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The 2022 NFL Draft is a week away, and draft rumors are heating up. This article will take a look at my top 50 draft prospects in this class, after a close review of film and analytics.
The 2022 class doesn't have a single prospect I'd consider generational and the QB group lacks a clear-cut No. 1. Most analysts agree that the QB class is fairly weak and probably won't produce multiple franchise signal-callers. I believe all five of the top QB prospects have a lot to offer and would not be surprised if any of them developed into a franchise guy.
I would describe this class as flat at the top, with not much separation from my top-ranked prospect all the way down to my 50th-ranked prospect. What this class lacks in clear-cut top-end talent it makes up for in depth. It's also important to remember that just because there aren't clear top prospects doesn't mean some of these guys won't develop into All-Pros or even Hall-of-Famers. Remember, Aaron Donald was the 13th overall pick in his draft.
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2022 NFL Draft Rankings - Top 10 Rookies
1. Kayvon Thibodeaux - EDGE, Oregon
Thibodeaux is the best prospect in this class, but there have been questions raised about his "competitive fire."
Sticking to the film, Thibodeaux is an exceptional talent. His final season stats may not have been eye-popping (just seven sacks), but opposing offenses generally did whatever they could to not allow him to go one-on-one against tackles. Thibodeaux has an amazing first step and special twitch, bend, and ankle flexion as a pass rusher. An edge terror, he showed dominant pass-rushing ability against Cal, Oregon State, and UCLA. He's able to get off the ball with a crazy first step and convert speed to power with his hands married to his feet. There's some Demarcus Ware in his game.
Thibodeaux is not as successful as a run defender, as he can get swallowed up by bigger guards and jolted back by pullers in gap scheme runs. However, unlike Hutchinson, he pancakes slicing tight ends. Overall, he is not a perfect prospect but there is no question he can be an elite NFL player if he puts in the work. It will be interesting to see if there are any more reports about teams questioning his competitiveness, but I did not notice any laziness on film.
2. Evan Neal - OT, Alabama
Neal is large and long and moves well for his 6-7, 350-pound frame. He's quick and athletic enough to match up with the top edge rushers in the NFL, and his long arms help him dominate in pass pro. When Neal gets hands on, it's over for a defender. He'll have to work on efficiency when climbing to the second level in the run game, but he has every trait you look for in a franchise LT.
3. Aidan Hutchinson - EDGE, Michigan
Some believe Hutchinson is the best overall player in the draft after his breakout season at Michigan. The 6-6, 265-pound edge rusher has J.J. Watt-like moments on film and wreaked havoc on Big Ten offenses all year.
Hutchinson's best trait is his power, as his ability to collapse the pocket is special. His bullrush frequently walks tackles back into the lap of their QB. He has long arms and strong, dismissive hands, and the Washington tackle had no chance against him. While his first step is decent, his closing speed and change-of-direction aren't special. Hutchinson didn't do much in the CFP loss to Georgia and had some curious lowlights on film in other games as well. It was jarring to see him get blocked by Penn State's tight end in space twice. Hutchinson has a terrific motor and double-digit sack potential, but his film isn't without flaws.
4. Malik Willis - QB, Liberty
Willis is as polarizing and controversial as it gets for a QB prospect. There are glaring red flags in his analytics profile and major flaws on film. I'm just willing to bet on his other-worldly traits.
You can read my full film breakdown of Willis here.
5. Ikem Ekwonu - OT, N.C. State
A 6-4, 320 redshirt sophomore, Ekwonu enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, garnering unanimous All-American accolades. Ekwonu has incredible fluidity and athleticism for his size, showing ideal knee bend and excellent control of hand placement. He reminds me of a great post defender in basketball when pass protecting. Ekwonu whiffs at times run blocking, but he's an ascending player who has impressive pass-blocking film and probably rarely loses one-on-one reps in practice. NC State's offensive coaches didn't teach much depth on his kickslide, but there's no doubt he has the ability to develop into a fine pro.
6. Garrett Wilson - WR, Ohio State
Wilson was extremely productive at Ohio State, and his twitch and speed pop on film. There is some bust risk due to his smaller stature, but he has similar traits to Marvin Harrison.
