With the NFL Draft finally in full swing, we can start to see which players will be successful at their new teams. The draft has always been an interesting venture, but with a few more rules and restrictions than once before it becomes even harder for teams to get what they want out of the college game plan.
The “2022 nfl mock draft” is a list of the best players in the 2022 NFL Draft. It includes rankings for running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers.
This month, you’ll see a lot more trait-specific analyses in scouting reports for 2022 NFL draft class prospects. This entails testing for a variety of talents, including quarterback accuracy and pocket movement, receiver speed and body control, and defender range and tackling ability. But who in the class is genuinely the greatest at each specific skill? To put it another way, who quarterback has the greatest arm talent? Which wide receiver is the class’s best route runner? Who is the most effective run-blocker and stopper? What about the greatest ball-hawking defensive back in the league?
I put up my yearly list of the best at everything — the talent superlatives of this year’s draft class — for 51 different categories to get a feel of which prospects shine out in each area. This is where the best prospects set themselves apart from the rest of the field. Of course, every prospect on this list excels in a variety of categories, but this list aids in identifying their strongest attribute — the one that sets them apart from the rest of the 2022 class. Finally, I identified three under-the-radar individuals with promise.
DL | LB | CB | S | QB | WR | RB | TE | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL | OL Off the beaten path
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty, has the best arm talent.
Willis has the upper-level arm capability to smash the ball on second-level passes and test defenders vertically in addition to his dual-threat skills, which will provide another dimension to a pro offense. On the tape, the ball explodes out of his hand. Early in his career, the team that drafts him should set him up with defined throws and watch him rip the ball from the pocket. He has the ability to drive it to any location on the pitch. Last season, Willis had a 96.9% QBR on throws of at least 25 yards downfield, with 10 of those passes going for touchdowns (tied for fifth in the FBS).
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh, has the best field vision and accuracy.
Pickett’s arm has the strength to make third-level throws, and he possesses the ability to work the edge or escape/extend if things go wrong. His finest quality, though, is his ability to judge the pocket and accurately deliver the ball. Pickett is a pro-ready talent who can grow fast as a starter in the NFL after throwing full-field concepts at Pitt. Pickett completed 67.2 percent of his passes last season and just 9.3 percent of his tosses were off-target.
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Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss, had the quickest release.
Corral’s release is compact and efficient, with just enough energy to blast the ball within the numbers. He’s a good rhythmic pocket passer with the accuracy to get the ball to wide receivers’ upfield shoulders. There are also catch-and-run chances, so Corral’s pro offense should emphasize the fast game with spread aspects.
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati, has the best footwork.
Ridder is a pro quarterback with the poise and calm of a pace-and-touch thrower who can create velocity when required. And the footwork really stands out on the footage. It’s clinic-worthy, as he demonstrates the attention to detail that comes with a well-trained passer when it comes to his lower-body mechanics.
UNC quarterback Sam Howell has the best pocket movement.
Howell can ascend and move in the pocket to look for second- and third-level targets, and on second-reaction plays, he will utilize his legs. Howell, an aggressive thrower with a vertical approach, has coachable characteristics that will entice NFL teams.
Alabama’s Jameson Williams is the most explosive receiver.
With the vertical juice to rocket beyond the top of the secondary and the rapid acceleration to transform an in-breaker into an explosive play, Williams possesses game-changing talent. He has the ability to run in the wide field, and the receiving qualities I see on film are appropriate for today’s NFL game. Last season, Williams tied for eighth in the country with 24 catches of at least 20 yards.
Overall, the best path Purdue WR David Bell is the runner.
Bell lacks high-end explosiveness, but he runs a clean path. In the route stem, he’s a skilled player with a set-up strategy to defeat both press and off-coverage. He also has excellent zone awareness and is adept at locating open windows. Bell is a talent with a rugged temperament who thrives in the filthy parts of the field.
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State, has the best after-catch skills.
Wilson’s explosive ability and play-making talents after the catch remind me of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Wilson can go free on the broad field and is evasive and abrupt in space with electrifying stop/start speed. In 2021, Wilson had an average of 6.1 yards after the catch per reception.
Drake has the best ball skills. WR, USC, London
London displayed his ball skills at the collegiate level with his lengthy 6-foot-4 size and jumping ability to play well above the hoop. In a pro system, he projects as a boundary X receiver with lots of promise as a vertical slot target. In disputed one-on-one confrontations, London possesses the powerful hands and catch radius to prevail.
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State, has the best separation speed.
