Dane Brugler’s 2022 NFL Draft Top-15 Position Rankings: Michigan pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo ascending
Dane Brugler 4h ago
With the college football regular season now complete, it is decision time for NFL prospects.
Leave for the NFL or go back to school?
Play in the bowl game or start prepping for the NFL Draft?
The answers to those questions will come over the next month followed by the all-star circuit, scouting combine and team visits, which will all shape how NFL teams stack the 2022 draft class. With several steps left on the draft calendar, positional rankings at this point in the process are firm, but will fluctuate.
Two players who have been steadily rising all season are Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. The Wolverines pass rush duo could be two of the first half-dozen defenders drafted in April, including Hutchinson competing for No. 1 overall pick status.
*
Indicates draft-eligible underclassman who has yet to declare. I did not include underclassmen who have announced they will return to college football next season, such as Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels, Boston College QB Phil Jurkovec and Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown.
Quarterback
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. Matt Corral |  Ole Miss | 6-2, 205 |
| 2. Kenny Pickett |  Pittsburgh | 6-3, 219 |
| 3. *Sam Howell |  North Carolina | 6-1, 225 |
| 4. Desmond Ridder |  Cincinnati | 6-4, 206 |
| 5. Malik Willis |  Liberty | 6-0, 220 |
| 6. *Carson Strong |  Nevada | 6-4, 212 |
| 7. *Will Levis |  Kentucky | 6-3, 230 |
| 8. *Tanner McKee |  Stanford | 6-6, 225 |
| 9. Bailey Zappe |  Western Kentucky | 6-0, 215 |
| 10. *Spencer Rattler |  Oklahoma | 6-0, 209 |
| 11. *Brennan Armstrong |  Virginia | 6-2, 215 |
| 12. Hendon Hooker |  Tennessee | 6-3, 221 |
| 13. *Kaleb Eleby |  Western Michigan | 6-1, 216 |
| 14. *Grayson McCall |  Coastal Carolina | 6-2, 205 |
| 15. *Kedon Slovis |  USC | 6-3, 203 |
In a draft class lacking a clear top quarterback, Matt Corral of Ole Miss has an exciting combination of traits that stress the defense in different ways. With his size, athleticism and the creative instincts, there are a lot of parallels between Corral and
Zach Wilson (for better and worse), who was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft. However, the main difference there is the level of competition in college (Corral posted 67.8% completions and 17 total touchdowns in SEC play this season).
Corral has quick feet, a quick release and also a quick mind to make snap decisions. This play from the Liberty tape shows that quickness along with his ability to move the pocket and work off-schedule. Without panic, Corral spins away from the backside blitz, resets his eyes and locates the crossing route. But he also sees the dropping linebacker and has to wait until the defender clears the passing window to fire the ball where his receiver will be. Corral possesses the sometimes risky but also confident arm talent to execute plays like this.
Running back
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Kenneth Walker |  Michigan State | 5-10, 212 |
| 2. *Isaiah Spiller |  Texas A&M | 6-1, 215 |
| 3. *Breece Hall |  Iowa State | 6-1, 220 |
| 4. *Kyren Williams |  Notre Dame | 5-9, 199 |
| 5. James Cook |  Georgia | 5-11, 195 |
| 6. *Zach Charbonnet |  UCLA | 6-0, 219 |
| 7. *Zamir White | Georgia | 6-0, 215 |
| 8. *Jerrion Ealy | Ole Miss | 5-8, 190 |
| 9. Brian Robinson Jr. |  Alabama | 6-2, 224 |
| 10. *Hassan Haskins |  Michigan | 6-0, 220 |
| 11. D’Vonte Price |  FIU | 6-2, 225 |
| 12. *Jerome Ford | Cincinnati | 5-11, 220 |
| 13. Abram Smith |  Baylor | 5-11, 222 |
| 14. *Tyler Allgeier |  BYU | 5-11, 221 |
| 15. Rachaad White |  Arizona State | 6-1, 202 |
Georgia’s James Cook, who is the younger brother of
Vikings Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook, is having a career year and proving to be a valuable weapon for the Bulldogs’ offense. Although he doesn’t have ideal run power, he makes controlled cuts due to his quick feet and feel for block development. As a pass-catcher, Cook is very natural snaring throws away from his frame and will line up out wide and run downfield routes.
