DRAFT TRACKER 2022

Projects as an instinctive zone corner with good strength but a lack of desired top-end speed. Brown has a nose for short and intermediate pattern breaks and plays with outstanding body control. He also has soft hands to take the ball away when he's in position. He's going to struggle to handle vertical speed and shifty route runners, so a zone-based coverage scheme is more likely to suit him as a pro. He's a willing run supporter whose ball skills and instincts might get him a look at safety if he can carry enough weight.

Long, rangy 4-3 defensive end with pass-rush talent to be cultivated, but a lack of stoutness at the point of attack. Thomas' field movements are a bit gawky and segmented but can also be effective. He combines efficient hands and an instinctive feel for advantageous angles to grease the edge and attack the pocket. He needs to build his lower half to improve rush consistency against physical tackles, though. Thomas' length and pass-rush talent could help him find sub-package snaps while he attempts to develop into a starting-caliber end.

High-cut 3-4 outside linebacker with the movement and motor to make positive plays in the run and pass games. Goode's size and strength won't excite evaluators, but the ability to convert effort into disruption is hard to ignore. While his athletic ability should translate to the next level, he might not be able to add much more functional mass and power to handle NFL offensive tackles. Goode's slippery rush could be worth a longer look if he can prove himself as a special teams performer but he might need to make a more full-time move from the edge to 4-3 outside linebacker.

Robinson's inexperience at linebacker will require a longer developmental runway, but it also opens the door for more impactful molding at the position. He seems to play with better speed and explosion on tape than he showed at his pro day, but inconsistent leverage and his wrap-up technique lead to missed opportunities in the run game. Robinson's special teams play will be the key to grabbing a roster spot, but even if he fails to make an active roster right away, a team might be wise to stash him on the practice squad and continue his linebacker development.

Offensive line prospect with the frame, strength and grit to make a go of it moving from tackle to guard. Carter displays some technical savvy in certain areas, but needs much more work to get to where he needs to go. He lacks explosiveness and tends to lean on his ability to maul as a run blocker. If he can get his hands and pad level locked in, he'll have a shot to become an NFL backup.

Athletic tight end with good size and the ability to be flexed around formations. Muse is a willing run blocker at the point of attack and has the body control and agility to handle move-blocking duties with some success. He's average at uncovering within the route but lacks the length and hand talent to consistently win contested catch battles.

The four-year starting safety is making the move to linebacker, where his size, speed and aggressive demeanor should help him fit more cleanly than at safety. Carpenter is a natural in run support with clear eyes and a physical approach in the box. Taking on blockers in a faster-paced game could cause bumps in the road early on. He has good pursuit range, average body control and the potential to guard tight ends. Carpenter was an excellent pro-day tester, so the traits and special teams talent could buy him an early opportunity on a roster as he learns the linebacker position.

Prospect with average size, play speed and traits. While nothing stands out for Melton from a physical standpoint, he possesses good football intelligence and can be an efficient route-runner, using leverage and purposeful movement to create some separation. He doesn't appear to have the vertical burst of a downfield weapon and his hands fail to consistently stand out. His production was clearly hampered by quarterback play and he has value as a gunner on special teams, but WR5 might be his ceiling as a late-rounder.

Paul has a guard body but played out of position at tackle over the last two seasons. There are limited downhill run reps over his last two years at tackle and his guard tape from 2019 is still a little raw, making his guard projection a tad murky. He's highly intelligent on and off the field. Picking up technique and scheme will not be a problem for him. However, picking up twists and slants might be an issue due to a lack of foot quickness and reactive agility. Paul has the size, strength, football character and toughness to play NFL guard but the limitations could make it a short stay in the league.

Reliable worker-bee linebacker who plays with impressive instincts and fundamentals that keep him in position and near the action. Spector is an average athlete with average size, but he struggles to attack and unglue from blocks on a consistent enough basis. He's an excellent finisher when facing down runners in the hole, but average length and agility drop his finishing rate substantially when he's forced to tackle on the move. Spector is rock solid, but won't make plays beyond what is expected. He has backup value as an inside linebacker or 4-3 Will.

Feisty perimeter cornerback who might need to prove he can slide inside and play nickel back in the NFL. Hicks is a much more effective press-man corner with his ability to match the release, phase the route and make plays on the football when he's in position. He struggles as a pattern-reader from off-man and gets turned around by average route-runners. He's naturally aggressive as a ball-challenger and will crash a heavy shoulder into a ball-carrier but lacks consistency as a wrap-up run finisher.

One look at Young's chiseled frame and long limbs and evaluators are likely to see a developmental prospect worthy of a late-round pick. While Young certainly looks the part, his route-running and ball skills fall short of pro expectations. He should improve in most areas with additional coaching and could see a big leap forward if he can play faster and more physically on a consistent basis. Young's traits are sure to entice, but necessary improvements could be at least a couple of years away.

Nose tackle with broad frame and intriguing snap quickness, but an alarming lack of impact on the game relative to his traits. Ford gets into the neutral zone with good knock-back power, but he's more likely to generate penetration than to actually make a play. He hasn't shown that he can read and react at the point of attack, but could get an opportunity to prove himself in a camp. He flashed rush disruption in 2019 and might be better off playing at a lighter weight to give himself the best chance to succeed in that area.

