-Line (B+)

Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa (1)
1. Greatest center prospect of all time
  1. Insanely athletic
    1. Very explosive, pulls very well and gets to his assignment damn near every time
    2. Very high motor
  2. Former d-tackle
2. Best run blocker in the draft
3. Almost equally as dominant in the pass game
  1. In 2019 and 2020, Linderbaum allowed just one sack and has allowed two during the 2021 season
Kenyon Green, Texas A&M (OT) (3)
1. Good athlete
  1. Acceleration throws off oncoming defenders
  2. Pulls very well
2. Extremely versatile, has logged snaps at almost every position on the o-line
  1. 241 snaps at left guard, 142 snaps at right tackle, 106 snaps at right guard, 81 snaps at left tackle, per The Athletic
3. Very physical
  1. Solid base; 6'4" 325 lbs.
  2. Mixed with his speed and power, he can at times blow up defenders
Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (OT) (4)
1. Versatile mauler
  1. Can play both guard and tackle, played mostly tackle at Kentucky
  2. Dominant in the run game, Kentucky had a top five rush offense in the SEC
2. Stocky
  1. 6'5" 345 lbs.
  2. Stays low at the point of attack
3. Really underrated in the pass game
  1. Allowed the second lowest percentage of pressures in the SEC for tackles, 1.7% per PFF
Zion Johnson, Boston College (6)
1. Possibly elite run blocker
  1. Started his college career at Davidson, who run a triple option offense
    1. Started 19 games at Davidson
  2. Transferred to Boston College in 2019, where he has played both at left guard and left tackle
    1. Boston College predominately a run first team
  3. Good size; 6'3" 316 lbs.
2. Insane worker
  1. Was a 0-star recruit out of high school, committed to Davidson (FCS)
  2. Developed into a First Team All-American at the FBS level in 2021
  3. Two-time All ACC Academic Honors
3. Solid pass blocker
  1. Very mobile, can take on the most athletic pass rushers from the inside
Sean Rhyan, UCLA (OT) (5)
1. Mostly saw action at left tackle, but is expected to move inside
  1. Was the first freshman to start a season opener at left tackle for UCLA since 2012
  2. Three year starter
2. Great run blocker
  1. Helped pave the way for two 1,000+ yard rushers in three years
    1. Joshua Kelly 2019
    2. Zach Charbonnet 2021
  2. As a team, UCLA averaged over 200+ yards per game for two straight seasons, Rhyan was a big part of that
3. Has only given up 2 sacks on almost 1,100 career pass-blocking snaps
Jamaree Sayler, Georgia (10)
Dohnovan West, Arizona State (9)
Thayer Munford, Ohio State (OT) (7)
Alec Lindstrom, Boston College (10)
Lecitus Smith, Virginia Tech (N/A)

Logan Bruss, Wisconsin (N/A)
Ed Ingram, LSU (N/A)

Interior D-Line (B)

DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M (1)
1. Uber versatile
  1. Has logged snaps at d-tackle, d-end, and even linebacker
2. Is kind of a "tweener"
  1. 6'4" 290 lbs., may be too big to play outside and too small to play inside
  2. That being said, would be perfect as a 3-4 d-end or 4-3 3-tech
3. Can he remain consistent?
Jordan Davis, Georgia (2)
1. Absolute MONSTER inside
  1. 6'6" 340 lbs.
  2. Moves very very well for being that big
2. Best run stopper in the draft
  1. Helped Georgia rank third in rush defense, giving up 81.7 ypg
  2. Georgia's defense also allowed a nation best 3 rushing touchdowns
    1. Forced more fumbles (12) than touchdowns allowed (3)
3. Not a huge threat at getting after the quarterback
  1. Registered 2 sacks in 2021
  2. Does take on multiple blockers, freeing up space for Georgia's other pass rushers
Devonte Wyatt, Georgia (6)
1. Seen as the Robin to Jordan Davis' Batman
  1. Not fair to Wyatt's game, at times, Wyatt played better than Davis
    1. Had more tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, QB hits, and forced fumbles than Davis in one less game
2. Very quick first step and very powerful
  1. 6'3" 315 lbs.
  2. One of, if not the, fastest first step in the draft
Logan Hall, Houston (N/A)
1. "Smaller" d-tackle (weight wise)
  1. 6'6" 275 lbs.
  2. Could possibly move to d-end or could work very well in a 3-4 front or as a 3-tech in a 4-3 front
2. For his size, mean S.O.B. from the inside
  1. 47 total tackles six sacks in 2021
3. Very solid in the run game
  1. Length and athletic ability make him hard to block
Phidarian Mathis, Alabama (3)
1. Consistent threat from the interior
  1. Has appeared in 10+ games every year at Alabama
2. Very powerful and can get to the passers with ease
  1. 129 total career tackles, 10.5 career sacks, five career passes defended, three forced fumbles
  2. Totaled 53 tackles and nine sacks in 2021 with two passes defended and one forced fumble
    1. Second in sacks and third in tackles for loss (12)
3. Clogs up holes in the run game
  1. Alabama ranked fourth in the nation in rush defense in 2021
    1. 82.8 yards per game, 2.5 yards per carry
    2. 8 touchdowns allowed 7 forced fumbles
Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma (4)
Travis Jones, Connecticut (5)
Haskell Garrett, Ohio State (8)
Tyler Davis, Clemson (N/A)
Zachary Carter, Florida (10)