If the defense gives him a crease, Cook has the athletic gifts to exploit it. On this run against Tennessee, he uses his dynamic feet to attack the opening and hug the lane before making an open-field move to finish. In the right situation, Cook can provide an impact similar to
Tony Pollard in Dallas as a complimentary back.
Wide receiver
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Garrett Wilson |  Ohio State | 6-0, 186 |
| 2. *Jameson Williams | Alabama | 6-2, 182 |
| 3. Treylon Burks |  Arkansas | 6-3, 232 |
| 4. Chris Olave | Ohio State | 6-1, 182 |
| 5. Drake London | USC | 6-5, 212 |
| 6. Jahan Dotson |  Penn State | 5-11, 175 |
| 7. David Bell |  Purdue | 6-2, 207 |
| 8. Jalen Tolbert |  South Alabama | 6-2, 194 |
| 9. *George Pickens | Georgia | 6-3, 203 |
| 10. Alec Pierce | Cincinnati | 6-3, 208 |
| 11. *John Metchie III | Alabama | 5-11, 196 |
| 12. Justyn Ross |  Clemson | 6-4, 209 |
| 13. *Ainias Smith | Texas A&M | 5-10, 190 |
| 14. *Wan’Dale Robinson | Kentucky | 5-10, 187 |
| 15. *Zay Flowers |  Boston College | 5-10, 180 |
Somewhat of a late bloomer, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce is one of the top senior pass-catchers in this class. An accomplished high school high jumper and volleyball player, his leaping skills and hand-eye coordination allow him to track downfield and high-point over defenders. He must continue to improve his separation skills and play strength, but he shows the same competitive fire as both a blocker and receiver.
Lined up at the top of the screen in this clip vs. Tulsa, Pierce has the athletic traits to slip the jam and accelerate quickly to stack corners vertically. He makes graceful adjustments on the football and finishes with his hands.
Tight end
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Jalen Wydermyer | Texas A&M | 6-5, 255 |
| 2. Trey McBride |  Colorado State | 6-4, 254 |
| 3. Jeremy Ruckert | Ohio State | 6-5, 250 |
| 4. Cade Otton |  Washington | 6-5, 240 |
| 5. *Jahleel Billingsley | Alabama | 6-4, 233 |
| 6. Charlie Kolar | Iowa State | 6-6, 257 |
| 7. *Sam LaPorta |  Iowa | 6-4, 250 |
| 8. Isaiah Likely | Coastal Carolina | 6-4, 240 |
| 9. Cole Turner | Nevada | 6-6, 236 |
| 10. Dalton Kincaid |  Utah | 6-4, 240 |
| 11. *Cameron Latu | Alabama | 6-4, 255 |
| 12. Jake Ferguson |  Wisconsin | 6-5, 244 |
| 13. Daniel Bellinger |  San Diego State | 6-6, 250 |
| 14. Gerrit Prince |  UAB | 6-5, 240 |
| 15. Grant Calcaterra |  SMU | 6-4, 236 |
Averaging only 2.8 targets per game this season, Ohio State’s Jeremy Ruckert doesn’t have the receiving production of other tight ends in this class because of Ohio State’s scheme, but he accelerates smoothly with the strong hands to finish grabs when called upon. As a blocker, he can improve his angles in pass protection, but his physical appetite consistently shows in the run game.
Ruckert executes this delayed angle route vs. Rutgers to perfection. He motions as a blocker to lure the defender before cutting across his face toward the middle of the field. Credit to quarterback C.J. Stroud for staying patient before firing a strike, which Ruckert plucks in stride and then motors to the end zone.