You can read my full film breakdown of Wilson here.
7. Devin Lloyd - LB, Utah
Lloyd is a ferocious presence who can run sideline to sideline and explode into the backfield for tackles for loss. His ability to displace guards and defeat blocks is uncommon for an off-ball LB in today's game. Heavy-handed with good change-of-direction and burst, Lloyd is incredibly tough to block. Two of his highlights include rag-dolling a Stanford guard and reading the QB's eyes to make a leaping pick-six. Lloyd can key and diagnose in the run game but doesn't have amazing coverage instincts. He also missed some tackles against USC. Regardless, he projects as a Pro Bowl-level linebacker in the pros.
8. Treylon Burks - WR, Arkansas
Burks' star has faded a bit after a dominant season in the SEC, in part due to running an underwhelming 4.55 40. His detractors have a legitimate case when it comes to his inability to consistently separate, but I think most are overthinking it. His film shows dominance against the best competition in the country and playmakers with his size and play speed combination usually translate.
You can read my full film breakdown of Burks here.
9. Kyle Hamilton - S, Notre Dame
Hamilton had eight interceptions and 17 passes defended in his three seasons at Notre Dame and is one of the cleanest prospects in this class. An instinctive ball-hawk, Hamilton is like an elite wing defender in basketball. At 6-4, 220, he may remind some people of former Clemson defensive weapon Isaiah Simmons, but Hamilton is better in coverage, specifically man. He has great eyes and efficient footwork and his coaching staff trusted him to match up with top opposing WRs like Purdue's David Bell. Hamilton picks his spots in run defense, but he has the acceleration and closing speed to make plays when needed. He can click-and-close and play man like a CB, but the team that drafts him has to have a reason to use a high pick on a safety. It would be a waste to leave him in center field.
10. Drake London - WR, USC
London has everything teams look for in an alpha WR except for elite long speed. He also played basketball at USC so get ready to hear about that during every single broadcast of his career. Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard.
You can read my full film breakdown of London here.
2022 NFL Draft Rankings - Rookies #11-20
11. Sauce Gardner - CB, Cincinnati
Gardner was one of the top DBs in the country at Cincinnati, striking fear in the hearts of opposing play-callers who mostly looked to avoid him. The slender 6-2, 200-pound corner famously didn't give up a touchdown in his career and displayed awesome athletic ability on film. Gardner played a lot of cloud coverage in the games I studied, allowing him to shoot down with quickness to make tackles on the perimeter. His speed surely plays at the next level, as he was consistently effective in stopping in-breaking routes in man coverage. A close study of his film against UCF and Memphis will show plays where he was beaten, and he does get grabby at the top of certain routes. While not a perfect prospect, there's no doubt his innate coverage ability will translate to the pro game.
12. Devonte Wyatt - DL, Georgia
National Champion Georgia had one of the best defenses in the history of college football last year, and there is no shortage of quality UGA defenders in this year's class. After a strong Senior Bowl, Wyatt got some more hype, but I've had him as the top Bulldog in this class all along. Wyatt is 6'3, 317, and his best trait by far is his elite change-of-direction ability.
As an interior player, his quickness is incredible. Wyatt's film showed a great inside swim move, the ability to win on stunts against Alabama, and enough violent strength to knock the ball out of Bryce Young's hands. Simply put, interior defensive linemen shouldn't be able to move like him. Kirby Smart even used him as a spy at times. He has the physical gifts to be an impact player at the NFL level.
There are significant concerns about Wyatt's character, so a draft-day fall is a possibility. My ranking is based only on film.
13. Jordan Davis - DT, Georgia
Davis is 6'6, 345 with unreal movement skills for his size. His change-of-direction skills and overall twitch are absolutely amazing traits. His size/athleticism mix applies to the game when he gets off the ball quickly, uses a pretty inside swim move, and ragdolls opposing offensive linemen. Simply put, he pushes dudes back and disposes of backside block attempts. The best thing about Davis' game is that he doesn't even play that high despite his frame and uses his quicks and leverage to actually make plays from the inside. His ability to penetrate will surely translate. The main two questions about Davis are whether or not he can handle enough snaps from a stamina standpoint and whether or not he can impact the passing game enough to justify such a high pick. I'd bet on his rare talent.
