Breaking down the draft’s top 100 prospects on the Big Board
Part of my weekly mock draft preamble explains it is an attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season’s draft class, and which teams they’d match up well with considering the draft order. The closer we get to draft day, the more I attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do.
Last season, I was the fourth most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print according to The Huddle Report. I’m tied for seventh overall (out of 133) over the past five years.
My big board is an attempt to discern who the best players in this draft class actually are.
Here’s my final 2022 NFL draft Big Board:
— 1. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame, Jr.
Hamilton is a hybrid playmaker who combines the versatility of Isaiah Simmons with instincts that are reminiscent of Hall of Famer Ed Reed. Those who pick nits with his 40-yard dash times are digging really deep for criticism.
— 2. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama, Jr. Neal improved every season in Tuscaloosa while thriving at both tackle positions and left guard after joining the Crimson Tide as a top10 overall recruit in 2019.
— 3. Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan, Sr.
Hutchinson’s season was shades of Chase Young’s 2019 dominant campaign, culminating in him finishing second in the Heisman voting. He’s a high-floor prospect who wins with technique and strength.
— 4. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon, Jr.
Thibodeaux is a top tier athlete who wins with speed. His ceiling is massively high, but it might take a few years for his technique and toolbox to catch up to his talent.
— 5. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati, Jr.
Gardner made it through the playoff loss to Alabama unscathed. He finished his collegiate career with 1,100-plus snaps with nine interceptions and zero touchdowns allowed.
— 6. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU, Jr.
Stingley features rare balltracking skills that make him a threat to take the ball away anytime it’s in his vicinity. As an 18-yearold, he produced one of the most impressive true freshman seasons in college football history in 2019.
Durability has been a concern ever since.
— 7. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah, Sr.
Lloyd product can rush the passer (he had seven sacks), impact the run game and make plays in coverage — he had four interceptions last season.
— 8. Ikem Ekwonu, OL, NC State, So.
Ekwonu was the most dominant run-blocking tackle in the Power-5 conferences this season — it really wasn’t close — and I envision him thriving at tackle or guard in the NFL.
— 9. Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia, Jr.
Walker offers premium versatility, athletic ability and immense power. He is an elite run defender, but is only scratching the surface of his potential as a pass rusher.
— 10. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa, Jr.
The Rimington Trophy winner and unanimous All-american won’t go this high in the draft because of positional value, but he’s one of the best all-around players in this draft class. The future All-pro center was a multisport athlete in high school who earned multiple letters in wrestling, track, baseball and football.
— 11. Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia, Sr.
At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, the Outland and Bednarik trophy winner is an immovable object who could anchor a run defense for years to come. His 4.78-second 40-yard dash in Indy suggests there’s some potential as a pass disruptor as well.
— 12. Drake London,
WR, USC, Jr.
London led the nation in contested catches with 19 and he only played eight games after his season ended with a broken ankle. His size, athleticism, and flair for the spectacular catch (reminiscent of Mike Evans) will make him a problem for defensive coordinators in the NFL.
— 13. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State, So.
Cross is a powerful blocker who can do damage at the second level in the run game with premium athleticism and his targetlock awareness.
— 14. George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue, Jr.
Karlaftis has been one of the most consistent pass rushers in the nation
during his three seasons in West Lafayette. His inside-outside versatility, and overwhelming power has seemed to fly under the radar during this draft process.
— 15. Trent Mcduffie,
CB, Washington, Jr.
Mcduffie plays bigger than his 5-11 frame. He’s one of the surest tacklers at the position in this draft class and his instincts are elite.
— 16. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama, Jr.
Williams has sprinter speed and is a threat to score anytime the ball is in his hands — he set an Alabama single-season record and led the FBS with four touchdowns of 70-plus yards in 2021. He was in the mix to be the first wide receiver drafted before he tore his ACL in the national championship game.
— 17. Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida State, Sr.
Johnson is capable of being three-down player as a potentially elite run defender and an underrated pass rusher.
— 18. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
Wilson leaves Columbus ranked top-10 in receptions (143), receiving yards (2,213) and receiving touchdowns (23) for the Buckeyes. He can threaten a defense at every level, but will need to improve against physical press corners because of his lean frame and play strength.
— 19. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia, Jr.
Murmurings about Dean’s size not translating well to the next level have hurt his draft stock. It certainly didn’t hurt the Butkus Award winner in the SEC, where the tape showed a dynamic blitzer who is capable of making plays all over the field.
— 20. Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College, Sr.
This team captain has thrived at left tackle and guard, but he projects as an impact interior lineman in the NFL — Johnson even practiced at center during Senior Bowl week and looked good.
— 21. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State, Sr.
It’s rare you find a route technician with reliable hands who can also run this fast. Olave surpassed David Boston as the Buckeyes alltime leader in touchdown receptions (35).
— 22. Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia, Sr.
