2022 NFL Draft

[ArmyBengal]

11 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

Much like I’m interested in the punter Araiza.

Mem, I know you go there to tinker around....

Happen to notice they added Araiza to the TDN mock drafts ??
Hilarious they currently have him rated #101 overall.
I have had to add him in the bottom of the 5th if I want him.
He's always gone before our pick in the 6th.

[membengal]

I hadn't seen that - thanks - will look for him. 

[TJJackson]

9 hours ago, membengal said:

The C you should study up on ASAP is Cam Jergens from Nebraska…

Smallish like Linderbaum - 290-300 pound guy

He of course has a number of other good qualities - in particular his athleticism stands out - but that lack of size is a big big (no pun intended, well, ok, maybe a little) problem at the OC position

[membengal]

His athleticism is eye-popping. 290-300 if he can move is no issue. Longer arms too. 

[TJJackson]

I disagree.  Shocker, right?  :-)

Hopefully he can add some significant muscle mass (his functional strength is also mentioned as an issue), get up to 315/320 or so, then I'd be all in

I'm not a Trey Hill fan so I'd definitely like to get a quality backup OC

[membengal]

Jurgens already has sufficient functional strength.

[membengal]

25 reps on the bench. 33+ inch arms.

6’3” 303 pounds at the pro day.

read:

https://twitter.com/huskeronline/status/1506397339514253323?s=21

[membengal]

He’s just behind creed Humphrey in RAS:

 

https://twitter.com/tracymcbradey_/status/1506702559561535495?s=21

[HoosierCat]

Ooof. Tough break. Pelissero:

Former LSU LB Damone Clark is undergoing spinal fusion surgery today after an MRI at the combine revealed a herniated disk, per sources.

One of the top linebackers in this year’s NFL Draft, Clark most likely will miss his rookie season, but is expected to make a full recovery.

[TJJackson]

1 hour ago, membengal said:

He’s just behind creed Humphrey in RAS:

 

https://twitter.com/tracymcbradey_/status/1506702559561535495?s=21

You may recall that I was in love with Creed Humphrey last year

The difference here: Creed weighs 320

[membengal]

Its 17 pounds difference. That's likely to be 10 pound difference by time camp gets here. I cannot understand you being "out" on a C with that athletic profile and tape over such a thing. Makes no sense to me. Give me Jurgens with those skills and movement and size over Trey Hill with more mass 100 times out of 100...

[ArmyBengal]

Jurgens gets dinged for being shorter.

His explosion grades are fucking ridiculous.  I mean seriously for a 300lb person.
Thinking he could be had somewhere around our 4th round pick is nothing to turn your nose up at.

I just don't see the Bengals pulling that trigger.

[membengal]

He’s not making it out of round 3.

[ArmyBengal]

Did another one on TDN this morning for fun.  This is what it kicked out...
I don't think I would have much concern with this either.

1st: Perrion Winfrey, IDL, Oklahoma

2nd: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming

3rd: Alec Pierce ,WR, Cincinnati

4th: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati

5th: Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State

6th: Andrew Stueber, OT, Michigan

7th: Smoke Monday, S, Auburn

7th: Zonovan Knight, RB, NC State

[membengal]

Nice. Here's the TDN I just ran ( I would take this draft 100 times out of 100):

Pick 31 - DeVonta Wyatt, IDL, Georgia (if he slides to there I do think the Bengals sprint to the podium)

Pick 63 - Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina

Pick 95 - Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State

Pick 136 - Cobe Bryant, CB, Cincinnati

Pick 175 - Cade Mays, IOL, Tennessee

Pick 209 - Kaelon Barnes, CB, Baylor

Pick 226 - Micahel Woods II, WR, Oklahoma

Pick 252, Zyon McCollum, CB, San Houston State

[ArmyBengal]

I considered TE as well and could certainly see them going that way with Hurst being here on a 1 year deal.
That and the fact I expect him to have a big year, probably prices them out of what they are willing to spend in 2023.

Lucas is always gone before I get to our 3rd round pick or that would be a no brainer.  I've considered him in the 2nd to be honest.

Love Coby Bryant and think people forget how good he was due to having Gardner in the same backfield.
The fact he won the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Year award is no small matter.

I like Barnes out of Baylor as well.