EDGE (A)

Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan (DE) (2)
1. Mixture of insane power and athleticism coming off the edge
  1. Freak athlete
  2. Has the speed to work around tackles and the power to work through the inside
2. Absolutely relentless
  1. Nothing will stop Hutchinson from getting to the quarterback/just making plays
  2. 14 sacks (3rd), 19 tackles for loss, and 66 pressures (2nd), and forced 2 fumbles
3. Heisman worthy performance vs Ohio State
  1. Totaled season highs in total tackles (7), solo tackles (5), sacks (3)
  2. Finished second in the Heisman standings behind Bryce Young
  3. For some people, this game saw him jump Thibodeaux in draft rankings
Kayvon Thibodeux, Oregon (DE) (1)
1. One of the best athletes in the draft
  1. Has been rated as the best player in the draft basically after high school
  2. 6'5" 250 lbs., can play both with his hand in the dirt and standing up
2. Insane first step
  1. Beats almost everyone off the ball, allowing him to blow past pass blockers
3. Equally as good against the pass and he is against the run
  1. Again, his speed allows him to makeup for lost ground in a running back somehow gets passed him
David Ojabo, Michigan (OLB) (5)
1. Very young in footballing terms
  1. Moved to New Jersey at 17 from Scotland
  2. Has only played football for five years
2. Great speed coming off the edge
  1. Probably the fastest edge rusher in this class
3. Can play both as a 3-4 outside linebacker or as a 4-3 d-end
  1. 6'5" 250 lbs., great size to play both positions
George Karlaftis, Purdue (DE) (3)
1. Powerful edge rusher
  1. His size (6'4" 275 lbs.) mixed with his power helps him play both d-tackle and d-end
  2. Most powerful edge rusher in the draft
2. Didn't have the greatest season statistically
  1. 25 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
  2. Got double teamed a lot in his time at Purdue, which somewhat caused his "lack" of statistical production
3. Much like Hutchinson, Karlaftis is relentless, with his power helping him from the inside and the outside
Travon Walker, Georgia (DE) (N/A)
1. Has played both d-tackle and e-end in his time at Georgia
  1. Moved to a more outside position for the 2021 season
2. Very good athletic frame
  1. Was 290 lbs. last season and played this season at 275 lbs.
  2. Very high ceiling
3. Didn't have the greatest numbers but his athletic upside makes him a very intriguing prospect
  1. 17 solo tackles 5 sacks (both career highs due to the position change)
Cameron Thomas, San Diego State (DE) (7)
Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina (OLB) (4)
Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State (DE) (9)
Drake Jackson, USC (OLB) (6)
Abraham Ebiketie, Penn State (OLB) (N/A)

Sam Williams, Ole Miss (DE) (N/A)
Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati (OLB) (7)
Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame (OLB) (N/A)
Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma (OLB) (8)
Zach Harrison, Ohio State (DE) (N/A)
Ali Gaye, LSU (DE) (N/A)

Linebacker (B)

