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Since the turn of the century, this year’s draft was only the sixth time that a fourth fullback did not go to No. 1 overall. A general did not even hear his name until the 20th overall pick, which is the lowest since Jim Druckenmiller’s 26th overall pick in 1997.
People like Liberty’s Malik Willis, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder and Ole Miss’s Matt Corral all fell out of the original. On the contrary, this year’s category is defined by the game in the trenches.
The last two Super Bowls have shown that teams need to properly protect their generals and / or find ways to constantly rattle opponents who call for pressure. As a result, the prospects that affect the game of generals are more valuable than ever.
Follow as the Bleacher Report provides updates, analysis and scores for each selection of the 2022 draft.
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Pros: Top athlete, flexibility, sudden and violent, ready defender for running
Weaknesses: Non-existent crossing pattern, misuse of hands, inconsistent when unblocking blocks
Courtney Brown, Mario Williams, Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett set the stage as the last four defenders to hear their names shouted No. 1 overall. Travon Walker has now joined this selected team.
The Georgia Bulldogs defense was so talented that Walker may have been the fourth or fifth most talked about NFL player on the team, although he is more physically gifted than anyone other than Jordan Davis in the group.
Walker’s raw data is shocking.
The 21-year-old is 6’5 “and weighs 275 pounds with 35½-inch arms. At this size, Walker posted a 40-yard run of 4.51 seconds, a vertical 35.5 inches, a 10’3-inch jump, 6.89 -second three-cone drill and a short avenue of 4.32 seconds Finished in the top four between the defensive ends at 40 yards in both reversing exercises.
To better understand how athletic Walker is to a man of his stature, consider that he had the second highest relative athletic score of any defensive end since 1987, according to Pro Football Network’s Kent Lee Platte.
Usually, a perspective profile requires more detail than just sports testing. In this case, the raw look of the Walker leads to its value, because the combination of size, wingspan and movement skills is rare. To his credit, the defensive player plays with a certain level of evil. He just needs to combine them all by improving his art and improving his technique. However, only 9.5 career redundancies are scary. “In terms of testing, he is better than Miles Garrett,” an anonymous defensive coach told Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. “He is a freak and he is aggressive. With Miles, we did not really know how much he wanted to give the lead over the run. His motor was up and down. This guy is an animal. “He played in such a busy team, but when the production is not really there, it scares you.”
Jaguars are clearly based on Walker capabilities. Natural tools are special. The next step is to take advantage of these possibilities and make them consistently translated into the field. According to the system, Walker should excel in the form of Mike Caldwell. It’s similar to what Georgia used to do. The new No. 1 general selection can be aligned to an aggressive tackle or even a 4i. Flexibility is part of the reason he climbed to the top of the dashboard. However, the ongoing questions about whether Walker will ever change the game as a hurry can not be ignored.
Degree: C
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Advantages: Relentless, strength at the point of attack, varied pass pattern, direct impact defense
Weaknesses: Slightly stiff edge, inconsistent cushion level, lack of top blast, short arms
Everyone knows what Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan brings to the table. He is a 6’6⅝ “, 260 pound defender who will give what he has while it will be a great addition to the locker room.
The biggest question around Ted Hendricks Award winner and Lombardi Award winner is how many growth opportunities it presents. As mentioned earlier, he is a man of high mobility and an excellent leader. However, his physical tools may be limited compared to other prospects in the position.
Although it was a possible first-round pick in 2021, Hutchinson returned to Michigan for another season last year. He then helped guide the program to its first appearance in the college football playoffs, setting a school-season record of 14 dismissals.
There is a slight downside to this option, but the same could be said for its good. That’s the rubbish: The Scouts question both his athleticism and his ability to define a defense at the level of the dominant game expected of a top pick.
“He’s more technical,” an anonymous scout told Go Long by Bob McGinn. “… The man’s strength goes up on the field. I do not know how much he can improve. Guys with better hips and flexibility may be able to improve more.”
Another said: “He is not the most gifted in sports, but he maximizes everything he has.”
Hutchinson undoubtedly has the fewest downsides from any prospect this year. However, he may never become a difference maker.
The Detroit Lions are holding Hutchinson in the state. The speed with which the organization chose to make this decision says how much general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are thinking about the Michigan product.
Hutchinson brings the kind of attitude that fits in perfectly with Campbell’s “bitten knees” mentality. The defensive line helped lift a Michigan program that was stuck in calm. His production, perseverance and leadership set the tone for everyone else.
What is the absolute positive of Hutchinson? This question is what drives this selection from a slamdunk ‘A’ to just outside this range, because Hutchinson may never become one of the league’s top pass-rushers. But that’s exactly what the Lions need.
Grade: B +
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Advantages: Fluid hips to sink and twist, pop to close space and drive on paths, hair trigger with path recognition, ball skills are evident
Weaknesses: History of injuries, commitment, consistency within coverage when not regularly checked and support working
Derek Stingley Jr. was a star from the moment he entered the LSU campus. During the national championship of the Tigers 2019, he won awards for the first team of the All-SEC and was unanimously Pan-American.
However, some issues have arisen in the last two seasons. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, NFL scouts have serious concerns about staying healthy and professionally “locked in” at 190 pounds.
Stingley underwent surgery on Lisfranc and played in just three games last year. In fact, he only played in 10 games the last two seasons together. However, he fully recovered from his leg injury and participated in the LSU pro day three weeks before the draft.
When healthy and fit, Stingley can shut down. It blooms in the cover of men, although it feels comfortable with the principles of the belt.
At his best, Stingley squeaks with great skill on the ball. In 2019, the defensive back won six cuts and defended 15 passes. It should be this version of himself in the NFL on a weekly basis to return positive value to this option.
Stingley will never be the most physical or dedicated participant on the court, especially against running. It does not have to be as long as its coverage remains top notch.
The power of the stars is exactly what the Texans of Houston needed. The franchise has been lacking since the transition began under the supervision of CEO Nick Caserio.
Prior to Stingley’s selection, the Texan Corner Room consisted of Lonnie Johnson Jr., Desmond King II, Steven Nelson, Tremon Smith, and Tavierre Thomas. The whole defense did not have a real difference factor. Stingley changes everything in the way Texans are built. Houston’s defense will be built from back to front, as the franchise will face Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill and Trevor Lawrence twice per season.
An elite coverage angle that has the tools to completely lock in a top receiver changes a team’s entire defensive approach. This will not be the same old defense plan of Lovie Smith.
Grade A.
Advantages: Uneven defense, shutdown coverage, belt flexibility, burst for passing passes, anti-run rise
Weaknesses: Challenging reversible movement skills, grabbing too many, too many technical failures
In early April, Cincinnati Ahmad Sauce Gardner said he was the best player in this year’s draft.
This statement should not be considered as brazen or even unrealistic. His confidence is exactly what a team from a top cornerback should expect from the NFL’s best receivers in a pass-friendly league.
Most importantly, the Pan American consensus can support his statement.
Gardner never allowed a touchdown reception during his college career, according to Pro Football Focus. The career grade point average allowed for coverage was lower than if the quarterback deliberately threw incomplete passes on his way, per PFF. It delivered only one pass over 10 yards of air during the 2021 campaign, according to ESPN’s Seth Walder. Recruiting Analytics also noted that Gardner allowed only 1.8 yards of separation.
The dominant defensive player of the year of the AAC leaves college football as a truly dominant corner. It has the natural tools that every team in the position wants, too.
The Gardner is 6’3 “and 190 pounds with 33½ inch arms and 4.41 seconds …
