2022 NFL Draft Rumor Mill

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Multiple team sources across the league say they believe Colorado State tight end Trey McBride will be the first tight end taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, although the highest he would possibly go is Round 2. "McBride should be a third- or fourth-round pick. That is what he is as a player," said an area scout. "But in this class, he could go second round and be the first tight end drafted."

Many team sources thought Texas A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer would be the first tight end drafted because he has a good skill set with size, quickness and athleticism. Wydermyer's stock has fallen, he is one of the players who team sources said had not interviewed well at the combine.

Teams do not see a lot of high-quality future starters, with only McBride receiving a solid future starter grade and projection from multiple teams.

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I wouldn't call it a rise, but Georgia's Travon Walker confirmed the traits we saw on tape. At 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds, he put on a show inside of Lucas Oil Stadium. From start to finish, he helped his stock soar through the roof. A classic case of satisfying roles that were asked of him on a specific defense, there are more tools to unlock in his toolbox. He wasn't afforded many opportunities to rush the passer and was strictly utilized in tight techniques on the outside shoulder of offensive tackles and inside. At the next level, he could be presented with more of those chances. Walker announced his presence in the first tier of this class, and there could be whispers about him entering the top five of the draft. His combination of size, speed, mobility and upside could push him that high.

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Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia: At 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds, Davis ran an eye-popping 4.78-second 40-yard dash. That's an unheard of number for a player of his size. He's a massive human being who has unique movement skills at that size. Davis' impact didn't always show up in the box score, but he did a lot of things that went unseen. The label of being a two-down player was hanging over Davis' resume, but he has the potential to change the run defense of a team from Day 1. He also can push the pocket when allowed to operate in between the 'A' gaps. Prior to the combine, he seemed to be a player whose value was questioned, but it's important to remember that he played alongside Devonte Wyatt, another player who's likely going to be a first-round pick, and Jalen Carter, who has a chance of being a top-15 pick in the 2023 draft. Davis' low snap count on third down likely came because of the plethora of pass-rush options that Kirby Smart had at his disposal. It's hard to see Davis lasting past the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 17.

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Boye Mafe, DE, Minnesota: Mafe was expected to put on a show, and he answered the call. At 261 pounds, he turned in a 4.53-second run in the 40-yard dash. That backs up what was seen on tape, as Mafe has one of the best first steps in the entire draft class. Mafe is seen as an outside pass-rusher better suited as a 3-4 outside linebacker than a traditional 4-3 defensive end thanks to his speed. And while he might be a situational pass-rusher in his first season, he has built himself quite the draft profile this offseason with a very strong Senior Bowl and now a great combine. The first round is calling.

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Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State: Continuing to build off of his momentum from the Senior Bowl, Johnson showed off his explosiveness with a 4.58-second 40 time that included a 1.55 10-yard split. His quick first step out of the starting blocks held true. His value will come with rushing the passer, but one of the best parts of his game is his run defense. Outside of Travon Walker, Johnson is the best run defender of this year's edge crop. But he entered foreign territory with the wave drill and others where he was tested with dropping in coverage on Saturday. With a blend of versatility as a pass-rusher as well as remaining firm at the point of attack, he is likely to be a top-15 pick.

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Georgia linebacker Quay Walker looked outstanding from start to finish. He's only a one-year starter, but he has the size profile, physicality and potential, and teams would have few problems betting on the upside. His length shows up as a run defender, and he provides blitz value both from the middle and on the perimeter. In a linebacker class that contains a lot of depth in the second and third rounds, he could be at the top of the list. At 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, he recorded a 4.52-second 40 time. As a run defender, he still feels his way around gaps prior to stepping downhill, but as he gains more experience, that should continue to improve. It wouldn't be surprising to see Walker start to creep into the first round.

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Tennessee defensive tackle Matthew Butler go through his first few reps at the East-West Shrine Bowl, I immediately circled his name. His success continued throughout the week of practices, as he displayed short-area quickness, strength and natural penetration ability. A true 3-technique on the next level, Butler is likely a fourth-round pick who could go on to play some snaps early as a rookie because of his ability to disrupt the pocket and create leaks in run-game schemes.

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Based on the buzz from the combine and what I heard from scouts, one name that the NFL is higher on than the media is LSU linebacker Damone Clark, who recorded a 4.57-second 40. His performance against Alabama last season was one of the better games that I saw on film of any linebacker this year. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, I was floored at his size after standing next to him in Mobile. He's the definition of "looking the part." With a lot of teams in search of help at middle linebacker, it's hard to see Clark getting out of the second round.

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Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College: I was regrettably late to the party on Johnson, but I'm here with snacks to share with my friends who beat me to the festivities. Johnson flashed big time with a great Senior Bowl week and continued his ascent up draft boards with a flawless workout in Indy. His 33 bench press reps were the most among offensive linemen, and his field work showed balance, poise, flexibility and quickness. He's a powerful blocker with positional versatility as a guard or center, and he has the look of a Day 1 starter. Johnson moved himself into what I consider Round 1-lock territory. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looking for an interior lineman at the end of the first round should be very interested.

