2022 NFL Draft Rumor Mill

[gmf1369]

Leading up to the draft there will be a lot of smoke about said prospects and to get teams to question if said prospect is right for their team and hoping they can manipulate the outcome of where a prospect may fall too.

Here I will update rumors and speculation of what team's front offices may be saying or feeling about any and all prospects eligible to be drafted this year...

 

[gmf1369]

A director said they feel McDuffie is more polished and safer as a selection than LSU's Derek Stingley or Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner. Stingley is getting branded as a buyer-beware prospect who is viewed as boom or bust by some team sources. His last season of good tape came from 2019, and he has been injured while also being inconsistent at times on the field otherwise.

McDuffie could end up coming off the board before Stingley during the 2022 NFL Draft.

 

[gmf1369]

A few scouts have mentioned LSU linebacker Damone Clark was their highest-graded linebacker.

Georgia's Nakobe Dean and Utah's Devin Lloyd have received more media hype, but some teams like Clark a lot more than those two and see him as the best linebacker for the 2022 NFL Draft. Other teams could have the order switched, but Clark has helped himself with his good week at the Senior Bowl.

 

[gmf1369]

The Carolina Panthers are in store for an interesting offseason as they try to figure out how to return to playoff contention.

Last spring, Carolina traded for Sam Darnold, and after a good start, Darnold struggled for the majority of the 2022 season.

The franchise is still searching for a true replacement for Cam Newton. Sources from other teams say the Panthers organization is complicated and bordering on dysfunctional. There are reports that the team is favoring Liberty QB Malik Willis with the 6th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Head coach Matt Rhule has been on a power trip over the past two years, and he pushed out former general manager Marty Hurney.

Owner David Tepper is meddlesome as well and stays involved in the football side.

General manager Scott Fitterer has his hands full, and it sounds like a very challenging situation with Rhule trying to impose his will in all directions despite struggling to win games over the past two seasons.

 

[gmf1369]

Florida running back Dameon Pierce has been one of the stars of the 2022 Senior Bowl and he has helped himself perhaps more than any other prospect in Mobile . On top of showing dynamic running ability,

Pierce has interviewed extremely well with teams. He has a great team-first attitude and is smart, respectful and motivated.

Sources say the Atlanta Falcons are very high on Pierce.

I have also heard and seen that the Lions, Bills and Packers are all showing a lot of interest in Pierce.

 

[gmf1369]

The Lions

team has big needs for help at wide receiver, edge rusher, linebacker, cornerback, safety, and a long-term quarterback.

As a result, Detroit could go a lot of different directions at No. 2 overall, especially considering what the franchise's draft class could look like as a group of players considering the team will have pick No. 31 or 32 to go along with pick No. 34.

By the sounds of it, the Lions are not head over heels in love with Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. Washington felt that way about Chase Young in 2020, yet he went No. 2 overall. The 2022 NFL Draft is a strong year for edge rushers, and the Lions could find other good ends available at their later picks. Players like Florida State's Jermaine Johnson, Georgia's Travon Walker, and Penn State's Arnold Ebiketie could be good values for Detroit in the early 30s.

If the Lions don't take a pass rusher at No. 2, they could look to grab a No. 1 receiver.
Some team sources feel USC's Drake London could be a Mike Evans-type wideout, and that would obviously be quality value for the second pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Other receivers like Ohio State's Garrett Wilson and Arkansas' Treylon Burks could get consideration as well.

Cornerback is another position that could be in play for the Lions. Jeff Okudah, the third-overall pick from 2020, is nearing bust status and was a pick of Detroit's prior regime. The organization could consider cornerbacks like Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner, LSU's Derek Stingley and Washington's Trent McDuffie. Even if Okudah turns things around in his third year, another corner would give the Lions a potential starting trio with Okudah and Amani Oruwariye.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes also said he would listen to trade offers to potentially move down. A lot of the teams picking in the top five would be interested in moving down, but there may not be a market of teams interested in trading up. That could force Detroit to stick and pick. While Hutchinson and Thibodeaux are candidates for the Lions, they are keeping their options open and might go another direction high in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

 

[gmf1369]

One players who has a very fluid projection is Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary.

