Peter King: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...-draft-fmia-peter-king-2022/?utm_int=Edge1248 1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, defensive lineman, Georgia Expect a surprise, I heard out of Jacksonville recently. Hmmm. That would eliminate Aidan Hutchinson here. The trendy pick after that has been Walker, so that really wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Ikem Ekwonu, perhaps? I’ll go with the one-year-college-start upside guy, Walker. 2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan 3. Houston Texans: Ikem Ekwonu, offensive tackle, North Carolina State If you’re the Texans, you’re really drafting for 2024. GM Nick Caserio’s got to be thinking of the long haul, and the long haul probably doesn’t consist of Laremy Tunsil and Brandin Cooks, both of whom will be 30 on opening-day 2024. So if you’re smart, and you’ve seen the top two edge guys go 1-2, you draft into the strength of this crop, tackle and wideout. Ekwonu is versatile and athletic, not the mauler that the other two top tackles are, but a cornerstone and smart lineman who should be the long-time leader of a currently lousy group. 4. New York Jets: Sauce Gardner, cornerback, Cincinnati 5. New York Giants: Charles Cross, offensive tackle, Mississippi State 6. Carolina Panthers: Evan Neal, offensive tackle, Alabama 7. New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, safety, Notre Dame 8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, wide receiver, USC *9. Houston Texans: Garrett Wilson, wide receiver, Ohio State *Projected Trade: Texans trade the 13th pick overall and an early third-round pick, 68th overall, to the Seahawks for the 9th selection. And so here comes the run on receivers. Houston leapfrogs the Jets to get the franchise receiver for Davis Mills (who has a chance this year to win this job) or whoever the Texans pick next year to be the franchise passer. There’s a lot of love for Wilson in the league, even though he never led Ohio State in receiving in any of his three years and he’s a lean (6-0, 183) receiver who probably won’t play much heavier. He played the slot in 2020 and outside last year, so teams have plenty of tape to see him play all over the field in different offenses. Team like his ability to get open and to make things happen after the catch. I look at Houston’s draft this way. Post-Watson, the Texans need some franchise players. If they come out of this draft with a long-term left tackle and a top receiver who can be counted on for the next five to eight years, it’s a profitable draft. Plus: GM Nick Caserio has the 37th overall pick, and he could use that on a second-level cornerback (Washington’s Kyler Gordon?) to attack another need area. 10. New York Jets: Jameson Williams, wide receiver, Alabama 11. Washington Commanders: Chris Olave, wide receiver, Ohio State 12. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Stingley, cornerback, LSU *13. Seattle Seahawks: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon 14. Baltimore Ravens: Trevor Penning, offensive tackle, Northern Iowa 15. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, defensive tackle, Georgia 16. New Orleans: Treylon Burks, wide receiver, Arkansas 17. Los Angeles Chargers: Trent McDuffie, cornerback, Washington *18. Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson, wide receiver, Penn State *Projected Trade: Eagles trade the 18th pick to the Packers for the 22nd pick and a late third-round pick, 92nd overall. 19. New Orleans Saints: Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle, Georgia 20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, quarterback, Pitt 21. New England Patriots: Bernhard Raimann, offensive tackle, Central Michigan *22. Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Lloyd, linebacker, Utah 23. Arizona Cardinals: Jermaine Johnson, edge, Florida State 24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum, center, Iowa 25. Buffalo Bills: Zion Johnson, offensive lineman, Boston College 26. Tennessee Titans: Tyler Smith, offensive tackle, Tulsa 27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Ojabo, edge, Michigan 28. Green Bay Packers: Arnold Ebiketie, edge, Penn State 29. Kansas City Chiefs: Christian Watson, wide receiver, North Dakota State 30. Kansas City Chiefs: Lewis Cine, safety, Georgia 31. Cincinnati Bengals: Trey McBride, tight end, Colorado State *32. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Corral, quarterback, Ole Miss *Projected Trade: Lions trade the 32nd pick to the Falcons for a second-round pick this year (43rd overall) and a second-round pick in 2023. Best guy in this draft? In five years, Derek Stingley will rise above all.
Albert Breer: https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/04/25/mmqb-nfl-draft-preview-rumors-32-teams-jaguars-shad-khan Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard real questions on Laremy Tunsil’s future in Houston. His deal was restructured in March, so I’d think he’ll be around this fall. But 2023 is a contract year for the 27-year-old, and if he or the team aren’t going to want to go forward from there, a player like Neal or Ekwonu makes sense at No. 3. Both can play inside or at right tackle (and may be better at those spots), and their experience and ability to play left tackle could give the Texans the flexibility to trade Tunsil after this year. That said, more than a few personnel people have raised to me what Lovie Smith said about needing corners a couple of weeks ago, a comment that stood out because Smith’s defense hasn’t valued the position the way others have over the years. Which makes me wonder if that might be more of a tell on someone like Washington’s Trent McDuffie or LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. at 13 than Gardner at three (and I’ve heard they like Stingley). Also worth mentioning is that McDuffie, Neal and Ekwonu are very clean character-wise, which I’d bet will be important for GM Nick Caserio with his first set of first-round picks since taking the reins in Houston. And one other name I was given to watch here (and there’s a lot of guessing going on, when it comes to what Caserio’s thinking) was Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson.
Surprised you aren't seeing more Neal projections with Neal at Alabama with O'brien who initiated Caserio's path to Houston. Maybe Neal has some red flags.
https://theathletic.com/3263599/2022/04/25/nfl-draft-2022-ickey-ekwonu-travon-walker-nakobe-dean/ Spoiler There is nothing quite like the run-up to the NFL Draft for chatter and opinions. Some might chalk a lot of this up to smokescreens, but it’s usually not that. It’s really more a byproduct of how a lifetime of football experiences shape someone’s perspective. And that brings us to Ickey. By now, you’ve heard about Ikem Ekwonu, NC State’s unheralded recruit turned All-American O-lineman whom a year ago almost no one knew about aside from ACC coaches. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder, like many of the guys mocked to be first-rounders, is a polarizing topic in NFL circles. On Tuesday, The Athletic talked to one NFL O-line coach who called Ekwonu “a future All-Pro” and proceeded to rave about him for nearly five minutes, saying there is no offensive line prospect close to him in this draft. “His game film is ridiculous,” said the coach. “It’s special. You see all the outside and wide zones and him finishing guys at the second level. He’s blocking linebackers 10 yards downfield. He has 34-inch arms, big-ass hands. He’s everything that you’re looking for. His pass protection is still a little raw, but that’s college guys. He still needs some work in pass protection, countering inside moves — shutting down inside moves is his biggest weakness — but he’s just so athletic with great lateral movement skills and is so smart and so tough. His motor was different, and the IQ interview is thorough the roof. … He has all the tools. We have to build his toolbox. “He’s a generational guy. He’s a Day 1 impact starter. He is, by far, the best lineman.” The Athletic next called a veteran NFL scout. His take on Ekwonu: “He’s completely overrated. He is talented; has the athleticism, the foot quickness and all that stuff. I worry about his core strength. He plays in a shitty league. I like Evan Neal and (Charles) Cross more.” Later that night, we talked to another NFL line coach and brought up the big disparity on Ekwonu. The coach, who also is a big believer in the 21-year-old from Charlotte, said he wasn’t surprised. “I think it’s like this: Coaches love him; the scouts and personnel people don’t because of what he looks like,” he said. “He’s really knock-kneed — he has caved-in knees. He’s thin-legged. Initially, when I first saw him, I thought, how the **** is this guy possibly the first pick? But then when he starts moving, you see that he’s crazy athletic. “We evaluated about 60 guys and he was, by far, the best. His demeanor of play is just different. His run blocking is really good. It’s how nasty he plays. His game film is like a highlight tape. A lot of these guys, they ride the roller coaster. It’s like the guy from Ohio State (Nicholas Petit-Frere), they get beat once and then they get beat several times in a row. They weren’t competing the way you’d want him to. Ickey is always competing. He finishes plays. When the whistle blows, he’s either on a second-level player or a third-level player.” As for the shot at playing in the ACC, the coach was quick to point out that Ekwonu “played great against Florida State,” which had projected first-round defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who didn’t have a single TFL in the game. “I’m telling you, he’s friggin’ good, man,” the coach said. Worth noting: None of these three sources’ teams have a pick in the top 15, so it’s doubtful their comments are subterfuge to help jostle Ekwonu or some other O-line prospect their way.
