DRAFT TRACKER 2022

Austin's progression in 2021 might force evaluators to tear up early season notes and pay closer attention to his second half of the season. Despite noticeable in-season improvement, he hasn't played much college football and should require a little longer developmental period for route-running, catch consistency and instincts for the position. His size, traits and ball skills on deep throws are instant checkmarks in his favor and his reputation as an elite practice player earlier in his career should carry some weight. He has middle-round value with a higher ceiling but lower floor.

Fiery team leader and combative runner who leaves it all out on the field. Williams has been a worker bee with a willingness to do the heavy lifting on all three downs and has premium third-down talent both in blitz pickup and as a route-runner out of the backfield. The Patriots' usage of James White, Dion Lewis and Brandon Bolden might be the blueprint for how to utilize Williams in the NFL.

Nose tackle prospect with a well-earned reputation for making it hard on blockers to do their job in the run game. Farrell has seen personal maturity and development in his play that allowed him to consistently bully opponents as a physical force in the middle in 2021, but he tested poorly at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He will be somewhat tethered to home base but could help in upgrading a leaky run defense. Farrell is a two-gapping nose with Day 3 value.

Woolen's draft grade could require altering the tape-to-traits ratio, with his elite traits garnering a higher percentage of the projection than might normally be the case. Woolen has shown growth over his two years at cornerback but he's still raw and needs time to get where he needs to go. He has an exceptionally rare blend of size, length and speed to contest catches on all three levels of the field if a team can develop his technique. A lack of commitment as a run supporter will need to be addressed, though. Woolen's rare measurables and potential to play in a variety of schemes make him worthy of drafting and molding for the long haul.

Long-armed guard/tackle prospect who is fueled by energy and athletic ability. Burford has the foot quickness and agility teams are looking for as a move blocker but his play can be rushed and unfocused, which can turn a win into a loss on any given rep. He needs to add muscle mass and drop the pad level, but has enough bend in his lower half to become a more consistent drive blocker with technique work. He can do a better job of uncorking a stiffer punch into rushers but he gets the most out of his length in pass protection and has the recovery athleticism to make up for missteps. Burford's physical traits and positional flexibility give him a head start in chasing a roster spot.

Elastic, long-limbed edge defender whose unbridled, attacking style brings both highs and lows in every game. Smith's urgent motor is an ingredient that gives him a chance to find some success in the pros, but his inefficiencies and lack of body control limit his ceiling. Filling out the frame -- especially his lower half -- will be essential to become a functional edge setter. His pass rush is long and slippery, and there are enough flashes to intrigue evaluators looking for a rotational 4-3 end with sub-package rush potential.

Offensive line prospect who checks multiple boxes in both the traits and intangibles categories. Evaluators are sure to love Lowe's personal character as well as his measurables. He's big, strong and long but needs to play with better hand accuracy and technique to fully unlock those traits. Bend and athleticism are both strengths for Lowe, who is a scheme-independent talent. He's allowed too many pressures and sacks during his career but has the tools for rapid improvement with a few coaching fixes. Lowe is worthy of middle-round consideration as a swing tackle with guard potential.

Productive safety who will create a classic matchup pitting the traits versus the tape. In one corner we have an undersized, short-armed safety with average speed. In the other corner we have game tape highlighting McKinley's instincts, short-area quickness, aggressive demeanor and nose for making plays on the football. He's going to give way to some of the bigger bodies he'll encounter in the NFL, but he's a natural football player with an above-average feel for timing and angles. The traits could impact his draft slotting, but McKinley has the talent to make plays as a nickel safety.

Two-year starter with NFL size and athletic traits to expect continued improvement on the next level. Gray has good footwork and balance for a taller corner and shows trust in his footwork and technique that many younger cornerbacks don't have. He can gather and hound underneath routes and has the length and strength to make contested catches a serious chore for wideouts. The big concern will be Gray's top-end speed, as there are instances on tape where he simply could not keep up with the man across from him. He has the talent to become a CB3/4, but might need protection within the scheme.

Undersized linebacker but you wouldn't know it by the way McClain plays the game. His block take-ons are explosive and worthy of highlight reels by themselves. His lack of size doesn't factor as much as expected, but his lack of length catches up with him as both a short-area and pursuit tackler. McClain is more than capable of handling his business near the line of scrimmage but he's an average athlete with unremarkable range who might not offer enough third-down value for some teams. He has good backup talent with a chance to become an eventual starter as an outside 'backer in a 4-3 or inside 'backer in a 3-4.

