NFL Draft

Defensive end Travon Walker, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL draft, reportedly was involved in a serious car crash sometime before the draft.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Walker crashed into two parked cars in Athens, Georgia, but "emerged without injuries" and no citations.

Walker did not attend the draft in Las Vegas and instead watched from his home in Athens with a large contingent of his family while he was announced as the top pick.

A 6'5", 275-pound edge-rusher for the national champion Georgia Bulldogs, Walker was a massive riser throughout the predraft process. He was initially projected as a player who would be selected in the middle of the first round, but he impressed teams with his eye-popping measurables and strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Walker ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash and has a 7'0¼" wingspan and 35.5" vertical leap. He recorded 33 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and six sacks during the 2021 season. Despite his low statistical numbers, many believe that his skills will translate well at the next level.

Georgia used Walker more as a run-stopper, and he excelled in that role. But the 21-year-old has the speed and athleticism to get to the quarterback when deployed as a pass-rusher.

After experiencing a scary car crash, Walker surely appreciated the moment of being the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday even more.

HEIGHT: 6'6 5/8"

WEIGHT: 260

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 32 1/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'6 1/8"

40-YARD DASH: 4.74

3-CONE: 6.73

SHUTTLE: 4.15

VERTICAL: 36"

BROAD: 9'9"

POSITIVES

— Above-average first step. Can be reliant on snap-jumping, but still covers ground when he doesn't.

— Great run-versus-pass awareness. Rarely caught guessing or playing too far upfield.

— Great recognition versus the run. Sees different kinds of concepts and blocks well.

— Very good technique and strength against the run.

— Very good lateral explosion. Can work two-way opportunities on OTs effectively.

— Great power as a pass-rusher. Does well to generate and sustain momentum through explosive steps.

— Good hand usage and pass-rushing variety. Specializes in inside counter moves.

— Played both from a stand-up position and with his hand in the dirt.

NEGATIVES

— Can get too upright off the snap. Exposes his chest.

— Will occasionally lunge into offensive tackles to make first contact rather than keep his feet with him.

— Below-average flexibility on film. Often plays upright and stiff. 

— Not a particularly smooth athlete in space. Definitely cannot cover; may struggle chasing better athletes around.

— Can be a bit of a snap jumper. Worked in college, but will not be as effective in the NFL.

2021 STATISTICS

14 G, 62 TOT, 16.5 TFL, 14 SK, 3 PBU, 2 FF, 1 FR

NOTES

— Father Chris Hutchinson also played at Michigan between 1989-1992.

— Consensus 2021 first-team All-American.

— 4-star recruit in 2018.

OVERALL

Aidan Hutchinson is the high-floor type of edge-rusher whom teams dream of.

Hutchinson has great size for the position and clears the bar for most athletic traits. He possesses good explosiveness along with moments of overwhelming strength, particularly when he can get a head of steam as a pass-rusher. While his bend is lacking, his speed, technique and functional length all help make up for his non-elite flexibility. Hutchinson should still be able to win consistently as a power rusher with strong hands and a mean inside counter.

Hutchinson will enter the league as a valuable run defender, too. The way he sees plays develop right at the snap is impressive for a young player, and he has the strength and attitude to take on blocks with force. Hutchinson has all of the tools to set the edge consistently as well as the first-step quickness to find himself in the backfield from time to time.

Pair all of Hutchinson's powerful pass-rushing traits together with a tough, smart run defender, and the end result is an immediate starting edge-defender with Pro Bowl potential.

GRADE: 8.8 (Impact Player - 1st round)

OVERALL RANK: 9

POSITION RANK: EDGE3

PRO COMPARISON: Maxx Crosby

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker is heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft Thursday in Las Vegas.

Walker is coming off a standout junior season for the Bulldogs as part of the program's run to its first national championship since 1980. He recorded 33 total tackles, six sacks, two passes defended and a fumble recovery across 13 appearances.