Wide receivers Spoiler Wide receivers Who do you think is the best receiver in this draft? WR Coach 1: Jameson Williams. To me, it’s not close. There’s a big drop after him. He’s blazing fast and you can’t replicate that top-end, and his play speed is different — like Tyreek Hill different — he’s running away from SEC guys. His explosiveness after the catch is rare. His quickness at the line of scrimmage is just different. He’s a hands catcher not a body catcher. I think he’s a good catcher, not a great catcher. Scout 2: Love Jameson Williams. He’s competitive as hell, not only in games but at practice. I haven’t seen a wide receiver compete at practice like he does since Michael Thomas was at Ohio State. I do worry about his maturity, though. WR Coach 5: I wasn’t sure what to think of Jameson Williams. I thought he was just gonna be a deep threat, but he’s more than that. He’s got a really good skill set. It’s not just speed, it’s his acceleration, but he can get back to full speed really quick, like very few guys can do. He is a little bit of a smaller guy, but he’s not afraid to do some of the dirty work. WR Coach 2: Garrett Wilson. He’s just so twitchy. He’s very quick and he’s polished. He’s not as explosive as Williams, but his ball skills are excellent, and I think he can excel both as an inside guy and as an outside guy. Can Treylon Burks impact a game like Deebo Samuel? WR Coach 3: He is a freak show, but he is super raw. I think he can do anything you want him to do. He didn’t really run routes at Arkansas. I don’t blame those coaches. He was a really good player in that system. He runs a lot like Deebo, but he’s a lot bigger than Deebo. He’s about two biscuits away from being a flexed-out tight end. WR Coach 1: I really like him. They used him like Deebo. He has to learn how to run routes. They’d do some go routes, but on film he’s rarely sinking his hips and running curls and comebacks. But there’s stuff there, like the back-to-back catches against Ole Miss over the top of their heads, you’re like, Damn! QB Coach 2: Liked him a lot. Do you have to manufacture touches for him like the Giants did for Kadarius Toney? I think you’ll have to find ways to get him the ball with option routes, put him back on punt return. Can he do it from a deep cross or a dig? How many specialty plays are we gonna have to put in for this guy? How do you separate the two Ohio State receivers, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave? WR Coach 1: Wilson is more of an inside guy who can play outside. He’s a lot looser. He’s gonna be really good option-route running, and things he does in and out of his breaks really translate to this level. He’s faster than I thought he was. WR Coach 3: Wilson’s more dynamic; more physical. I’m not sure how physically tough Olave is. A lot of times guys struggle when they’re not that physical at this level. I think he’s a fantastic kid, but he’s not gonna rip your face off out there. WR Coach 4: Wilson is overall better. He’s better after the catch and a little tougher. Olave’s routes are better than you think. He’s not just a deep guy. I think he’s a well-rounded guy. WR Coach 5 Olave is more smooth; he’s a really good route runner. Garrett is more athletic and has more burst; mo:re more dynamic. But I don’t see that 4.38 (that he ran at the combine) on tape. QB Coach 2: Wilson was not good in the interview we did with him. Olave was awesome, but his tape isn’t as good. WR Coach 1: I think there’s a little bit of edge to Olave, a little chip on his shoulder because people are saying Garrett’s better, and (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) is even better than both of them. Which WR is the most boom-or-bust guy? Scout 2: George Pickens. There’s a lot of upside, but he can’t get out of his own way. He’s been enabled his whole life. WR Coach 3: Pickens. You love his game, but there’s some issues. Do you want to work with him? He’s a top-6 talent-wise, but it’s impossible not to add those other things. He has the size, has really good range. He positions his body on deep throws. He consistently beats press coverage. Has good start-stops with some AI (Allen Iverson) crossover in his game. A lot of the stuff in (Todd Monken’s) system translates to the NFL. But I wouldn’t touch him. WR Coach 5 on Pickens: On tape, he is probably a top-5 wide receiver but there’s just so many red flags, and they’re big red flags. He’s got a lot of growing up to do. If he goes to the right place with a room full of veterans that help him go the right way, I think he’ll have a chance.” WR Coach 2: North Dakota State’s Christian Watson. He’s got excellent size and he’s a freak athlete testing-wise, but man, I worry about how well he catches the ball. He drops easy catches. Does he have vision problems? He just doesn’t look natural trying to catch a football. Which WRs do you think are sleepers and not getting talked about enough? WR Coach 3: WMU’s Skyy Moore. He raised really high during this offseason, but I loved him already. His combine and pro day were really good. He has great instincts, is tough, durable. Never hurt, ever. He can do a lot; play inside and outside. I think you can line this dude up in the backfield. He’s powerful. He’s wired right. He went there as a corner. I am surprised he didn’t transfer. Tells you a lot about the kid. I like the fact that he stuck around. Scout 2 on Alabama’s John Metchie: I know people don’t see him as a No.1 receiver. I think he’s gonna excel in the NFL. He’s really quick. Has really good hands and is competitive as ****. It’s all just really good with him. How do you view the rest of the WR class? WR Coach 4 on Penn State’s Jahan Dotson: He’s a better player than the hype he’s getting. He’s faster than you think. WR Coach 3 on Dotson: He has phenomenal ball skills. He will run right through a football in traffic. He is so talented. WR Coach 1 on Dotson: He’s got the best ball skills in the draft. He does a great job of attacking the ball, but he’s so slight even compared to those Ohio State guys. I think he’s gonna have to play inside to translate in the NFL. WR Coach 3 on Purdue’s David Bell: I think he’s gonna struggle. He can’t run away from anybody. He’s heavy-legged. He’ll get pressed. People bring up that Anquan Bolden also didn’t run a good 40-time, but he played fast. You saw explosion out of his break. With Bell, there’s no second gear, no suddenness to him. It’s all the same speed. WR Coach 1 on USC’s Drake London: He has really good movement skills. He runs well without being blazing fast and has that basketball ability to post people. Inside or out, he finds the ball. He has better ball skills and is more consistent than (former USC teammate Michael Pittman). WR Coach 5 on London: He’s so young, and his body is still developing. His arrow is up. His speed is concerning, no doubt about it. I think he’s a little more advanced than Mike Evans was at this stage; but Mike was a little faster, but they make the contested catches and they go inside-and-go outstanding. I do see those comparisons. WR Coach 1 on Utah’s Britain Covey: I think he’s strictly a return guy. He doesn’t flash as a receiver. I think he’d struggle in the slot because he doesn’t have elite quickness and he’s so tiny. He would get pinballed around in there, but he is a dynamic return guy. WR Coach 1 on Kentucky’s Wan’Dale Robinson: I like him. He’s a hybrid guy. He transferred to Kentucky (from Nebraska) and got to play in a pro-style offense. If he doesn’t go to Kentucky he’s not draftable. He can play in the slot. I see a lot of Randall Cobb in his game. He’s just so good with the ball in his hands; I think he’s more than just a gadget guy.
