Arena: The Most Intriguing 2022 NFL Draft Prospects
NFL
With Super Bowl Sunday now behind us, it’s now the official start of draft season. NFL scouts and analysts over the next few weeks will be evaluating college players to see if they’re worthy of being selected in April’s draft. This year’s crop of prospects may not have major headliners like in the past, but there are still a number of intriguing names to keep an eye out for.
Michigan Football - Twitter
Michigan’s star pass rusher Aiden Huntchinson will likely be selected in the top three of the draft. He was the best player for Michigan this year and was recognized as one of the best players in the country by being named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. His play stood out among a good class of defensive ends. If you look at the game tape it’s clear to see why Hutchinson is so highly regarded. While watching games you’ll notice another Michigan pass rusher on the other side of Hutchinson also producing at a high level, David Ojabo. Ojabo is the wildcard of the draft. If he goes to the right situation and is developed properly he could be a perennial pro-bowler. If not his career could be a massive “what if” with his talent never harnessed.
Long-time NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah called Ojabo, “the most polarizing player” in the draft, for a number of reasons. One reason is based on Ojabo's newness to football, he’s only been playing for about five years. While the natural talent and athleticism are obvious to see whenever he’s on the field, Ojabo is not as polished when compared to the other edge rushers that may be selected before him. His only season as a starter came this past year and it could be seen as a potential red flag for some teams. On the flip side, he was able to be very productive this season with 11 sacks and five forced fumbles, tied for third-most in the nation.
Ojabo is an athletic freak. At 6’5” and 250 pounds there aren’t many players that can move like him. When the ball is snapped, it’s as if Ojabo is being propelled by rockets attached to his legs. He is explosive coming off the line thanks to an elite first step. He also has a unique ability to turn the corner well on his way to sacking the quarterback. At Michigan, Ojabo showed a variety of pass rush moves to win his matchup including a great inside spin. He has a good motor like his star teammate and is able to lay the wood against ball carriers. There are some areas that do need to be cleaned up. Ojabo could be better in run support, at times he’s hesitant to commit out of fear of making a mistake. He’s also not a power rusher, most of the time Ojabo would use his speed to his advantage. If he solely relies on the speed at the next level, offensive linemen will be better prepared to contain him. If a team is looking for a solid edge rusher that has pro bowl potential, David Ojabo could be the one.
Butch Dill - AP
This year’s quarterback class isn’t anything to rave about. There isn’t a standout, consensus, number one passer that has cemented their position before the draft. The five names that are expected to be selected in the first 64 picks all vary in terms of what they could be in the NFL. Kenny Pickett could be a solid starter for a decade, Desmond Ridder might be a career backup, Sam Howell may have a better career than we think. Then there’s Malik Willis. Willis is a tantalizing prospect that could be a franchise quarterback if he is in the right situation. He’s got a cannon for an arm and can make guys miss in the open field en route to a touchdown. The Liberty Flame has the highest ceiling of anyone in the draft however he is still raw as a player will need to be mentored by a veteran at least in his first season. If he’s properly groomed, he could be similar to Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson.
Willis is the most physically gifted quarterback among his peers. He has a rock-solid build at 6’1” making him a harder tackle than what defenders might think. He is a great athlete that can run with the best of them. When he breaks out of the pocket, he can take it to the house at any time. His arm strength is second-to-none. Willis is capable of making throws that other quarterbacks simply can’t. He can drive a fastball to the far numbers on an out route and drop a dime deep. When Willis combines these two attributes together, that’s when he’s at his best, extending the play with his legs and delivering the ball downfield for a big conversion. In his two years as a starter at Liberty, Willis has compiled 5,117 passing yards, 1,822 rushing yards, 47 passing touchdowns, and 27 rushing touchdowns. He has all the tools necessary to be elite at the next level but will definitely need to refine a few things.
Willis does have a tendency to look for the big play instead of being conservative and taking what the defense gives him. At times you applaud him for wanting to make a play, however, that desire for a big gain can put his team in tough positions. His arm strength is an asset but it can also be a liability. On shorter throws, he does put too much heat on the ball making it harder for his receivers to catch. This also affects his accuracy as well as he will overthrow his receivers on simple passes. Malik Willis has the widest range of variance of success in the NFL than anybody else in the draft. He could be a top-tier quarterback that competes with Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray on a yearly basis. He could also be a journeyman never having consistent success for a team to commit to him long-term.
Scott Donaldson-South Alabama Athletics
Jalen Tolbert is a name most aren’t familiar with. Coming out of high school, Tolbert was ranked as a 2-star pass catcher and didn’t consistently see the field until his sophomore year at South Alabama. Tolbert grinded and developed before being presented with a real opportunity to contribute in 2020. That year Tolbert racked up over 1,000 yards and caught eight touchdowns. This past season he improved once again catching another eight touchdowns and gained more than 1,400 yards, most by a Sun Belt WR in 2021. A very good final season for the Jaguars has put Tolbert on the mock draft radar as a potential steal of this class.
Tolbert is a well rounded receiver. He has great size at 6’3” and knows how to use his frame to win on the outside. He understands how to get open on both short and intermediate levels with solid route running. He can also do some damage after the catch, consistently running away from defenders if given just enough space. Tolbert also competes as a blocker on run plays, never backing down. If he continues to develop like he has in college, Tolbert could have an immediate impact for a team that’s looking to add an offensive weapon.
Tennessee Athletics
This year’s draft is rare when it comes to the cornerback position. Clubs that are looking for help on the backend are in luck as this year's cornerback group is the deepest it has been in recent memory. There will no doubt be some rotational players out of this group but maybe only a handful of high-quality starters. Tennessee’s Alontae Taylor could be one of them.
A former wide receiver, Taylor transitioned to become one of the best corners in the SEC. He’s great as a zone defender, routinely limiting plays to short yards. He can survive in man coverage but teams will ideally want him to strictly be a press zone corner. Taylor’s aggression as a tackler really shines through on the tape, he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty to make a statement. Taylor’s physicality also shows up when he jams the receiver in front of him, he just has a knack for knocking receivers off their route. In order for Taylor to fully succeed he’ll need to go to a team that has a zone-based defense. If he does he could be a starting corner within two years.
As we get closer to April these names will be circulating more and more. Come draft night we could see all four players selected in the first two rounds.