Offensive tackle
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Evan Neal |  Alabama | 6-7, 357 |
| 2. *Ikem Ekwonu |  North Carolina State | 6-4, 322 |
| 3. *Charles Cross |  Mississippi State | 6-5, 305 |
| 4. Trevor Penning |  Northern Iowa | 6-7, 329 |
| 5. Bernhard Raimann |  Central Michigan | 6-6, 303 |
| 6. Daniel Faalele |  Minnesota | 6-8, 379 |
| 7. *Nicholas Petit-Frere |  Ohio State | 6-5, 304 |
| 8. Max Mitchell |  Louisiana | 6-6, 301 |
| 9. Braxton Jones |  Southern Utah | 6-5, 303 |
| 10. *Rasheed Walker |  Penn State | 6-6, 320 |
| 11. Abraham Lucas |  Washington State | 6-7, 324 |
| 12. Nick Zakelj |  Fordham | 6-6, 309 |
| 13. Matt Waletzko |  North Dakota | 6-7, 300 |
| 14. *Zion Nelson |  Miami | 6-5, 311 |
| 15. Kellen Diesch |  Arizona State | 6-7, 292 |
I was very close to elevating Mississippi State’s Charles Cross to No. 2 or even No. 1 in these offensive tackle rankings, which is a testament to his development and the impressive play he has put on tape this season. The redshirt sophomore is still maturing in areas and must clean up the penalties. But he has two important foundational traits that have earned him high grades across the league: athletic movement patterns and precise, timely hands.
There are plays that better show his impressive footwork and hand exchange in pass protection, but this play is one of my favorites because it shows his athletic range and nasty streak. On this designed tunnel screen, Cross is able to get out in space and eliminate the defensive back from the play. Although most 300-plus pound offensive linemen have the power to plow an unsuspecting defender, very few have the movement skills to reach him that quickly, which is why the defensive back wasn’t expecting the hit.
Interior offensive line
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Tyler Linderbaum |  Iowa | 6-3, 292 |
| 2. *Kenyon Green |  Texas A&M | 6-4, 325 |
| 3. Zion Johnson |  Boston College | 6-3, 315 |
| 4. Darian Kinnard | Kentucky | 6-5, 342 |
| 5. Dylan Parham |  Memphis | 6-3, 285 |
| 6. *Sean Rhyan |  UCLA | 6-5, 320 |
| 7. Jamaree Salyer | Georgia | 6-3, 340 |
| 8. Luke Goedeke | Central Michigan | 6-5, 310 |
| 9. Thayer Munford | Ohio State | 6-6, 327 |
| 10. *Nick Broeker |  Ole Miss | 6-5, 305 |
| 11. Cade Mays | Tennessee | 6-4, 321 |
| 12. Cole Strange |  Chattanooga | 6-4, 301 |
| 13. Ed Ingram |  LSU | 6-3, 310 |
| 14. Chris Paul |  Tulsa | 6-3, 325 |
| 15. Jarrett Patterson |  Notre Dame | 6-4, 305 |
One of my favorite under-the-radar prospects this year, Memphis’ Dylan Parham is a former tight end and defensive end who moved to the offensive line full-time as a freshman at Memphis. He reminds me of
Shaq Mason because of his lateral quickness, knee bend and the way he consistently rolls his hips to leverage blocks and control his man.
Lined up at right guard, Parham fires from a low position to latch, drive and move his man in the run game. Obviously, this play resulted in a short gain, but Parham did his job. He has played mostly guard and tackle in college, but with his size and skill set, a move to center is probably best for his long-term future.