Wyatt was dominant at the Senior Bowl. His first step is as good as it gets in this draft class. His explosiveness and agility are elite for his size (6-foot-3, 315 pounds).
— 23. Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M, Jr.
This former five-star recruit can play either guard or tackle at a high level — Green made starts at every single offensive line position except center this season.
— 24. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida, Jr.
Elam is a 6-foot-2 corner with elite ball skills who fine-tuned his technique after an underwhelming sophomore season. His game is built on speed and physicality, which you normally don’t see in the same toolkit.
— 25. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas, Jr.
There are shades of
Deebo Samuel here, but in a linebacker-sized package. Burks’ physicality, acceleration and vision make him a terror after the catch — he broke 15 tackles on 66 receptions in 2021 — but there is work to do as route runner.
— 26. Trevor Penning,
OT, Northern Iowa, Sr.
Penning finished tied for 10th in the Walter Payton Award voting, an award given to the most outstanding offensive player in Division I FCS. He faced superior competition in Mobile for the Senior Bowl and didn’t flinch while showcasing his athleticism at the combine.
— 27. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington, Jr.
Gordon is an aggressive, uber-athlete who showed significant development in his technique this season.
— 28. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss, Jr.
Corral is slightly undersized, but he’s an Nfl-caliber playmaker with genuine arm talent, and features the quickest release in this class. The dual-threat QB was the only FBS player with at least 3,300 passing yards and 500
rushing yards in each of the past two seasons.
— 29. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State, Jr.
The two-time Allamerican has the size and skills — Hall is very capable in pass pro — to be a three-down back. His 800 collegiate touches will concern some scouts.
— 30. Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan, Sr.
The former tight end turned tackle graded out as one of the best offensive lineman in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
— 31. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State, Sr.
Dotson features the game-breaking speed to beat defenses at all three levels, has excellent hands (only two drops on 138 targets in 2021) and is good against press coverage despite his size.
— 32. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State, Jr.
The Walter Camp National Player of the Year and Doak Walker Award winner features legit home run speed, but doesn’t shy away from contact either. He led all of college football with 89 broken tackles this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Walker will need to develop as a pass protector to maximize his potential.
— 33. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati, Sr.
Ridder is the most proready signal-caller in the draft. He’s a field general with solid anticipation, a good arm and is athletic enough to make plays outside of the pocket while also being a weapon in the run game. He was 43-6 as a starter for the Bearcats, never losing a start at home (26-0).
Coaching should be able to help refine his technique in the NFL and help improve some fixable accuracy issues.
— 34. Roger Mccreary, CB, Auburn, Sr.
Mccreary simply doesn’t allow much separation and he’s battle-tested out of the SEC. He’s capable of thriving in man and zone.
— 35. Daxton Hill, S, Michigan, Jr.
Hill features a mix of athleticism, intelligence and instincts that will enable him to play every position in the defensive backfield. He will need to tamp down his tendency to gamble, but that’s part of being a playmaker sometimes.
— 36. Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota, Sr.
Mafe’s immense pass-rush repertoire was on display in Mobile. He’s tenacious offthe-line.
— 37. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, Jr.
Howell is the best downfield passer in this group and he proved to be a legitimate threat as a runner last season. He needs to improve his patience within the pocket and dig deeper in his progressions on early downs — his production on third down in 2021 reveals he’s capable of leveling up.
— 38. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty, Sr.
Willis’ dynamic mobility, strong arm and intangibles have taken center stage during the draft process, but there are serious accuracy/ consistency issues that will need to be ironed out in the NFL, likely requiring him to carry a clipboard for at least one season.
— 39. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan, So.
Moore’s elite agility makes him a nightmare in the open field, but he’s even more difficult to bring down if a defender gets their hands on him — he broke an Fbs-high 26 tackles last year. Speaking of hands, his measured larger than Deandre Hopkins (known for his giant mitts) — 10 1/4 to 10 inches even.
— 40. Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State, Sr.
Brisker is a polished, physical playmaker with few holes in his game.
— 41. David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan, Jr.
After playing only 26 snaps for the Wolverines before his junior year, Ojabo was a revelation this season with 11 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was a lock to be a first-rounder before rupturing his Achilles at his pro day.
— 42. Drake Jackson, Edge, USC, Jr.
Jackson can play in space or rush the passer off the edge. He has another level that could be unlocked with NFL weight training and coaching.
— 43. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh, Sr.
Pickett is a three-time team captain who passed Dan Marino in all of the school’s major statistical passing categories. He’s most dangerous outside of the pocket when he goes off script, but he needs to work on his anticipation throws and his comfort within the pocket. His small hands (8 1/2 inches) — he wears gloves on both hands — have led to ball security issues (38 career fumbles in 52 games at Pitt).
— 44. George Pickens,
WR, Georgia, So.
