Nashville Tennessean. He isn't George Karlaftis is a freakish athlete with an elite massive frame and is a natural dominating pass rusher. While some NFL Draft prospects will ascend during the 2021 college football season, Myjai Sanders is carrying momentum from the previous campaign. 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. * - denotes 2023 prospect. Of course, his monster 2021 campaign inflated those values. With Anderson and Smith returning to the Bulldogs, Johnson transferred to Florida State. 4/27/22: In 2021, Karlaftis recorded 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles. On the contrary, he is deceptively athletic for his size. 7/10/21: Paschal was a tough competitor in the ground game in 2020, but he did not produce much in the pass rush. Johnson checked off the athleticism box at the 2022 NFL Combine, when he ran a 4.58 and had a 125 broad jump at 64 5/8 and 254 pounds. 105) and tight end Greg Dulcich (2022 . He was impactful in Penn State's close wins over Wisconsin and Auburn. The six-year NFL veteran and Minnesota Vikings stud defensive end, Danielle Hunter is well deserving of a spot as one of the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings. Additionally, OLB Nik Bonitto is one of the best at his position. He was listed over 280 pounds in college, but at the NFL Combine, he measured in at 62 5/8, 268 pounds. Here's a closer look. Multiple team sources who said they had spoken to recent Georgia staffers and recent former teammates of Anderson all reported those around the Bulldogs program were surprised and didn't believe he was that kind of guy. Hutchinson is expected to lead the Wolverines defense and help cement his position as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. 28 in rushing . Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan BIG BOARD RANK: 1 Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. Apr 15, 2022, 4:52pm ET in NFL News Top 10 Best defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft Teams in need of a dynamic edge rusher are going to have plenty of opportunities to fill that role as the 2022 NFL Draft is loaded with top defensive ends. He had 40 tackles and four sacks in 2019. Hes adept at combining speed with a high motor to finish plays. 42. 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. Off the snap, it is as if he has been shot out of cannon as he explodes upfield with shocking speed. The 2022 NFL Draft is now in the books, and the Steelers selected five offensive players and two defensive players to add to the mix. 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. hes a force off the edge who wins with strength, quick feet, and ability to read the game. This year, the 2022 NFL Draft defensive end class is stacked with possibly five players projected to be first-round picks. He has vehemently denied the accusation, and some team sources believe Anderson is innocent and could get acquitted. He has massive upside as a pass rusher with Leal is a difficult player to scout - he no doubt has good athletic ability, good size, elite arm length with impressive strength, Hall is an amazing athlete possessing an elite combination of strength, height, long arms, and ridiculous speed as well as change Devonte Wyatt has become an important part of the best defense in college football during 2021 and is an excellent pro prospect. 7/10/21: Johnson flashed some pass-rush ability in 2020, but he also illustrated limitations in the ground game. There could be as many as 10 prospects selected from the IDL class on the. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds. The first round will take place on Thursday, with rounds two and three on Friday and the last four on Saturday. The top-ranked Commander is defensive end Montez Sweat, who ranks No. With Josh Sweat signing his 3-year, $40 million extension and soon-to-be 34-year old Brandon Graham coming off a ruptured Achilles, it makes sense to target another edge rusher within the first two days of the draft. 44 with the Texans, pick up 68, 108, 124", "Chargers Acquire Six-Time Pro Bowl Outside Linebacker Khalil Mack", "2022 NFL draft: Bills trade back twice in second round with Buccaneers, Bengals", "Atlanta Falcons trade Julio Jones to Tennessee Titans", "Broncos trade star LB Von Miller to Rams for two 2022 NFL Draft picks", "Jaguars trade 2020 first-round CB C.J. The top 2022 Defensive End prospects available for the 2022 NFL Draft. Oklahoma has quite a few eligible defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft. 4/27/22: Johnson was a dangerous pass rusher for Texas A&M in 2021, recording 8.5 sacks and 31 tackles. His agility emphasized by a fantastic 6.73 three-cone doesnt always show up in full capacity on tape, but his leverage may have something to do with that. Watch the best moments from the defensive backs at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. In-depth prospect rankings with linked reports and all updated player information. For his redshirt junior year, Phelps transferred to the University of Kansas, where he produced 7 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss for the Jayhawks and in 2022, was voted to the second squad of . 