Olave is a smooth mover on video, gliding around corners on verticals and separating at the top of intermediate ideas because to his flexible hips. Olave, in my opinion, is an NFL perimeter target who can work the second level and challenge you deep.
George Pickens, WR, Georgia, has the best body control.
You might argue that Pickens is the most complete receiver in this class, but we’re more interested in his body control at the catch spot. Pickens can react to back-shoulder balls and find and complete throws outside of his body because to it. In the NFL, he fits the profile of a high-volume target with big-play potential.
Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati, has the best red zone skills.
Pierce caught six of his eight touchdowns in the red zone this past season. In a pro system, he’s a backside boundary target for 3×1 sets. Pierce can win isolation battles in scoring position because to his 6-foot-3 stature and lots of play strength. To expose versus press coverage on slant routes, throw fade balls or cater to his foot speed.
Treylon Burks (WR, Arkansas) is the most strong receiver.
Burks, a strong mover at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, is quick enough on manufactured touches like screens, fly sweeps, and backfield carries to be schemed as a motion/movement guy. With professional guidance, I feel he has the potential to grow into a three-level target. Burks may be used from a variety of alignments and has the ability to provide playcallers with schematic benefits.
Alabama’s John Metchie III is the best slot receiver.
Metchie has the short-area separation speed to succeed within the numbers as a route craftsman who has played all three wide receiver positions in Alabama’s pro passing game. He’s a lot more explosive than he’s given credit for, and he can make things happen after the catch. And he has a well-thought-out strategy for dealing with the media. In the NFL, I see him as a slot receiver with formation flexibility.
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State, is the most deep-ball target.
Watson, a linear route runner with growing qualities, may be used as a vertical stretch target in his first season. Watson’s game resembles that of Kansas City Chiefs receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling, and he has the 4.36 speed to go past the defense.
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State, is the best change-of-direction ball carrier.
When he gets to the second level, Hall reminds me of former Chicago Bears standout Matt Forte, a running back with three-down ability. It’s the ability to go to the side and make clean cutbacks to get past opponents. Last season, his 58 avoided tackles ranked second in the FBS. Hall also has the 4.39 speed to make devastating plays when he breaks free.
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Georgia’s James Cook is the best pass-catching back.
Cook, like Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints, may be used in the passing game. He can flex to slot/wide alignments and become an underneath target on money downs, or he can unleash out of the backfield to beat defenders. Cook, a quick runner with a short-area burst to uncover, has the receiving skills to contribute as a rookie, in addition to his running abilities. Last season, he caught 27 passes.
Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State RB, has the best contact balance.
Walker possesses a small, pro physique with the lower-body strength and contact balance to bounce off opponents at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds. Walker is a powerful volume runner with the quickness to go to the edge, and he has the physical characteristics of a pro No. 1 back. Last season, he averaged 3.8 yards per carry after first contact and tied for sixth in the league with 39 broken tackles.
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State, has the best straight-line juice.
Strong ran a 4.37 40-yard sprint at the combine, and his straight-line speed is there on the film. He steps on the gas and accelerates. Strong has big-play ability as well as receiving skills that would be more useful in a professional offense.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida, is the best power runner.
Pierce, a downhill hammer with fast feet and a 5-foot-10, 215-pound frame, will seek out contact with the ball in his hands. It all comes down to pad level and lower-body power. When he reaches to the second level, tighten those chin straps. Last season, Pierce racked up 20 tackles.
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State, has the best pass-catching/blocking combo.
McBride, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 259 pounds, is a pass-catching tight end who can operate inline or flex as an outside target in 11 and 12 personnel. In a professional offense, McBride’s ability to endure as a blocker has an influence on the run game.
Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State, is the best short-to-intermediate target.
Kolar is a chain mover with a 6-foot-6 build who can establish leverage to the ball and plays with some subtlety in the short-to-intermediate route tree. On third downs, he can generate enough separation or post up linebackers and defensive backs to get open. Kolar tied for third among all FBS tight ends with 51 receptions on throws thrown 1-15 yards downfield last season.
Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia, has the most pass-catching potential.
I’m particularly intrigued by Woods, who, at 6-foot-7 and 259 pounds, has the size and 4.61 speed to separate himself. Woods has the qualities to work the seams and in-breakers, and defenders find it difficult to tackle him in the wide field. With Woods flexed from the formation or attacking split-safety coverage in the center of the field, I see scoring potential in the low red zone.
Alabama’s Evan Neal (OT) is the best pass-blocker.