[membengal]

Here's my latest PFF (run just now):

1. Zion Johnson, G, Boston College (I would still be thrilled to get him)
2. Alec Pierce, WR, UC
3. Nick Cross, S, Maryland
4. Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
5. Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
6. Michael Clemens, Edge, aTm
7. Matt Ariaza, P, San Diego State
7. Decobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State

[ArmyBengal]

Love those first three picks.  If we ended up with any of those players, I would be happy.

Outside of Araiza, the rest is kind of whateverish to me.
I'm not a big fan of the PFF site really.

[HoosierCat]

Did one on TDN today. Got Linderbaum at 31 and took a flyer on Clark in the fourth.

[membengal]

22 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

Did one on TDN today. Got Linderbaum at 31 and took a flyer on Clark in the fourth.

Definitely room to dream that Linderbaum might be there at 31. 

[membengal]

McShay has just 23 first round grades, and no elite grades.

Quote

 

Tier 1: No prospects

Grades of 95 or higher. Elite prospects. Should be immediate NFL starters and project as perennial All-Pro players. Worthy of a top-five pick most years. I had just one player in this tier in 2021.
McShay: It's not super uncommon for a prospect-less top tier, and it's never a crowded group. Last year, it was just quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The year before, it was just edge rusher Chase Young. The last time we had zero prospects break the 95-grade mark was 2016, when edge rusher Joey Bosa and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil topped our list with matching 94s. But this speaks to the 2022 class, too. The strength of this group is in its depth, not its elite upper tier.

Muench: OK, but a question for you ... if Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton had a better workout at the combine, would he be here? Say he runs a sub-4.5 in the 40-yard dash, a sub-6.85 three-cone drill and/or his arms are roughly an inch longer, I think he could jump from 93 to 95. He's obviously an outstanding prospect, but it seems like the testing is holding him back a bit. His ranking shows how tough it is to crack that top tier.
McShay: Before the combine, I had him at 94 and dropped him slightly. That was based on an expectation he'd run a sub-4.5 time. But I talked to a scout who had his pro-day 40 time at 4.7, which is obviously even worse than the already-middling 4.59 we saw at the combine. I don't see it on tape, though, and think he plays much faster than that. Tier 1 wouldn't have been out of the question if he had dominated in the pre-draft process, but I still think I'd have him as one of the best Tier 2 guys.
Muench: And Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson came closest to making this elite club. Was there one thing you could point to that caused him to just miss the cut?
McShay: Yeah, he's the top prospect in the class, and we're splitting hairs here. But when we're comparing him to pass-rushers who made Tier 1 in past years, I think Hutchinson has a little less length and bend. Think about Young, Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett -- all of whom had 95 grades for me -- and the way they can operate while keeping blockers away from their bodies. I think that's probably the biggest difference. But again, this is splitting hairs. Hutchinson is an excellent edge rusher and likely the No. 1 pick.
Tier 2: Nine prospects

Grades between 92 and 94. A notch below the elite class but still considered a plug-and-play NFL starter with high-level potential. Worthy of a top-15 pick most years. I had nine players in this tier in 2021.
1. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan (94)
2. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State (93)
3. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama (93)
4. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame (93)
5. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati (93)
6. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State (92)
7. Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon (92)
8. Travon Walker, DE, Georgia (92)
9. Drake London, WR, USC (92)
Muench: Three of the nine players in this group are edge rushers, and that should come as no surprise. But I can't get on board with giving Ekwonu and Neal the same grades we gave offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Penei Sewell last year (93). That is, unless we are saying that we were too low on Slater and Sewell when they came out last April. Ekwonu and Neal have great potential, but I don't think they are as polished.
McShay: Yeah, I honestly cringed a little bit when comparing Ekwonu and Neal to those two tackles from the 2021 class. Maybe we were just a notch too low on them last spring. But Ekwonu and Neal are true 93s, and I don't want to ding them just based on that. Ranking the four linemen within the 93 grade -- based on their pre-draft evaluations -- I would have had the order as Sewell, Slater, Ekwonu and then Neal.