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. It would help Thibodeaux (6-5, 242) to gain more strength, as he will need more weight to hold up as a run defender and to shed blocks from NFL offensive linemen. Easily the most physically imposing of all the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft, George Karlaftis combines size, power, and explosion to be a dominant defensive lineman. 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. Anderson should be a top-10 or top-15 pick if he keeps playing like he did against Clemson. Additionally, Paschal received outstanding marks from teams for his football, locker room leadership, and off-the-field intangibles. He has everything you look for Aspiring college or profootball journalist? There is a deep group of defensive backs, and we know that the New York Giants will be in the market for back-end help, specifically at cornerback, a position widely regarded as deep in this year . Mar 04, 2023. 1? The draft concluded with rounds 47 on Saturday, April 30. For the NFL, Ebiketie is undersized to be a defensive end and probably would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He decided to transfer to Mississippi State after the season. However, beyond the statistics, Sanders is an alluring prospect. He could be a tweener defensive tackle/end, and he should probably gain weight to play on the inside as a pro. He totaled six sacks, three forced fumbles and 30 tackles for 2020. Sources say he bombed some interviews and team visits. In 2021, it would help him to continue to improve as a rusher while adding strength to be a tougher run defender. 7/10/21: Anthony was a backup in 2018 and 2019 before earning playing time as a junior in 2020. Heres a look at the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. What makes Thibodeaux so special? And while his length is slightly below average, Mafe compensates with his ability to win around the edge. 4/27/22: Anderson was charged with rape in November and turned himself into the police. Williams was phenomenal in 2021 and one of the best defensive lineman in the nation. He's sufficient versus the run because he can find it and can win with quicks and athletic ability. 2022 September 2 2023 NFL Draft 3-4 Defensive End Rankings 2023 NFL Draft 3-4 Defensive End Rankings John Vogel September 2, 2022 in 2023 Rankings, Player Rankings - 6 Minutes 1. Top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft include Kayvon Thibodeaux, George Karlaftis After an offense-heavy draft in 2021, there is more defensive promise in 2022. Who will be the top defensive ends for the 2022 NFL Draft? But when they run right at him, it's alarming.". Florida Football: DT Zachary Carter NFL draft 2022 profile GatorSports.com Schedule Teams SEC Alabama Arkansas Auburn Georgia LSU Tennessee Texas A&M ACC Clemson UNC Big Ten Iowa Michigan. His best fit in the NFL could be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Oklahoma has quite a few eligible defensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft. Enagbare creates power out of his frame while possessing excellent length. He doesnt have an elite get-off, but he possesses a good sense of timing around the edge. On the year, Paschal had 52 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. Josh Paschal shouldve been able to register the backfield as a private domicile given how often he lived there this past season for Kentucky. We have a new consensus Top 300 NFL Draft Big Board here at PFN. Its not much of a surprise, especially after seeing how Walker fared at the NFL Combine. Players are identified as Pro Bowlers if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career. NFL Draft Buzz is on the lookout for new contributors who would like a chance showcase their perspectives on the NFL draft. 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. USC hurt his production by moving him around, playing him somewhat at outside linebacker, dropping him into coverage, and reducing his pass-rushing opportunities. For the second straight year, Williams showed blitzing ability as well. His ability to pass rush both inside and outside offers intriguing versatility. We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. Perrion Winfrey is one of the top defensive tackles on the board. David Ojabo *, Michigan 5. . Nick Suss. 10 overall. The first round was held on Thursday, April 28, and was followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 29. Hall helped himself with a quality week at the Senior Bowl. Gunter has quality size to be an edge defender in the NFL. Kayvon Thibodeaux *, Oregon 3. . 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 Prospects: Defensive End *Walt taking 2014 and 2018 Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates. With his skill set taking on easy competition, Hall needs to produce more in 2021. Like Sanders above him, Kingsley Enagbare returned to school despite receiving significant interest in the previous draft cycle. I'm concerned with strength. He wants to with suddenness and athletic ability as a run defender, moving and slanting. The 2022 NFL Combine's 40-yard dash is a chance for some defensive linemen to really improve their stock. With Aidan Hutchinson commanding a lot of attention, Ojabo broke out in 2021, recording 35 tackles, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and three passes defended. Hutchinson has good size for the next level in that he could be a base end in a 4-3 or a 3-4 five-technique defensive end. Additionally, in the Buck position for South Carolina, he has been tasked with dropping back into coverage. 