Offensive line Spoiler Offensive line If Ickey isn’t the top O-lineman, who is? Scout 2: Evan Neal. He’s my favorite tackle. He’s a massive human being with freakish upside. He’s good but not great. He’s no Trent Williams, and if Tristan Wirfs were in this class, he’d be ahead of Neal. OL Coach 2 on Neal: You never know what you’re gonna get with him. He has a lot of potential. He absorbs guys in pass protection. At the combine, he looked like he was 250; it was crazy. OL Coach 1: We liked (BC’s) Zion Johnson. He’s so smart. Good swing player. He has the flexibility to recover; is good in pass pro, explosive in the run game. Does the weight room translate to the field? With him, it does. We were fired up about Neal because of his intensity and play demeanor. He underwhelmed. His run blocking needs to be developed. It’s night and day when it comes to how his motor compares to (Ekwonu). He is an elite pass protector and a good kid, but in the run game he leaves a lot to be desired. What did you think of the other O-linemen talked about as potential first rounders? OL Coach 1 on MSU’s Charles Cross: We didn’t really like him. We saw him as much more of a project. The system hurts him. It matters. We didn’t love his interview. He has the tools, but he’s not as thick and powerful. We don’t think he’s a Day 1 guy. OL Coach 1 on Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning: We like his physicality. He’s nasty. Has good feet. He’s probably a backup Year 1. OL Coach 2 on Penning: You don’t know how he’s gonna translate against better competition. He has obvious physical talent; was being a prick at the Senior Bowl. Some people are into that and some don’t like it. OL Coach No. 1 on CMU’s Bernhard Raimann: We liked him. He had a good interview with us. We graded him as a backup offensive tackle. He’s a good fluid athlete, but he needs to get stronger. He’s more of a finesse blocker, not a thumper. Intriguing O-line sleepers to keep an eye on? OL Coach No. 1: Chattanooga’s Cole Strange: He was a good interview. There’s a lot of depth to him. Like him athletically. He can bend; has pop; can climb and finish and is strong at the point of attack and he really understands leverage. He’s an ******* out there; he won’t back down. I think he has the intangibles. Scout 2 on Strange: He’s grown me on me. Was an excellent interview. He’s got kind of a small-school learning curve. It’ll take some time with him. OL Coach No. 1: LSU’s Ed Ingram. We loved him. I heard he’s dropping on some team’s board because of his football IQ, but he is very explosive and can move guys off the ball on an iso block, which is really hard to do. He kills guys on pulls. Physically, he’s one of the best guards out there. There’ll be a learning curve, but someone will take a chance and invest in him. Once he gets it, he can be a good starter. Him being around some pros will help him out. OL Coach No. 2: Washington State’s Abe Lucas. He’s a good athlete. The system he played in will hurt him and people make the obvious comparisons to (former WSU first-rounder Andre Dillard) and that’ll hurt too, but we like him. He was very mature in his interview. OL Coach No. 1: Nebraska center Cam Jurgens. He’s like a Corvette with no control out there. He is so quick-twitch and is such a high-effort guy. He will climb to the second level but he’ll miss the guy because he’s out of control.
Defensive line Spoiler Defensive line Aidan Hutchinson is atop a bunch of mock drafts going No. 1 overall to Jacksonville. Does that make sense to you? Do you buy him as a top overall talent? Defensive coach No. 1: I’m not sure he has quite the ceiling as a few of these guys, but his floor is very high. He’s the safest guy in the draft. Like if they take him, I don’t think anyone’s gonna be like, man, we ****ed that pick up. I just don’t think when you watch the film, he doesn’t have that holy crap, how are we gonna block this guy? He just doesn’t have that one rare trait. He’s just a good, talented, high-effort football player. Defensive coach No. 2: I wouldn’t take him there or even in the top four. He doesn’t have the arm length (32 1/8 inches). I don’t see the twitch. I don’t think he’s got explosiveness where we’d have to take him. There’s nothing special about him athletically to go that high. He does have really good change of direction, and he’s a really good fundamental player, but other than his makeup and his fundamentals, there’s nothing special about him athletically. I don’t see him consistently winning off the edge with his initial move. I don’t see him being a 12-15 sack guy. I think his production in college is because he’s a really good technician. I’d rather take the athlete over the technician because we can teach him the technique. I don’t think he’s gonna get that much better. Defensive Coach No. 3: I like his twitch and bend. He’s going to transition fast because his makeup is so good. Defensive Coach No. 4. His arm length is very concerning. He looked like a man among boys out there a lot because he’s really developed and technically advanced. In the NFL, he’s going to be going up against men, and I’m not sure he’s going to stand up. I think he’ll be a really good player but not a great one. Do you take a guy with the first overall pick who may never be a double-digit sack guy? People love Travon Walker as a talent, but are you concerned about his relative lack of production as a playmaker? Defensive Coach No. 3: That guy has got it all. He’s the one you’re drooling over. Scout No. 1: He will play through you. He is such a violent, explosive guy. He will steal your lunch money. Defensive Coach No. 1: I do like him. There’s no reason to think he can’t do all that you hope he can do. But you’re making a projection and betting on the traits with this guy. Is he an outside guy on first and second down and then kicks inside on third down? You know what you’re getting with Hutchinson and Jermaine Johnson, you see it on the film. With this guy, you’re hoping his best football is ahead of him. I think it is. Scout No. 2: As a possible first or second overall pick? I don’t love him that high. For sure, top 10. He’s so big, strong and long, but I don’t see a rare talent. He could be 290 easily. He put up ridiculous numbers at the combine, but none of that stuff really translated on tape. Even during their pro day, he was the third-most athletic D-line dude behind Jordan Davis and (Devonte Wyatt), and he didn’t look as freaky as those other dudes. Defensive Coach No. 5: At Georgia, they played him at a 4i — inside technique off the tackle. When you’re in there, you’re doing a lot of grunt work. Testing-wise, he’s better than Myles Garrett. He’s a freak and he is aggressive. With Myles, we didn’t really know how much he wants to set the edge against the run. His motor was up and down. This guy is an animal. He was playing on such a loaded team, but when the production isn’t really there, it does kind of scare you. Defensive Coach No. 2: They played him as 3-4 end. That’s not his position. I think he’s a 4-3 edge-setting defensive end. He’ll be 280 soon and can really run. Which of the top D-linemen do you think is most underrated in the draft chatter you’ve heard? Defensive Coach No. 2: Jordan Davis. He’s really intriguing. He’s over 340 and runs 4.78? That’s ****ing insane. Watch Atlanta take him at 8. He’s been really well-coached there. Trey Scott is an excellent D-line coach. I think he’s more explosive than Vita Vea. He’s not as strong but is much more quick-twitch. I think he can be very disruptive. Defensive Coach