Productive three-year starter with desired combination of size and foot quickness. Ezukanma has enough speed to get down the field and challenge coverage while displaying an innate sense for protecting and finishing contested catches underneath. The route tree has been limited by scheme, but he's not as polished with the routes he runs as he should be for his experience level. Size, ball skills and toughness work in his favor as a quality backup with some upside.

Durable, reliable and consistent, Ferguson comes from a football family. He had copy-and-paste receiving production throughout his career despite playing in a limited passing attack with inconsistent quarterback play. He has outstanding ball skills, including a rare level of concentration to make challenging catches in the face of oncoming collisions. While he gives effort as a blocker, he wasn't a great fit for what Wisconsin asks of their tight ends in the running game and he's likely to be overmatched if asked to take on defensive ends in the NFL. He is a solid receiver and a below-average blocker with TE2/3 potential.

Handled both kicking and punting duties but will be a full-time punter at the next level. Stout combines quality power with outstanding touch to flip fields and throw darts depending upon his positioning. He hangs the ball up to limit returns and rarely boots it into the end zone. He's consistent and works with quick operation time. He has the makings of a steady, long-term NFL punter.

Running back with size and senior year production, but the tape is more average than exciting. White is a tight-hipped runner lacking desired lateral agility and burst after changing direction. He has a tendency to be slowed or stopped by first-level tacklers but is a more natural runner once he gets up to the second level. He fails to show enough creativity to escape the "gets what is blocked" tag, but he does run with adequate vision. His lack of breakaway speed and limited special teams background won't help his chances, so he needs to shine early in camp to give himself an opportunity to make a team as a RB3.

Tackle-to-guard prospect with run-blocking talent to work with, Thomas is a fit for zone-scheme teams as a sticky move blocker with the ability to shift and stay connected while continuing to keep his feet moving. He lacks the desired mass and power to generate much downhill push, but improved hand placement could help. His play strength, in general, needs an upgrade, as does his protection posture, to prevent defenders from exploiting certain flaws. Thomas has late-round potential and could find a place on an NFL roster as a guard with emergency tackle flexibility.

Beefy right tackle prospect who succeeds with toughness and strength. Stueber is split-low with excess girth across his torso and might have teams considering him as both a guard and a tackle. He's strong in his uppers and lowers but would benefit from better bend for increased leverage. He plays with good feel for pocket depth and can neutralize power rushers but will have trouble successfully setting out to NFL edge speed. He's built for power and gap run schemes but is more of a neutralizer than finisher. Toughness, size, strength and potential as a two-position player add to his chances of playing in the league.

Developmental cornerback with good speed and excellent length; he also needs to start hitting stacks of weights and pancakes. Getting Flott to fill out and grow into his frame should be the top priority for teams taking a chance on him. He plays the game fast and hard, but he hasn't been able to find a functional level of control and recognition in his coverage. He has inside/outside experience, but the length and speed make him a likely perimeter cornerback once he gets fully acclimated outside. The athletic upside is great, but it will be asking a lot of Flott to take on big targets, which could limit his overall ceiling.

Sam linebacker with quality play strength and a fight-it-out demeanor. Rose is much better in the box, where he can scrape downhill and attack the blocking scheme. He's more than capable of playing off blocks and disrupting downhill rushing attacks, but his success rate suffers greatly when forced to cover more ground and make open-field tackles. He's a physical blitzer on passing downs but will be a liability in coverage. Rose has a chance to become a backup 4-3 Sam or 3-4 inside linebacker but his lack of pursuit speed could hinder his upward mobility.

Two-year starter with a fierce field demeanor but limitations that could be a concern in the passing game. Monday's an alpha with hitting always on his mind, but occasionally the big-game hunting will lead to missed tackles. He lacks top-end speed to stay connected for long periods of time and his instincts and play recognition can be spotty when processing. Monday should find a role as a force player near the line of scrimmage but his ceiling might be dictated by how a team decides to use him.

Well-built, highly productive zone-scheme runner with impressive vision and feel for the job. Allgeier is smooth and instinctive with one-cut talent. He effectively navigates the ebbs and flows of run lane development. He's more agile than twitchy and relies on his ability to quickly process. While he sees it clearly, his pace and burst can be a little hit-or-miss and might allow for NFL defenses to prevent the chunk play. Allgeier is clearly talented as a runner but will need to prove his explosiveness. He offers very little third-down value right now and could be tabbed as a solid backup in a move-based rush attack.