He was a 5-star prospect out of high school, but it took a while for him to find his footing at the college level. Yet his improved numbers in 2021 combined with his positional versatility—he can play end or tackle depending on the scheme—made him a coveted draft target.

His NFL-ready frame (6'5'', 272 lbs) gives him a shot to make an immediate impact.

Here's how the Jaguars' defensive depth chart looks after the selection:

DT: Malcom Brown, Jay Tufele

NT: Folorunso Fatukasi, Davon Hamilton

DE: Travon Walker, Roy Robertson-Harris, Dawuane Smoot

OLB: Josh Allen, Arden Key

MLB: Foyesade Oluokun, Chapelle Russell

WLB: Shaquille Quarterman, Tyrell Adams

OLB: K'Lavon Chaisson, Jordan Smith

CB: Tyson Campbell, Tre Herndon

CB: Shaquill Griffin, Chris Claybrooks

SCB: Darious Williams, Rudy Ford

SS: Andrew Wingard, Andre Cisco

FS: Rayshawn Jenkins, Daniel Thomas

Walker has yet to prove himself as a game-changing rusher off the edge, in part because of UGA's defensive scheme, but his other tools point toward a highly productive career.

Bleacher Report's Derrik Klassen wrote in his predraft scouting report the 21-year-old Georgia native must "hone his sequencing" when rushing the quarterback, but he otherwise came away impressed with the lineman:

"At 6'5" and 275 pounds, Walker played with his hand in the dirt as a 3-technique, 5-technique and 6-technique, as well as from a stand-up outside linebacker position. He'll likely play 5- and 6-technique in the NFL, but his flexibility at other alignments could make for some devastating situational packages.

"Walker thrives in run defense. His initial punch is as violent as it gets, and he rarely misses. He tends to do a great job controlling blocks following his initial punch, allowing him to keep eyes in the backfield and leverage his gap correctly."

Klassen added the "tools are there" for Walker to improve as a pass-rusher over time too.

For the Jags fanbase, it'll be important at the outset not to place too much of an emphasis on the raw statistics. Walker probably won't post eye-popping numbers right out of the gate as he works to find his niche and refines his technique off the edge.

He'll likely settle in as part of a defensive end rotation led by Malcom Brown and Roy Robertson-Harris to open his debut campaign and, given some development time, should emerge as a key member of the Jacksonville defense in the years ahead.

HEIGHT: 6'2 1/8"

WEIGHT: 199

HAND: 9"

ARM: 30 3/4"

WINGSPAN: 6'1 3/4"

40-YARD DASH: 4.33

3-CONE: 6.48

SHUTTLE: 3.94

VERTICAL: 39.5"

BROAD: 11'0"

POSITIVES

— Explosive player with outstanding size for the position. Fluid athlete who has the ability to run and carry receivers downfield.

— Ball hawk who attacks the ball in the air with strong hands. Has shown the skills to pluck the ball out of the sky.

— Secure tackler who shoots through the legs of ball-carriers.

NEGATIVES

— Lack of strength can show up when taking on blocks and tackling.

— Needs better consistency in his press technique. Feet and eyes aren't synced up, while also opening the gate.

2021 STATISTICS

12 G, 50 TOT, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PD

NOTES

— 2021 third-team All-America (AP).

— 13 interceptions in career.

— Senior Bowl invite.

— Combine invite.

— 10.0 Relative Athletic Score. The highest score of any cornerback in the last 35 years. 

OVERALL

Zyon McCollum is an athletic cornerback from Sam Houston at the FCS level. He has an excellent 6'2", 199-pound frame that will be intriguing for most scouts. He has shown to be a smooth runner with great body control and ability to change direction, which he confirmed at the combine with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, a 6.48-second three-cone drill and a 3.94-second short shuttle.

McCollum has the versatility needed to play in multiple coverages, but he mostly aligned in press coverage at Sam Houston. Though he can be slow with his feet at times, he has the hip fluidity to open and run with receivers, matching their breaks. McCollum also does a good job of being physical and using his hands to control and disrupt receivers down the field. He's a ball hawk who attacks the ball with short and medium routes, but he can be inconsistent finding and playing the ball downfield.