7/10/21: Ebiketie impressed NFL advance scouts with his 2020 performance while playing for the Temple Owls. Thomas has quality size to him to go along with speed and athleticism. Thomas did play on the interior at times for the Aztecs, so he could feasibly cut weight and move to DE full-time in the NFL. That will be a terrifying prospect, as he establishes himself as one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class. Half of his sacks came in one game versus LSU. Sanders has speed and athleticism on the edge, but he needs to get stronger and fill out his frame. Along with getting after the quarterback, Malone was a solid pursuit run defender, providing a lot of tackles for his defense. ** - denotes 2024 prospect. And Isaiah Thomas also finds himself on the list of top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft. Enagbare should become one of the top defensive ends in the 2022 NFL Draft class with another season of profound performances under his belt. Jackson (6-4, 275) had an impressive debut for the Trojans in 2019. In his two-year career, Harrison has contributed just 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Thomas wisely accepted an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl, where he put together an okay performance. He would be better off as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. On the year, he had 34 tackles and five sacks, but he played much better than the numbers indicate. 7/10/21: In 2020 Sanders was a dangerous edge rusher for the Bearcats, notching seven sacks with 31 tackles and five passes batted. They wonder and question if he snuck out after curfew and bed check, so Anderson's situation is a huge mess for his draft stock. George Karlaftis *, Purdue 6.. 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. 2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Midseason Defensive Positional Rankings by Austin Smith November 5, 2021 Heading into another great college football weekend, here are the top defensive positional rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft Prospects, including Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux being the top-rated defensive end. He further helped himself with an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Meanwhile, he flashed further defensive disruption with 5 pass breakups. He was a dynamic pass rusher and showed improved run defense. 2. Ever since his explosive freshman season when the college football world was introduced to Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Oregon DE has been earmarked to be at the top of the 2022 NFL Draft. On top of being very fast, Anderson shows an uncanny ability to bend his long frame. hand-in-the-dirt defensive ends that can rush . 7/10/21: Charlton was a solid defender for Central Florida in 2020. 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. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will compete for the No. They will gather on the field for the first time when the team holds their rookie minicamp May 13-15. 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, he improved as a run defender, upping his stops from 23 to 35, but his pass rush was not as good with only two sacks on the season. Who should you be watching out for during this college football season? Subsequently, NFL teams that like having bigger edge rushers would jump at the chance to add Karlaftis. SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL. 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. He has some quickness, strength, and athleticism that was illustrated with good workouts. 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. 4/27/22: In 2021, Engabare had 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two passes batted. That's why Georgia says they don't start him. Who among Aidan Hutchinson, George Karlaftis, and Jermaine Johnson II takes the top spot? 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. Explosive, physical, and strong, Thomas has the size and length that will leave NFL teams drooling this fall. He was a good defender for West Virginia. At 63, 260 pounds, Smith might not appear as imposing as his teammate. If production is a pre-requisite for you at edge rusher, then youll like Cameron Thomas. He was impressive there, but no one could have predicted that he would outstrip his JUCO production in his first campaign in the SEC. Michael Mayer, Notre Dame. But beyond that athleticism, Johnson is a technician with strong and powerful hands. Paris Johnson Jr. - Ohio State. 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. On the other hand, he was very productive in 2021, recording 71 tackles, 11.5 sacks and one forced fumble. 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 has good strength and length to set the edge, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production dramatically as a senior in order to rise for the 2022 NFL Draft. VanValkenburg played very well to close out the 2021 season, impressing in the bowl game versus Kentucky. Copyright 2019-2023. 145", "Roster Move: Bears trade Miller to Texans", "2022 NFL draft: Bills trade up in Round 5, select WR Khalil Shakir", "Texans trade up, pick Stanford DL Thomas Booker in fifth round", "Eagles trade two 2021 draft picks to Washington Football Team for one 2022 pick", "No. 