14. Jameson Williams - WR, Alabama
Williams has recently vaulted back up into the WR1 conversation. He's not yet fully healed from a torn ACL he suffered in the National Championship but should be healed for training camp. Williams is probably the most talented WR in this class and had excellent film in his one year of dominance at Alabama. However, he didn't earn targets in his first two years in college at Ohio State and is now dealing with a serious injury at sub-180 pounds. He's an amazing talent with concerning red flags.
You can read my full film breakdown of Williams here.
15. Jermaine Johnson II - EDGE, Florida State
Johnson, a 6-5, 262-pound former Florida State edge rusher, displayed impressive play strength on film and dominated at the Senior Bowl. While he doesn't have elite bend and wasn't always dominant against sound opponents, his ability to play the run and use his strong hands against off-balance offensive linemen was encouraging. Johnson looks the part and has enough pop in his hands to develop into a strong pro pass rusher. His first step isn't elite but he boasts an effective bullrush that will translate due to his leverage and length. His game is unrefined but natural talent gives him a high floor to go along with a Pro Bowl ceiling.
16. Andrew Booth Jr. - CB, Clemson
Booth is long and tall (6-0, 201), and has terrific movement skills and athleticism on the outside. His aggressive style pops on film as he frequently blows up perimeter screens and attacks downhill against the run. He gives great effort, running down plays on the backside and showing willing competitiveness to be physical. It was somewhat frustrating searching for reps of him being targeted, but teams clearly respected his coverage skills as they didn't go after him that much. His mix of size, speed, length, and competitiveness will make him a very appealing target for teams looking for help at the outside corner.
17. Trent McDuffie - CB, Washington
Trent McDuffie of Washington might not be the most physically-imposing presence at just 5-11, 194, but his lightning quickness and elite speed will absolutely play in the NFL. McDuffie has the coveted playmaker trait, forcing fumbles and making tackles all the way across the field. In coverage, his feet are incredibly quick and he has blazing recovery speed. A heat-seeking missile to the ball, McDuffie profiles similarly to Denzel Ward, who went fourth overall in the 2018 draft.
18. Kenyon Green - OG, Texas A&M
Green played left tackle for the Aggies but projects best as a guard at the next level. He's physical and aggressive as a drive blocker and uses a wide stance and great feet to stay in front of defenders in pass pro and against stunts. His arms can get a little out of control on the edge, but he is much more under control in small spaces. There are instances of him matching his RB down the field, and his most dominant trait is how fast he gets off the ball. He has the potential to be a high-quality pro OL and his versatile background is an added bonus.
19. Chris Olave - WR, Ohio State
Chris Olave is a smooth operator with blazing speed and surgical route-running. He's not an early declare, but had excellent production in his first three years. Olave is a finesse receiver without ideal size, and the essential question about his transition is how he'll deal with physicality at the next level. His high-level mastery of his craft makes him a good bet to be a productive pro.
You can read my full film breakdown of Olave here.
20. Derek Stingley Jr. - CB, LSU
Stingley had an absolutely amazing freshman season in 2019 at LSU, shutting down opponents and recording six interceptions in 15 games en route to a National Championship victory. The issue is that he's only played in 10 games since then and his play declined. Stingley was famously torched by DeVonta Smith in 2020, giving up slants and verticals that just made him look slower than the eventual Heisman winner. To be fair, Stingley was apparently dealing with an injury at the time.
Still, his 2021 film showed a propensity to get beat by in-breaking routes, some hair-late head turns in man, and a couple of missed tackles, one of which led to a TD against UCLA. While his speed is an asset, it was a little concerning to see his need to recover against a guy like Collin Johnson. From a traits perspective, Stingley is worth a high first-round pick and has shutdown potential. How teams assess his past two years of struggling to stay on the field will decide his draft fate.
