Here is my first Top 100 Big Board for the 2022 NFL Draft. If you checked my Top 50 1.0 from early March, you'll notice a few tweaks, and I can explain how those came to be.
Because All-22 is hard to come by, and typically more games become available from that angle the closer we get to the draft, I watch safeties and cornerbacks last, especially the ones not deemed to be at the top of their respective positions. Also, last week, I noticed a minor error in the "size" category for all my cornerbacks, but that's been addressed in my grading system.
As for said grading system, one key element to keep in mind for every prospect: I assign extra points based on how valuable I view the position they play, and running backs are at the bottom, with no "Position Addition."
I still have a few prospects to watch, who could, in theory, jump into this Top 100 before the draft begins on April 28.
Let's get to it.
1. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
He excels with: Size, length, range, versatility, blitzing acumen, tackling reliability, coverage capabilities, elite closing speed
Areas of concern: Coming off injury, ran slower than expected at combine
Hamilton brings the best blend of on-field brilliance, athleticism, high floor and high upside in this class, and the safety position is increasing in value. I don't care that he ran slower than expected in Indianapolis. He can excel in every facet of playing safety today.
2. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
He excels with: Elite ball skills, loose hips/ankles to stay in phase, high-end speed
Areas of concern: Shorter with shorter arms than expected, best season was 2019, coming off injury
Stingley feels like he could be the steal of Round 1, if he falls out of the top 10. Yes, the 2019 season was somewhat of a perfect storm, but his fluidity and ball skills are special.
3. Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
He excels with: Loaded pass-rush moves arsenal, speed-to-power conversion, deceptive bend, high energy
Areas of concern: Shorter arms, burst is good, not great
Because of his shorter arms, there's a tiny collective stock down movement for Hutchinson. He's the exact type of edge rusher who can be instant impact and get better every season early in his career. That was the case at Michigan, and he's become an advanced rusher.
4. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
He excels with: Freaky athleticism, burst, bend, easy power
Areas of concern: Didn't have to rely on hand work often in college, could add more weight
Thibodeaux feels a lot like Danielle Hunter. Similar size, testing numbers, and both relied heavily upon their athleticism that gave them a huge advantage in college. With more reliable hands, Thibodeaux can be an All-Pro type.
5. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
He excels with: Gargantuan size, immense length, high-caliber athleticism, bulldozer abilities in the run game
Areas of concern: Lacking grip strength, off-balanced reps in pass pro and at second level
Neal's film isn't flawless. His body and what it could become should be a scary thought for edge rushers. And, the Alabama star shouldn't be able to move as rapidly as he does in small spaces.
6. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
He excels with: Super-smooth pass-pro talent, never appears panicked, outstanding hand work, grip strength
Areas of concern: Takes him a second to sink his anchor, must add weight, needs to generate more pop for the run game
Cross can become the best offensive tackle in this class. Why? Because he's already a stud in pass protection due to his calm, cool, and collected manner on the field that his athleticism affords him. Pass pro trumps all. And in time, he'll get stronger, and the movement ability and hand work will translate to the run game.
7. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
He excels with: Supreme arm strength/talent, elite athleticism, plus ball placement
Areas of concern: Needs to read coverages quicker, limit his "hero ball" decisions
Have to start with this -- Willis is very accurate throwing the football. The "raw" quarterbacks are automatically grouped into the "inaccurate" category, and the latter is not Willis. He'll immediately have one of the top 10 strongest arms in the league, and he's a dynamic runner. He fits the style of today's new wave at the quarterback spot. It will take him time to read coverages quicker.
8. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
He excels with: Intimidating length, amazing fluidity/mirroring skill at his size
Areas of concern: Doesn't have the twitch to stay with super-quick separators, hit-or-miss reliability as a tackler
Gardner's combine confirmed he's a certified freak. His college career was essentially perfect, and while he may have some minor issues with smaller, agile wideouts, he's loose hipped and knows how to utilize his length to suffocate routes and shrink windows for quarterbacks.
9. Drake London, WR, USC
He excels with: Imposing size, deceptive power, elite contact balance, dominance in rebound situations down the field
Areas of concern: Separation skill is average, questionable deep speed
London isn't stiff and incapable of getting open. Believe me, I know the perils of falling for a big, contested-catch specialist. He's different. London is quick and flexible and might be better after the catch than he is on those jump balls down the field.
10. Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
He excels with: Bend, length, smart pass-rush plans, converts burst to power
Areas of concern: Bend is good, not amazing, lacks a true trump card
Ebiketie brings it on every snap. He isn't necessarily phenomenal in every phase. He checks all the boxes. Being able to beat blockers in a variety of ways is key once a rusher is in the NFL, and the Temple-turned-Penn State star can do just that.
11. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
He excels with: Tremendous plant-and-drive skills, elite twitch, high-caliber body control and ball skills
Areas of concern: Can arrive to the football out of control, will dive for tackle attempts too often, zone talent outweighs man ability
Booth looks like a film glitch when he plants and drives on a route. Insane twitch. He locks onto the football down the field and has the loose body control to contort to snag the ball.
12. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
He excels with: Lightning speed, good suddenness at the top of his route stem, above-average contested-catch ability
Areas of concern: Slender frame, ACL tear in January, one year of top-level production
Williams scoots, man. His afterburners are special. I love how he plays large on high throws, and he's elusive after the catch. I'm not docking him much for the ACL injury, even if he may not be able to play until November of his rookie season.
13. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
He excels with: Good athleticism, natural playmaker with his legs, deceptive arm talent, aggressive passing style
Areas of concern: Downfield touch, great, not elite accuracy, one year of needle-moving productivity
Pickett is a Week 1 starter. Will he ever be an All-Pro? Probably not. His accuracy could be fine-tuned, and he doesn't have a cannon attached to his shoulder, but the rest of his game checks out with what teams are looking for at quarterback today.
14. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
He excels with: Nasty releases, bounciness as a route runner, suddenness after the catch, speed
Areas of concern: Smaller frame, average contact balance
Wilson feels like a modern-day receiver. He's going to get open, frequently, and he's a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands. Is he going to bounce off tacklers? Not really. The rest of his style is en vogue.
15. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
He excels with: Eye-popping recovery speed, magnificent plant-and-drive skills, glue-like ability to stay in phase, major production
Areas of concern: Incredibly short arms
The history of cornerbacks with the length of McCreary's arms is not encouraging. At all. He's one of my #TrustTheTape prospects in this class. Every game in the SEC, McCreary was such an annoyance to every passing offense he faced. And go check the 2019 film against Ja'Marr Chase.
16. Daxton Hill, CB, Michigan
He excels with: Genuine positional versatility, closes on the ball in a blink, not limited athletically whatsoever
Areas of concern: Slender frame, quicker than fast on the field, missed tackles pop up, good, not great productivity
I'm calling Hill a cornerback, a slot defender, really. And he thrives in that role. It's a difficult position to man today, and the best nickel corners are souped-up athletically. Hill is that type, and he hits like a linebacker.
17. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
He excels with: Revved engine for the ground game, mobile and under control at second level, powerful hands, recovery skill
Areas of concern: Problems against longer rushers, can get overzealous in pass pro, susceptible to inside moves
I'm slightly lower on Ekwonu than most. I'm enamored by his mixture of athleticism and power. He's a little further behind as a pass protector than I'd like for someone who could go in the Top 10, or, say, No. 1 overall.
18. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
He excels with: Efficient releases, sneaky speed, balance and agility in YAC situations, full-extension grabs come naturally
Areas of concern: Shorter frame, lower level of competition in college
I adore Moore. His film was the most fun of any receiver I've watched this draft season, and his size is so fascinating to me. Just under 5-10 and 195 pounds. He's a smaller version of Deebo Samuel after the catch, and he dazzles whenever the ball is in his vicinity. He plays well beyond his years in terms of the intricacies of playing the receiver spot, and he's a dynamic athlete.
19. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
He excels with: Chiseled frame, contact balance, deceptive bounce after the catch, "my ball" mentality down the field
Areas of concern: Good, not great at getting open himself
Burks and Olave have the same grade in my scouting grade book. So if your team needs a power YAC with the ability to pluck the ball up and over cornerbacks, Burks is your guy.
20. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
He excels with: Speed, stunning ball-tracking capabilities, sharp routes
Areas of concern: Slender frame, minimal wiggle/power in YAC scenarios
To me, Olave's best attribute is how outstandingly he tracks the football deep. He's, of course, very fast too, and runs crisp routes. High floor prospect.
21. Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
He excels with: Otherworldly athleticism, surprising power, technically sound hand work
Areas of concern: Run blocking is ahead of his pass pro, gets overaggressive and will lunge on occasion, short arms, underweight
This could be as low as you've seen Linderbaum, and don't get it twisted. He's a stud center prospect. yet doesn't come without flaws though, most namely his shorter arms, occasional over-aggression as a blocker, and fact that he needs to add a lot more sand in his pants.
22. Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
He excels with: Positional and scheme versatility, prototypical size, length, and power
Areas of concern: Athleticism is solid, not spectacular
Johnson is ready to go. He could start for more than half the league at guard tomorrow. Length, power, experience, awesome knee bend. He has it all. Johnson's upside is slightly limited because he's a touch heavy-footed on film.
23. George Pickens, WR, Georgia
He excels with: Height, bus-sized catch radius, suddenness at his size, surprising wiggle in space, vertical separation
Areas of concern: Coming off torn knee ligament, small hands, more of vertical threat than intricate route runner
Surprise! Well, it actually shouldn't be too shocking. Had Pickens not gotten hurt before the 2021 season, this landing spot would've been almost universal. He's a former top recruit who gave Georgia fans glimpses of A.J. Green early in his Bulldogs career. He's that type of wideout.
24. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
He excels with: Short-area quickness, speed to the football, coverage comfort, quick play-identification skills
Areas of concern: Shorter stature, block-shedding needs to be improved/may be unfixable because of his size
Dean's game is tailored for today's game. He's not undersized, by the way. I want my coverage linebacker right around 6-0 and 225 pounds. Big blockers will overwhelm him at times, but those instances will be outweighed by the impact plays he makes in coverage.
25. Jalen Pitre, CB, Baylor
He excels with: Striking speed, flexibility to stay with quick separation-based receivers, plays bigger than his size
Areas of concern: Deployed in free-roaming, playmaking position in college, doesn't have elite speed
If you like Hill, you'll be a fan of Pitre. They're basically the same player. I think Hill plays the ball a bit more naturally in the air. That's it though. Plug and play slot defenders.
26. Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
He excels with: Rocket-like speed to the football, fluidity in coverage, thumping nature as a tackler
Areas of concern: Better closer to the line than down the field, some tackling misses on film
The bruising hits first pop on Cine's film, which are fun but don't matter too much at the next level. Then, you notice him making play after play in man or zone coverage. He's a superb athlete too.
27. George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
He excels with: Inherent strength, awesome swim move, good bend around the corner
Areas of concern: Inconsistent game-to-game
Karlaftis has grown-man strength. Moving blockers looks incredibly easy for him, and his finesse moves through the line are outstanding. I'm just confused why he'd disappear for long stretches.
28. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
He excels with: Smart decision making, accuracy to all levels is consistently good, arm is solid, has new-age athleticism
Areas of concern: Not a natural improviser, tends to retreat in pocket under pressure
I watch quarterbacks first during the pre-draft process, to shield myself from any possible hype-train bias. I liked Ridder from the jump. He's not quite as athletic on-field as his testing indicates, and his under-pressure play is a touch worrisome. But many of the details that make a quarterback successful today, he has down.
29. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
He excels with: NFL offensive tackle size, length, power, nasty demeanor, heavy anchor
Areas of concern: On-field athleticism lacks a bit, average recovery talent, can get overanxious at second level
Penning's not quite as athletic on the field as he demonstrated in Indianapolis, and he has a tendency to lunge when he can't find contact quickly. Everything else about his physical profile and college career screams franchise left tackle.
30. Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
He excels with: Fires out of his stance, vice grips for hands, sound hand work, quality backbend to anchor, explosive, new to football
Areas of concern: Older prospect, explosive in straight line but lateral quicks aren't spectacular
Raimann is one of the oldest prospects in this class. Concerning? A little. He has the athletic chops, hand work, and power to hit the ground running in the NFL. May have to add a little weight.
31. Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
He excels with: Angry demeanor on the field, sudden for his size, loose hips, attacks blocks like a linebacker
Areas of concern: Better as run defender than in coverage right now, best in box/flying downhill as quasi-linebacker
Brisker did make some plays in coverage last year. He's better against the run. Brisker's size and athletic profile indicates he can become a good coverage safety down the road.
32. Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
He excels with: Power, burst, bend, ascending pass-rush move arsenal
Areas of concern: Inconsistent with his hands and speed-to-power conversion
The more football Mafe plays, the better he gets. There's clearly a calculated pass-rush plan when he gets after the quarterback, and his burst will threaten NFL offensive tackles.
33. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
He excels with: Physicality at the line, downfield speed
Areas of concern: Grabbiness beyond five yards, stiffer hips/ankles than his contemporaries
Elam would've been a lock top 10 pick had he been entering the league a decade ago. His speed and length will be best friends in the NFL, but I'm a tick concerned about some hip stiffness I saw on film and grabbiness down the field.
34. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
He excels with: Long speed, natural hands-catching skill, body control, sharp route-running
Areas of concern: Wiggle is lacking for his size/role
Dotson is a unique slot who's faster than he is quick. I love his route-running chops and how well he plays above the rim despite being under 6-0.
35. Logan Hall, DL, Houston
He excels with: Length, burst off the snap, advanced pass-rush moves, agility
Areas of concern: Thinner frame, rushes can be a tick high
Hall did rush from the outside a fair amount in college. He made the most impact inside. He's a high-end athlete with long arms he uses extremely well.
36. Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
He excels with: Rapid first step, pop first contact, versatility closing speed when he's in the backfield
Areas of concern: Speed is better than his overall athleticism, pass-rush move arsenal needs improvement
Wyatt and Hall have the same grade. Two different body types. It's difficult to find a massive hole in Wyatt's game. He's just not sensational in any area.
37. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
He excels with: Unfathomable flexibility, smooth change-of-direction talent, active in run support and as blitzer, plays fast
Areas of concern: Somewhat smaller framed, will miss some tackles
Gordon is Gumby at corner. Flexible City. He didn't run as fast as expected in Indianapolis. I didn't see speed as someone that got him into trouble in college.
38. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
He excels with: Unfathomable mass, impressive movement skills for his size, relatively new to game of football
Areas of concern: Slow lateral quickness, which limits his recovery skill, not ready to regularly pass protect on an island
Faalele gave me serious Orlando Brown vibes, and the former Oklahoma Sooner was my No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2018 class. It feels like Faalele's best football is in his future, but I wouldn't want him on an island in pass pro against a crafty veteran early in his pro career.
39. Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
He excels with: Major coverage range, hip-flipping is fluid, serious length
Areas of concern: Play identification skills are a tick slow, has to trust his eyes more, run-support is lacking
Joseph has all-pro upside in coverage as a deep middle safety, and his length is outstanding.
40. Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
He excels with: Smooth athleticism, lightning-quick play-identification skills, man/zone coverage prowess, tackling reliability
Areas of concern: Lacking blazing speed, block-shedding needs work
Muma is my type of linebacker. Smooth, coverage-specialist who also loads the stat sheet against the run. He's fundamentally sound in all the areas that matter at the linebacker spot today.
41. Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
He excels with: High-caliber athletic traits, mirroring ability, elite downfield speed, height
Areas of concern: Shorter arms than his height would indicate, sometimes doesn't find the ball downfield
McCollum is the small-school cornerback to bet on from this class. Outside of two failed attempts to find the ball downfield against Montana State, his film was tremendous in 2021.
42. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
He excels with: Length, urgency off the snap, speed-to-power conversion
Areas of concern: Small arsenal of pass-rush moves, stalled-out high rushes
Johnson is a fun prospect, but to me, the hype has gone off the rails. His productivity was tremendous in 2021, but he's not fully ready to be a No. 1 edge as a rookie.
43. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
He excels with: Quick release, strong arm, some athletic juice, toughness as a runner
Areas of concern: Overall ball placement is not fantastic, played in RPO-heavy offense, leaned on his legs too often
I came away from Corral's film disappointed in his overall accuracy and loving his tenacity as a runner. Now he won't be able to be much of a designed-run type in the NFL, but the athleticism is there. The offense he ran in college won't do him many favors once he's playing on Sundays.