Explosive, athletic runner with good size but a lack of discipline in his running style. White was a high school runner who played linebacker at Florida State but returned to running back at South Carolina in 2021. He's entertaining to watch with unpredictable, razor-sharp cuts from any spot on the field, but he frequently strays from designed run tracks, which prevents him from finding a rhythm. White has plenty of tread left on the tire and his blend of size and explosiveness will be very appealing for teams looking for a developmental RB3 with run/catch upside to move up the depth chart.

Jones has moments where he can overwhelm his level of competition with size and length, but he's currently lacking the technique and force needed to succeed against NFL defenders. Jones' run blocking isn't as dynamic or athletic as expected and his issues with pad level are a concern. However, he has good slide quickness, developmental traits and talent that should not be overlooked in pass protection. Shoddy footwork and a lack of half-man leverage in his pass sets led to a rough game against Arizona State, but both areas are correctable with work. He has the upside to become an average starting left tackle, but swing tackle feels like the safer projection.

Long-legged and lean, Johnson is a feast-or-famine slot target with explosive top-end speed but disappointing hands. He will stress defenses with his vertical juice and has the burst to uncover over the first two levels with more route-running polish. Johnson's troubling lack of ball skills will be hard for evaluators to discount, but the playmaking talent just hits a little harder than the drops will. The ceiling is on the higher end but the floor is on the lower end as a WR4/5 with potentially more value than just being a field-stretcher.

Three-year starter offering premium size and length at the guard position. McKethan plays to his size with the ability to mash and move single blocks and double teams. He's best suited for gap and power schemes, but will struggle against moving fronts that force him to react quickly to action in his gaps. The pass protection is going to be a little leaky due to his lack of slide quickness and trouble versus twists. McKethan's blend of size and power should make him a Day 3 pick and future NFL backup.

Interior lineman who plays with heavy hands to pop and separate for an early advantage, but heavy feet that prevent him from doing enough with it. He can handle some of the heavy lifting, but not all. Ogbonnia will flash as a one-technique or tilted nose but lacks the pad level and parking brake to hold it down as a 3-4 nose. He has very average quickness and does not profile as a mismatch defender. He is not an NFL pass-rush threat. He had splashy moments at the Senior Bowl and has a shot as a backup 4-3 nose but could offer some position flexibility for teams running varied fronts.

Rocked up runner with aggressive disposition and relatively low mileage on his tires. Conner is a scheme-versatile runner, which could help him as he transitions to the next level. He's more than willing to choose violence on every snap but rarely allows that mindset to prevent him from seeking out less-trafficked pathways with his vision. He will run himself into some tackles because of his red-hot tempo, but ironically, he's a patient and highly effective short-yardage back. Conner's disappointing showing at the NFL Scouting Combine is hard to ignore, though, and could hurt his standing with evaluators. Conner has three-down talent and projects as a good committee back with the frame to carry a workload if needed.

Perimeter cornerback with appealing size and traits for press-man, but confidence and consistency were missing from his 2021 tape. Castro-Fields' length, strength and athleticism are likely to be viewed as moldable features by defensive back coaches. However, he is missing the desired stickiness to the route and lacks spatial awareness and ball-hawking instincts from zone. His run support commitment is a bit disappointing relative to his size. Castro-Fields possesses the tools and versatility to operate as a backup in a variety of coverage schemes and is a middle-round value with upside traits.

His impressive 2021 should pump some life into Chandler's draft stock. After sharing carries at Tennessee, Chandler took a bigger bite out of the pie at North Carolina, seeing spikes in yardage, yards per carry and touchdown production. He's a smooth strider who can become a little disjointed when processing and attacking the blocking scheme. Chandler needs to turn up the play speed in the early stages to attack the fleeting run lanes he will see in the pros. In a deep running back draft, Chandler's ability to catch passes and return kicks should help improve his chance of being selected on Day 3.

There is a lot to like about Thornton's game, including his instincts, long speed and ability to create separation on the move. He's a vertical threat with the speed and poise to win deep and has an excellent feel for maintaining spacing when working against zone coverage. He's skinny and linear, which is a bad combination in defeating strong press-man corners on the next level. The poise and catch radius will work in his favor, but the success rate on contested catches will be lower than teams like, based upon his history and physical traits. Wideouts with his size profile have struggled mightily to succeed in the league, but Thornton's speed and talent make him worthy of a shot on Day 3.