Edge rusher
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. Aidan Hutchinson | Michigan | 6-6, 261 |
| 2. *Kayvon Thibodeaux |  Oregon | 6-4, 255 |
| 3. *David Ojabo | Michigan | 6-5, 255 |
| 4. *Travon Walker | Georgia | 6-5, 275 |
| 5. George Karlaftis | Purdue | 6-4, 268 |
| 6. *Drake Jackson | USC | 6-4, 255 |
| 7. *Cameron Thomas | San Diego State | 6-5, 270 |
| 8. Jermaine Johnson |  Florida State | 6-5, 255 |
| 9. Logan Hall |  Houston | 6-6, 270 |
| 10. Myjai Sanders | Cincinnati | 6-5, 224 |
| 11. *Isaiah Foskey | Notre Dame | 6-5, 257 |
| 12. Kingsley Enagbare |  South Carolina | 6-4, 259 |
| 13. Arnold Ebiketie | Penn State | 6-2, 240 |
| 14. *Nik Bonitto | Oklahoma | 6-3, 238 |
| 15. *Zach Harrison | Ohio State | 6-6, 264 |
I took some heat last week when I put Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson at
No. 1 in my mock draft to the
Detroit Lions, but we’re going to see and hear that possibility more and more as we get closer to the draft. The Heisman finalist has continued to hone his skills as a senior, which has resulted in a Michigan-record 13.5 sacks this season.
The Iowa running back puts up an embarrassing effort on this chip in the Big Ten Championship Game, but focus more on the movements (hands and feet) of Hutchinson. Though he doesn’t have the same arc skills as the Bosa brothers, he wins with similar quickness, power and skilled hand play to defeat blocks.
Interior defensive line
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. DeMarvin Leal | Texas A&M | 6-4, 290 |
| 2. Jordan Davis | Georgia | 6-6, 360 |
| 3. Phidarian Mathis | Alabama | 6-4, 320 |
| 4. Devonte Wyatt | Georgia | 6-3, 313 |
| 5. *Tyler Davis | Clemson | 6-2, 295 |
| 6. Travis Jones |  Connecticut | 6-4, 330 |
| 7. *Colby Wooden |  Auburn | 6-5, 280 |
| 8. Perrion Winfrey | Oklahoma | 6-3, 297 |
| 9. *Keeanu Benton | Wisconsin | 6-4, 335 |
| 10. Neil Farrell Jr. |  LSU | 6-2, 322 |
| 11. Haskell Garrett | Ohio State | 6-2, 302 |
| 12. John Ridgeway | Arkansas | 6-5, 320 |
| 13. *DJ Dale | Alabama | 6-3, 307 |
| 14. *Brandon Dorlus | Oregon | 6-3, 285 |
| 15. Eyioma Uwazurike | Iowa State | 6-6, 310 |
Georgia nose tackle Jordan Davis receives most of the hype because of his gargantuan size and skills. But his teammate Devonte Wyatt has arguably been the more valuable defensive linemen this season for the Bulldogs. He plays more snaps and offers more disruption because of his lateral quickness and forceful hands.
Watch the effort from Wyatt (No. 95) on this play from the SEC Championship Game. He trips himself up attempting to spy Bryce Young, but he doesn’t give up on the play. Wyatt pops up and chases down the scrambling quarterback, swatting out the ball in the process for the forced fumble.
Linebacker
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. Devin Lloyd | Utah | 6-3, 232 |
| 2. *Nakobe Dean | Georgia | 6-0, 225 |
| 3. *Christian Harris | Alabama | 6-2, 232 |
| 4. Chad Muma |  Wyoming | 6-2, 236 |
| 5. Damone Clark | LSU | 6-3, 245 |
| 6. *Brandon Smith | Penn State | 6-3, 240 |
| 7. Channing Tindall | Georgia | 6-2, 235 |
| 8. *Leo Chenal |  Wisconsin | 6-2, 252 |
| 9. *Henry To’o To’o | Alabama | 6-2, 222 |
| 10. Quay Walker | Georgia | 6-4, 245 |
| 11. Jesse Luketa | Penn State | 6-2, 257 |
| 12. *Owen Pappoe |  Auburn | 6-1, 225 |
| 13. *Brian Asamoah |  Oklahoma | 6-1, 230 |
| 14. Zakoby McClain | Auburn | 6-0, 220 |
| 15. Troy Andersen |  Montana State | 6-4, 235 |
Any NFL teams interested in a high-energy tackling machine with excellent play speed and four-down skills? That is what Wyoming’s Chad Muma offers. Not only does he run well, but he gets a head start on plays because of his play recognition vs. the run (fourth in the FBS with 10.8 tackles per game) and the pass (three interceptions, including a pick-six).
