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- Jacob Kupferman / Associated Press
Leaving aside the glamor and brilliance of Las Vegas, the 2022 NFL project was different from any we’ve seen. The turns that took place during the first round simply could not be predicted.
Since the turn of the century, this year’s draft is only the sixth time that quarterback has not become No. 1 overall. Quarterback didn’t even hear his name until the 20th overall pick, the lowest since Jim Drakenmiller’s selection for the 26th overall pick in 1997.
Such as Malik Willis of Liberty, Desmond Rider of Cincinnati and Matt Coral of Ole Miss fell out of the starting frame. Instead, this year the class is determined by a trench game.
The last two Super Bowls have proven that teams need to properly defend their quarterbacks and / or find ways to keep up the pressure on opponents. As a result, the prospects that affect the quarterback’s game are more valuable than ever.
Follow as the Bleacher Report provides updates, analyzes and assessments for each 2022 draft selection.
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- Brin Anderson / Associated Press
Travan Walker, DL, Georgia
Strengths: first-class athlete, flexibility, sudden and violent, ready defender
Weaknesses: Non-existent plan for fast transition, poor use of the hand, inconsistent when disconnecting from blocks
Courtney Brown, Mario Williams, Jadeveon Clowney and Miles Garrett set the stage as the last four defenders to hear their names called up as No. 1 as the overall pick. Travon Walker has already joined this select group.
The defense of the Georgia Bulldogs was so full of talent that Walker was perhaps the fourth or fifth most discussed chance for the NFL team, although he is more physically gifted than anyone who is not named Jordan Davis in the group.
Walker’s raw data is staggering.
The 21-year-old prospect is 6’5 “tall and weighs 275 pounds with 35-inch hands. At this size, Walker posted a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, 35.5-inch vertical, 10’3” wide jump, 6 , 89 – a second drill with three cones and a short shuttle in 4.32 seconds. He finished in the top four in the 40-yard run and two reversal drills.
To better understand how athletic Walker is for a man his height, consider that he posted the second highest relative athletic score of any defense since 1987, according to Kent Lee Platt of the Pro Football Network.
Usually, a prospect’s profile requires more detail than just athletic testing. In this case, Walker’s rough side determines its value, because the combination of size, wingspan and movement skills are rare. To his credit, the defender plays with a certain level of malice. He just has to combine everything by perfecting his craft and improving his technique. However, only 9.5 career bags are scary. “In terms of tests, he’s better than Miles Garrett,” an anonymous defense coach told Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. “He is a freak and he is aggressive. Miles and I didn’t really know how much he wanted to take precedence over running. His bike was up and down. This man is an animal. He played in such a busy team, but when the production isn’t really there, it really scares you. “
Jaguars are clearly betting on Walker’s potential. Physical tools are special. The next step is to use these opportunities and make them consistently translate into the field. As a system, Walker should stand out in Mike Caldwell’s scheme. This is similar to the one who hired Georgia. The new number 1 can generally be equalized with a header in an offensive strike or even in 4i. Versatility is part of the reason he heads the board. Yet the ongoing questions about whether Walker will ever change the game as a champion cannot be ignored.
Rating: C
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- Joe Buglevich / Associated Press
Aiden Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
Strengths: Ruthlessness, strength at the point of attack, varied plan for a quick pass, defender with immediate strike
Weaknesses: Somewhat hard edge, erratic level of the pad, no bulge at the top, short arms
Everyone knows what Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan is bringing to the table. He is a 6’6⅝ “, 260-pound defender who will give everything he has while serving as a great addition to the locker room.
The biggest question about Ted Hendrix, the Lombardi Award winner, is how much growth potential he has. As we mentioned earlier, he is a high-powered man and an excellent leader. However, his physical tools may be limited compared to other perspectives on the position.
Although a potential choice in the first round in 2021, Hutchinson returned to Michigan for another season last year. He then helped steer the program toward its first appearance in the college football playoffs, while setting the school record for one season with 14 bags.
There is a minimal disadvantage of this choice, but the same can be said for its positive side. Herein lies the problem: Scouts question both his athletic qualities and his ability to define defense with the level of dominance expected of the best choice.