McCollum does a good job of supporting the run, making quick reads and beating blockers to the spot. He has shown the willingness to shoot gaps and meet ball-carriers in the backfield. A secure tackler, McCollum does a good job of shooting through the legs of ball-carriers and chopping them down. At times, his lack of strength can show up in both tackling and when taking on blockers. For his size, he doesn't always deliver the blow you would like him to, and he can often choose to take the easy way around blocks.

Ultimately, McCollum is a great prospect from the FCS level. With 13 career interceptions across 56 appearances at Sam Houston, he did what he needed to earn an opportunity in the NFL. McCollum figures to play special teams early in his NFL career while continuing to work on his technique, but he projects as a backup cornerback who could eventually develop into a starter.

GRADE: 6.4 (4th Round: Potential Role Player)

OVERALL RANK: 161

POSITION RANK: CB21

PRO COMPARISON: Benjamin St-Juste

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Once upon a time, the New England Patriots selected a relatively unheralded quarterback prospect named Tom Brady with a sixth-round pick.

They reportedly have an extra pick in that exact round this year following a Monday trade.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Patriots traded a fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans for a sixth- and seventh-round selection.

This, of course, does not mean the Patriots have their eyes on the next Brady with their new sixth-round selection, but it does give them an extra pick to add depth near the end of this year's draft.

The franchise also has a history of discovering hidden gems late in the draft that goes beyond Brady.

New England selected 2021 first-team All-Pro return man Braxton Berrios with a sixth-round pick in 2018 even though it later released him. The team selected three-time Super Bowl champion Nate Ebner with a sixth-round pick in 2012 and chose three-time champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman with a seventh-round pick in 2009.

For a team with a track record of picking players like Brady and Edelman this late in the draft, adding more Day 3 selections probably isn't the worst idea.

As for Houston, it now has a pick earlier in the draft that could be used on a player with a higher ceiling than perhaps a project in the sixth or seventh round. The Texans are coming off two straight four-win seasons and could use young playmakers to facilitate a rebuild.

New England isn't in quite as dire of a situation coming off a AFC playoff appearance and can target positions of need this year.         

HEIGHT: 6'5 1/2"

WEIGHT: 306

HAND: 9 5/8"

ARM: 32 7/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'7 1/2"

40-YARD DASH: 5.12

3-CONE: 7.52

SHUTTLE: 4.49

VERTICAL: 29"

BROAD: 9'0"

POSITIVES

— Above-average initial and lateral quickness.

— Meets contact with a wide base and tight, quick hand placement.

— Creates space out of his stance in pass protection, smoothly redirects and mirrors.

— Does a nice job being light on his hands so he can quickly reset and stay in the fight when his hands get swiped or chopped.

— Capable of bracing, generating force through the in-steps of his feet and throttling down to gradually dissipate the bull rush.

NEGATIVES

— High-cut build with a long, lean lower half.

— Struggles maintaining his posture and balance against the push-pull and violent shed attempts from interior linemen.

— Doesn't adjust well to gap exchanges and immediate post-snap movement across his face; often late and behind with his hands, which results in penetration.

— More of a position blocker in the run game with middling power to create movement on his own.

2021 STATISTICS

- 11 starts at C.

- Team captain

NOTES

— Former 3-star interior offensive line recruit out of Frisco High School in Frisco, Texas.

— Two-time team captain, second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2020 and 2021 and four-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection.

— 35 career starts; 33 at center, one at left tackle and one at left guard.

— Invited and accepted his invite to the 2022 Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.

OVERALL

Dawson Deaton was a three-year starter at Texas Tech with 35 career starts, predominantly at center. He made 11 starts at the pivot during the 2021 season in the Red Raiders' spread, RPO-heavy zone-run scheme.