At 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, Neal is a technically competent player. The Alabama star’s size, length, and mobility enable him to anchor against power rushers and redirect in space against speed and counterattack off the edge. He is the finest overall prospect in the class, in my view. Last season, Neal only allowed one sack on 621 pass block snaps.
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State, has the best pass-pro hand use.
Cross’ hand technique and use can be seen in pass protection and while locking on opponents in the run game. He’s been taught to use his hands to get control of defenders by hitting through on contact.
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State, is the best run-blocker.
In both zone and gap systems, Ekwonu plays with a finishing mentality in the run game. He can reach block and get to linebacker level quickly, as well as push defenders down on gap concepts. At 320 pounds, Ekwonu is a muscular mover who likes to drive opponents off the screen.
Linderbaum can cut off opponents and play in space because of his agility. But it’s his professional manner that I’m interested in. At the time of attack, he’s a finisher who wants to bury his opponent. The former Hawkeye’s game has a nasty edge to it.
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan, is the best power rusher.
Hutchinson’s hands, hips, and feet are constantly in sync. As an edge rusher, he is balanced and has good body control, and he can produce enough power to play in both three- and four-man fronts in the NFL. Last season, Hutchinson recorded 14 sacks and 64 pressures.
Travon Walker, DE, Georgia, has the most scheme adaptability.
Walker has the play power and physical qualities to play as a 7- or 5-technique, similar to what we saw with Za’Darius Smith in the NFL game. In a pro front, we may see him lined up as a stand-up defensive tackle. With stunts, slants, and inside matchups, he can have an impression on an NFL defense.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon, has the best first-step quickness.
Thibodeaux takes his first stride off the ball, allowing him to attack the top side of offensive tackles or drop below them. This is crucial in today’s quick-passing games, since it affects the throwing platform.
Our NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, and the rest of the team break down the class of 2022. • First Draft radio show «
Karlaftis can win with speed-to-power off the edge, but given his lack of explosive characteristics, it will be his counter moves that will put him in a position to compete with NFL quality early on. This includes actions such as swiping the hands, ripping, and using a lengthy arm, among others. He may generate a rush route using his skill.
Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota, has the most explosive pass-rush qualities.
Mafe’s explosive skills stand out on video, but he’ll need more refining to build a broader toolbox as an edge rusher in the pros. He’s strong at the point of attack, with a short-area burst that allows him to close quickly. There’s a lot of potential here.
With a 6-foot-5, 262-pound body and 4.58 speed, Johnson is a budding star. And his level of effort increases as the video progresses. He has a high-revving engine that enables him to make plays late in the down.
Nik Bonitto, OLB, Oklahoma, has the most lower-body flex/bend.
Bonitto is a great match for today’s NFL stacked fronts since he’s a fluid pass rusher who can bend and flatten his path on the edge. You may set him up one-on-one or stunt him inside to take use of his short-area abilities on his approach to the quarterback.
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia, is the best inside defender.
Davis, a massive nose tackle at 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, ran a remarkable 4.78 seconds in the 40-yard sprint at the combine. He is strong at the moment of contact and clogs up running lanes by shedding blocks and engulfing ball-carriers with his muscle. Davis may also be projected as a pocket-pusher to move the quarterback off the spot in passing situations, considering his height and length.
Christian Harris, ILB, Alabama, is the best second-level run defender.
Harris, the finest true “stack” linebacker in the 2022 class, will key and diagnose against the run to establish a downhill track to the ball, and his 4.4 speed will show up when he chases down runners on the edge. His game also has an old-school physical component.
Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia, is the best blitzer.
Dean thrived under Georgia’s pressures, displaying the quickness to attack schemed holes and the ability to defeat running backs in protection. He can close rapidly on the quarterback, and he’ll be able to do so in the NFL as a second-level blitzer out of sub-package fronts. He can pull off the disguise and timing the blitz perfectly. Dean finished 2021 with 6.0 sacks and 25 pressures.
Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah, is the best tackler.
Lloyd is a productive player with the physical tools to make a difference, and I see him as a three-down defender who can play both inside and outside. At the point of attack, he’s a lengthy wrap-up tackler. Last season, he recorded 99 tackles, including 18 for loss.
Quay Walker, ILB, Georgia, has the most second-level range.
Walker has the second-level ability to affect passing situations and can play as a coverage linebacker in sub personnel early in his NFL career. He’s a rangy defender who can seal zone windows or match and carry tight ends up the pipe with his pace.
Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati, has the best press-coverage abilities.
