2022 NFL Draft Big Board V1
The 2022 NFL draft class isn’t a sexy one. I’m sorry, it’s just not.
There is no clear-cut QB1. At that position, it’s more so been a war of attrition as the presumptive front-runners have played their way down the board instead of solidifying a top ranking.
We kind of expected a lackluster quarterback class, but this was supposed to be a year dominated by defensive prospects evaluators had been waiting years to finally scout…but Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and LSU’s Derek Stingley, Jr. have both battled early-season injuries and are right now living more off their reputations than their 2021 play.
So, what is the 2022 draft class all about?
It’s very deep at edge-rusher and offensive tackle including a top-heavy group of possibly eight players at the combined positions who could hear their name called on night one of the draft.
It’s solid at wide receiver and cornerback, with exciting athletes emerging to bolster an already strong class.
As with any NFL draft evaluation, this list is based on the tape I’ve been able to study thus far and conversations with coaches, scouts and decision-makers at the NFL and college levels. I won’t pretend to have seen every game from all 700-plus prospects at this stage of the season; which means as time allows for more tape study, these rankings will (and should) change.
But let’s kick things off with a top 50 Big Board, followed by my top 10s at each position group.
This is a free excerpt of our 2022 NFL Draft Big Board—updated monthly along with mock drafts, weekly columns and a daily podcast.
Want the full post, and all of our exclusive college football, NFL and NFL Draft content—including five podcasts and seven articles per week? Please consider subscribing for just $50/year.
Top 50 Big Board
1. DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
2. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
3. OT Evan Neal, Alabama
4. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
5. ILB Christian Harris, Alabama
6. DE DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
7. OLB Drake Jackson, USC
8. DE George Karlaftis, Purdue
9. DE Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
10. QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
11. QB Malik Willis, Liberty
12. OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
13. OT Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
14. CB Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
15. WR Drake London, USC
16. WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
17. WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
18. OLB Adam Anderson, Georgia
19. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
20. S Jalen Catalon, Arkansas
21. DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
22. QB Carson Strong, Nevada
23. CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
24. WR John Metchie III, Alabama
This is a free excerpt of our 2022 NFL Draft Big Board—updated monthly along with mock drafts, weekly columns and a daily podcast.
Want the full post, and all of our exclusive college football, NFL and NFL Draft content—including five podcasts and seven articles per week? Please consider subscribing for just $50/year.
25. CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
26. WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
27. OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
28. TE Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
29. DE Zach Harrison, Ohio State
30. OT Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
31. RB Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
32. RB Breece Hall, Iowa State
33. S Brandon Joseph, Northwestern
34. CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
35. OLB Jordan Strachan, South Carolina
36. OLB Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
37. OT Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
38. OT Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State
39. QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
40. S Daxton Hill, Michigan
41. TE Jahleel Billingsley, Alabama
42. OT Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
43. WR Justyn Ross, Clemson
44. CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
45. OT Sean Rhyan, UCLA
46. S Jordan Battle, Alabama
47. OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
48. S Lewis Cine, Georgia
49. CB Mykael Wright, Oregon
50. DE Boye Mafe, Minnesota
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Top 10s Per Position
