NFL Draft season is in full swing with the Combine in the rear view and pro days now on the horizon, and Big Boards are coming into focus. As a result of the shortened 2020 season affording prospects an extra year of college eligibility, this year’s prospect pool is understandably deeper than most cycles. With that in mind, this class is as interchangeable from 1 through 75 as any in recent memory.
Without further ado, here’s Big Board 2.0 (top-75) of the 2022 draft season:
Click here for Big Board 1.0
1. Kayvon Thibideaux, EDGE, Oregon
The skinny: A freak athlete with a body/skillset tailored to rush the passer and dominate on the edge; this caliber of prospect shouldn’t be over-thought.
Best trait: Athleticism
Why he could fall: Knit-pick concerns; questions over his “love” for the game.
2. Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
The skinny: Most scout’s EDGE1 and arguably the safest pick in the class. Elite length, lateral quickness, refined technique, and a relentless motor make for a can’t-miss prospect.
Best trait: Motor, hand-usage
Why he could fall: He likely won’t.
3. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The skinny: A massive athlete with smooth moves and a mean-streak in the run game.
Best trait: Size/athleticism combo
Why he could fall: Still growing in pass protection, though the tools are all there
4. Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
The skinny: Checks every box at corner—size, quick feet, loose hips, natural instincts.
Best trait: Fluidity
Why he could fall: Injury concerns
5. Ikem Ekwonu, OL, NC State
The skinny: Nasty, dominating run-blocker with still-growing but ever-present pass blocking tools.
Best trait: Putting run defenders in their grave
Why he could fall: May always be more valuable at guard than tackle
6. Charles Cross, OT, Miss. St.
The skinny: Elite pass blocking tools and refined technique make him a plug-and-play prospect at LT.
Best trait: Pass protection
Why he could fall: Likely won’t, but run-oriented offenses will prefer Neal/Ekwonu
7. George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
The skinny: Uber-athletic EDGE with a lunch-pail mindset and plenty of room to grow.
Best trait: Speed-to-power
Why he could fall: Scouts vary on his value in a loaded EDGE class.
8. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The skinny: Size and speed freak with the jets to go 0-60 in a blink; get the ball in his hands and figure out the rest later.
Best trait: Size/accelerator combo
Why he could fall: A variety of skillsets & lack of consensus in the WR class makes the board unpredictable.
9. Kyle Hamilton, SS, Notre Dame
The skinny: An instant-impact chess piece for smart defenses, this level of athleticism and skill normally doesn’t come in a 6’3” 220 lb. package.
Best trait: Size/thump
Why he could fall: Lacks single-high versatility (likely a high-end SS/sub-LB in the pros).
10. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The skinny: Listed as CB1 by some scouts, he also possesses the “full package” at corner, and has potential to lock down receivers from day one.
Best trait: Length/instincts
Why he could fall: Despite proven reps against a few top-tier wideouts, that may not be enough to shake off competition concerns at Cincinnati.
11. Drake London, WR, USC
The skinny: A big-bodied, contested-catch nightmare for opposing defenses; has the savvy separate out of breaks, and is a hungry hippo after the catch.
Best trait: Ball skills
Why he could fall: Some teams will prefer another flavor of receiver
12. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The skinny: A fleet-footed, sticky corner with loose hips and the physicality to make a difference in the run game.
Best trait: Motor, instincts
Why he could fall: Lack of length
13. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The skinny: A well-rounded DE prospect with untapped potential to rush the passer. Dominant against the run with the versatility/strength to kick inside.
Best trait: Powerful
Why he could fall: Somewhat of a tweener depending on scheme
14. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The skinny: A proven resume and bankable skillset of deep speed and route-running chops.
Best trait: Getting open
Why he could fall: Possible size concerns (though he likely won’t fall)
15. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The skinny: A well-rounded linebacker with natural instincts, he can sift through the muck, run sideline-to-sideline, or drop into coverage adequately.
Best trait: Versatility
Why he could fall: There is a debate that he’s not necessarily elite at any one responsibility, clouding both fit and upside.
16. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The skinny: A downhill linebacker with explosive athleticism and a knack for the football. His ability to cover running backs and blitz at a high level make for an exciting prospect.
Best trait: Explosiveness
Why he could fall: Some scouts will have fair concern over size, as well as the fact that he feasted behind a generational D-line (not his fault, of course).
17. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
The skinny: A true burner with the route-running prowess, ball skills, and competitive fire to demand double-teams on every snap (health permitting).
Best trait: Speed
Why he could fall: A torn ACL in the National Championship makes for a wide range of outcomes.
18. Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M
The skinny: A road-grading athlete with the versatility to play tackle in a pinch. A strong anchor, low center of gravity, and long arms allow him to consistently out-leverage his man.