2022 NFL Draft Rankings - Rookies #21-30
21. Charles Cross - OT, Mississippi St.
Light on his feet with long arms, Cross dominated LaBryan Ray on Alabama and generally did a decent job anchoring against most opponents. He showed the ability to make terrific cut-off blocks in the backside as a run blocker but had to resort to recovering after falling behind as a pass blocker all too often. Cross has a high floor as someone with all the tools to play in the NFL, but I fear that his susceptibility to not reacting quick enough and lack of standout functional strength limit his ceiling at the next level.
22. George Karlaftis - EDGE, Purdue
Karlaftis is a 6'4, 276-pound giant who amassed 14 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, a blocked kick, and a touchdown during his three-year career in the Big Ten.
Karlaftis' best trait is his strength, as looks like and plays like a weight room monster. When he works his hands well, tackles have no chance against his bullrush. Purdue put him in a 9-technique against Oregon State and he wreaked havoc. He has excellent short-area burst and converts speed to power in tight spaces as well as anyone in this class. The main concern with Karlaftis is his lack of agility, bend, and twitch. He struggled to react to cut-backs in the run game and failed at executing a spin move multiple times. He has trouble stopping his momentum due to some hip tightness and isn't natural in terms of running the arc or winning with quickness. It remains to be seen whether his dominant strength will translate to the pro level where everyone is stronger.
23. Kenny Pickett - QB, Pittsburgh
A lot of people view Pickett as a future bust. He's an older prospect with only one year of top-end production and doesn't have amazing physical traits. I love his accuracy and think franchise QB is in his range of outcomes.
You can read my full film breakdown of Pickett here.
24. Travis Jones - DT, Connecticut
Jones is a 6-4, 325-pound nose tackle with big-time power. He projects as a plus run-stuffer in the NFL. Jones displaces offensive linemen, walks them back, posts up against double-teams and had some impressive film against Zion Johnson. He also dominated at the Senior Bowl.
25. Travon Walker - DL, Georgia
Walker is a versatile prospect who can play both inside and outside on the defensive line. At 6-5, 275, his athleticism for his size pops off the screen and he absolutely blew up the combine. An insane athlete with whoa change-of-direction and tremendous play strength, Walker packs a punch with long arms and heavy hands. The question is whether or not he truly has pro edge-rusher stuff (only 9.5 sacks in 29 games and a lot came on stunts). The other concern with all these Georgia DLs is how they'll react to not being part of a stacked rotation that kept them all consistently fresh. Regardless, his traits pop on film when he's wrong-arming pullers and making huge hits like a run-and-hit linebacker. Walker needs technique refinement but there's no doubt he has the tools that translate.
26. Arnold Ebiketie - EDGE, Penn State
Ebiketie is an underrated EDGE prospect who had 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last year. He's long and twitchy with the ability to convert speed to power on the edge. He doesn't stay blocked for long and is stout against the run. Ebiketie gave Auburn fits and has the upside to develop into a big-time pro.
27. Roger McCreary - CB, Auburn
McCreary is not a conventional first-round CB from a length standpoint, but his 5-11, 189-pound frame is the only real red flag in his profile because his film is terrific.
McCreary has ideal play speed and the quickness to play both inside and outside at the NFL level. He had quite a battle with Jameson Williams and John Metchie III in the Alabama game, winning some reps and struggling in others. McCreary's best trait is his ability to play the pocket and get his off-hand to the ball for pass breakups. When you combine that skill with his quickness, it's easy to project his game to the next level. While he typically won matchups on the outside at Auburn, I believe he'll transition to be a starting nickel corner in the NFL.
28. Kyler Gordon - CB, Washington
Gordon has the size (6-0, 194), length, and speed to start in the NFL, and his film is very impressive opposite Trent McDuffie. Physical with a smooth pedal, Gordon can click-and-close and made some terrific plays on the ball, including a ridiculous toe-tapping interception against Cal. He's a good tackler and plays with the type of confidence and aggressiveness that will translate.