Muench: The omission of Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis also stands out. I get that it's tricky. This tier is reserved for players worthy of a top-15 pick each year, and he's the 16th prospect on our board right now. He's a nose tackle and better run defender than pass-rusher. Teams don't generally draft a player that high. But Tampa Bay took Vita Vea at No. 12 in 2018, and Baltimore took Haloti Ngata at the same spot in 2006, and those picks worked out all right. Davis has a chance to be that kind of player in my eyes.
McShay: I'll also mention the receivers here. There's a pretty strong consensus that Wilson or London will end up the first wideout off the board at the end of April, and both deserve to be in this tier. They are very different types of receivers, so who is actually the top WR might come down to team preference. But this is also a sign of what this receiver class is. Four pass-catchers slid into Tier 2 last year, and three were there in 2020. Just two this time around. I love this receiver class, but it's because of the depth and variety. Teams will have a lot of options later in Round 1 and on Day 2, and they will be able to draft pass-catchers based on exactly what they're looking for on offense.
Tier 3: 14 prospects

Grades between 90 and 91. Good NFL starters and are considered strong values in the bottom half of Round 1 in any given draft class. I had 15 players in this tier in 2021.
10. Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State (91)
11. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU (91)
12. Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia (91)
13. Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah (91)
14. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington (90)
15. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State (90)
16. Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia (90)
17. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State (90)
18. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa (90)
19. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama (90)
20. Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia (90)
21. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty (90)
22. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh (90)
23. Daxton Hill, S, Michigan (90)
McShay: Here come the quarterbacks. Willis and Pickett each have a 90 grade, and I'm not expecting changes there. Most teams have those two at the top of their boards, and the majority of the rest have neither lower than QB3. We all know this isn't the best QB class, but consider this: Four 2021 signal-callers had better grades than our best 2022 guys, and three of them were in higher tiers.
Muench: No arguments here. If Willis and Pickett were in the 2021 class, I would have felt comfortable ranking them Nos. 6 and 7, slightly behind Mac Jones. It's just that type of year. The real question isn't about rankings or grades, though. It's how early they will get drafted. Does a team fall in love with one and reach? That could make for draft-night intrigue.

play2:07
The highlights that make Malik Willis a top QB prospect

Watch the best plays from former Liberty QB and NFL prospect Malik Willis ahead of the NFL draft.

McShay: One guy who was tough to slot is Stingley. He might be the most interesting player on the entire board. We have a 91 grade on him right now, but teams have a lot of variance in how they stack him up with other first-round prospects. Everyone is working with the same information, but evaluators have different levels of risk tolerance. Are you getting the player we saw in 2019? If we were judging on that year, he'd probably have a 94 or even 95 grade, potentially cracking Tier 1. Stingley certainly has the talent to be ranked in the top three or four in this class. But what if you're drafting the player we've seen for the past two years -- the one who has battled injuries and played at an inconsistent level? Will teams give up a surefire double with another one of these Tier 3 prospects to take on home run potential with strikeout risk? He's a really difficult evaluation.
Muench: As far as corners are concerned, Gardner has separated himself and deserves to be a tier ahead. Now you weigh Stingley's risk against the potential reward. I'm not going to rehash all the pros and cons of his up-and-down college career. But shutdown corners are tough to find, and he has the ability to develop into one of the best in the league -- not just this class. I get minimizing risk and the double vs. home run/strikeout analogy, but you can't play it safe all the time. We've seen Stingley's ceiling, and it's high.
McShay: I have to shout out Dean here, too. I love his tape. I have a feeling he won't be drafted in this range, and I'm still OK with my evaluation. He has star potential. I'll die on Nakobe Dean Hill.
Muench: Yes, I personally think Lloyd should be higher, but they both deserve to be in this group, and Dean is so much fun to watch. Teams should be thrilled to get either one of them.
Tier 4: 22 prospects

Grades between 85 and 89. Good future NFL starters. Second-round value. I had 20 players in this tier in 2021.
24. George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue (89)
25. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa (89)
26. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas (89)
27. Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M (89)
28. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State (89)
29. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson (89)
30. David Ojabo, OLB, Michigan (88)
31. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington (88)
32. Boye Mafe, OLB, Minnesota (88)
33. Zion Johnson, G, Boston College (88)
34. Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi (88)
35. Quay Walker, ILB, Georgia (87)
36. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati (87)
37. Christian Harris, ILB, Alabama (86)
38. Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State (86)
39. Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut (86)
40. Logan Hall, DE, Houston (86)
41. Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor (86)
42. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan (85)
43. Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan (85)
44. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State (85)
45. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State (85)
Muench: There's a lot to talk about when it comes to the two offensive tackles in this group. I recently told you that I get nervous when an offensive lineman is repeatedly referred to as a "mauler." Penning is nasty with excellent power. Sure, two good traits to have as an offensive lineman, but they can be overrated. You have to pass block to succeed in the NFL, and I think Penning will struggle in that area early in his career. Raimann is an even greater project. Both have the talent to get there. But I'd feel more comfortable with Penning at the bottom of this tier and Raimann in Tier 5.
McShay: Ojabo is the one who pops here for me. Before the Achilles injury at his pro day, he was a clear Tier 3 guy -- and high in it. I had a 90 grade on him two weeks ago, and he was a top-20 prospect. Even then, though, he was probably a pass-rush specialist as a rookie before developing into a more consistent role. Now you aren't even getting that. You have to really believe in the upside to use a first-rounder on him.