44. David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
He excels with: Burst, supreme bend, sustained speed to the quarterback, flattening skill can't be coached, new to football
Areas of concern: Almost barren pass-rush move arsenal, has to get stronger, speed-to-power is lacking
Ojabo's splash plays are as good as any rusher's in this class. He does have a way to go with the nuances of what it will take to consistently win around the corner in the NFL.
45. Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
He excels with: Chippy nature on the field, big-time speed, excellent ball skills, impressive run-support willingness
Areas of concern: Not the twitchiest cornerback, sometimes labored out of his backpedal
Taylor-Britt gets the most out of his athleticism and has the speed to stay with faster wideouts down the field.
46. Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
He excels with: Size, length, incredible burst for his size, block-defeating skills
Areas of concern: Limited pass-rush moves, every-down ability
Davis' combine was epic. No doubt. If he can play closer 341 than 360, he may have more three-down viability than he had in. He's just limited as a pass-rusher because of his lacking hand work. Davis won't be able to dispatch NFL offensive linemen as easily as he did in the SEC.
47. Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati
He excels with: Burst, speed-to-power conversion, pass-rush moves
Areas of concern: Extremely low weight, bend could improve
Sanders is somewhat of an enigma, and I don't care how much he weighs, he brings it on every pass-rushing snap. He's not quite as long or bendy as Brian Burns, but he gives me those vibes.
48. Marquis Hayes, IOL, Oklahoma
He excels with: Effortless power, insane length, grip strength, anchoring
Areas of concern: Limited versatility, average athleticism
Hayes is a classic Oklahoma masher who uses his length wonderfully in the run and pass game. He won't be for everyone, but a gap-scheme club can plug him into their lineup immediately.
49. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
He excels with: Length, acceleration, bull rush
Areas of concern: Almost non-existent pass-rush moves, minimal bend around the corner
I'm lower on Walker than I think just about everyone out there. Yes, I know Georgia asked him to two-gap often, but I didn't see a bendy rusher on film, and his lacking hand work was striking. He's an all-upside bet.
50. Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
He excels with: Linear explosiveness, in-your-face style, sticky coverage
Areas of concern: Shorter arms, short-area quickness isn't stellar
Mathis is a rocket on the field and his tenacity stands out in every game.
51. Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State
He excels with: Gliding athleticism, always-ready hands, great knee bend
Areas of concern: Lacking weight, power
Diesch will rock in a zone-blocking scheme. Like most young blockers, he needs to add considerable weight and power before he's viable.
52. Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa
He excels with: Sheer point-of-attack power, nimble feet for his size, length
Areas of concern: Bad hand placement, over anxiousness
Smith's hand work is patently brutal at times, but he has tantalizing power, length, and energy on the field. In four years, he might be on his third team or an All-Pro.
53. Sam Williams EDGE Ole Miss
He excels with: Astounding power, pass-rush moves
Areas of concern: Limited bend, limited short-area quickness
Williams is explosive and one defensive end I feel comfortable writing is "NFL Strong." How flexible is he around the corner though?
54. Dylan Parham, IOL, Memphis
He excels with: Low-center-of-gravity strength, plus grip strength, assignment-sound movements
Areas of concern: Minimal recovery ability, lateral explosiveness
Parham is a bowling ball at guard, and his hand work, anchor, and grip strength will help him early in his career. The athleticism leaves a little to be desired.
55. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
He excels with: Eye discipline, twitch, block-dispatching skill, versatility deceptive speed
Areas of concern: Smaller frame, minimal ball production in college
McDuffie does a lot of things really well, and given that the NFL is mostly a zone league today, he will have a quick transition. Is he outstanding in any one area? I'm not sure.
56. Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State
He excels with: Excellent press-man traits, smooth athleticism, mirroring ability
Areas of concern: Occasionally gets lost finding the ball down the field, slightly short arms, missed tackles
Castro-Fields has been on the draft radar forever because of his well-rounded athletic profile. He stays stuck to receivers at all levels of the field.