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. A few names have been mixed into the No. When he pieces everything together, Smith breezes past offensive tackles with relative ease. Impressed? It was the first draft to be held in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and the state of Nevada. Even with the extra attention, Hutchinson was a consistent force to get after the quarterback, and Hutchinson helped teammate David Ojabo to have a breakout season across from him. He has massive upside as a pass rusher with Hall is an amazing athlete possessing an elite combination of strength, height, long arms, and ridiculous speed as well as change Cameron Thomas is rocketing up draft boards at the moment and with good reason, he's athletic with an incredible set of pass-rushi Mafe Boye has been rocketing up draft boards since his impressive Senior Bowl outing. What makes the top prospects stand out, though? He totaled 42 tackles with four sacks. Five Georgia defensive players were also taken during the first round, the most from an individual school in a draft. "He's only 230 pounds and really struggles to add weight because of a high metabolism. He did not impress at the Senior Bowl, but he had an excellent combine with an ultra-fast 40-yard dash. In Perrion Winfrey, they have one of the best defensive tackles in the 2022 class. Robinson made it the Senior Bowl, but he didn't stand out. For teams that like length and high-motor rushers, Enagbare fits the bill. But if he plays with a hand in the dirt at the NFL level, it could help him attain better leverage, while maximizing his athletic traits. The LSU pass rusher can already be found in several first-round mock drafts, including from Pro Football Networks Cam Mellor. Now that he has a year of experience, Thomas could be even better in 2021 and rise for the 2022 NFL Draft. 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, Analysis QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | OTs. PFF has three Commanders ranked in the top 101, and the top-ranked Washington player will surprise you. He only recorded 14 tackles for the season, however, because Azeez Ojulari played over him on run downs. As a pass rusher, Ojabo can burn tackles with a speed rush, and he is explosive off the ball. 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. 4/27/22: Teams sources say Williams would be a first- or second-round pick if it weren't for significant character concerns that could cause him to go undrafted. The top 100 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft were littered . As a result, he returns to Michigan for the 2021 season. Standing around 65, 266 pounds, Thomas is an impressive athlete for his size. Brugler's Top 100: TE1, No. He is a riser who could go in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 164 pick to the Los Angeles Rams", "Eagles trade three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz to Cardinals", "Bears trade pick 166 to the Bengals for picks 174 and 226", "Patriots trading guard Shaq Mason to Buccaneers for fifth-round draft pick", "2022 NFL Draft trade: Patriots, Texans swap Day 3 picks as Bill Belichick continues to be biggest draft mover", "2022 NFL Draft: Packers trade back eight spots in fifth round", "Sources: Chiefs shipping first-round pick, 3 others to Ravens for package highlighted by Orlando Brown Jr", "NFL Draft results: Detroit Lions trade back 7 sports, pick LB Malcolm Rodriguez in sixth round", "Panthers trade for Bills DE Darryl Johnson", "Broncos agree to terms on trade with 49ers to acquire LB Jonas Griffith", "Seahawks Acquire CB Sidney Jones In Trade With Jaguar", "Chiefs trade for Vikings CB Mike Hughes", "Jacksonville Jaguars trade QB Gardner Minshew to Philadelphia Eagles for conditional 2022 sixth-round pick", "Panthers trade LB Denzel Perryman to Raiders for sixth-round pick", "Packers acquire WR Randall Cobb from Texans for sixth-round pick", "Source: Bucs acquire starting Jets NT McLendon", "Jets acquire QB Joe Flacco in trade with Eagles", "Broncos trade rookie Kary Vincent Jr. to Eagles for 2022 sixth-round pick: Philadelphia adds secondary depth", "Jets make another trade by shipping linebacker Jordan Willis to 49ers in draft pick swap, per report", "New York Jets acquire pass-rusher Shaq Lawson from Houston Texans, sources say", "Steelers trade Melvin Ingram to Chiefs for 2022 sixth-round pick", "Rams trade for Patriots running back Sony Michel", "Buccaneers Select Ko Kieft with the 218th Pick of the 2022 NFL Draft", "The #Patriots are trading TE Ryan Izzo to the #Texans for a seventh-round pick in 2022, per source", "Patriots, Ravens agree to trade that sends rookie Shaun Wade to New England, per report", "New York Giants trade DL B.J. From the college perspective, here are the best defensive end and edge rusher prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2019, Gaye was playing football for the junior college program Garden City. The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder needs to get stronger and improve his run defense for the NFL, but he looks like he has the potential to be a lethal pass rusher who produces some big sack totals and makes a lot of game-changing plays to limit passing attacks. 4/27/22: Johnson totaled 70 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes batted in 2021.