Muench: You know I'm not going to pass up on a chance to talk about my guy Pitre, who has an 86 grade for us. He is undersized with shorter arms and didn't run at the combine, so there are some concerns. But the tape is fantastic, and I thought he had a good Senior Bowl week.
McShay: Yeah, he's one of a few super-talented prospects in this range with something missing. I see a clear separation between the top and bottom of this tier. You have plug-and-play guys in the 89-grade range. Booth is maybe the exception, but he's still at worst a No. 3 corner in Year 1. After that, though, you're projecting a bit. Pitre is undersized. Ebiketie doesn't have the measurables. Jones is still developing. Hall doesn't have a locked-in position. Walker struggles in pass-blocking. They are all excellent players, and I love all their games. In fact, I see this tier as the strength of the class. But below that 89 mark, these aren't guys you can pop onto the top of the depth chart when they walk in the door.

 

 

[membengal]

Quote

 

Tier 5: 21 prospects

Grades between 80 and 84. Future solid to good NFL starters but might need to serve in substitution package/situational roles early in career. Mid- to late-second-round value. I had 17 players in this tier in 2021.
46. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State (84)
47. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida (84)
48. Leo Chenal, ILB, Wisconsin (84)
49. Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama (84)
50. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina (84)
51. Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma (84)
52. Lewis Cine, S, Georgia (84)
53. Nick Cross, S, Maryland (83)
54. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn (83)
55. Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State (83)
56. Nik Bonitto, OLB, Oklahoma (83)
57. George Pickens, WR, Georgia (83)
58. Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa (82)
59. Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State (82)
60. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota (82)
61. Drake Jackson, OLB, USC (81)
62. DeMarvin Leal, DE, Texas A&M (81)
63. John Metchie III, WR, Alabama (81)
64. DeAngelo Malone, OLB, Western Kentucky (80)
65. Chad Muma, ILB, Wyoming (80)
66. Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State (80)
McShay: The running backs in this class are interesting. I'm not as enamored by them as others are, but the race for RB1 will be something to watch. I had Walker (Tier 4) ranked higher based on tape, and I actually moved Hall up a little following the combine. He had a great workout, and he's also the more complete back at this point and has a lot of experience. Walker remains out front, though, because he is more explosive and will likely become just as effective as Hall as a pass-catcher. I'm thinking both guys come off the board early on Day 2.
First Draft Podcast

Muench: As you are with the running backs, I'm not as high on this offensive tackle class as others might be. But I like Lucas and think he's going to be a Day 2 steal. Give me the seasoned four-year starter from a Power 5 conference who had an outstanding workout at the combine. If minimizing risk is so important, then why isn't Lucas ranked ahead of the two tackles in Tier 4?
McShay: This is teams' last shot at finding a true plug-and-play tackle. I think Lucas probably is someone you could insert into a starting lineup as a rookie. And maybe you're right, in terms of him being a safe prospect. I do think Penning is a step above; he's longer and faster, and while he has some work to do as a pass-blocker, he's in a different class. I like the tape for Raimann a bit more than Lucas, but Lucas had an incredible workout, and there's an argument for those two to be closer. Another step below, Smith and Faalele are developing but will get there. But after that, you're gambling on finding a starter-level tackle at the next level. And likewise, this is probably the last chance to get a quarterback with any real chance to be a long-term NFL starter under center.