57. Max Mitchell, OL, Louisiana
He excels with: Explosion out of his hands, accurate punches, resetting of hands
Areas of concern: Sometimes late with his punch, lacking power
Mitchell is pro-ready, particularly in a zone-blocking scheme. Gives me Brian O'Neill vibes.
58. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
He excels with: Big-time arm, toughness as as runner
Areas of concern: Holds onto the ball far too long, trusts his legs too much, accuracy needs improvement
Howell can be a starter down the road. He'd just have to alter his game because he's not going to be able to run nearly as much as he did in college, and for as impressive as his arm is, the ball placement issues are apparent on film.
59. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
He excels with: Explosive movements, large tackling radius, elite closing speed
Areas of concern: Minimal usage in classic coverage situations, block-defeating could improve
Lloyd feels a lot like Kenneth Walker and Jordyn Brooks, two first-round linebackers in the 2020 Draft who checked the physical and athleticism boxes but weren't ready to go in coverage.
60. Obinna Eze, OT, TCU
He excels with: Immense length he uses well, very methodical and balance in pass protection
Areas of concern: Slower feet, occasionally late with his punch
Eze was a stud pass blocker in 2021 and has length for days and days.
61. Adam Anderson, EDGE, Georgia
He excels with: Ridiculous burst/bend combination, length, speed-to-power conversion
Areas of concern: Doesn't move people consistently, hand work is good but far from great, spindly frame
Anderson has major off-the-field concerns but his pass-rush ability is of first-round caliber.
62. Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
He excels with: Point-of-attack power as run blocker, first-step quickness, combo-blocking skill
Areas of concern: Gets pushed back into the quarterback, sometimes over anxious in pass pro, stops moving his foot upon contact
Green can play up and down the line, I just don't know if he's amazing at one position. His power does pop on film.
63. Cam Jurgens, OL, Nebraska
He excels with: Freaky all-around athleticism, nasty demeanor on the field, well-placed hands
Areas of concern: Lacking anchoring strength, occasionally called for personal fouls
Jurgens is a Day 1 starting center due to his supreme athleticism and nastiness.
64. Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
He excels with: Smooth athleticism, recovery ability, well-timed and powerful punches
Areas of concern: Opens the gate too early, feet occasionally stop moving
Walker is one of my #TrustTheTraits prospects, who looks so effortless moving on the field. If he learns to not open the gate so early, he can be a steal at the tackle spot.
65. Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina
He excels with: Length and power at the point of attack, quality bend around the corner
Areas of concern: Pass-rush plans aren't frequent, burst is hit or miss
Enagbare is a thick rusher who has to get more efficient with his hands. The power is impressive.
66. Cam Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
He excels with: High motor, nasty swim move, legitimate positional versatility
Areas of concern: Rushes high, hands are more active than they are effective, needs to add power
Thomas never quits, and J.J. Watt would be proud of his swim move. He needs to get better with leverage as a rusher.
67. Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
He excels with: Blocking prowess, flashes of crisp route running and YAC, long with reliable hands,
Areas of concern: Not super explosive
Ruckert has all the makings of being a better pro than he was in college. The complete skill set is noticeable on film.
68. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
He excels with: Cutting skill and contact balance after the catch, deceptive speed, body control
Areas of concern: Was schemed open a lot in college, not a big-time athlete
Shakir is a menace after the catch and has a flair for the acrobatic catch deep. He may not run away from many NFL cornerbacks.
69. Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama
He excels with: Hair-on-fire playing style, length, consistent pass-rush moves, anchoring skill
Areas of concern: High rushes that sap his overall power, quickness is average
Mathis is a bull in a china shop. And while he two-gaps well like all Alabama defensive linemen due he has pass-rush talent due to his hand work and quickness relative to his size.
70. Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
He excels with: Quicks to play in the slot if needed, legitimate long speed, patient in press
Areas of concern: Gets grabby downfield, ball skills are good, not great, a bit lost in zone
Jobe's an experienced, inside-outside cornerback with good feet and route recognition. He has troubles adjusting to the ball down the field.
71. Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
He excels with: Change-of-direction excellence, stays in phase down the field, reliable tackler
Areas of concern: Spindly frame, shorter arms
Flott is flying under the radar but has serious quicks and blankets routes from smaller, sudden receivers
72. Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
He excels with: Freaky burst off the snap, high-level bend/dip to the quarterback, nice inside move
Areas of concern: Almost nonexistent power, can't defeat blocks in the run game
If you need a fast, polished edge rusher Bonitto is the guy for you. He's just small and plays with basically no power.