This play from the Ball State tape is a great example of those diagnose skills. Muma is quick to read the jet sweep and drive downhill with the acceleration to chase down the ball carrier for the loss.
Cornerback
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Derek Stingley | LSU | 6-1, 195 |
| 2. *Andrew Booth Jr. | Clemson | 6-0, 187 |
| 3. Roger McCreary | Auburn | 6-0, 187 |
| 4. *Trent McDuffie | Washington | 5-11, 195 |
| 5. *Kaiir Elam |  Florida | 6-2, 200 |
| 6. *Ahmad Gardner | Cincinnati | 6-2, 190 |
| 7. Derion Kendrick | Georgia | 6-0, 190 |
| 8. *Martin Emerson |  Mississippi State | 6-1, 202 |
| 9. Cam Taylor-Britt |  Nebraska | 6-0, 205 |
| 10. Marcus Jones | Houston | 5-9, 185 |
| 11. *Kyler Gordon | Washington | 6-0, 195 |
| 12. Coby Bryant | Cincinnati | 6-1, 191 |
| 13. Akayleb Evans |  Missouri | 6-2, 200 |
| 14. Tariq Woolen |  UTSA | 6-3, 205 |
| 15. Jaylen Watson |  Washington State | 6-2, 188 |
The off-field concerns are something that Georgia’s Derion Kendrick has to answer for at the Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine and other pre-draft interviews. But on the field, the former four-star recruit turned Clemson cornerback has first-round talent due to his cover athleticism.
In this clip vs. Tennessee, Kendrick (bottom of the screen) shows off his impressive speed to stay attached to the receiver all the way to the corner of the end zone. His hands-on play will get him in trouble at times (like in the SEC Championship Game vs. Alabama), but he looks to make receivers uncomfortable and that aggressive play will be viewed as a positive with NFL coaches.
Safety
| RANK, NAME | SCHOOL | HT, WT |
|---|
| 1. *Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame | 6-3, 218 |
| 2. *Daxton Hill |  Michigan | 6-0, 192 |
| 3. *Lewis Cine | Georgia | 6-1, 200 |
| 4. Jaquan Brisker | Penn State | 6-1, 203 |
| 5. *Jordan Battle | Alabama | 6-1, 210 |
| 6. *Jalen Catalon |  Arkansas | 5-10, 200 |
| 7. Jalen Pitre |  Baylor | 5-11, 197 |
| 8. *Verone McKinley III |  Oregon | 5-11, 196 |
| 9. Bryan Cook |  Cincinnati | 6-1, 204 |
| 10. Kerby Joseph |  Illinois | 6-1, 200 |
| 11. Markquese Bell |  Florida A&M | 6-3, 200 |
| 12. *JL Skinner |  Boise State | 6-3, 218 |
| 13. Alontae Taylor | Tennessee | 6-0, 192 |
| 14. Leon O’Neal Jr. | Texas A&M | 6-1, 203 |
| 15. *Nick Cross |  Maryland | 6-1, 215 |
An NFL-ready nickelback, Michigan’s Daxton Hill can do a little bit of everything from covering, blitzing and defending the run. He has the toughness to play downhill in run support while also showing the speed to play in reverse, covering wide receivers, tight ends or backs. Hill has the athletic versatility that could land him in round one.
Against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, Hill allowed only one catch for one yard. On 3rd-and-4 in the red zone, he mirrors tight end Sam LaPorta across the formation and hits another gear at the snap because he knows he has to clear the boundary route. Hill closes with a burst to arrive with the football and tackle LaPorta before he can make a move, forcing fourth down.