29. Tyler Linderbaum - C, Iowa
Linderbaum was the best center in the country last season and received a lot of draft hype as a potential top-10 pick despite his position. After studying his film, I'm not sure he's worth that high of a pick, as his losses versus size were a bit concerning. Linderbaum's best trait is his speed, as he is terrific at reach blocks and in space. He would excel most in a wide zone scheme where his lateral movement can be emphasized. From a functional strength and physicality standpoint, there were reps of him being jolted back by linebackers and struggling against power. However, if a team can accentuate his athleticism, he can gain strength and develop into an elite pro. The Michigan nose tackle had no chance against him.
30. Nakobe Dean - LB, Georgia
The leader of one of the best defensive units of all time, the 6-foot, 225-pound Dean is a bit undersized but has outstanding closing speed and flashes the ability to get through trash to make plays in the run game. He's a good finisher and instinctive, as evidenced by a pick-six in man coverage against Florida. His speed surely plays at the next level, but there are more questions about his translation than most draft analysts have pointed out. His film shows him getting pancaked in the run game by pullers, jolted by running backs multiple times, and torched on an angle route. Dean can beat blocking angles, but he'll do his best when kept clean at the second level.
2022 NFL Draft Rankings - Rookies #31-40
31. Breece Hall - RB, Iowa State
Hall is a highly productive home-run threat with the ability to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. His receiving skills make him the top back in this class and a potential All-Pro at the next level.
You can read my full film breakdown of Hall here.
32. Kaair Elam - CB, Florida
Elam has all the tools teams look for in a starting corner, including height, length, and speed. He plays with great competitiveness and the necessary confidence to excel at one of the hardest positions on the field. Elam plays the ball well, but his physicality in coverage could lead to some issues in the NFL. He's a bit handsy at the top of routes and held a lot on film. He's also not interested in playing the run.
33. John Metchie III - WR, Alabama
Metchie is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He's coming off a torn ACL and wasn't able to work out pre-draft, but his film and production prior to his injury were impressive. A healthy Metchie excels at route-running thanks to technique and natural quickness but doesn't have top-end speed. With two seasons of over 900 yards as a reliable second-option in loaded Alabama offenses, Metchie's toughness and football IQ pop off the screen. He's a pure football player who can play both slot and outside when healthy.
34. Tyler Smith - OT, Tulsa
Smith is a large (6-5, 324), long, strong, and athletic tackle prospect who decided to declare as a redshirt sophomore. He has all the tools of an excellent starter but needs technique work. If he can correct some of his punch and eye issues with experience, he has immense upside. Strong as an ox, Smith's film showed flashes of brilliance working up to linebackers and pulling in the run game.
35. Jahan Dotson - WR, Penn State
Dotson is a highly-skilled WR prospect with excellent hands. He can play both inside and out and plays to his 4.43 speed. At just 5-11, 178, it's fair to question how he'll deal with physicality at the next level. Against Maryland, he was absolutely unguardable and reminded me of Stefon Diggs.
36. Daxton Hill - S, Michigan
Hill is a versatile defensive back prospect with experience playing both safety and nickel at Michigan. He's aggressive, fast and tackles well, but there were instances of him getting beat in coverage on film. I think he has a solid floor as a pro starter but I question his best positional fit and ceiling in coverage.
37. Zion Johnson - OG, Boston College
Johnson is a rock-solid guard prospect who showed well at the Senior Bowl and generally does his job on film. He's not flashy or quick but he moves his feet on contact and is deliberate and strong at the point of attack.
38. Kenneth Walker - RB, Michigan State
Walker's pass-catching ability has been one of the most controversial topics on fantasy twitter in recent weeks. We can all agree that he's an outstanding pure runner.
You can read my full film breakdown of Walker here.
39. Jalen Pitre - S, Baylor
Pitre is a fascinating diminutive playmaker who did most of his damage as a tackler despite his small frame (5-11, 198). A missile to the ball, Pitre doesn't have the same coverage skills as the Honey Badger, but his instincts and playmaking are somewhat comparable, at least stylistically. The question is where is he best deployed in the NFL? He's probably not good enough in man coverage to play slot corner and I don't know if he's the rangy center fielder some teams covet. With his tackling ability and play speed, any good defensive coordinator should be able to find a role for him.