Devin Lloyd, Utah (1)
1. "Do everything" linebacker
  1. Totaled 111 tackles in 2021 (66 solo)
  2. 8 sacks, 6 passes defended, 4 interceptions (2 pic sixes), 1 forced fumble
  3. Comes in that Micah Parsons mold
2. Good size and speed at the linebacker position
  1. 6'3" 235 lbs.
3. Extremely athletic
  1. One of, if not the, fastest linebackers in the draft
Nakobe Dean, Georgia (2)
1. Quarterback of the defense
  1. Very Roquan Smith esq.
  2. Best leader on the defensive side of the ball in the '22 Draft
2. Great range at the linebacker position
  1. Very good in pass coverage but can also come up, make plays in the run game, and get after the quarterback
    1. 68 tackles, six sacks, nine tackles for loss, four passes broken up, three forced fumbles and two interceptions with one pick-six
  2. Very quick and instinctive
  3. High motor
Christian Harris, Alabama (3)
1. Typical Alabama linebacker
  1. Very tough tackler that has great instincts and speed
  2. 221 career tackles with 10 career sacks
2. Makes plays all over the field
  1. Insane closing speed
3. Played better as the season went on
  1. Alabama's best defender in the National Championship game
Brandon Smith, Penn State (4)
1. Typical Penn State linebacker
  1. Very very athletic linebacker
  2. Can play every linebacker position, whether that's a 4-3 inside linebacker or a 3-4 outside linebacker, Smith just makes plays
    1. More suited to inside linebacker
2. Needs to improve as a tackler
  1. Missed more tackles than he should've in 2021
  2. Mostly in one-on-one situations
3. Athletic ceiling makes him a very intriguing prospect
Channing Tindall, Georgia (5)
1. Fastest linebacker in college football
  1. Can track down any back in college football and can also cover very well in the pass game
    1. Tindall and Nakobe Dean; one of the greatest linebacking duos of all time
  2. Great overall athlete
    1. Posted a near 40-inch vertical in high school
2. Very explosive
  1. Once he locked on to his target, there aren't a lot of players who'll escape
3. Tough/physical linebacker
  1. Not necessarily the biggest linebacker (6'2" 230 lbs.) but can blow people up
  2. He also has a neck roll, what's more intimidating than that at the linebacker position?
Henry To'oto'o, Alabama (7)
Chad Muma, Wyoming (N/A)
Damone Clark, LSU (N/A)
Leo Chenal, Wisconsin (N/A)
Mike Rose, Iowa State (9)

DeMarvin Overshown, Texas (8)

Cornerback (A-)

Derek Stingley Jr., LSU (1)
1. Dominant freshman season at LSU
  1. Stingley intercepted the ball six times and defended 15 passes
  2. Won a National Championship
  3. Named a Conscious All-American and First Team All-SEC recipient
2. Great size and athleticism
  1. 6'1" 195 lbs.
  2. Very smooth and very instinctive
3. Injury concerns
  1. Hasn't really played consistently since his freshman season
    1. Has played 10 games in two years
  2. Hasn't registered an interception since 2019
Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Cincinnati (3)
1. Elite size and ball skills
  1. 6'3" 200 lbs.
  2. Gardner has played over 1,100 snaps in pass coverage and has never allowed a touchdown
    1. Allowed zero touchdowns and just 60 total yards over 14 games this season
2. Doesn't get beat deep and never gets "Mossed"
3. Very good tackler
  1. 99 career tackles (68 solo) and 3.5 sacks
Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson (4)
1. Came on strong as the season ended
  1. Three interceptions in final two regular season games
    1. Finished with five pass breakups
2. Can lock down an entire side of the field
  1. Great athleticism and very instinctive
  2. Quick feet that allow him to break towards opposing players
3. Very aggressive
  1. Can jam receivers better than almost anyone at the line of scrimmage
  2. Brushes off blocks to make plays in the run game
  3. Can get caught out at times by over committing
Roger McCreary, Auburn (6)
1. Best tackling corner in the '22 draft
  1. 135 career total tackles with 111 career solo tackles
    1. Career high 49 total tackles and 41 solo tackles in 2021
2. Solid in pass coverage
  1. Very natural ball skills
    1. 32 career passes defended six interceptions
  2. Can get beat at times with short/quick movements
Kaiir Elam, Florida (2)
1. Great athlete that possesses ideal size for the cornerback position
  1. 6'2" 196 lbs.
  2. "Track like" speed
2. Very instinctive
  1. Six interceptions and 20 passes defended to go along with 76 career tackles
Trent McDuffie, Washington (5)
Derion Kendrick, Georgia (8)
Martin Emerson, Mississippi State (9)
Kyler Gordon, Washington (N/A)
Josh Jobe, Alabama (7)