There aren’t many oneon-one battles Pickens won’t win. Over 70% of his career catches resulted in a first down or touchdown. Maturity and durability concerns could hurt his draft stock.
— 45. Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming, Sr.
Muma is the best tackler in this draft class. Defensive coordinators covet his size/ speed combo at the MIKE linebacker position in the NFL.
— 46. Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State, Sr.
Ebiketie excels at converting speed to power when rushing the passer.
He’s more technician than elite athlete though.
— 47. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State, Sr.
Watson is a classic size/ speed combo who has proven to be one of the best home-run hitters in the FCS (20.4 yards per reception during his career) with four touchdowns of at least 65 yards in 2021. Drops are a concern and he’s never faced an FBS opponent.
— 48. Cameron Thomas, Edge, San Diego State, Jr.
Thomas was the most dominant pass rusher in college football this side of Ann Arbor. He racked up an Fbs-leading 77 pressures this season and finished sixth with 29 run stops, according to Pro Football Focus.
— 49. Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut, Sr.
Jones is a space-eating (6-foot-5, 330 pounds) nose tackle, but there’s potential for more. He produced 25 pressures from the interior on the season and played well at the Senior Bowl.
— 50. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson, Jr.
Booth’s ball skills enable him to thrive while playing in press or off coverage. He exhibits physicality in defending the run, but needs to sharpen his tackling technique.
— 51. Logan Hall, DT, Houston, Jr.
Hall features the ideal frame (6-foot-6, 275 pounds) of an edge defender to go along with impressive athleticism and explosive power, but he lined up often on the interior for the Cougars. His bull-rush and swim move are nightmares for opposing offensive linemen.
— 52. Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati, Sr.
The 2021 Jim Thorpe Award winner (best defensive back) gets overshadowed by “Sauce” Gardner, but he held his own against Alabama too. Bryant excels in man coverage, and thrives at consistently eliminating the deep ball.
— 53. Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin, Jr.
A big linebacker (6-foot2, 261 pounds) who is relatively light on his feet, Chenal needs refinement in coverage, but his size and speed, combined with his instincts against the run, will likely see him get selected on day two of the draft.
— 54. Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa, So.
Smith is a work in progress as a pass protector, but a bully in the run game.
— 55. Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama, Sr.
Tolbert has proven to be one of the best bigplay threats in the nation. According to Pro Football Focus, his 16 deep receptions ranked fifth in all of college football in 2021. He has reliable hands, catches contested balls and is a reliable blocker in the run game.
— 56. Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama, Sr.
Mathis was the emotional leader of the Crimson Tide. He has the ability to play all three downs, contributing as a pass rusher and a run defender from various spots along the defensive line.
— 57. Lewis Cine, S, Georgia, Jr.
Cine is a thumper who punishes running backs, but his coverage skills could use some polish.
— 58. David Bell, WR Purdue, Jr.
Bell’s route-running is advanced and his YAC ability should make him an impact player early in his career. He doesn’t feature the explosive athletic traits some of the higher-ranked prospects do, but he was one of the most productive players at the position in the entire nation during his time in West Lafayette — Bell finished his career with 101.2 receiving yards per game (No. 1 among all active FBS players in 2021).
— 59. Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma, Sr.
Winfrey was one of the stars of the Senior Bowl, and features an explosive first step with violent hands as a pass rusher.
— 60. Trey Mcbride, TE, Colorado State, Sr.
Everyone knew the ball was coming his way, and Mcbride still dominated.
The 2021 Mackey Award winner was the first FBS tight end to surpass 1,100 receiving yards since Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro in 2013.
— 61. Quay Walker, LB, Georgia, Sr.
Walker is a competent run defender, but he shines against the pass with an excellent understanding for zone coverage.
— 62. Josh Paschal, DL, Kentucky, Sr.
Paschal is a strong, powerful edge defender who is an asset against the run, but can slide inside on passing downs to help disrupt the pocket. He was also a three-time captain for the Wildcats.
— 63. Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor, Sr.
Pitre will be an immediate contributor on special teams, but he’s flashed in coverage, against the run and as a pass rusher.
— 64. Nik Bonitto, Edge, Oklahoma, Jr.
Bonitto is slightly undersized for an edge defender, but he’s a dynamic pass rusher and relentless in his pursuit of running backs. He’s capable in coverage as well.
— 65 Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA, Sr.
Woolen is sashimi raw, but his blend of size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) and speed
(4.26 40-yard dash at the combine) make him a worthy investment.
— 66. Christian Harris, LB, Alabama, Jr.
Harris finished off a very productive season with his top individual performance coming in the national championship game against Georgia. He had seven tackles (four tackles for loss) and three sacks. There are limitations in coverage.
— 67. Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky, Sr.
Kinnard is a mauler who happens to be a gifted athlete as well. You won’t find many 6-foot-5, 345-pounders who move and change direction like him.
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For the complete list of the top-100 see Wednesday’s Appeal.