With only one year as a full-time starter at Montana State and a lack of NFL size, Hardy faces longer odds to hear his name called on Day 3 of the draft. However, his disruptive production, premium testing numbers and explosive rush potential are enough to garner attention. He needs more size and technique work but has special teams ability that will help him compete for a roster or practice squad spot as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

Leonard's best football might be ahead of him if a team is willing to show patience. He has good size and strength to press and carries the recovery speed to get back in the play when beaten. He tends to lose out on playmaking opportunities that present themselves in coverage, though. He could be pushed toward zone-heavy concepts but Leonard has a shot to develop on a practice squad if given the chance.

Slender boundary corner with an enormous amount of football snaps in his background. Lucas plays in off coverages, which is likely for the best considering his lack of strength and long speed. He typically trusts his eyes and has the traits to make plays on the football. He plays with adequate footwork to pedal and match basic routes but struggles to stay connected to more complex routes, as his body control and change of direction let him down. His lack of size will make him a target against both the run and pass at the next level. Lucas projects as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent who could struggle to find NFL work.

Munford managed his bump inside to guard in 2021, but a move back to tackle is in his best interest. He is a limited athlete and scheme-dependent in the run game. Coaches will fret over his lack of body control and footwork but he has some upper-body pop to work with if a coach can get his hand placement corrected. On his 2020 tape, he is usually first in with his hands and has the ability to derail the rush when he closes the distance properly. His heavy feet prevent fluid change of direction or sustained mirroring so matchup-based struggles are likely. He's a below-average run blocker who can look unorthodox in pass protection, but he's long and understands how to use his length to make blocks. He'll eventually be a starting tackle with guard flexibility.

Safety with good size and a great pro day. Thomas is an explosive defender with good speed and above-average range. He can play in space but needs to get better at recognizing patterns and anticipating route breaks. He has the traits and temperament to play special teams and could compete for a backup role.

Well-proportioned and well-built, Holmes spent his entire career at cornerback but has size and physicality that is more reminiscent of a safety. He can lose the route when he gets too aggressive in press and he doesn't play with the makeup burst to recover quickly. He's a physical ball-challenger when he's in position and can step up and support the run effectively. Holmes appears suited for off-man and zone coverages. He has a chance to be a late-round pick and could get a look at safety if cornerback doesn't work out.

Oladokun offers good arm talent and an ability to throw on the move and off platform. His placement and anticipation need work and he's noticeably better throwing between the numbers than outside them. He plays with plus pocket mobility and can extend the play when needed but must become a better decision-maker and field-reader to have a chance at the next level.

Cornerback with the traits worthy of consideration for a late-round pick. Barnes has legitimate track speed but his play can be too reliant upon that aspect of his game. He's a better athlete than cover man, often losing track of his coverage duties. He's athletic and has no excuses for not playing with better technique. Barnes' length and ball skills could have a team willing to plug him into a practice squad slot to see if there is more consistent football ahead for him.

Watson is big and strong. He can be a physical presence when he's playing with patience from press coverage. With just two years of experience at the FBS level, he's predictably raw with his fundamentals, but the lack of agility and short-area quickness should be more than just short-term concerns. Currently, he's unable to stay in phase with quality route runners but does have physical traits that might warrant a practice squad stint for defenses reliant upon Cover 2 and/or Cover 3 schemes.

Matthew is a height, weight, speed prospect whose allure will primarily be based on his rare blend of size and explosive athletic testing. As a 25-year-old rookie, Matthew has a somewhat limited upside but it's difficult to find corner prospects with his measurables and outstanding length. His 15 pass breakups in 2021 could give rise to hope that he's finally finding his footing as a prospect.

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.

Deaton's evaluation requires an open mind, as his body type is nowhere near the NFL norm for the center position. Despite his long-legged frame, he actually plays with adequate strength as a base blocker. He has the body control to adjust and land on second-level targets but might not be able to hold his ground sufficiently against NFL power. The body type will be an immediate non-starter for some teams, but the bigger concern for Deaton might be his evaluation as a single-position backup with no roster flexibility.

Thompson's passing production hasn't been overly impressive and his health has been an issue over the last two seasons. He has a decent arm and can make plays on the move. He's a decent field-reader who doesn't take too many unnecessary chances but he's also not going to make enough plays. The age and lack of consistent production as a passer hurt his chances.

Edge defender with good hands but a lack of size and strength for the position. Anthony will need to add more go-to moves and counters to overcome just average rush traits.

Walker possesses enticing power and measurables but has issues that could be challenging to correct if he stays at tackle. Ohio State defenders were able to burn up his outside edge, which creates concern about his pass pro range, but it can be hard to beat his anchor with pure power. He has issues playing beyond his base, creating chronic over-extension that will be exploited by skilled NFL rush talent. He's capable as a run blocker and should keep getting better with more hand work. Walker projects as a right tackle on the next level but might move inside to guard if his range and balance in pass sets aren't up to par.