“He’s more of a technician,” said Bob McGean’s anonymous scout from Go Long. “… The boy’s strength is going up. I don’t know how much he can improve. Boys with better hips and flexibility may be able to improve more.”
Another said, “He’s not the most talented athletically, but he maximizes everything he has.”
Hutchinson has perhaps the least flaws of any prospect this year. However, he may never develop into a creator of difference.
The Detroit Lions hold Hutchinson in the state. The speed with which the organization chose to make this decision shows how highly general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell think about the Michigan product.
Hutchinson has a kind of attitude that fits perfectly into Campbell’s “biting kneecap” mentality. Defender helped raise a program from Michigan that was stuck. His production, perseverance and leadership set the tone for everyone else.
What is Hutchinson’s best side? This question is what brings this selection from striking “A” to a little out of this range, because Hutchinson may never become one of the elite passers in the league. But he is exactly what the Lions need.
Rating: B +
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- Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
Strengths: Liquid thighs for sinking and turning, exploding to close space and driving on routes, triggering hair with route recognition, ball skills are obvious
Weaknesses: History of injuries, engagement, consistency within coverage when not tested regularly and running maintenance
Derek Stingley Jr. has been a star since entering the LSU campus. During the Tigers’ National Championship in 2019, he won awards for the All-SEC first team and was a consensus All-American.
In the last two seasons, however, several problems have arisen. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, NFL scouts have serious concerns about the 6’0 “, 190-pound cornerback staying healthy and” locked up “professionally.
Stingley needed Lisfrank’s operation and played in just three games last year. In fact, he has only played in 10 games in the last two seasons combined. However, he fully recovered from a leg injury and took part in LSU’s professional day three weeks before the draft.
When healthy and in place, Stingley has the potential to shut down. It thrives on the men’s range, although it also feels good with the principles of the zone.
At his best, Stingley chirps with exceptional ball skills. In 2019, the defender made six interceptions and defended 15 passes. He will need to be this version of himself in the NFL on a weekly basis to return a positive value to this selection.
Stingley will never be the most physically active player on the field, especially against running. It does not need to be as long as its coverage remains first class.
Star power is exactly what the Texans in Houston needed. The franchise has been sorely missed since the transition began under the supervision of General Manager Nick Caserio.
Prior to Stingley’s election, the Texas room consisted of Lonnie Johnson Jr., Desmond King II, Stephen Nelson, Treman Smith and Tavier Thomas. The whole defense lacked a real distinction. Stingley changes everything the way Texans build themselves. Houston’s defense will be built from back to front, as the franchise will face Matt Ryan, Ryan Tanehill and Trevor Lawrence twice a season.
An elite coverage angle, which has the tools to completely block the upper receiver, changes the whole defensive approach of the team. This will not be the same old Love Smith defense scheme.
Rating: A
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- Jae C. Hong / Associated Press
Ahmad Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Strengths: Sharp defender, press shutdown coverage, flexibility of the zone, explosion for driving on passes, standing up against running
Weaknesses: questionable driving skills to change direction, catching too many, too many equipment failures
In early April, Cincinnati’s Ahmad Sos Gardner was named the best player in this year’s draft class.
This statement should not be seen as brazen or even unrealistic. His confidence is exactly what the team should ask of a top-corner corner defender who is expected to cover the best NFL receivers in a league suitable for passes.
More importantly, the All-American consensus can support its statement.
According to Pro Football Focus, Gardner has never allowed a touchdown reception during his college career. His rating in the career quarterback allowed to cover was lower than if the quarterback deliberately threw incomplete passes, according to the PFF. According to ESPN’s Seth Walder, he reported only one 10-yard pass during the 2021 campaign. Recruiting Analytics also noted that Gardner only allowed a 1.8-yard split.
The current AAC Defender of the Year is leaving college football as a truly dominant cornerback. He also has the physical tools that every team wants in the position.
Gardner is 6’3 “and 190 pounds with 33½-inch hands and 4.41 seconds …
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