Gardner has the 6-foot-3 height, 3312-inch arms, and swagger to play right away as a lock-down boundary corner. He’ll put up a fight against opposing wide receivers, and his 4.41 speed allows him to remain in phase on crossers. Gardner can match to the backside receiver in 3×1 sets, making him a great fit for today’s NFL defenses. As a main defender in 2021, he allowed just 60 yards and zero touchdowns.
The 2019 tape from Stingley is dirty. In coverage, he’s tenacious and has the high-end ball abilities to make plays. Despite the fact that the LSU cornerback has only been in 10 games in the previous two seasons, I have to believe in his abilities. He has elite skill, as seen by his six interceptions and 13 pass breakups during his outstanding rookie year.
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington, has the most pressing need for coverage.
McDuffie is a quick player with good covering abilities who can make an impact in both man and zone formations. He’s a competitor who’s quick to react and knows what he’s doing. From a coaching standpoint, McDuffie should be high on the draft board; you want players like him in the secondary.
Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson CB, has the best zone awareness.
Booth can press up on wide receivers, but I don’t think he has the zone knowledge to make plays on the ball. Backfield vision is what I call it, and Booth has a lot of it. This allows him to read through to the quarterback to get a head start on the ball or overlap passes up the seam.
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington, has the fastest transition speed.
Transition speed is defined as the ability to plant and propel the ball downward. Gordon exemplifies this, since he has the physical attributes and ability to play inside as a slot defender. He’s a fierce competitor.
Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA, has the best physical characteristics.
Woolen, who is 6-foot-4 and has a 42-inch vertical leap, had a 4.26-second 40 speed and a 42-inch vertical jump in the combine. Woolen is expected to come off the board early on Day 2 of the draft, thanks to his high-end testing statistics and ability to match vertical routes and play the ball down the field. He has a lot of potential.
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame, has the best offensive ability.
I refer to safeties who drive top-down on the ball in a rush as having “forward ability.” And here is where I see Hamilton making an impact with his uncommon mix of 6-foot-4/220-pound size and speed. He’ll either heat up receivers with crossers and in-breakers from two-deep formations or drop down as a robber defender to patrol the center of the field as a robber defender.
Lewis Cine, S, Georgia, is the best tone-setter.
Cine possesses tone-setting qualities as a top-down defender who will run the alley and tackle at full speed. To the ball, he’s a rocket. I really like how this game is played.
The new Draft Day Predictor tool from ESPN Sports Analytics utilizes a variety of indicators to anticipate the most probable choices at each first-round draft spot, as well as projected ranges of where elite prospects may slide. • ESPN’s Predictor for Draft Day
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan, has the best hybrid safety.
Hill possesses the length and coverage of a corner, as well as a 4.38 speed, making him a hybrid nickelback/safety. With his smooth and rapid movement skills, he can match within the numbers, drop into zone coverage, or go home on pressures. Hill is a first-round prospect with a wide range of skills.
Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati, is the best hitter in the secondary.
Cook has a similar build to Bills safety Jordan Poyer. On contact, he will physically strike through ball carriers or receivers at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. When he’s on the field, you have to keep your head swiveled. In 2021, he had 80 tackles.
Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State, has the best split-field skills.
Brisker can fill a variety of positions in the NFL secondary, and he can even get filthy as a powerful tackler in the run game. However, in Quarters style, I see an easy controlled pedal and a downhill surge to meet the split-safety coverages we see every Sunday in the professionals. He’s a top-three safety in this class, in my opinion.
Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois, has the best center-field range.
Kerby, a true post defender with center-field range, had five interceptions for Illinois this past season. In the pros, he can be a single-high defender for teams that employ a lot of Cover 1 and/or Cover 3. He gets a start on the ball and overlaps throws outside of the numbers, and he can be a single-high defender for teams that use a lot of Cover 1 and/or Cover 3.
UNDER-THE-RADAR OPPORTUNITIES
Thornton has the ability to fly, with to his deep-ball speed and open-field gas. At the combine, the 6-foot-2 wideout ran a 4.28 in the 40, which is shown on film. Thornton also has the route quickness to uncover and isn’t afraid to work on in-breakers in the middle of the field. He’s an interesting potential who can assault the route tree’s second and third levels.
Malone exhibits disruptive talent on the tape, with the hip flexibility to really bend off the edge. He possesses the pursuit speed to follow down ball carriers from backside alignments and is forceful at the point of contact. Malone is a promising talent who will benefit from further coaching and playing time.
Belton’s 4.43 speed provides instant value to the NFL’s main special teams. He has the instincts to locate the ball as a zone defender below, and I think he’d be a good fit as a Cover 2/quarterback. In his last season in Iowa City, Belton had five interceptions and seven pass breakups.
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