73. Nick Cross, S, Maryland
He excels with: Upper echelon speed in coverage and when running the alley, hard-hitting style
Areas of concern: Much more impressive in a straight line than changing directions, aggressive style leads to missed tackles
Cross is a missile at an intimidating size. He's not going to lock down slippery slot receiver but can make an impact with his speed and range in coverage and against the run.
74. Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
He excels with: Trustworthy hands, even in traffic, smooth routes, large catch radius
Areas of concern: Not a major YAC type, blocking needs work
Kolar's such a fun watch on film. He does a lot of things really well. I won't be surprised if he's ultimately the best tight end from this class.
75. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
He excels with: Serious explosiveness, bendy running style, major size, downfield speed
Areas of concern: Minimal YAC capabilities, lacking physicality
Watson is a Gumby-like wideout with great size and explosiveness. I don't love him after the catch.
76. Chris Paul, OL, Tulsa
He excels with: Quality athleticism, mirroring and recovery skills, speed to the second level on run plays
Areas of concern: Tends to get wide with his hands, has to add weight to his anchor
Paul is a fine athlete who really battles and has legitimate tackle/guard versatility. Just get that hand work cleaned up.
77. Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
He excels with: Length, freaky burst/bend/dip combination
Areas of concern: Hands are more active than they are effective, 2021 film featured spindly frame with lacking power
Jackson has significantly bulked since we saw him on the field, and he projects as a threatening outside speed rusher at the NFL level. His game is all about upside.
78. Zach Tom, OL, Wake Forest
He excels with: Elite short-area quickness, balance, awesome leverage, surprisingly good anchor
Areas of concern: Light weight, shorter arms, late with his hands too often
Tom was a college left tackle but may have to move inside in the NFL. He has the athleticism and technical elements to play all five offensive line spots.
79. Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky
He excels with: Burst, accuracy at second level for the run game, size and girth
Areas of concern: Waist-bending in pass protection, gets off-balance against lateral moves
Kinnard has the size and tools to be a star. His technique is lagging way behind, and his best position might be guard in the NFL.
80. Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky
He excels with: Burst, high energy, nice swipe and swim move
Areas of concern: On the ground relatively often, good not great bend
Paschal plays at 100 mph on every snap and demonstrates calculated pass-rush plays at a unique size.
81. Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
He excels with: Versatile skill set and experience at multiple positions, intelligence, rarely out of position
Areas of concern: Not a traits-based player, lacking suddenness and long speed
Cook doesn't wow athletically. He's just almost always at the right place at the right time.
82. Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
He excels with: Route-running mastery, impressive flashes as a blocker, reliable hands on passes in his vicinity
Areas of concern: Smaller size, not a YAC specialist
McBride can get open and catches everything, two good places to start at the tight end spot today.
83. Velus Jones Jr. WR Tennessee
He excels with: Unshakable contact balance, long speed
Areas of concern: Turns 25 as a rookie, not a route-running type
Jones caught passes from Sam Darnold at USC, that shows how long he's been in college. But a stellar return man with track speed and YAC ability will get him drafted and points to a productive pro career.
84. Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
He excels with: Twitchiness, speed to the football, length, taking on blocks
Areas of concern: Didn't have many coverage responsibilities in college, not overly effective as a blitzer
Asamoah is a rocket to the football and has the quick-twitch attributes to eventually become reliable as a coverage defender.
85. Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
He excels with: Speed, chiseled frame, lateral quicks
Areas of concern: Not a block-defeater, minimal plays on the football in coverage
Tindall is a blur on the field. I just needed to see more from him in coverage.
86. Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
He excels with: Intimidating size, violent breaks off his route stem, wide catch radius, blocking talent
Areas of concern: Better in straight line than changing direction, minimal YAC, long-stride style over instant acceleration
Woods is gargantuan but he plays the game like an explosive H-back type. He's an immediate mismatch at the tight end position.
87. Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
He excels with: Quick delivery, aggressive thrower, good pocket management
Areas of concern: Average-at-best athleticism, trusts his arm talent a bit too much, played in wide open system
Zappe can sling it. Sometimes though he gets a little too overzealous.
88. Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA
He excels with: Power, accurate punch, solid anchor
Areas of concern: Opens the gate too early, gets over his toes too frequently, stops his feet too frequently
Rhyan will move you in the run game. His pass-protection skills need work, but the size, length, and athleticism are there for him to be molded into a quality player.
89. DeMarvin Leal, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M
He excels with: Quick and effective hand work flashes, counter moves are there, thick size
Areas of concern: Legitimate tweener, rushes stall out on contact too often, disappears for stretches
Leal's high-end flashes are first-round caliber. His low-end reps make him look undraftable, and I'm not sure where he should play at the next level.
90. Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
He excels with: Contact balance, vision, receiving brilliance, natural elusiveness
Areas of concern: Not a burner
Trust the tape with Spiller. Besides freaky long speed, he has it all at the running back position and can be a genuine weapon in the pass game.
91. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
He excels with: Power through contact, lateral cutting, vision
Areas of concern: Plays slower than his timed speed, minimal pass-game usage
Walker was productive at Wake Forest before his breakout season at Michigan State and has all the traits to be a quality ball carrier instantly.
92. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
He excels with: Cutting skill, receiving capabilities, power, quickness
Areas of concern: Doesn't have a true trump card, doesn't play to his timed speed or explosiveness.
Hall is an every-down runner who'll be among the league's most talented young backs immediately.
93. Braxton Jones, OL, Southern Utah
He excels with: Length, light feet, athleticism, kick-slide mastery in pass protection, punching prowess
Areas of concern: Anchoring strength needs to improve, will face steep jump in competition level
Jones is a future NFL left tackle. His film is sensational. He has the tools and technical refinement to eventually be a star on the edge.
94. Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia
He excels with: Patient power, strong grip strength, not a lunger
Areas of concern: If he plays tackle, his agility is low-end, anchor not as impressive as his power indicates
Salyer should play guard at the next level, and he's further ahead as a run blocker than he is in pass protection. However, the latter got better in 2021, an encouraging sign.
95. Cole Strange, OL, Chattanooga
He excels with: Gifted athlete, battling mentality on all plays, patient and balanced strikes in pass protection
Areas of concern: Has to get much stronger/add weight
Get Strange in a zone blocking scheme, and watch him thrive. He has some guard potential, but his best position is probably center at the next level.
96. JT Woods, S, Baylor
He excels with: Explosiveness, pure speed to the football, reactionary skill
Areas of concern: A touch of stiffness when he transitions, missed tackles appear on film
Woods absolutely flies to the football, and I love how quick he reacts to what's happening in front of him. If he can throttle down his aggressive slightly, he can be a quality safety for a long time.
97. Calvin Austin, III, WR Memphis
He excels with: Instant acceleration, twitch, track speed, ball tracking
Areas of concern: Tiny frame, outmuscled easily, not as dynamic in YAC department as athletic profile indicates
Austin can be a useful gadgety type at the next level with the speed to hit the occasional long ball. His size will give him problems.
98. Lecitus Smith, OL, Virginia Tech
He excels with: Fundamentally sound technique, low center of gravity, balanced game
Areas of concern: Not a high-level athlete, not a bulldozer in the run game
It's legitimately hard to find a flaw to Smith's game. He's an NFL-ready offensive guard who may not have All-Pro upside but boasts a high floor.
99. Martin Emerson CB Mississippi State
He excels with: Length, scheme versatility, speed to carry vertical routes, tenacity as a tackler
Areas of concern: Stiffness when transitioning, not noticeably twitched up
Emerson is an intimidating specimen on the outside and his linear athleticism pops. He needs to get more reliable as a tackler and his hip stiffness is concerning.
100. Alex Wright, EDGE, UAB
He excels with: Towering size and impressive length, occasional pass-rush move, burst is good relative to his size
Areas of concern: Rushes are high, not as bendy as he believes, which leads to him falling around the corner sometimes
Wright looks like an NFL defensive end today, and he's incredibly long. The high-level flashes are there, but he has a ways to go in terms of playing with consistency.
