2022 NFL Draft Thoughts
2022 NFL Draft Thoughts
Names to watch? Let’s start with some quarterbacks.
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
Sam Howell, UNC
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
Dillon Gabriel, UCF (lefty)
Malik Willis, Liberty
A Few Running Backs
Sincere McCormick, UTSA (slipper, breakaway)
Kevin Marks, Buffalo
Tyler Allgeier, BYU
Ronnie Rivers, Fresno State (smaller)
The top pick is Kayvon Thibodeaux, a defensive end out of Oregon. “Thibodeaux is the odds-on favorite to go No. 1 overall in 2022. He was a monster recruit two years ago and has 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his first two years at Oregon.”
Another CBS Sports article on Thibodeaux.
Only having played 20 games at Oregon thus far, he has done nothing to diminish his career arc reflected by the three words tattooed on the outside of his right arm: "The Chosen One".
"I got it because no one in my family has done anything," Thibodeaux once told reporters. "We don't have anything to live for. The name means nothing. Thibodeaux means nothing. The opportunity that I have and the talent that I've been blessed with, I'm able to change the dynamic and change the forefront of my future, my family's future."
Thibodeaux likes chess.
More:
Rattler goes second.
Then two cornerbacks: Derek Stingley, LSU and Sevyn Banks, Ohio State. Sam Howell goes fifth.
Another defensive back, with safety Kyle Hamilton going sixth. “Hamilton is a hyperactive safety who's as productive against the pass as he is on run plays. He's a fantastic blitzer too.”
Trapasso’s number one offensive lineman is Charles Cross out of Mississippi State. Then two more quarterbacks: Willis and Slovis. Linebacker Christian Harris out of Alabama rounds out the top-ten.
Some other considerations: the top tight end is Jalen Wydermyer out of Texas A&M. Ridder makes it five quarterbacks in the top-13. Florida DB Kaiir Elam went 16th and I’m curious how that is pronounced. Chris had back-to-back people named George: George Karlaftis, defensive end, and George Pickens, wide receiver.
Trapasso believes LSU defensive lineman Ali Gaye will have a breakout season and surprise as a first round pick. Receiver Justyn Ross goes late in round one. Followed at his position by Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. The top running back is Isaiah Spiller. After such a weak defensive draft in 2021, it seems experts may be expecting an abundance of talent on that side of the ball next year.
Rattler, Slovis, Tyler Shough, and Brock Purdy all came out of Arizona high schools. All four of them are candidates to go in the first round next year, to varying degrees of certainty. Brad Crawford wrote: "A three-year starter who has seen just about everything during his career with the Cyclones, Brock Purdy's goal is to win a Big 12 Championship before he's off to the NFL. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said last August prior to Purdy's junior season that he'd go to war with his quarterback and take him over any other signal caller nationally. He took the Cyclones to the Big 12 title game, but struggled at times with giveaways — an area he is focused on fixing as a senior. At No. 5 on this list, I'm banking on Purdy putting together his best season."
DeMarvin Leal and Perrion Winfrey lead the defensive tackles next year. But WalterFootball doesn’t have any other DTs with even close to a first round grade yet.
Touchdown Wire lists 10 QBs who could be the next “risers” … but leaves out Grayson McCall? No, Touchdown Wire. Can’t have that. Dustin Crum, Layne Hatcher, Carson Strong, among others made it.
Here are a couple of evals from SI.com:
Evan Neal, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
The Crimson Tide pocket protector earned Freshman All-American honors in 2019. He is a big, physical offensive lineman with plenty of room to grow. Neal has numerous traits that will transition to the NFL with ease. He was a key piece of the Alabama offensive attack, which staked claim to the top-ranked scoring offense amongst Power-Five programs, on their way to winning the National Championship. Scouts are anxious to see him continue to develop during his junior season and he could be in the first round conversation come April.
Derion Kendrick, Cornerback, Clemson
The experienced cornerback from Clemson is going to create a lot of buzz during the 2021 season. He hasn’t played his best football yet and he has an extremely high ceiling. Most draft experts expect NFL teams to consider him as a top 10-20 overall selection next year. Kendrick had 20 tackles (one for loss), six pass breakups, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. That performance translated into being named First-Team All-ACC.
Malik Willis was listed as a QB who could “rise up the boards” by Touchdown Wire, and named as a “definite top-10 pick” by SI already. GRAYSON MCCALL!
Okay, I’ll post this for now and provide more updates in the near future and ongoing.