Tier 6: 40 prospects

Grades between 70 and 79. Project as future solid starters but need time to develop, have limited upside or come with red flags. Third-round value. I had 50 players in this tier in 2021.
67. Damone Clark, ILB, LSU (79)
68. Dylan Parham, G, Memphis (79)
69. Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois (79)
70. Troy Andersen, ILB, Montana State (79)
71. Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State (79)
72. Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky (79)
73. Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky (78)
74. Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati (78)
75. Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA (78)
76. Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati (77)
77. Channing Tindall, ILB, Georgia (77)
78. Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga (77)
79. Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA (77)
80. Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis (77)
81. Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati (77)
82. Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State (76)
83. Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama (76)
84. Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee (75)
85. Amare Barno, OLB, Virginia Tech (75)
86. JT Woods, S, Baylor (74)
87. James Cook, RB, Georgia (74)
88. Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina (74)
89. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State (74)
90. Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston (73)
91. Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska (73)
92. JoJo Domann, S, Nebraska (73)
93. Carson Strong, QB, Nevada (73)
94. Sean Rhyan, G, UCLA (73)
95. Kingsley Enagbare, OLB, South Carolina (73)
96. Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan (72)
97. Brandon Smith, ILB, Penn State (72)
98. Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State (71)
99. Dai'Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls State (71)
100. Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama (71)
101. Marcus Jones, CB, Houston (70)
102. Dohnovan West, C, Arizona State (70)
103. Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia (70)
104. Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati (70)
105. Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky (70)
106. Brian Asamoah, ILB, Oklahoma (70)
Muench: I know we went back and forth on Muma (Tier 5) and Andersen. I like them both, and it's close. Muma has the edge when it comes to the tape, but Andersen has the higher ceiling.
McShay: Yeah, you talked me into Muma over Andersen. I love Andersen's game. He wowed me at the Senior Bowl and combine. But Muma's tape is impressive.

Muench: There are a ton of potential steals here, and I like this inside linebacker class. Clark, Andersen and Tindall all have a chance to be quality starters early in their careers. Then Diesch is another player to keep an eye on. Offensive linemen feel the same way about arm length as quarterbacks feel about hand spans: If they don't check that box, they don't want to hear about it. Diesch has short arms, and defenders are able to get into his frame on tape, but he is fundamentally sound and plays with balance. He has a chance to overcome that lack of length.
McShay: While we're at it, I have a few more sleepers. Joseph plays like he's 225 pounds at 203 and has good ball skills. Robinson is arguably the most underrated player in the entire class, and you just want to get him the ball. Pierce is one of the most reliable pass-catchers available. Woolen has early-pick traits but needs seasoning, and Sanders has loads of upside. Oh, and Jurgens will be one to watch. I originally had him in Tier 5.
Muench: I know that you were higher on him, and I convinced you to drop him into this range. He's a talented player and a top-100 prospect, but the tape is a little underwhelming. One guy we agree on is Barno. His frame and production are concerning, but the talent and upside are too good to ignore at this point.
McShay: I'll stay in Virginia for one last shoutout. Woods had a great pro day and could end up a really good starter. He has 6-foot-7 size and 4.61 speed.

 

 

[TJJackson]

thanks mem

if we end up taking a S in r1 the message will be clear: that (sadly) number 30 has decided he's all about the money, less so the team....and has told the Bengals that he doesnt plan to be here after playing on the tag in 2022

that said, yeah, they could tag him again in 2023 but I dont think this will happen.....they'll use this year to groom his replacement

love the guy, but I have very little tolerance for player millionaires who want to be paid so much that we can no longer pay other good players

[ArmyBengal]

I enjoyed reading their take on the players.
Interesting to see how other people (see those that do it for a living) really rank and compare to previous years.
It feeds the point that just because a player goes in the 1st round, doesn't necessarily mean he's a 1st round talent.

I think some of their Tier 3 players may fall to #31.
That being said, there are plenty of Tier 4, 5 and 6 players that I would love to see in stripes.

I know DT/DE Logan Hall from Houston doesn't have a set position and he probably should go between our 1st and 2nd round picks, but that dude is really fun to watch.  I caught a bunch of Houston games this season and the dude is just fun to watch.  A mentality that would fit the Bengals defense.  Personally, there's something about watching a 6'6 DT get after it in the middle of the line.

Yes, thanks Mem for posting !!

[redsbengalsbucks]

Am I the only one doing mock drafts?

 

This is my favorite so far 5 rounds:

 

31 Perrion Winfrey  DT OK   rotational with 3Tech ability

63  John Metchie III  #4 WR think Cris Henry, not really a need, but ready when Higgins leaves

95  Coby Bryant CB  moves Apple to depth

136  Nick Cross S  rotational Bell/Bates insurance

174  Grant Calcaterra TE  red zone target developmental for next year