Tough-nosed, inline tight end who should garner attention for his resolve in handling his blocking duties for the Cyclones' rushing attack. His measured size and length are both good, but a lack of girth in his lower body hinders his base strength and drive blocking. Allen is technically sound at the point of attack and plays with a dirt-dog demeanor that coaches will love. He's not a natural route runner but he's fairly athletic in space and might be capable of becoming a more well-rounded "Y" tight end if given the chance. Allen could be a riser in the draft process as a Day 3 candidate.

Cornerback with four years of playoff experience and two national titles under his belt. Kendrick has played against some of the best wideouts in the game but has a history of struggling in some of those matchups. He lacks speed and strength to stay outside but his quickness and route recognition should help him move inside as a nickel. He's athletic and capable underneath with excellent ball skills but can be exploited by long speed and needs safety help in those matchups. He's unreliable as a tackler, but concerns over character and maturity appear to be a bigger issue for him. Talent and those concerns need to be weighed, but Kendrick has CB3/CB4 potential in the right scheme.

Upside free safety with feast-or-famine tackle approach that creates inconsistencies teams will need to have corrected. Butler vacillates between punishing hitting and taking arm-tackling angles in the open field. He's average in man coverage but plays with instincts and catch disruption from zone. He might see an uptick in his future value if he can get his run tackling solidified. Butler's outstanding work as a gunner adds to his draft day value and likelihood of sticking around the league.

Three-year starter with clear eyes and plus instincts who has suffered from an alarming number of missed tackles in run support over the years. Corker is more than eager to help in the run game and he seems to relish contact. His angles to the ball, however, are inconsistent and he has too many tackle attempts slide from his grasp. Hip tightness limits his transition fluidity in space, but his recognition is good and he plays with a downhill trigger that can bring him ball production. Corker's tackling must improve, but he's a good player with dime safety potential.

Offensive line prospect with five-position experience, a broad frame and good overall strength. He has good length and can play square against bigger, odd-front defenders, which is extremely valuable at center. He needs to stay under his pads and play with a wider base on a more consistent basis. However, he has drive-blocking talent and should benefit from his pass protection experience. Mays has the potential to become a starting center in time.

A four-year starter with good size and football IQ, Benford plays the game with good physicality in coverage and in run support. However, he appears to lack desired top-end speed. He has an impressive talent for feeling play development near the line of scrimmage and reading routes in space. His instincts and length bring impressive ball production and he frequently flips 50/50 throws in his favor with his ability to body and eliminate the wideout. He can play zone or man but needs some scheme protection against speedy targets. Benford is a willing tackler and could be in consideration for a spot at cornerback or safety in the future.

Inside/outside target who is more smooth than sudden in uncovering over the first two levels of the field. Bell is like a crafty pitcher with a limited fastball but a variety of pitches to get hitters out. He wins with process over speed and has an ability to keep man coverage off-balance with rhythmic route-running and detailed footwork. While the tape has several elements to excite the viewer, the lack of functional explosiveness, speed and change of direction he showed at the NFL Scouting Combine simply can't be ignored. He's a willing worker in the middle of the field and has a savvy element to his game, but he'll have to prove he's better than his testing suggested as a Day 3 prospect.

Well-built back with NFL size and athletic ability but the vision and creativity are just OK. Ford lacks the desired instincts and recognition of run-lane development, but he's fast, strong and athletic. He has the tools to find yards with those traits. He's a talented, explosive option out of the backfield with soft hands and the speed to mismatch linebackers out in space. The pieces aren't all in place, but Ford could have a future as a change-of-pace slasher with third-down value.

Diesch is highly athletic with the initial quickness and fluidity to stand out on reach blocks, second-level cut-offs and long pulls in space. He's scheme-dependent, lacking strength to generate movement as a drive blocker. He lacks functional length and the anchor needed to keep NFL speed-to-power rushers from ruining his day. If he can add the necessary strength and mass, he'll have a chance to find snaps in a heavily move-oriented offense.

Three-year starter whose unorthodox movements can be off-putting until you realize they also help put him in position to make plays. Whether playing the run or rushing the passer, Sanders is flexible and slippery, making it hard to sustain run blocks and mirror him during pass sets. He needs to diversify his rush counters but has the foot quickness and efficiency of movement to cut a cleaner path into the pocket. Sanders is a segmented mover with a slender build and might need a move to 3-4 outside linebacker to keep from being mauled by NFL blocking. He has the potential to earn snaps as a designated pass rusher.