No. 1: (Miami of Ohio DE/OLB) Dominique Robinson. He’s played so little defense in his life, but for a guy who has transitioned over to defense after playing wide receiver, you can see the physicality and the willingness to put his face in there. With offensive guys, you worry about the transition: Do they have that nasty side of him to play defense? I’m watching his film and thinking, holy ****, this guy is really ****ing good. It’s the whole package: He’s got the length, athleticism, the change of direction and the explosiveness. Watch him drop into coverage; you see that he recognizes exchanges and routes. I would be shocked if he’s not high on the 3-4 OLBs list. He’s gonna be a starter. Scout No. 2: (FSU DE) Jermaine Johnson. He’s an elite talent. Can play the run because he is long enough and heavy enough and he plays his balls off. He comes across as super cocky, but the more I’m around him, the more I like him. He’s not too big for anything. Everybody at FSU raves about the guy, talking about how he came back to work with younger guys. Kayvon Thibodeaux is one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft. How do you see him? Defensive Coach No. 2: He needs to be in the right system. I am a fan of the pass rusher. He can roll now. His first step is as good as anyone’s. He’s twitchy. He’s a poor run defender. If a 4-3 team takes him, they’re gonna wish he can get bigger. I don’t see it. He’s a smaller-boned dude. Scout No. 1: I like him. When he turns it on, it’s as good as it comes. Is he gonna turn it on consistently? He’s lean, but he is strong and explosive. I do think he will do enough to be a three-down guy. I don’t think he’s a dumb kid. He knows what he’s doing. I do think he’s gonna make it. Defensive Coach No. 1: He’s a big personality. If you’re a team that isn’t comfortable with one player pushing himself into the spotlight, he’s probably not for you. The issues to me are gonna come up with the competing focus. Is he too worried about his brand? When we brought him in, I was like, whoa, ****, this guy is a handful.
Defensive backs Spoiler Defensive backs Sauce Gardner is being touted as a top-10 pick. Does he really merit that kind of hype? Defensive Coach No. 7: Yes. Sauce has ascended. He’s a wiry guy who can run and he’s physical. He wows you in the interview; he’s himself. He’s got confidence and he’s very smart. Defensive Coach No. 3: I think so. He’s got it all, and he’s coachable and a good teammate. You watched him closely in this process, in his pro day, he was so aware of his teammates, so engaged in how they were doing at pro day. You don’t always see that from those guys who are so locked in about what they’re doing. It was more, wow, he’s a guy that got every reason to be a dick, and he’s the exact opposite. Derek Stingley Jr. was fantastic as a true freshman in 2019 but battled injury and looked like a different player the past two seasons. What do you make of him as a prospect? Defensive Coach No. 7: I don’t know. You wonder, what are you gonna get? Who is he? In 2019, you saw those big flashes. He is a legit talent. He’s got elite ball skills, really good feet. He can return punts. He’s a better all-around pure athlete than Patrick Surtain. He’s probably a top-5 pick if he could’ve come out after 2019. But now what? You just gotta keep on digging. Kyle Hamilton has some people talking about him as a top-5 talent, which is rare for a safety. How high would you take him? Defensive Coach No. 7: Safeties are not a premium. He’s a unicorn, and he is a very good player. He’s really versatile. He doesn’t fit the mold. He’s built like a sam linebacker. His man coverage isn’t great and his short-area quickness isn’t great. He could be on the No. 3 in the 3-by-1 formation or on a slot. You can’t name a lot of safeties who can really cover a slot. QB Coach No. 2: I don’t get it. It’s like he’s too tall. His FSU game was impressive, but people are talking about him like he’s another Derwin James, and he’s not. When the Chargers practice, Derwin James covers Keenan Allen and covers him well. Keenan Allen would make Kyle Hamilton want to retire. Who are your DBs you don’t think get talked about enough? Defensive Coach No. 3: Lewis Cine from Georgia. He’s so bright. His football IQ is extremely high. He jumped out as an ultra student of the game. Scout No. 2: Decobie Durant from South Carolina State. He was 157 pounds out of high school. He played at an HBCU and didn’t have all the resources to get heavier. He was 170-something his whole career, but he’s gotten up to 183 and was up to 186 the other day, and he’s well on his way to being 195. He’s a really good nickel who had two picks against Clemson and played a hell of a game. I love everything about that kid. He’s tough as ****. He’s got good feet, is competitive and smart.
https://theathletic.com/3262939/2022/04/25/derek-stingley-jr-nfl-draft-2022-lsu-football/ Spoiler BATON ROUGE, La. — Watch Derek Stingley Jr. run, the way he takes off swiftly sprinting and spans 40 yards in 4.44 seconds. That’s the part jotted down in his file. But watch as he crosses that line, as he downshifts from the sprint to a calm stop. While his fellow LSU teammates finish that run and violently slam their feet into the ground to slow their momentum, Stingley immediately slows to an easy jog. It’s as if the sprint was nothing for him. It’s like everything is in control. Control. That’s such a large part of Stingley’s journey. He’s the football prodigy planning for this day since he was in middle school, the one who practiced against his father’s Arena League players as a kid and who’s had his life mapped out from there on out. He’s the grandson of former NFL receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed from a horrific hit in 1978, and the son of Derek Sr., who played minor league baseball and arena football before spending his life molding him. He arrived at LSU as the No. 1 player in the country out of Baton Rouge and was maybe the best corner in college football as an 18-year-old freshman on a national championship team. He was like this analytical football robot built in a lab wise beyond his years and physically dominant over his peers. He caused no problems. He was a perfect example. Before Stingley even played a game at LSU, an NFL general manager told LSU staff he would be a first-round pick if he declared for the draft that summer. It was widely agreed he’d be the first corner taken if eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft. So what happened? Why might Stingley be the third corner picked in the draft next week? Why has he gone from a top two player in this class to some projections placing him in the teens? He’ll still be a first-round pick, but he’s now this superstar talent surrounded by questions and concerns. But there are aspects of these past two years most people don’t understand. “If you were there on a day-to-day basis, you would have been like, ‘Wow, how does this kid hold this together? How does he keep getting up and pulling himself off the ground?’” former LSU strength coach Tommy Moffitt said. “It was unbelievable.” Back when Stingley was a high school senior, his father, Derek Stingley Sr., talked to The Athletic about his slight fear with his son. He was so gifted, so advanced, that he needed to face adversity. “He needs to fail,” Stingley Sr. said. “He’s never really failed before.” Derek Stingley didn’t fail these last two years. But he is no longer in control. Two days after signing his letter of intent in December 2018, Stingley drove the 15 minutes or so to LSU’s football facility and started practicing with the Tigers before the Fiesta Bowl. Why not, they figured. He took reps against Joe Burrow and LSU’s offense and even intercepted Burrow a time or two, then he drove back home. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda told reporters that, if eligible, Stingley would have been LSU’s No. 1 corner in the bowl game. He was 17 years old. “OK, we see why you’re No. 1,” teammate Andre Anthony recalls now. “He kinda had that maturity.” Stingley kept to himself and simply played football. But he was different. He was 6 feet, 190 pounds with arms that hung down to the floor. “Not many of ’em come in like him,” Moffitt said. “He kinda reminds me of the first impression I had of (Leonard) Fournette. Just physically mature and game ready.” By the time his first season launched in fall 2019, there was no debate. He was the starter next to future second-round pick Kristian Fulton. And by midseason it was understood he was already the top corner. He took on the No. 1 receivers most of the year. In the national spotlight of a top-10 matchup against Texas and 6-foot-6 receiver Collin Johnson in his second career start, he told his father he wasn’t worried. He shut Johnson down for zero catches when defending him. Throughout LSU’s title run, opponents completed just 37 percent of passes for 6.6 yards per attempt, per Pro Football Focus, which rated him the No. 1 corner in the FBS. So once LSU entered the 2020 offseason, Stingley wasn’t just one of the biggest stars in the sport. He was widely considered the best defensive player in college football. He had legitimate Heisman Trophy hype, and the biggest offseason question was whether coach Ed Orgeron would let him play receiver, too. Everything in his life was going according to plan. Then, the pandemic hit. Stingley’s life had been scheduled down to the minute. School, training, football, recruiting, etc. He joked in 2018 he didn’t really have hobbies and didn’t like watching TV. Video games weren’t his thing unless at a friend’s house. He said he often did his homework and went to bed. He usually spent unoccupied time sitting at the kitchen counter messing around on his phone while his parents sat in the family room. But he also told The Athletic, “I hate being alone. I just like being with people. It doesn’t even have to be talking. I just like being around people.” Suddenly Stingley was without his structured patterns and was isolated from other people. One of the most disciplined young athletes imaginable was thrown out of order. “It kind of shook everybody out of their routine,” veteran LSU teammate Zach Von Rosenberg said. And LSU’s 2020 was wilder than most. While Stingley’s teammates could all jump to the NFL from that dream season, he had to wait for two more years. LSU had to replace 19 starters from that 2019 team. It hired two new coordinators and a large chunk of its staff. The George Floyd murder led to even greater strife in communities, including Baton Rouge, with Black Lives Matter protests leading to major tension between players and Orgeron. Teammates Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Shelvin and Kary Vincent opted out. Then, new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini turned out to be a disaster hire, with LSU having its worst defensive season in three decades. And before the season opener against Mississippi State, Stingley was hospitalized for a mysterious allergic reaction that caused him to miss the game. He returned the next week, only to get hurt in a freak accident tripping on a down marker, and played the next five games injured. In summer 2021, Stingley told The Athletic: “There were times when things weren’t going right, and it was hard to deal with. So I talked to a lot of people. I read a lot of things for mental health. That’s what I’ve been working on.” Meanwhile, Stingley went from the most praised defensive back in the country to one who was constantly criticized. His film suffered because he was playing injured. Though the defense was a mess, opponents still completed less than 40 percent of passes on Stingley, per Sports Info Solutions. He missed the final two games of the season, and draft experts began writing that he needed to prove in 2021 he could stay healthy and get back to his 2019 performance. “It was tough,” Moffitt said. “It was tough for him emotionally. It was tough for him mentally. And it was tough for everyone around him. Because still, as developed and as gifted a person as Derek Stingley is, he is still a human being, and he was still only 19.” One afternoon in March 2020, Stingley walked into Orgeron’s office to make his case to be LSU’s next No. 7. The jersey has a mythical place in LSU lore, the number handed down to the best playmakers, such as Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Fournette and Grant Delpit, among others. He was under the assumption it was his to take. He and fellow All-American Ja’Marr Chase had talked about it before, per a source, with Chase telling Stingley he didn’t really want it and in February 2020 tweeting it was “all yours.” But when Stingley requested the number, he was too late – Chase had asked for it earlier that morning. The standout wide receiver changed his mind after his father convinced him it would be good to have the pressure of the number for more drive. “I want to have that challenge upon me,” he said. This isn’t about Stingley vs. Chase; they have a good relationship. It’s about the strange ways Stingley’s arc hasn’t gone according to plan. What appeared to be a meteoric rise ended with him playing just 10 of his final 23 LSU games. The program went from a national champion to 11-12 those two seasons. When he finally wore No. 7 his junior year, he played in just three games with an injured foot.
Spoiler Stingley will forever hold a strange place in LSU history. He’s connected to the greatest LSU season ever, a two-time All-American who might go on to an elite NFL career. But there will always be a distance between him and the legacy expected for a multitude of reasons. He wasn’t permitted to speak to the media during his special freshman season due to the program’s media rules. He was shy and reserved, and on a team with 10 stars he could fade into the background. When he was supposed to be thrust into the spotlight, the world shut down. Then he got injured. Stingley isn’t standoffish, but he’s not one who craves media attention. So the world of Zoom news conferences made it even easier for him to hide in the group. He appeared in just two or three LSU interview sessions in three years. Stingley was well-liked around the program. He worked hard, and Von Rosenberg said “you always like the guy who works hard and doesn’t tell everyone he works hard.” Anthony was one of the primary leaders in 2020 and 2021, and he said, “He was always kind of quiet, but when he got around people like me or the DBs, people he felt comfortable with, you saw a different Stingley.” He was goofy and funny. At the pro day in April, he kept to himself, but he cheered on Cordale Flott and watched as Jontre Kirklin dominated the vertical jump. His post-pro day interview was strategically brief with one-word answers; the only full answer he gave came when describing Flott and Kirklin as he wanted to hype up his friends. The questions about Stingley persist. One coach told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman: “You wonder: Is the drive or fire there? He had that great freshman year. I don’t know what’s happened the past two years. He’s got the ability to be really good. I just wonder if he’s built for it.” It was also common to hear comments from staff about Stingley having a great day and countering, “Dad must have been there,” or “scouts must have been there.” That’s frustrating to others in the building. They scoff at the narrative of Stingley quitting on the team to protect his draft stock. They say he played seven games in 2020 with lingering ankle and quad injuries as the team fell apart around him and still had good coverage numbers. They say he initially suffered the Lisfranc injury in his foot during the 2021 fall camp and insisted on playing, only to further injure it. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, he didn’t want it. He didn’t want to play last year,’” Moffitt said. “He was adamant about not having surgery on his foot. He wanted to play. He did not want to not play last year.” Anthony and Fulton had the same Lisfranc injury earlier in their careers. Stingley kept asking trainers to wrap it up or tape it and make it work, while Anthony recalls telling him, “You’ve got a lot going for yourself. You don’t want to make it worse than it is.” He was never going to be the rah-rah leader in LSU’s locker room. But it wasn’t a style of indifference. He was vocal on the field making calls. People in the building told stories of summer workouts where a player struggled and Stingley would privately put his arm around him and say, “Come on. Stay with me.” He was far from cocky, but he wasn’t timid either. He spoke to friends about his goals and how he would do anything in his power to be the No. 1 player in the draft. When asked after his pro day what his “why” is, he uncharacteristically told reporters, “I just want to be the greatest ever. Like ever.” Stingley wasn’t a diva. He was somebody preparing for a certain goal his entire life. So at that pro day, when Stingley ran an impressive 4.4-second 40-yard dash and showed his abilities all over the field, it was a reminder to teams of what he looks like at his best. He was only physically cleared three weeks earlier, and he said he was only 100 percent for a few days. “I just wanted to show that nothing has changed the last couple of years,” Stingley said. NFL teams came to Baton Rouge to prep for the 2019 NFL Draft, and they came to talk to Moffitt, who had been developing NFL stars at LSU for two decades. As they reviewed the current draft prospects and eventually started talking about the guys on the upcoming team, they started talking about Joe Burrow. “The guy is going to be the next Peyton Manning,” Moffitt said in his confident Tennessee twang. A scout snickered. “He thought that **** was funny,” Moffitt recalled. The scout said, “Coach, that’s a big claim.” Moffitt was on Tennessee’s strength staff from 1994-1997, so he saw Manning up close. He retorted, “There’s two people on this earth who coached Joe Burrow and Peyton Manning, and you’re looking at one. And I’m telling you Joe Burrow is going to be better than Peyton Manning.” Burrow won a Heisman months later and made a Super Bowl in his second NFL season. How does this relate to Stingley? Moffitt understands the NFL draft is an inexact science, with all its projections and media experts and scouts trying to compile data on hundreds of players’ entire lives in the span of months. So when asked about Stingley reportedly going from the No. 2 overall prospect in the entire draft to falling with concerns, he doesn’t pay it much mind. “I don’t believe all that crap,” he said. “Derek Stingley is going to have a phenomenal career.” His stock exists in a fascinating place, because when healthy and at his best he may be the best player in this draft class. But in three years, he’s only been healthy enough to prove it in one of those years. And his tape in the others isn’t as impressive because he tried to play through it. He is both damned by questions of how much he wants it and damned by questions of his tape because he played through it. As the draft gets closer, most projections have Stingley in the top half of the first round. He’s still going to make millions of dollars and be in a good situation. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft projects him at No. 9 to Seattle, while few have him falling further than No. 12 to Minnesota. “Whoever gets him, they are gonna get a dominant, fierce player,” Anthony said. “He’s one of those guys you can’t pass up. If you do, that’s your loss.” So much of the Derek Stingley story is about control. Control of his schedule. Control of his development. His greatest strengths and weaknesses were born out of him doing everything under control. Once that gets stripped, new lessons need to be learned. New skills need to be added. Because Stingley’s future success won’t be rooted in his ability. It’s if he’s learned to find control amid the chaos.
Best names of the draft https://theathletic.com/3267412/2022/04/25/2022-nfl-draft-best-names/ Spoiler Most likely Chris Bermanisms 13. Chauncey Manac “Monday” (Edge, Louisiana) 12. Cal Adomitis “touch” (LS, Pittsburgh) 11. De’Montre “the” Tuggle “is real” (RB, Ohio) 10. Jordan Happle “seed” (S, Oregon) 9. Matt “OK” Corral (QB, Ole Miss) 8. Cole Strange “bedfellows” (C, Chattanooga) 7. Gerrit Prince “of thieves” (TE, UAB) 6. Russ Yeast “common denominator” (S, Kansas State) 5. Drake “werewolves of” London (WR, USC) 4. Marquan McCall “me maybe” (DT, Kentucky) 3. Markell Utsey “daisy” (DT, Arkansas) 2. Matt Waletzko “fly a kite” (T, North Dakota) 1. Kaleb “Hillbilly” Eleby (QB, Western Michigan) Most likely to be drafted by a team in Florida 1. Ponce Deleon (S, Shepherd) Most likely to be Charles Barkley’s nickname in Paris 2. Trey Gross (WR, Delaware State) 1. LeCharles Pringle (WR, Alcorn State) Most likely to have little brother syndrome 1. Nicholas Petit-Frere (T, Ohio State) Best names for the position 3. L.B. Mack (LB, Rhode Island) 2. Jawon Pass (QB, Prairie View A&M) 1. Duce Sproles (RB, Henderson State) Most likely to be described as “electric” 1. Benjie Franklin (CB, Tarleton State) Most likely to eat Christmas pie 1. Jack Koerner (S, Iowa) Most likely to be scribbled on a bathroom stall 1. Devontay Love-Taylor (G, Florida State) Most likely to hoard crows 1. Mike Rose (LB, Iowa State) Most likely to collect sneakers 1. Mike Hicks (S, Fort Valley State) Best to imagine being said by the members of A Tribe Called Quest 1. Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh) Funniest spoonerisms 15. Nick Ford (C, Utah) 14. Justin Rigg (TE, Kentucky) 13. Bryan Cook (S, Cincinnati) 12. Braxton Jones (T, Southern Utah) 11. Tobias Little (RB, Missouri State) 10. Jack Wohlabaugh (C, Duke) 9. Roy Baker (CB, Eastern Kentucky) 8. JoJo Domann (LB, Nebraska) 7. Titus Wall (S, Missouri State) 6. Lee Pitts (CB, Sioux Falls) 5. Jalen Nailor (WR, Michigan State) 4. Mitchell Brinkman (TE, South Florida) 3. Nicholas Lenners (TE, Kansas State) 2. Tucker Fisk (TE, Stanford) 1. Martin Foray (S, St. Francis) Worst person to share a locker with 1. Dave Jones (CB, Weber State) Best sung in a Pearl Jam voice 1. Jaylil Bannerman (Edge, Utah State) Best nickname for a surfing male pig 1. Brodarious Hamm (T, Auburn) Worst names to have had in middle school 7. Gabe Bautz (G, Northwest Missouri State) 6. Caleb Bonner (LB, Arkansas State) 5. Nolan Cockrill (DT, Army) 4. Cameron Dicker (K, Texas) 3. Timmy Horne (DT, Kansas State) 2. Jeremiah Baltrip (CB, Southeast Oklahoma State) 1. Kalil Pimpleton (WR, Central Michigan) Worst person to hire for your wedding 3. Thayer Munford (G, Ohio State) 2. Api