Senior Bowl preview for 2022 NFL draft: top prospects

gmf1369

Jack of All Trades
Big Fish
The Mod Squad
Jet Fanatics
Jets Global
i
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa (National)
Scouts Inc. ranking: 16

Penning flat out dominated against inferior competition at the FCS level, so this is going to be a great test for him to compete against potential top-50 prospects. His performance in the one-on-one pass-rush drills will have a major bearing on whether he's still regarded as a big-time left tackle prospect or will have to shift to right tackle at the pro level. The 6-foot-7, 321-pound Penning has a fiery and aggressive mentality, and he'll need that in pass-rush drills. I put him at No. 25 in my debut mock draft; let's see if he can live up to that spot in practices. -- Kiper

i
Arnold Ebiketie, OLB, Penn State (National)
Scouts Inc. ranking: 33

I recently put Ebiketie at No. 18 in my updated Big Board -- I think I'm higher on him than McShay -- but he's one of the best edge rushers in this class, and NFL teams crave guys who can get to the quarterback. At 6-foot-3, 256 pounds, he has some explosive traits and versatility; he could play with his hand on the ground in a 4-3 defense or stand up and play 3-4 outside linebacker. The Temple transfer had 9.5 sacks in his lone season with the Nittany Lions, showing improvement in all aspects of his game. I'm excited to see what he can do in one-on-one drills. -- Kiper

i
Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State (American)
Scouts Inc. ranking: 43

Thomas is a borderline top-25 guy in my rankings. He plays with energy and tenacity, and I never saw him take plays off. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, he played a ton of snaps at both end and defensive tackle, so the scheme versatility is a plus. He finished 2021 with 11.5 sacks and 27 total tackles for loss. If Thomas turns heads in Mobile, he will solidify his spot as one of the top D-linemen in the draft, potentially moving into the top 20. -- Kiper

i
Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State (American)
Scouts Inc. ranking: 49

Johnson transferred from Georgia to Florida State last year and put up huge numbers, with 12 sacks and 70 tackles. He showed advanced pass-rush skills, and at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, he has the size and strength to hold his own in the run game. He is my sixth-ranked defensive end -- right behind Thomas -- and right now I see him as a Round 2 pick. Johnson has a chance to move up if he can put on a show in pass-rush drills, though, and I know scouts will be watching him closely. -- Kiper

i
Logan Hall, DL, Houston (National)
Scouts Inc. ranking: 56

Hall really came on in 2021, becoming a more disruptive pass-rusher and penetrating into the backfield against the run. He finished with six sacks and 15 total tackles for loss. The question for NFL scouts will be: Where does Hall play at the next level? At 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, he's kind of a tweener between a 3-4 defensive end and a 4-3 defensive tackle. He's my third-ranked tackle for now -- I think he could play as a 3-technique penetrator -- but we'll learn a lot this week. -- Kiper

ESPN +
 
Top