Some team sources think he belongs in the top 20, while others have him as a second-day pick.

"I think he goes in the top 20," said a director of player personnel. "Hard to find corners that can cover man-to-man like him."

"I worry about him on the outside a little," said a Southeast area scout for an AFC team. "He's good in man-to-man, but you can't fix not having length. I graded him in the second and think he goes in the second."

Another director of college scouting summarized the situation well considering the draft class as a whole.
"I think he's a 1/2. But this isn't a strong draft and teams will take a need player higher then his value."

McCreary could be in store for a rollercoaster draft, because while he has a shot at going as top-20 pick, he also could slide well into the second round on Friday night of the 2022 NFL Draft.

 

[gmf1369]

Kayvon Thibodeaux believes the New York Giants are going to select him in the top-7 of the draft, according to radio host Colin Cowherd.

 

[gmf1369]

Jacksonville Jaguars considering tackle Charles Cross from Mississippi State who is considered the best pure pass protector in this draft.

Cross might not be the best overall player in the draft — he’s close. Cross exploded onto the scene with a tremendous 2021 campaign that saw his PFF grade rise from 64.4 in 2020 to 86.7. He is as technical and refined as any player in the draft.

 

[gmf1369]

Unlike said media that puts Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson to go to the Lions at number two there is suggestion that the Lions might be focusing on two other positions. Wide Receiver and Cornerback.

The two said prospects to be at the top of their draft board are USC Drake London & Washington Trent McDuffie.

McDuffie is widely considered the best overall corner in this draft slightly ahead of Clemson's Andrew Booth Jr. and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner.

Derek Stingley Jr. who has been the talk as the top guy has received a slip in stock due to injury past concerns.

Lions also might be considering Arkansas Treylon Burks but feel they are more focus in on London.

 

[gmf1369]

Thanks to the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams the Detroit Lions have their 32nd overall pick where rumors swirling that they may go quarterback with that pick.

But hearing that the Lions like two other prospects:

Safety Daxton Hill from Michigan
and if still on the board
WR Jameson Williams from Alabama

 

[gmf1369]

hard to really read what the Patriots may do in the draft but there is swirling ideas

CB Kyler Gordon Washington
LB Nakobe Dean Georgia
DE George Karlaftis Purdue

are all contenders but from sources close to the team's scouting department is they are focusing on these two:
OT Trevor Penning Northern Iowa
NT Jordan Davis Georgia

 

[gmf1369]

Central Michigan offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann checked in to the Senior Bowl with 33 inch arm length which is considerably on the shorter side for tackles at this level, some media have noted that he could go in the first round but from what some scouts have noted that he projects better inside than at tackle the former tight end converted.

Will be interesting to see if he is selected in the first round, looks more of a second half round two type selection.

 

[gmf1369]

Rebuilding NFL teams often get a lot of phone calls and trade offers for good players on their roster. A year ago, it was clear that the Detroit Lions were in store for a massive rebuilding project after Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia decimated the organization's roster of talent. With aging starter Matthew Stafford not wanting to live through another rebuild with the Lions, he requested a trade, and the Lions fulfilled his request with the Rams the just after Senior Bowl week.

Stafford is not the only player teams were trying to pry away from Detroit, as NFL sources say the Lions were getting steady and consistent phone calls inquiring about veteran left tackle Taylor Decker. The Lions were not interested in trading Decker and rebuffed those inquiries. Detroit has one of the best young offensive lines in the NFL with Decker (27), new Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson (24), center Frank Ragnow (25) and standout rookie Penei Sewell (21). The offensive line is the building block for the Lions' rebuild, so don't expect their stance on Decker to change and them to entertain the trade offers.