Best trait: Run blocking
Why he could fall: IOL are always at risk of sliding as a result of position value.
19. Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
The skinny: The widely-regarded top center prospect in a few years—we can debate the positional value of center/IOL, but his mettle as a prospect is undeniable.
Best trait: Smart & nasty
Why he could fall: Positional value
20. David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
The skinny: An explosive athlete with every trait a pass rusher could ask for, if he develops the finer points of the position he’ll be a generational talent.
Best trait: Speed-to-power
Why he could fall: Raw, inexperienced
21. Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
The skinny: Pairs elite lateral quickness, burst, and fluidity to consistently win inside on all three downs.
Best trait: Explosiveness
Why he could fall: Lacks ideal length; still needs polish
22. Jordan Davis, NT, Georgia
The skinny: An explosive and immovable object in the middle of the trenches, he commands double teams and has the wiggle to make you pay for trying otherwise.
Best trait: Size/athleticism combo
Why he could fall: Not an every down player by virtue of position/size
23. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The skinny: Major upside as a sudden route-runner with deep speed and a wide catch-radius.
Best trait: Explosiveness
Why he could fall: Still a little technically raw; concerns over his release, physicality, and concentration drops.
24. Jahan Dotson, WR, PSU
The skinny: Polished route-running, twitchy athleticism, and ridiculous hands make up for size and durability concerns.
Best trait: Ball skills
Why he could fall: Size concerns
25. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The skinny: A twitched-up runner with a stocky build and a rocket for an arm. Still developing as a passer.
Best trait: Mobility/velocity combo
Why he could fall: Will need real time to develop.
26. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
The skinny: A pocket passer with decent mobility, pro-progression chops, and a knack for playmaking.
Best trait: Accuracy/ball placement
Why he could fall: Some team’s will prefer another flavor of quarterback in an unremarkable yet diverse class.
27. Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
The skinny: A violent, nasty blocker in an athletic, fluid frame; he’s as raw as any prospect in the class but possesses ridiculous upside.
Best trait: Power/athleticism combo
Why he could fall: Very raw
28. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida St.
The skinny: An all-around natural EDGE with an ideal build, he may not have the upside of his peers but his floor is bankable.
Best trait: Feel for the position
Why he could fall: Lacks high-end athleticism
29. Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
The skinny: A big-bodied athlete with the ability to release from press and consistently win in contested-catch situations; arguably the most dependable X-skillset in the class.
Best trait: Size/athleticism combo
Why he could fall: He’s a white guy at a skill position
30. Trevor Penning, OT, North. Iowa
The skinny: A powerful mauler in the run game with the length/anchor to handle pass protection; a low level of competition clouds his projection.
Best trait: Power
Why he could fall: Competition concerns
31. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
The skinny: A well-rounded passer with average size, decent mobility, and a plus-arm; he’s tailor-made for RPO-heavy schemes.
Best trait: Accuracy, feel
Why he could fall: Lacks an elite trait to hang his hat on.
32. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The skinny: A toolsy passer with a blend of mobility, arm talent, and size; decision-making and accuracy concerns hold back an otherwise elite prospect.
Best trait: Size/mobility/arm combo
Why he could fall: Accuracy concerns
33. Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The skinny: A toolsy developmental piece with the versatility to rush the passer and play in space, odd-front teams will covet his upside.
Best trait: Versatility
Why he could fall: Scheme-specific, a little raw
34. Bernhard Raimann, OT, C. Michigan
The skinny: A long, athletic tackle prospect with enough foot speed and flexibility to entice scouts.
Best trait: Length, fluidity
Why he could fall: Lacks an elite anchor, and tends to play upright given his height
35. Roger Mcreary, CB, Auburn
Skinny: A jack-of-all trades corner with plus athleticism, instincts, and movement skills. An overall high-floor prospect at a premium position.
Best trait: Battle tested
Why he could fall: Merely average size and length have some scouts doubting his potential to lock down the outside against bigger wideouts.
36. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The skinny: A long press corner with fluid hips and quick feet, he’ll fit in some schemes better than others, but should be valued by all.
Best trait: Physicality, length
Why he could fall: Can be a liability against quicker, more explosive wideouts.
37. Jaquan Brisker, Safety, PSU
The skinny: A balanced safety who makes plays against the run and pass, he’s an instant impact starter who can fill multiple responsibilities on defense.
Best trait: Length, physicality
Why he could fall: Though versatile, he projects better playing near the LOS than in deep looks
38. Dax Hill, Safety, Michigan
The skinny: An elite athlete with coverage instincts and willingness in the run game; a tiny frame might limit an otherwise enticing skillset to nickel.
Best trait: Speed
Why he could fall: Size concerns
39. George Pickens, WR, Georgia
The skinny: A contested-catch threat with the speed and fluidity to make scouts drool.
Best trait: Ball skills
Why he could fall: Injury history
40. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
The skinny: An elite athlete with all the coverage/versatility chops of his Washington peer.
Best trait: Athleticism
Why he could fall: Inconsistent college career
41. Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
The skinny: A lengthy, fluid corner with elite upside.
Best trait: Length
Why he could fall: Inexperienced and raw compared to his peers
42. Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
The skinny: Physical run-blocker with a powerful frame and plenty of pop.
Best trait: Length, power
Why he could fall: Scouts vary on his evaluation
43. Logan Hall, DL, Houston
The skinny: A long and strong lineman with versatility to slide across positions, he possesses impressive burst and quickness for his size.
Best trait: Versatility
Why he could fall: Could be viewed as a tweener.
44. Travis Jones, DL, Connecticut
The skinny: Massive, long, & strong—he has all the tools to eat blockers, plug gaps, and swallow ball-carriers in the middle of the defense.
Best trait: Size, anchor
Why he could fall: Positional value
45. Demarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
The skinny: An interior pass rusher who thinks he’s a true EDGE; has elite potential as a base-end that kicks inside on passing downs (if he’s willing to buy-in).
Best trait: Versatility
Why he could fall: Possible tweener (versatility is often a double-edged sword)
46. Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
The skinny: A penetrating interior lineman with an elite first step and plus length; a three-down, bankable skillset.
Best trait: Quickness
Why he could fall: His value somewhat depends on scheme.
47. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota St.
The skinny: A size/speed freak with few knocks outside of competition concerns.
Best trait: Size/speed
Why he could fall: Competition concerns
48. Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
The skinny: An experienced linebacker who can mop up sideline-to-sideline and carry backs and tight ends in man coverage.
Best trait: Explosiveness
Why he could fall: Other similar skillsets in this range
49. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa St.
The skinny: A twitched-up, loose runner with a nice combination of vision and patience; he’s the full package in regard to fundamentals and athleticism.
Best trait: Three-down ability
Why he could fall: Running back is the most replaceable position in football sports
50. Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
The skinny: A three-down prospect with high-level ability to diagnose the run, disengage blockers, and wrangle ball-carriers.
Best trait: Smart, explosive
Why he could fall: Competition concerns
51. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
The skinny: 6’8” and 390 lbs. of man can’t be run through nor run around very easily, and his relative athleticism makes for a unique prospect.
Best trait: Size/anchor
Why he could fall: His height is a disadvantage from a bend/leverage perspective; also needs seasoning
52. Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
The skinny: A true pocket passer with a big arm; would have been a first-round lock a decade ago.
Best trait: Howitzer arm
Why he could fall: Seasoned, yet still developing processing and accuracy.
53. Trey McBride, TE, Colorado St.
The skinny: A thick target with good ball skills and a nose for finding yards after the catch, his willingness/technique as a blocker are the cherry on top of a complete prospect.
Best trait: Blocking, YAC-ability
Why he could fall: Likely won’t (though there are other decent TE prospects in the class)
54. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Mich.
The skinny: An explosive and twitchy route-runner with decent hands and YAC ability; if he wasn’t so small he’d be a first-round talent.
Best trait: Burst
Why he could fall: Size concerns
55. Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
The skinny: A long, athletic, and experienced corner who excels in zone coverage
Best trait: Length, instincts
Why he could fall: Man coverage needs refinement
56. Arnold Ebikitie, EDGE, Penn State
The skinny: A twitchy edge defender with plus-length, lateral quickness, and hand technique; has proven useful against the run and pass.
Best trait: Length/juice
Why he could fall: Casualty of a deep Edge class
57. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
The skinny: An experienced passer tailor-made for an RPO offense, his quick release and fastball will play in the right system.
Best trait: Leadership
Why he could fall: Lacking elite traits and upside
58. Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio St.
The skinny: A zone-blocking tackle with ideal size and plus athleticism, equally solid in the run and pass game.
Best trait: Feet
Why he could fall: Still developing the finer points of the position.
59. Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky
The skinny: An experienced, elite run-blocker who can play all across the line at a high-level.
Best trait: Nasty, explosive
Why he could fall: A run-heavy scheme at Kentucky clouds his evaluation in pass sets.
60. Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA
The skinny: An impressive athlete with tackle/guard versatility, he pairs quick feet and a nasty demeanor that project well to the pro level.
Best trait: Size/feet combo
Why he could fall: Teams will disagree on his ceiling at tackle