Brown has a running style that lacks fluidity and the necessary quickness to stay ahead of NFL defenses. He sees it fairly clearly, but doesn't have much elusiveness for the next level. He will run hard and can break tackles, but finding his own yardage will become tough for him. Brown's lack of special teams experience and third-down value diminishes his chances.

Hard-charging, high-energy runner with three-down size and potential to compete for a roster spot as a late-round selection. Pacheco plays the game like a race car with no brakes. His feet never stop moving and his furious tempo creates opportunities but also limits his ability to set up defenders and force missed tackles. He processes the front fairly quickly and has the agility to re-adjust his running lanes to create something out of nothing, but he also has a tendency to bounce runs wide too frequently. Pacheco plays the game with an NFL demeanor and could give himself an even better chance of becoming an RB2/3 if he can step up his pass protection and third down value.

Athletic edge defender who is much more talented as a rusher than run defender. Gunter lacks the functional anchor and scrappiness to battle through contact and come out on the other side. He has the athletic ability and motor to harass the pocket, but needs to get stronger to open more rush doors in the future. Gunter has Day 3 potential as a backup 3-4 rush linebacker in a blitzing and gaming-based front.

Louisville transfer who put together his most productive college season in his lone year in Manhattan. Yeast is a smallish safety lacking the speed for single-high or man coverage and the play strength to become a functional NFL run supporter. Yeast has had way too many busts in coverage over the years, but does show the twitch and ball skills to hound the catch when he's in position. He's a likely undrafted prospect who should find a camp invite.

Five-year starter who can play all over the field but will need to find a home as he's lacking in high-level traits. Hicks is an intelligent and instinctive player with above-average aggression. His play on special teams could help him carve out a spot while he plies his craft for a zone-based defense.

Punter with good size but an average leg and mediocre control by NFL standards. He has the physical tools, but lacks consistency with his coffin-corner kicks and distance with his open-field punting. Gill improved over the second half of the season and will need to continue on that path to make an NFL roster.

Team-first leader who plays every snap like his hair is on fire. Luketa is self-made and known for putting in the work necessary to go from Ottawa tough guy to productive, two-year starter in the Big Ten. He won't blink in the face of physical challenges, using his leverage and power to hold his ground or come out on top. He lacks instincts and pursuit speed and is best suited as a 4-3 Sam linebacker but his lone season as a 4-3 end could have 3-4 teams exploring his potential as a developmental outside linebacker. No matter the scheme, Luketa's toughness and talent should make him a good backup or low-end starter with the ability to shine on special teams as early as his rookie season.

High-cut guard with a tackle's body type, Hayes could be a measurables winner with size, length and lean mass checkmarks populating his physical profile. He plays the game like a streetfighter, using length and strength to pummel overmatched opponents. However, he lacks the fundamentals to carry it over against pro competition. He's not much of a bender. Poor footwork and body control lead to inconsistencies in both run and pass blocking. He's a tough, physical finisher with coveted physical traits but needs to upgrade his hands, feet and contact posture to become more than a backup in the league.

Inside/outside target with his most productive seasons coming at Montana in 2019 and Nebraska in 2021. Toure has average NFL size and speed and below-average route-running technique, but coverage tends to struggle to stay in step with him on over routes and posts. He struggles with physical coverage and contested catch opportunities. Toure might have a shot to find a back-end roster spot in an offense looking for slot speed with a scheme allowing him to catch on the move both intermediate and deep.

Undersized but explosive, Johnson is a three-year starter with plus athletic ability who appears to be missing the physical elements needed to stay at safety as a pro. He loses battles to tight ends working underneath or down the seam and is a below-average stopper as a tackler in space. Johnson might be suited for a permanent move to nickel corner, where his pattern matching and twitch could be shaped and improved with more coaching. He needs a more aggressive approach when playing the football if he's going to make a team.

The size and muscularity in the Purdue uniform feels like a throwback to Mike Alstott but the tape fails to match expectations. Horvath needs to crank up the violence in his rush demeanor to take full advantage of his physical tools. He's agile but lacks the creativity to find yards on his own and will need to do so with pure power as a pro. If he can rebrand as a short-yardage specialist with third-down value, that would be helpful, but altering run demeanor can be a difficult task.

Right tackle prospect with good lean mass and a proportional frame ready to take on more weight. Arcuri is a methodical mover and positional blocker who is unlikely to generate much movement as a drive blocker. Timing and placement with his hands are a concern and cause inconsistencies in both phases of the game for him. Arcuri might need to prove he can play both guard and right tackle to improve his roster chances as a priority free agent.

Four-year starter who was never able to improve upon a stellar sophomore campaign. Purdy is a burly pocket quarterback who needs a play-action based offense where he can rely on timing over release quickness and arm strength. He can be a confident passer when he finds his rhythm, but throwing is more of a chore than a talent thanks to a labored release. Certain areas of the field will be off limits as he moves up to take on NFL coverage talent. He's a scrappy runner but not dynamic enough to make up for his shortcomings as a passer.