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Cameron Jurgens, G/C, Nebraska: Jurgens really caught my eye in every phase of the on-field workout. During the wave drill -- which tests the change-of-direction skills for blockers -- he displayed lots of fluidity. A strong and athletic player, Jurgens is a developmental center who could go on to become a contributor later on down the line. I had him in the fourth-round range, but he could go higher after his workout.

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Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State: There's a tendency in the draft community to knock Cross for playing in an Air Raid offense that didn't give him many opportunities to run block. But there is a difference in not being asked to do something because of the scheme and not being able to do something. That's how I see Cross, who as a redshirt sophomore has fantastic movement skills, explosiveness and agility. And at 307 pounds, Cross even showed an improved physique in terms of the power he'll bring to the league. Cross can't boast the run-blocking tape of Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu, but he showed he has the tools to develop into an elite run blocker, especially in a zone-blocking scheme. The Carolina Panthers are a perfect pairing for Cross in Round 1 with the sixth-overall pick.

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Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State: With Evan Neal deciding to only do interviews, Ekwonu was presented with an opportunity to gain momentum as the favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick. And he did exactly that, running a 4.93-second 40-yard dash and showing adequate movements in all drills. And measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds proved that he has the size to stay at offensive tackle. Ekwonu is an engaging personality with great traits and mobility, and he made the decision for the Jaguars that much harder at the top of the draft after his Friday night workout.

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Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan: Raimann has a good frame and measured at 6-foot-6 and 303 pounds, and he has room to tack on more. He's a converted wide receiver who is still in the early stages of transitioning different aspects of his body. His performance during the on-field drills stood out, as he showed a smooth kick slide and easy movement skills in all directions. He has a strong initial punch as a pass protector and continues that throughout the process of his pass protection reps, giving him a solid foundation to build on. He will be a 25-year-old rookie, but scouts I talked to don't see that as a negative because of the possible longevity of the position. Raimann's newness to the position presents some areas where he needs to improve on, such as driving and sticking on his run blocks, but what's already present has him trending toward being a top-40 pick.

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Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: Following a week at the Senior Bowl in which he pancaked so many defenders that he should have received a marketing deal with IHOP, Penning continued to impress with his on-field workouts at the combine. He is a thickly built lineman with surprising fluidity and movement, which we saw with his 4.89-second run in the 40-yard dash. I was fortunate enough to watch him workout as he prepared for the combine, and his quickness and balance were super impressive. That matched up with what we saw in Indy, as Penning proved that while he's the meanest mauler in the offensive line class, he also has the agility to close down the edge in pass protection. Penning, my No. 4 offensive tackle, has a chance to be a top-10 selection.

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Kenyon Green, G/C, Texas A&M: Some football players aren't made to stand out while working out in spandex. Green is a very good football player who at times struggled with the on-field drills. But throughout the day, you saw the power, agility and burst that make Green so fun as a blocker. What the combine doesn't show, unfortunately, is his versatility after playing all five positions on the offensive line in college. Green's drills were sloppy at times, but scouts will go back to the tape and see a polished lineman who I project as a Round 1 pick and a Day 1 starter at either guard spot or center.

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North Carolina running back Ty Chandler is going to be an absolute steal on Day 3 for some team. He has great hands and flew in the 40, turning in a 4.38.

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Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan: Moore was the most impressive from start to finish, and his 4.41-second 40 time quieted some speed concerns about his game. A natural route runner with plenty of quickness, he was consistent throughout the on-field workout. He proved to have consistent hands and a wide catch radius, plucking the ball out of the air consistently. Coming into the combine, he straddled the line between third- or fourth-round pick, but now it would be surprising to see Moore get outside of the second round. Moore also stayed after the workout concluded, looking comfortable catching punts.

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Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State: A TE1 candidate, McBride caught the ball well, which is at the top of the positive column on his scouting report. A compact-built tight end, he provides value in the running game as an in-line blocker, but the bulk of his success has come as a pass-catcher. During the gauntlet portion of the on-field workout, he displayed strong hands, adequate speed and the ability to turn up the field in order to gain yards after the catch. In a tight end class lacking a true first-round lock, McBride is a candidate to be the top player selected.

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Sources say that Darian Kinnard was not abused in Mobile, and did not get dominated by the all star defensive lineman. Kinnard was not interested in the coaching points to teach him why he lost that rep and how he can correct his technique. Multiple teams stated he is not coachable which has made a bad impression heading towards the draft, he may slide into late day two could end up a day three prospect when it is all said and done.

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A Southeast area scout: "You can not coach speed and you can not coach length." Speaking about Auburn's Roger McCreary & Florida's Kaiir Elam. These two corners are on the bubble of the first round and with strong performances at the Combine today March 6th, they could both cement their statuses as potential first round prospects.

Roger McCreary's real issue is his size. He checked in at the Senior Bowl at 5'11" weighing in 189 lbs. with 29 1/4 in. arms. That is considered short and light for an NFL corner. Some sources feel McCreary even if he adds some weight may not be able to hold up on the perimeter and that his size will make him a nickel only.

Kaiir Elam is in a better spot that McCreary because he is in a position to prove concerns wrong. The big worry that scouts have with Kaiir is how fast he is. They worry about his long speed if he can keep up with verticals downfield. He will need to run the 40 within the 4.5 range to alleviate those worries.


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