Explosive edge talent whose pass rush tape far surpasses the run defense tape. Johnson won't get dominated at the point of attack, but he's far less urgent and invested in thwarting blocks. He plays with a powerful base to balance through contact but needs to work on playing past blockers for better tackle production. His pass rush offers an impressive pairing of explosive speed and elite bend that can rocket him up and around the edge to hunt quarterbacks. The traits are present to project him as a future sub-package rusher.

Mathis plays with good anticipation and ball skills but lacks the top-end speed and coverage tools needed to play pure press-man coverage. While he's played Cover 3 with some modest success in college, he lacks the traits and poise to do so in the pros. He offers short and intermediate zone-cover talent as a cornerback or dime safety on the next level. His ability to help support the run from the slot could factor in his favor.

Physical safety with the commitment and talent to handle run-support duties on the pro level. Koerner is quick to diagnose and attack, using body control and play strength to stop running plays before they get started. His short-area quickness is more translatable as a run defender than in coverage and he lacks the range and man-cover talent teams look for on the back-end. He lacks coverage versatility but he's a very capable run defender with special-teams traits who could find a backup role as a Day 3 safety.

Speedy outside target with field-stretching talent who has been beset by injuries in three separate seasons. Nailor is sudden but smooth with his route release and his gliding gait tends to mask his acceleration, allowing him to climb quickly past the coverage. While he can work deep, he has the agility and body control to become a more effective route specialist on all three levels. Nailor is a competitor but has some trouble winning battles against stronger, physical corners. Teams will need to weigh the playmaking speed against the injury background, but Nailor has the talent to become an NFL backup.

Wrecking ball on wheels who plays with the type of pace and power that makes tape study a lot of fun. Warren is a self-assured competitor who proved he could handle the workload and spotlight of the Big 12. He's decisive, with an ability to cut at full speed. However, he lacks burst and agility to expand his runs too far outside. He's a momentum runner who is much tougher to tackle with every step he takes, but he needs it blocked up, as he lacks the ability to create for himself early in the run. He's talented in the screen game and has a chance to compete for a backup role.

Quitoriano plays with adequate toughness but is missing the fluidity and instincts for outside zone blocking consistency. The former all-state hooper has good foot quickness for his size and the agility to become a solid route runner with run-after-catch talent over the first two levels. The difference between becoming a backup tight end or eventual starter rests on whether he's willing to become more of a glass-eating in-line blocker as a pro.

Undersized sub-package nickel linebacker with special-teams value on the next level. Bernard possesses elite intangibles and teams will be drawn to him because of it. He's resilient, productive and showed a willingness to play through pain. However, Bernard lacks the desired frame and play strength and will face scrutiny surrounding his injury history. He needs space to operate and has the speed for man-cover duties as a pro. If the medicals check out, he should be a Day 3 pick with sub-package value.

York was a highly ranked kicker coming out of high school and has played at a consistently high level for LSU. He gets consistent rotation on kicks from all distances and is usually near the middle of the uprights. He didn't handle kickoff duties at LSU, but has the leg to do so as a pro and should become a good NFL kicker early in his career.

Gap-stuffing nose tackle who plays with good strength to disrupt blocking from guard to guard. Davidson is an early-down run defender only, but he can be a handful to get blocked on those downs. He plays on a bulky, powerful base that helps absorb double teams with relative success and he has the upper-body strength to beat a single block. He needs to improve his hand command at the point of attack and learn to shed with better timing to help him finish more consistently. Davidson projects as a backup nose for odd or even fronts.

Long-levered defensive end with impressive body composition but limited playmaking production. Otomewo's lack of range and his two-gapping potential make him best suited for a 4i or 5-technique in a 3-4 front. He is a diligent, team-oriented defender with a focus on executing assignments but could leave a team hungry for more playmaking capability. There is untapped potential still lurking, but Otomewo might be too limited to become more than a rotational end with run-defending upside.

An athletic, three-year starter at guard with a decent frame, Smith lacks the desired measurables for the position. He is capable of working as a move blocker and out in space. However, he really struggles with hand placement and staying under control at the point of attack and on work-up blocks. His lack of consistency as a run blocker is balanced by surprising technique and success in pass protection. Some of Smith's issues are correctable through coaching and discipline, but he might not rise above the level of average backup with the ability to step in and start from time to time.