Mane (G, Florida International) 1. DJ Stubbs (WR, Liberty) Best romance novel objects of desire 13. Leddy French II (S, Angelo State) 12. Antonneous Clayton (Edge, Georgia Tech) 11. Hawk Wimmer (G, Air Force) 10. Peyton Hendershot (TE, Indiana) 9. Tariqious Tisdale (Edge, Ole Miss) 8. Cole Fotheringham (TE, Utah) 7. Sincere McCormick (RB, Texas-San Antonio) 6. Bennett Dondoyano (WR, San Diego) 5. Lance Deveaux (LB, Northern Illinois) 4. Jax Kincaide (RB, Western Michigan) 3. Valentino Daltoso (T, California) 2. Vic Viramontes (LB, UNLV) 1. Devanaire Conliffe (WR, Notre Dame (Ohio)) Best backup plan 1. Justin Chase (G, East Carolina) Most likely to appear in science fiction 30. Bailey Zappe (QB, Western Kentucky) 29. Marcelino McCrary-Ball (S, Indiana) 28. Carlins Platel (CB, South Carolina) 27. Imoni Donadelle (WR, Northwest Missouri State) 26. Qwuantrezz Knight (S, UCLA) 25. Ubong Udom (Edge, Eastern Kentucky) 24. Changa Hodge (WR, Virginia Tech) 23. La’Kendrick Van Zandt (S, TCU) 22. Niko Mermigas (S, Dartmouth) 21. Tighe Beck (TE, Assumption) 20. Jequez Ezzard (WR, Sam Houston State) 19. Quardraiz Wadley (RB, UTEP) 18. Hezekiah Grimsley (WR, Hampton) 17. Bydarrius Knighten (S, Auburn) 16. Chima Dunga (DT, Central Missouri State) 15. Nowoola Awopetu (S, Villanova) 14. Phazione McClurge (WR, Indiana State) 13. Ty Fryfogle (WR, Indiana) 12. Cyrus Habibi-Likio (RB, Boise State) 11. Xander Gagnon (LB, Northern Colorado) 10. Jalik Jaggwe (WR, William Jewell) 9. Ralfs Rusins (DT, Liberty) 8. Dahu Green (WR, Arkansas State) 7. Nous Keobounnam (C, Oregon State) 6. Keric Wheatfall (WR, Fresno State) 5. Elorm Lumor (LB, Towson) 4. Kader Kohou (CB, Texas A&M Commerce) 3. Zeno Hannibal (CB, Louisiana Tech) 2. Cordale Flott (CB, LSU) 1. ZeVeyon Furcron (G, Southern Illinois) Meanest backhanded compliment 1. Stone Smartt (QB, Old Dominion) Grossest way to describe going out 1. Chasen Hines (G, LSU) Most likely to front a Jimmy Buffett cover band 1. Jimmy Burchett (G, Notre Dame (Ohio)) Best teammate fits 6. Dylan Parham (C, Memphis) and Dylan Parham (TE, NC State) 5. Zach Tom (C, Wake Forest) and Zach Thomas (G, San Diego State) 4. Smoke Monday (S, Auburn) and Ian Fryday (TE, Adams State) 3. Smoke Monday and Blaise Andries (G, Minnesota) 2. Smoke Monday and Anthony Budd (S, Monmouth) 1. Casey Williams (Edge, Stony Brook) and Joe Joe Headen (CB, Old Dominion) Worst teammate fits 1. Chase Pine (LB, Pittsburgh) and Bryce Notree (LB, Southern Illinois) Best suited to exchange an ‘R’ 1. Karl Mofor (RB, Army) and Ben Stille (DT, Nebraska) Most poetic 9. Kolby Harvell-Peel (S, Oklahoma State) 8. JT Wahee (S, Ball State) 7. Donovan McDonald (WR, Albany) 6. Nick Sink (C, Ohio) 5. Hauati Pututau (DT, Utah) 4. Cody Rudy (FB, Ball State) 3. Nasir Greer (S, Wake Forest) 2. Amon Simon (T, Texas A&M Commerce) 1. Rashid Shaheed (WR, Weber State) Best names for a professional wrestler 18. Reid Jurgensmeier (WR, Morningside) 17. Tomon Fox (LB, North Carolina) 16. Yusuf Corker (S, Kentucky) 15. Vitaliy Gurman (C, Toledo) 14. Chris Steele (CB, USC) 13. Luiji Vilain (Edge, Wake Forest) 12. Grayson Gunter (TE, Southern Mississippi) 11. Cazz Martin (RB, Minnesota-Duluth) 10. Milton Bugg III (CB, Air Force) 9. Skyy Moore (WR, Western Michigan) 8. Woo Scott Jr. (DT, Eastern Michigan) 7. Messiah Divine (RB, Wagner) 6. Slade Bolden (WR, Alabama) 5. Joey Noble (Edge, New Mexico) 4. Adam Sparks (CB, Louisiana-Monroe) 3. Baer Hunter (C, Appalachian State) 2. Big Kat Bryant (Edge, UCF) 1. Alex Wright (Edge, UAB) Best heard pronounced by Arnold Schwarzenegger 5. Zein Obeid (T, Ferris State) 4. Keke Chism (WR, Missouri) 3. Erik Krommenhoek (TE, USC) 2. Max Bortenschlager (QB, Florida International) 1. Kameron Toomer (Edge, Nevada) Best heard pronounced by Sean Connery 8. Alvinoski LaFleur (S, Eastern Michigan) 7. Jordan Ighofose (G, Grambling) 6. Sage Doxtater (T, New Mexico State) 5. Levi Falck (WR, Nebraska) 4. Qwynnterrio Cole (S, Louisville) 3. Jamal Holloway (Edge, Central State) 2. Samuel Womack (CB, Toledo) 1. Shaq Bond (S, Utah State) Best baseball players 6. Tre Turner (WR, Virginia Tech) 5. Ben Davis (LB, Texas) 4. David Bell (WR, Purdue) 3. Josh Johnson (WR, Tulsa) 2. Michael Young Jr. (WR, Cincinnati) 1. Kevin Brown (RB, Incarnate Word) Best basketball players 6. Bryan Cook (S, Cincinnati) 5 (tie). Isaiah Thomas (Edge, Oklahoma) and Isaiah Thomas (CB, UC-Davis) 4. Mark Jackson (Edge, Western New Mexico) 3. Dennis Johnson (DT, Grand Valley State) 2. Coby Bryant (CB, Cincinnati) 1. Chris Paul (G, Tulsa) Best football players 2. Darius Philon (WR, Benedict) 1. Stephen Davis (LB, North Carolina A&T) Worst football player 1. Seth Green (WR, Houston) Most prestigious high schools 3. Desdamon Lake (S, Ohio Dominican) 2. Logan Hall (Edge, Houston) 1. Bishop McDonald (S, Minnesota) Most obvious witness protection names 4. Brandon Bowling (WR, Utah State) 3. TieNeal Martin (S, Tulsa) 2. Andrew Parchment (WR, Florida State) 1. Ricky Person Jr. (RB, NC State) Best sentences 6. Cameron Dukes (QB, Lindsey Wilson) 5. Race Porter (P, Washington) 4. Najee Reams (S, North Carolina A&T) 3. Jay Rose (TE, Connecticut) 2. Michael Roots (RB, Colorado State-Pueblo) 1. Darrian Beavers (LB, Cincinnati) Most likely to sell off-brand glue 1. Will Ulmer (C, Marshall) Most needed by Bonnie Tyler 1. Bobby Deharo (G, UTEP)
Potential Texans targets https://theathletic.com/3266720/2022/04/25/texans-nfl-draft-big-board/ Spoiler But with the help of Dane Brugler’s draft guide, “The Beast,” we identified some possible Day 1 and Day 2 fits for the Texans. Drake London, WR, USC: Standing almost 6-4 and weighing 219 pounds, London has the most prototypical size of the top tier of receivers in this draft. The former basketball player can win 50/50 balls, but he’s also a pretty fluid athlete for his size. He primarily played in the slot during his first two seasons at USC. He’d immediately be one of the Texans’ most well-rounded receivers. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama: With Brandin Cooks now under contract through 2024, speed is not necessarily the Texans’ greatest need at receiver, but Williams could be hard to pass up if he falls to No. 13, when the Texans make their second pick in the first round. If not for a torn ACL in the national championship game that could delay Williams’ pro debut, he’d maybe be WR1 in this draft. And if any team can afford to be patient while betting on upside, it’s the Texans. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama: The Athletic’s Nate Tice mocks Neal to Houston at No. 3 overall. He’s maybe the most polished all-around tackle in this class, and he played left guard, right tackle and left tackle at Alabama. That positional versatility could be handy for a Texans line that’s in flux pretty much everywhere other than at left tackle. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State: Brugler ranks him as the top offensive linemen in this class and has previously mocked him No. 1 overall. Ekwonu, who played left tackle and left guard in college, has movement traits to be an elite run blocker. That might be appealing to Caserio after the Texans finished last in rushing DVOA for the second straight season. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: More of a project than Neal or Ekwonu, Penning could be an option for Texans at No. 13 overall, or perhaps even a bit later in the draft if Houston trades back. He’s raw after playing offensive line for just one season in high school, but he displayed impressive growth — both on the field and in the weight room — at Northern Iowa. At 6-foot-7, Penning is likely a tackle only. Drafting him would mean Tytus Howard probably starts at guard for the Texans in 2022. Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College: After transferring from FCS Davidson, Johnson became Brugler’s top-ranked guard in this class. If the Texans are able to trade back from No. 13 into the 20s to draft Johnson, they could make a major improvement to their line while picking up additional assets. Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M: Green could go late in Round 1 or possibly be available to the Texans at No. 37 overall, in the second round. He struggled with penalties throughout his college career, but his versatility is attractive: He was the only college player to play 80-plus snaps at four different offensive line positions in 2021, lining up everywhere but center. Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon: There’s annually a prospect subject to odd criticisms about his personality and off-field interests. This year, it’s Thibodeaux. Once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick, Thibodeaux might fall behind Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Georgia’s Travon Walker to be available to the Texans at No. 3 overall. The Texans are in desperate need of a Pro Bowl-level edge rusher to complement 2020 third-round pick Jon Greenard, and Thibodeaux is arguably as good an option as any in this draft. The Athletic’s Diante Lee considers him to have a higher ceiling than Hutchinson and a higher floor than Walker. Jermaine Johnson, edge, Florida State: An option at No. 13 or perhaps even a bit later in the first round, Johnson led the ACC in sacks (12), TFLs (18) and forced fumbles (2) while playing in a four-man front during his lone season at Florida State. Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia: The Texans have greater needs than defensive tackle, but Lovie Smith has said his defense starts at the three-technique spot, and Wyatt is the best three-technique in the class. On a talented Georgia defense, he led all Bulldog defensive linemen in tackles the past two seasons. The 13th overall pick would probably be a little rich for a defensive tackle, though, so he makes more sense if Houston trades back. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: The Texans’ linebacking corps is a collection of veterans on short-term deals and 2021 fifth-round pick Garret Wallow, so Dean could make an impact right away. Dean is on the smaller end at 5-11, 231, but Caserio hasn’t stocked the position with more traditional run-thumpers, so that might not be an issue. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU: His best production came during LSU’s national championship season in 2019. That might be alarming to some, but Stingley offers superstar potential at a premium position. Smith said he prioritizes ball skills when evaluating corners, and Stingley recorded a combined 32 pass breakups and interceptions in 25 collegiate games. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati: At 6-foot-2, Gardner is a couple of inches taller than Stingley and a more physical corner. He thrives in bump-and-run coverage that allows him to stay in a receiver’s pocket. That might not be as ideal of a fit for Smith’s zone-heavy system, but Gardner is Brugler’s CB1. Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame: Safety is arguably the Texans’ thinnest position after losing Justin Reid in free agency. Picking the ultra-versatile Hamilton, the draft’s top safety, would allow the Texans to fill the many different holes in their secondary. Day 2 Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State: Walker is Brugler’s No. 1 back in this class. He transferred from Wake Forest to Michigan State before running for more than 1,600 yards in his lone season as a full-time starter. With 263 carries in 2021, Walker proved he could be the workhorse the Texans’ backfield is missing. Like a lot of college backs, he’s unproven as a receiver. But according to Pro Football Focus, he led the nation last season in broken tackles, a stat that tends to be sticky from college to the NFL. Brain Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama: Robinson finally got his chance to be the Tide’s lead back during his fifth and final year in Tuscaloosa. He averaged five yards per carry in Bill O’Brien’s pro-style scheme and showed upside as a receiver (35 catches for 296 yards). Robinson is an option if the Texans choose to wait until the middle rounds to address one of the sport’s less-valued positions. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State: Slot receiver was a rotating door for the Texans in 2021. Shakir, who averaged 121.5 all-purpose yards during his junior and senior seasons, could offer some stability. He’d be an option in the return game, too. Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia: The Texans are currently set to run it back with an underwhelming pair of inline tight ends in Pharaoh Brown and Antony Auclair. Woods is a mid-round option who could help the Texans right away as a blocker. He also has the potential to be an asset in high-leverage situations, as he used his 6-foot-7 frame to produce a first down or touchdown on 70.5% of his receptions in 2021. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota: An Australian native, Faalele didn’t suit up for a football game until his senior year of high school, but his large frame — currently 6-8, 384 pounds — was enough to get the attention of college programs. However, his size also limits his range and speed. At the next level, he’s likely to stay at right tackle, the position he played in college. Dylan Parham, OG/C, Memphis: At 6-2, 311 pounds, Parham is best suited to play center in the NFL, but he was a guard and tackle in college. Still, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner loves his consistently savvy use of leverage in the run game. The Texans have center Justin Britt on a two-year contract, so they can be patient while Parham adjusts to center. Cameron Thomas, edge, San Diego State: He’s an average athlete but possesses a nose for the ball in the backfield, as evidenced by his 20.5 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in 2021. He likely won’t be as productive on a play-to-play basis in the NFL, but he has the prototypical size (6-4, 267) to be an every-down edge rusher in Smith’s four-man front. Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee: As mentioned when discussing Wyatt above, defensive tackle isn’t one of the Texans’ biggest needs, so it might make more sense to add to the position in the middle rounds with a player like Butler. He doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, but he’s a scheme-versatile three-technique who got better every season at Tennessee. Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State: Currently holding 11 picks in this draft, the Texans can afford to take a few big swings, especially after Day 1. Williams is just that, having played corner for one season in high school and just two at the Division II level. His background as a receiver gives him the ball skills Smith covets (24 pass breakups and five interceptions in his last 20 games), and the Texans can afford to be patient while refining his technique as an outside corner. Alontae Taylor, DB, Tennessee: A college corner who could move to safety, Taylor profiles as a potential core special teams player, according to Brugler. Not exciting, but the Texans need to build that depth in the middle rounds.