Deaton has a tackle type of frame and is high-cut with a long, lean lower half. He excels using his above-average initial and lateral quickness to pop out of his stance to landmarks quickly, and he has the ability to mirror shifty rushers in pass protection.

Deaton plays in a wide stance and with a strong base on contact, using a tight, firm punch on contact to create quick leverage on defenders. He stays light on his hands and can recover when they initially get knocked down, resulting in flashes of impressive recovery balance. He's also capable of maintaining a wide base in his anchor while bracing and generating enough force through the ground to gradually walk back and slow down the bull rush.

Deaton's high-cut build and subpar power cause his pads to rise quickly against stout interior run defenders aligned over the top of him in odd fronts, and he struggles to maintain his posture and balance against the push-pull technique and violent shed attempts. He also needs to process immediate post-snap movement across his face against gap exchanges more quickly to prevent quick penetration.

Overall, Deaton has above-average athletic ability and hand-fighting skills in pass protection to mirror and stay attached to shifty rushers. However, he tends to play too high with minimal power, which causes him to fall off of too many blocks against stout run defenders. Deaton offers upside as a backup in a zone-heavy run scheme, but his lack of consistent balance with no positional or scheme versatility boxes him into needing the perfect situation to stick on a roster long-term.

GRADE: 5.7 (Round 7 - Backup/Draftable)

OVERALL RANK: 263

POSITION RANK: IOL30

PRO COMPARISON: Austin Reiter

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell is drawing comparison to one former NFL quarterback leading up to the 2022 draft, and that might not be a great thing. 

The Athletic's Jeff Howe interviewed one general manager, four executives and two offensive coaches in his Monday article, and one said Howell "reminds me of Tim Tebow."

While Howell is considered one of the better quarterbacks available in the 2022 draft, he's ranked behind Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis in ESPN's latest quarterback projections. 

The 21-year-old was a starter in each of his three seasons for the Tar Heels, but he took a step backward as a passer during the 2021 season. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,056 yards and 24 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 12 games. 

For comparison, Howell completed 68.1 percent of his passes in 2020 for 3,586 yards and 30 touchdowns against seven interceptions in the same number of games. 

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department notes that Howell's strengths are his arm strength, accuracy, deep passing skills. He also has great athleticism and can run the ball well.

B/R's Scouting Department lists Howell's height (6'0⅝") and throwing motion as some of the negatives of his game. 

Tebow had some of the same strengths and weaknesses after four seasons with the Florida Gators. He had an awkward throwing motion but good strength and running ability. 

The No. 25 overall draft pick in 2010, Tebow's NFL career was short as he struggled to adapt at the next level. In 35 games across three seasons with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets, he completed just 47.9 percent of his passes for 2,422 yards and 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He was much better with his legs, rushing for 989 yards and 12 scores. 

If Howell is unable to adjust, he could find himself in a similar situation. That said, he's drawing a good amount of interest entering the draft, having met with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. 

HEIGHT: 5'10 1/4"

WEIGHT: 197

HAND: 10"

ARM: 31 3/4"

WINGSPAN: 6'4 1/4"

40-YARD DASH: 4.47

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: DNP

BROAD: 10'2"

POSITIVES

— Efficient in the run game. Makes quick reads and triggers, shooting gaps and filling running lanes.

— Strong tackler who is able to get tight ends and bigger backs down. Shoots to take out legs with secure wrap tackles and has the ability to run through ball-carriers.

— Gets a quick jump on the ball in the air. Shows the ball skills to track and play the ball.

NEGATIVES

— Lacks skills for man coverage. Poor eye discipline, as well as slow reactionary skills. Lacks twitch to cover faster threats.

— Can take poor angles to the ball at times, leading to some missed tackles in space.

— Has some tightness and heavy feet at times.

2021 STATISTICS

9 G, 53 TOT, 2.5 TFL, 3 INT, 1 PBU

NOTES

— 2021 2nd Team All-Big 12 Selection (Coaches)

— Three-year starter (2019, 2020, 2021)

OVERALL

Delarrin Turner-Yell is an experienced safety with three seasons as the starting strong safety under his belt. He shows to be a smart player with a high IQ and understanding of the scheme he plays. An aggressive player to the run, he generally is in the right position, and he has the awareness to get a jump on the ball. He has shown the ability to play in two-high, as well as cover down over the slot.