40. David Ojabo - EDGE, Michigan
Ojabo tore his Achilles at Michigan's pro day, which will, unfortunately, drop him down the board.
A healthy Ojabo is a long, 6-5, 250-pound EDGE who broke out in 2021 with 11 sacks. His speed and quickness combo makes him a nightmare for opposing tackles, and the most impressive aspect of his game is his counter move, a devastating spin move, to complement his speed rush. Ojabo didn't play every snap at Michigan and struggles when opposing tackles get their hands inside quick enough, but he has the length and quickness to develop into a big-time edge threat at the next level. I'm not 100% sure a healthy Ojabo isn't a better pro than Aidan Hutchinson. I had to drop him down due to injury concerns.
2022 NFL Draft Rankings - Rookies #41-50
41. Matt Corral - QB, Mississippi
Corral is a gunslinger who completed 67.3% of his passes in the SEC. As a prospect, his situation compares to Dak Prescott's, although Corral will be drafted higher. There is a lot to like on film, including great mobility.
You can read my full film breakdown of Corral here.
42. Trevor Penning - OT Northern Iowa
Some view Penning as a surefire first-round pick, but I think he's a little overrated. He's at his best moving straight forward or straight backward but I saw too many whiffs on film and question his quickness. I think he's heavy-footed and wasn't as dominant as he could have been at a lower level.
43. Bernhard Raimann - OT Central Michigan
Raimann is another potential first-round tackle that I find overrated. He does a good job staying in front of defenders in pass pro but he struggles reacting when his initial punch doesn't land perfectly. He has a thin lower body and had some rough moments against LSU.
44. Cameron Thomas - DL San Diego St.
Thomas is an underrated defensive lineman with experience playing both outside and inside at San Diego State. He has outstanding functional play strength and powerful hands. He was actually better at shedding blocks on the edge than some of the higher-ranked first-round EDGE prospects in this class. Thomas probably translates best as an interior DL in a one-gap scheme.
45. Boye Mafe - EDGE Minnesota
Twitchy with good handwork, Mafe enjoyed a successful postseason, showing well at the Senior Bowl and combine. He has a good first step and fights on the edge with great competitiveness and urgency. My only concerns are a lack of bend and some stiffness.
46. Lewis Cine - S Georgia
Cine is yet another Georgia defender with a chance at the first round. At 6-2, 200 pounds with 4.37 speed, Cine has all the physical tools to excel in any scheme at the next level. He had a battle with Alabama's Brian Robinson Jr. and his tackling ability surely translates.
47. Skyy Moore - WR Western Michigan
Moore is an extremely fun prospect who put up 95 receptions for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He's undersized from a height standpoint (5-10), but actually weighs more (195) than Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jameson Williams. He also has huge hands, which repeatedly flashed on film as he Mossed bigger defenders. Moore is fast (4.41) and twitchy but it's fair to question how he'll transition to playing outside against Jalen Ramsey and Tre'Davious White. His size limitations may hurt him in his ability to gain consistent separation, and when he played against tougher competition that showed up on film. His upside is a faster Golden Tate.
48. Dylan Parham - OG Memphis
Parham is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He's an easy plug-and-play starting guard who knows how to move people in the run game. I love his physicality and competitiveness.
49. Trey McBride - TE Colorado State
This class doesn't have a Kyle Pitts or even a T.J. Hockenson, but Trey McBride has special receiving skills. McBride put up 90 catches for 1,121 yards as a Senior, winning the Mackey award for the top tight end in the nation. While not an incredible athlete, he's a natural receiving the football and can actually play some WR with the type of tough catches he can make. I think he has more upside than people realize if he lands in the right situation.
50. Marcus Jones - CB/KR, Houston
Jones is a versatile prospect who fits in as a slot corner in the NFL. His quickness and coverage instincts are terrific, and he knows how to play the ball in the air. However, what makes Jones such a valuable prospect is his kick return ability. Jones returned NINE total kicks for touchdowns throughout his career at Houston and has the speed and vision to continue making big plays in the NFL. Teams care about special teams more than fans realize, so I expect him to be a day-two pick.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more draft content in the coming days.
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