 

[gmf1369]

There is a lot of praise around the league for the new hires by different teams. Scouts have spoken well of the new Bears general manager Ryan Poles and feel the Giants made good moves with their new general manager and head coach. The Raiders, on the other hand, have received a lot of criticism from scouts with other teams. Scouts feel that Las Vegas winning 10 games was a superb job of coaching by Rich Bisaccia and the coordinators of Greg Olson and Gus Bradley. Ten victories was remarkable considering the litany of adversity that started with Jon Gruden being forced out, Henry Ruggs being arrest and released, Damon Arnette being released, and losing the team losing its best player, tight end Darren Waller, to injury for the majority of the second half of the season. Sources say letting go of the coaching staff was a mistake compounded by what many see as a bad hire in former Patriots assistant Josh McDaniels.

 

[gmf1369]

The Saints were strongly considering making a big move to trade for a star veteran quarterback prior to head coach Sean Payton stepping down.

Sources with New Orleans feel the team is ready to win now led by a talented defense that kept the Saints in the playoff hunt despite playing with backup quarterbacks.

In speaking to sources, offensive tackle is a position that New Orleans could target in the 2022 NFL Draft if Terron Armstead leaves this offseason.

With the 18th-overall pick in the first round, the Saints could have some good tackle options available, like Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning and Tulsa's Tyler Smith.

 

[gmf1369]

There is some chatter that the New Orleans Saints quietly liking North Carolina QB Sam Howell but feel he might be out of reach with their 18th pick meaning they would need to move up, some speculations they would need to jump in front of Washington Commanders at 11th overall.

 

[gmf1369]

Some sources feeling that Kayvon Thibodeaux was overrated and there were teams picking in the top 10 that were not in love with Thibodeaux.

To a lesser degree, the same could apply to Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Teams like Hutchinson and think he is a safe pick to turn into a quality starter, but they do not believe he is as good of a prospect as other high first-round defensive ends like Myles Garrett, Chase Young or the Bosa brothers.

Some sources are concerned that Hutchinson could end up being a Sam Hubbard-type end and tops out as a 10-12 sack player in the NFL.

While they view him as safe to turn a solid player, they are concerned he lacks the upside to be an elite rusher.

If Hutchinson posts good numbers in the pre-draft workouts, that could help convince teams that he has more athletic upside.

 

[gmf1369]

The Dolphins shopped veteran wide out DeVante Parker prior to the trade deadline last season.

In following up with NFL sources, another veteran receiver who was available was Atlanta's Calvin Ridley.

Sources say that while the Falcons did not shop him seeking out a trade, they made teams aware that Ridley was available.

After Week 7 last season, Ridley stepped away from the Falcons because of mental health issues, and he did not return to the team in 2021.

With Ridley entering the last year of his contract, it could be difficult for the Falcons to get a good return for him. Ridley has yet to announce his plans for next season and whether he is ready to return to the NFL.

 

[gmf1369]

At the beginning of the 2021 season, Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was considered a heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and first non-quarterback to be selected. While Thibodeaux still is projected as a top-10 pick, multiple NFL teams picking high in the first round are not in love with Thibodeaux and some think he is overrated.

"I watch Thibodeaux and I see Whitney Mercilus," said an area scout. "I do not see a Von Miller, Khalil Mack, Bosa brother, Myles Garrett, etc.

I see an athletic tweener on the edge who beat some average college offensive tackles on occasion.

I see a solid starter level guy who could have - like Whitney - a couple good seasons if whoever drafts him has a running mate to help Thibodeaux.

I don't see a guy that will cause teams to change protection when going up against a good tackle like Trent Williams, Ronnie Stanley, Laremy Tunsil, Ryan Ramcyzk, and those guys.

I don't know where the top-10 noise came from, other than he was a No. 1-ranked high schooler who had a solid college career.

Jadeveon Clowney, for all his flaws, at least had arguably the greatest sophomore season in college football history before he shut it down as a junior - in large part because he was encouraged to by everyone, including some pro folks, because he was seen as by far the best player in the country.

Thibodeaux is not close to that kind of size, speed, length, freak that Clowney was."

Some sources say they have question if Thibodeaux loves football, and they are worried that he is distracted with "his brand."

Thibodeaux was injured in 2021, and they also see stiffness as an edge rusher.

Thibodeaux still looks like a likely top-10 pick, but teams picking at the very top of the 2022 NFL Draft could end up passing on him despite all the franchises in the top five needing pass-rushing help.