Coby Bryant, Cincinnati (N/A)
Marcus Jones, Houston (N/A)
Mykael Wright, Oregon (10)

Safety (B)

Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame (1)
1. Probably the most versatile player in the entire draft
  1. Can play as a deep center fielder, can get after the passer, can make plays in the run game, and can cover anyone on the outside
2. Elite size for the safety position
  1. 6'4" 220 lbs.
  2. Size of a linebacker
3. Insane range
Jaquan Brisker, Penn State (4)
1. Very physical safety
  1. 151 total tackles (85 solo) during his Penn State career
  2. Good size; 6'1" 200 lbs.
2. One of the best in the draft in pass coverage
  1. Allowed just one touchdown in 386 coverage snaps, per Sports Info Solutions
  2. Registered five interceptions and 13 passes defended throughout his career
3. Overall, just a play maker
Daxton Hill, Michigan (2)
1. Best pure center fielder in the draft
  1. Very instinctive player, doesn't bite
  2. Tracks the ball very well
    1. 15 passes defended with four career interceptions
2. Very fast player
  1. His speed allows him to make up for any lost ground he may have had
3. Has the ability to play both at safety and at nickel corner
Lewis Cine, Georgia (7)
1. Hard hitting safety
  1. 144 total tackles (95 solo), 14 passes defended, two interceptions
  2. Hardest hitter in the draft?
2. Was all over the field during the national championship
Jordan Battle, Alabama (3)
1. "Do everything safety"
  1. 181 total tackles (107 solo), eight passes defended, five interceptions, and one sack throughout his Alabama career
  2. Can play deep, up against the line, or even play in the slot
2. Really good field awareness
3. Nickname - Verizon Wireless
  1. Covers a lot of range in the Alabama secondary
Jalen Pitre, Baylor (N/A)
Vernon McKinley III, Oregon (8)
Smoke Monday, Auburn (N/A)
Bryan Cook, Cincinnati (N/A)
Brad Hawkins, Michigan (N/A)

Dane Belton, Iowa (N/A)
Tykee Smith, Georgia (N/A)

Top 50 Prospects

Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan (EDGE1)
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon (EDGE2)
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame (S1)
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama (OT1)
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU (CB1)
Tyler Linderbaum, iOL, Iowa (iOL1)
Ikem Ekwonu, iOL/OT, NC State (OT2)
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama (WR1)
1. Coming off an ACL injury from January 10th
David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan (EDGE3)
George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue (EDGE4)
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State (OT3)
Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati (CB2)
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah (LB1)
DeMarvin Leal, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M (DL1)
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia (LB2)
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas (WR2)
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt (QB1)
Drake London, WR, USC (WR4)
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State (WR3)
Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia (DL2)
Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss (QB2)
Kenyon Green, iOL/OT, Texas A&M (iOL2)
Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (EDGE5)
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State (WR5)
Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson (CB3)
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State (WR6)
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa (OT4)
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty (QB3)
Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn (CB4)
Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State (S2)
Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State (EDGE6)
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan (S3)
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida (CB5)
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati (QB4)
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington (CB6)
Carson Strong, QB, Nevada (QB5)
Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan (OT6)
Darian Kinnard, iOL/OT, Kentucky (iOL3)
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina (QB6)
Nicholas Petit-Frère, OT, Ohio State (OT5)
Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College (iOL4)
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State (TE1)
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State (RB1)
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama (LB2)
Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina (EDGE7)
John Metchie III, WR, Alabama (WR7)
1. Coming off an ACL injury from December 4th
Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M (TE2)
Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State (EDGE8)
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State (RB2)
David Bell, WR, Purdue (WR8)