When defending the pass, he does a good job of playing underneath coverage and pushing out to the flats, but he has shown some tightness and slower change of direction and redirecting ability. Heavy footed at times, he is an above-average runner who can struggle in man coverage when matched against twitchier receivers or athletic tight ends.

As a run defender, Turner-Yell is an aggressive player who makes quick reads, comes downhill with his hair on fire and delivers a blow to ball-carriers. He has the ability to sift through trash and find the ball. He lacks some fluidity in space and may take incorrect angles that lead to missed tackles.

Turner-Yell has gained a lot of experience over his career at Oklahoma. He excelled in the run game but has lacked in playing the pass, especially when in man coverage. He may find a role as a special teams player but lacks the ability to make an immediate impact at safety. He will need to improve his coverage ability, as well as his overall consistency.

GRADE: 5.9 (6th Round: Backup/Draftable)

OVERALL RANK: 240

POSITION RANK: S16

PRO COMPARISON: Geno Stone

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'2 1/8"

WEIGHT: 212

HAND: 9 3/8"

ARM: 32 3/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'4 1/8"

40-YARD DASH: 4.41

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: 4.46

VERTICAL: 36.5"

BROAD: 10'3"

POSITIVES

— Long rangy player with good physicality.

— Good long speed when he is able to open up and run.

— Willing tackler who will meet the ball-carrier in the hole and run through his thighs.

NEGATIVES

— Heavy footed at times, showing some tightness and trouble with change of direction.

— Lacks movement skill needed for coverage at all levels.

— Constantly has to readjust his angles on approach to tackles.

2021 STATISTICS

12 G, 95 TOT, 6.5 TFL, 2 SK, 5 FF, 1 INT, 1 PBU

NOTES

— Started out at Maryland before going to Coffeyville CC and then Florida A&M

OVERALL

Markquese Bell is a long safety with ideal length for the next level, though he has a thin frame. A journeyman going from Maryland to Coffeyville Community College to Florida A&M, Bell has shown the ability to be an athletically gifted player. While attending the NFL Combine, he showed out to be ranked in the top portion for all safeties in the drills he did. Though it's evident that he is a good athlete, this doesn't always show when in game.

When playing in coverage, Bell has shown the ability to play at multiple levels. When playing deep, he often chooses to open and slide instead of backpedaling. Occasionally, he can have poor eye discipline, leaving him open to play-action pass. When playing deep, Bell tends to be slow opening and running, allowing receivers to get on his toes, but he does have the speed to run with them once he is able to open up and go.

Bell tends to be best when in underneath coverage and close to the line of scrimmage. Here, he is able to read and react to the quarterback, pushing through zones and getting under receivers. When aksed to play man, he lacks the lateral quickness and twitch necessary to cover but does well if he is able to get his hands on and disrupt receivers. When playing the ball, he shows to have patience and good timing to swipe through the catch point.

Bell’s big body comes into play when playing the run. He has shown to come downhill and meet ball-carriers in the hole. As he comes down he can have narrowed vision and not see blockers coming to get him. Here is where his lack of strength can show up. Generally he takes good angles to the ball but often takes the angle for him to wrap and drag ball-carriers down instead of using his body and fronting them up. The inconsistency in angles and decision to wrap tackle has led to some of his missed tackles.

Bell is an intriguing prospect with size, speed and room to improve, but he will need to continue to work on the inconsistencies of both his run and pass game. He will need to work on finding a role for himself as he tries to make an impact on special teams. Bell has UDFA potential and will have many teams reaching out for his services.

GRADE: 5.5 (7th Round- UDFA: Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential)

OVERALL RANK: 282

POSITION RANK: S20

PRO COMPARISON: Andrew Sendejo

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings