NFL Draft

Some of the NFL's brightest future stars are headed to Las Vegas.

Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, Liberty's Malik Willis, Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton, Ohio State's Chris Olave and Cincinnati's Sauce Gardner headline the list of the prospects heading to Sin City for the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas.

The list of players was announced in full Thursday, two weeks before the draft is slated to start on April 28:

• Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

• Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

• Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

• Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

• Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

• Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

• Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington

• Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

• Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

• Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State

• Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College

• George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

• Drake London, WR, USC

• Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

• Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

• Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

• Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

• Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

• Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

• Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

The event will be filled with storylines.

One of those is who will be the No. 1 overall pick, with the Jacksonville Jaguars slated to select first.

Hutchinson, Georgia's Travon Walker, Alabama's Evan Neal and North Carolina State's Ikem Ekwonu are all potential candidates, underscoring Jacksonville's need to improve the line on both sides of the ball.

The first two are pass-rushers, while the second two are offensive linemen who would be tasked with protecting Trevor Lawrence after the Jaguars chose the Clemson quarterback first overall in last year's draft.

While there is no clear-cut top option like Lawrence last season, the quarterback position is also an intriguing storyline in this year's draft.

This year's group may be weaker than in years past, but Willis, Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett and Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder are all legitimate first-round prospects who could find their way to quarterback-needy teams during the event's first day.

Throw in North Carolina's Sam Howell and Ole Miss' Matt Corral, and there are a number of signal-callers who could hear their names called relatively early in the process.

Yet the position to watch, especially in the first round, is wide receiver.

After all, the Ohio State duo of Olave and Garrett Wilson, USC's Drake London, Alabama's Jameson Williams, Arkansas' Treylon Burks, Penn State's Jahan Dotson, Georgia's George Pickens, North Dakota State's Christian Watson and Western Michigan's Skyy Moore mean there is no shortage of talented playmakers with plenty of upside.

How many of those pass-catchers will go in the first round remains to be seen, but an early run on wideouts is very much in play as the NFL draft approaches.

One popular part of the NFL predraft process is the pro-player comparison for incoming players. It gives fans an easy one-to-one way to evaluate traits of the rookie class and what they could turn into if everything goes right. 

ESPN rounded up several of its NFL writers and analysts, including draft gurus Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, to make 10 player comps for the 2022 draft class. 

Here is the list of pro-player comparisons cited in the article:

• QB Kenny Pickett: Tony Romo (Dan Orlovsky)
• WR Garrett Wilson: Stefon Diggs (Matt Bowen)
• LB Devin Lloyd: Fred Warner (McShay)
• CB Ahmad Gardner: Antonio Cromartie (Mike Tannenbaum)
• WR Alec Pierce: Jordy Nelson (Kiper)
• OT Ikem Ekwonu: Tristan Wirfs (Matt Miller)
• CB Derek Stingley Jr.: Marshon Lattimore (Jordan Reid)
• DT Jordan Davis: Vita Vea (Steve Muench)
• OT Trevor Penning: Jon Runyan (Jeff Legwold)
• TE Chigoziem Okonkwo: Jonnu Smith (Turron Davenport)

Given how volatile everyone believes this quarterback class to be, Pickett being compared to Romo would actually strengthen his argument to be the top signal-caller taken. 

"Pickett has an unsettled, backyard style of play," Orlovsky said. "The Pittsburgh QB consistently gets himself out of bad situations with his quickness and creativity. And when he is in rhythm, Pickett is highly operational."

In his scouting report about Pickett for B/R, Nate Tice did cite some of those traits while also highlighting some of the reasons to be concerned about him in the NFL:

Pitckett's ability to make defenders miss in the pocket and down the field and also throw off-platform on broken plays is a clear strength. He is not a statue by any means, and he can truly create plays for an offense. But he is not an overwhelming athlete, and NFL defenses will punish that tendency if his anticipation and willingness to operate from the pocket doesn't improve.

Romo went from being undrafted out of Eastern Illinois to playing 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and finished third in MVP voting in 2014. 

Matt Bowen didn't necessarily correlate Wilson's skill set to Stefon Diggs but cited the way a team can use him "as a three-level target with inside/outside flexibility" to make the comparison. 

Stingley has been regarded as one of the most talented players in this class. The concerns about him are related to injuries and his best season coming as a true freshman in 2019. 

Stingley put together a strong performance at LSU's pro day last week to solidify his status as a top-10 pick. He is still in a battle with Sauce Gardner as the best cornerback prospect in this draft. 

Jordan Reid's comparison of Stingley to Lattimore is apt because Lattimore dealt with injuries in his college career at Ohio State. He had surgery to repair a hamstring injury in 2014 before the start of his freshman year. 

After playing just seven games in 2015, Lattimore was named to the All-Big Ten first team as a junior in 2016. He parlayed that performance, along with his talent, to being the No. 11 pick in the 2017 draft by the New Orleans Saints. 

Gardner's comp of Cromartie is appropriate because they are both tall and long cornerbacks. Gardner measured in at the 96th percentile of all players at the position at 6'2¾" with 33½" arms. Cromartie was exactly 6'2" with 33" arms. 

Davis stole the show at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. Muench noted his size (341 pounds) and athleticism allow him to handle "one-on-one matchups and occupy double-teams" similar to Vea, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star.    

When an NFL team gambles on potential with a top draft pick, the selection could pay off, but it may also sting for years.

When analysts and those within the league break down prospects, a player's physical profile can outweigh lackluster collegiate numbers, which is the case for Travon Walker, who may be in play as a top-three selection.

We can point to examples of edge-rushers who didn't rack up eye-popping pass-rushing numbers on the collegiate level but jumped off to a productive career start. The MMQB's Albert Breer heard of a comparison between Walker and Minnesota Vikings edge-rusher Danielle Hunter, but remember, the latter came off the board in the third round, which is a safe gamble. 

On the NFL Network's Good Morning Football show, Peter Schrager of Fox Sports discussed the possibility that the Jacksonville Jaguars could take Walker with the No. 1 overall pick:

Schrager gave some insight about Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke's draft history and why he may value Walker's athletic profile over more polished prospects or players with stronger resumes such as Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

During the segment, Schrager mentioned Aldon Smith, who had the physical tools to explode on the pro level and logged 33.5 sacks through his first two seasons. With that said, the Missouri product had an 11.5-sack campaign as a redshirt freshman, and he went No. 7 overall in the 2011 draft.

Even DeForest Buckner, another former Baalke draft pick during his time as the San Francisco 49ers general manager, logged 10.5 sacks in his final term at Oregon. Arik Armstead only registered four sacks as a collegian, but he came off the board as the No. 17 overall pick, which is a good spot to take a chance on a high-upside prospect. 

At No. 1 overall, the Jaguars should take a defensive prospect who's further along in development, and therefore has a better chance to produce right away, or a player who can protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Why roll the dice on Walker's potential when Alabama's Evan Neal or North Carolina State's Ikem Ekwonu can protect the team's biggest investment under center for about a decade or longer?

If the Jaguars want a pass-rusher, Hutchinson, who has a higher floor because of his pass-rushing move set and refined technique, would better suit the team's need on the edge.

Though Thibodeaux needs work with his hand usage and secondary pass-rush moves, he still possesses great upside because of his size, speed and length combination at 6'4", 254 pounds with 33⅛" arms. By the way, the Oregon standout had nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss as a true freshman. 

At No. 1 overall, Jacksonville should avoid a one-year starter who doesn't have much pass-rushing production on his resume. With that approach, the Jaguars would minimize the probability of taking a bust, and the same goes for the Detroit Lions at No. 2 as well as the Houston Texans with the third overall selection. 

The Lions don't have a strong need on the edge. Their coaching staff helped Charles Harris turn his career around after he flamed out with the Miami Dolphins and had an underwhelming 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons. The 2017 first-rounder logged 65 tackles, 10 for loss, 7.5 sacks and 34 pressures in 2021. Just two years ago, Romeo Okwara registered a 10-sack campaign. His brother, Julian, flashed as a second-year pass-rusher, logging five sacks and 14 pressures. 

While Detroit shouldn't pass up on an upgrade at the position, Walker may need a year or two before his physical traits translate into pro production. As of right now, he's not a clear-cut improvement over Harris or the Okwara brothers. On the other hand, Hutchinson and Thibodeaux would likely crack the starting lineup as rookies because of their pass-rushing production.

As for the Texans, they need a prospect who can bolster the pass rush right away. Their defense finished tied for 27th in sacks (32) and ranked 28th in pressure rate (20.7 percent) last season.

Walker can provide versatility, and he's already a reliable run defender, but as Derrik Klassen points out in his Bleacher Report scouting analysis, the Georgia product looks a bit raw as a pass-rusher:

"On passing downs, Walker lacks consistency, but the tools are there. He flies off the ball at times (usually better when standing up) and displays better flexibility than expected for a player his size, which is a devastating combo when paired with his length and overwhelming punch.

"Walker needs to hone his sequencing as a pass-rusher, as well as be more consistent in how he drives his legs through contact, but he can still be disruptive as he is right now."

Through three terms at Georgia, Walker finished with 9.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hurries.

If Houston wanted a Day 1 prospect who can set the edge against the run and play in different spots across the defensive line next season, Walker would fit the description, but that type of player doesn't usually come off the board within the top three selections. Teams can use that pick on a mid-to-late first-rounder. The Texans should hope that either Hutchinson or Thibodeaux falls to them at No. 3.

In terms of draft position value, Walker is a better fit for teams slightly outside of the top three spots.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the top six clubs in draft order have scheduled a visit with Walker.

The New York Giants and New York Jets don't have to use their top-five selections on Walker because they also hold pick Nos. 7 and 10, respectively. The Texans will have their second turn in the first round at No. 13, but the Georgia product isn't likely to fall that far after he boosted his stock with an impressive NFL Scouting Combine performance.

The Giants and Jets sit in sweet spots with a pair of top-10 picks that will allow them to take a swing at Walker without overvaluing him.

As for the Jaguars, who have one first-rounder, they should take a prospect who's more likely to play a big role in his rookie season. The Lions and Texans have multiple Day 1 picks, but both clubs should avoid the increased potential of a bust with their top-three selections and either take a more proven pass-rusher or trade up for Walker if he falls outside of the top 10.

Walker may become a productive pass-rusher on the pro level, but he's not worth the risk in the top three.

College statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

A series of quarterback visits were announced Wednesday ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, which gets underway April 28 in Las Vegas.

Here's a look at a few teams set for meetings with the class' top signal-callers this week:

• Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, Bailey Zappe (via NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe)
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Corral, Carson Strong (via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport)
• Seattle Seahawks: Ridder (via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero)

The Panthers are predictably casting a wide net in their search for a new franchise quarterback.

Carolina used three QBs last season—Sam Darnold, Cam Newton and P.J. Walker—and they combined to post a 68.5 passer rating, the lowest mark in the league.

With head coach Matt Rhule entering the 2022 season on the hot seat after leading the team to a 10-23 record over his first two campaigns, it would be a surprise if the team doesn't invest the No. 6 overall pick on a quarterback with hope of a quick turnaround.

Willis presents the most upside, with the arm talent to make any throw and the running ability to make key plays on the ground, but he's a bit undersized (6'1'') and may benefit from starting his career on the sideline while working on his footwork and learning NFL defensive schemes.

So the Panthers must decide whether to take the Liberty standout, who has long-term Pro Bowl potential, or a quarterback more ready to start right away given the pressure to win now.

In March, Carolina general manager Scott Fitterer confirmed there's urgency to find a quarterback despite an equally glaring need at left tackle.

"This will be interesting because the tackles will be the best players on the board," Fitterer told reporters. "But we do need a quarterback, and at some point, you have to take a shot, especially in the top 10. You hate to force it, because when you force it, you could make a mistake."

Elsewhere, the Steelers and Seahawks both have major voids to fill after their longtime franchise QBs departed in the offseason. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger retired, and Seattle's Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos.

The Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky in free agency, and the former Chicago Bears starter, who spent last season as Josh Allen's backup with the Buffalo Bills, will likely be given an opportunity to seize the starting spot to open the regular season.

In turn, Pittsburgh can afford to make a bet on potential without the need for the quarterback it takes, either in Round 1 or later in the draft, to start right away.

The Seahawks acquired Drew Lock in the blockbuster Wilson deal. But neither he nor Jacob Eason is the likely long-term answer under center, so the team may be in the market for a more NFL-ready signal-caller.

Ultimately, this year's draft from a quarterback perspective is tricky to predict because there's no consensus No. 1 prospect and the teams in the market to upgrade at the position are all in different spots in terms of looking to contend soon or just starting a rebuild.

It could make for some unexpected picks when the draft takes place at month's end.

In his latest 2022 NFL mock draft released Wednesday, ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. projected Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to go No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hutchinson would join 2019 No. 7 overall pick Josh Allen to give the Jags one of the most promising pass-rushing duos in the NFL.

Kiper also mocked a defensive player second overall to the Detroit Lions in the form of Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner.

Detroit hasn't gotten much out of cornerback Jeff Okudah, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, but if he can stay healthy and Gardner is as good as advertised, the Lions could have a dominant cornerback duo for years to come.

Here is a full rundown of the top 10 selections from Kiper's most recent mock draft:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

2. Detroit Lions: Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

3. Houston Texans: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

5. New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

6. Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

7. New York Giants (via CHI): Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State

8. Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

9. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

10. New York Jets (via SEA): Drake London, WR, USC

In Kiper's view, the top of the 2022 draft is going to be dominated by defensive players, as he doesn't have an offensive player coming off the board until fifth overall.

Joining Hutchinson and Gardner as defensive players in the top four is a pair of high-upside pass-rushers in Georgia's Travon Walker and Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, who respectively go to the Houston Texans and the New York Jets.

The first offensive player Kiper believes will be selected is NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who went to the New York Giants at No. 5 overall, but he doesn't have an offensive skill player getting taken until Liberty quarterback Malik Willis to the Carolina Panthers at sixth overall.

Willis has been surging up draft boards thanks to an impressive performance at his pro day, and it now seems highly likely that he will be the first quarterback off the board.

There is perhaps no more quarterback-needy team in the NFL than Carolina, and taking Willis would prevent the Panthers from having to go back to the Sam Darnold experiment next season.

Willis is one of only two quarterbacks Kiper projects to go in the first round, with the other being Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20 overall.

One notable drop in the mock is that of Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.

Hamilton had been considered a virtual lock to go inside the top five and potentially even as high as second overall, but Kiper has him falling to the Washington Commanders at No. 11.

An uninspiring 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds is likely primarily to blame for his fall from grace, but he has elite instincts and could be the steal of the draft if he does fall.

The first round of the 2022 NFL draft will emanate from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 28, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on April 29 and Rounds 4 through 7 on April 30.

Liberty's Malik Willis is the first quarterback off the board in the latest mock draft from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., going sixth overall to the Carolina Panthers.

Other quarterbacks selected in Kiper's two-round projection, released Wednesday, include Pitt's Kenny Pickett to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 40 and Ole Miss' Matt Corral to the New Orleans Saints at No. 49.

Willis presents the most upside of a quarterback class without a surefire superstar. His dual-threat playmaking ability is an ideal fit for the modern NFL, though there are questions about his accuracy and height (6'1'').

It's a risk worth taking for the Panthers, who finished last season with 14 touchdowns and 21 interceptions combined between its three signal-callers—Sam Darnold, Cam Newton and P.J. Walker.

Willis started his college career at Auburn but transferred to Liberty after two seasons in search of an opportunity to start. He compiled 74 total touchdowns (47 passing and 27 rushing) across 23 games for the Flames, albeit against lesser competition than he would have faced in the SEC.

The 22-year-old admitted during his interview at the NFL Scouting Combine he didn't expect to find himself in this position after leaving the Tigers.

"I thought I was done," Willis told reporters. "I thought I was finna go have fun and play my last two or three years, but I'm here now, so I'm happy."

Meanwhile, Pickett to the Steelers is one of those projections that just makes sense. Pittsburgh is looking for a long-term answer at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement and can land an NFL-ready prospect who played college football in the city.

Although the 2021 ACC Player of the Year would likely sit behind Mitchell Trubisky initially, he could take over the offense as a rookie if the former Chicago Bears starter struggles.

Ridder would be in line to compete for the starting job in Seattle despite falling to the second round, with Drew Lock and Jacob Eason the only other quarterbacks on the Seahawks roster.

Corral may start third on the depth chart behind Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton if he lands in New Orleans, but a year on the sideline wouldn't be the worst thing for his development with an eye toward potentially leading the offense in 2023.

The NFL draft is set to kick off April 28.

Quarterback buzz is heating up ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

Peter Schrager reported on the NFL Network the Carolina Panthers selecting Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral with the No. 6 overall pick is a "real possibility." The Panthers have also been heavily linked to Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett.

Liberty's Malik Willis has emerged as the favorite to be the first quarterback off the board, with the Detroit Lions being in play at No. 2 overall.

For much of the draft process, it appeared the top quarterbacks would be available outside the top 10 for the first time since 2013. Willis and Pickett have been the most sought-after options for most of the process, but neither is considered a can't-miss prospect.

There are concerns about Willis' lack of upper-level competition at the collegiate level and relatively raw skill set, while Pickett may have tapped out his potential as a four-year starter at Pitt.

Corral, meanwhile, has seemingly risen through the ranks to unseat Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder and North Carolina's Sam Howell as the consensus No. 3 in this class. NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, a former NFL quarterback, has gone as far as to rank Corral as his top quarterback.

"He has three things that he does at an elite level," Simms said on the Dan Patrick Show. “The NFL's going to look at and go, 'That's special.' First off, his arm is extremely strong. I mean it’s like crazy strong where you go, 'Did he really throw that ball, 25 yards out route and it was like 5 feet off the ground the whole way there?'

"Then as an athlete, quickness in his feet is as good as anybody I've ever seen. His ability to pop around the pocket, get his feet situated and make a throw is phenomenal."

The Panthers are among the teams expected to look long and hard at improving at quarterback in Round 1. Carolina took a risk last offseason by acquiring Sam Darnold, who hasn't proved himself a franchise QB, and was in the Deshaun Watson hunt before he was traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason.

With coach Matt Rhule's job on the line heading into 2022, the pick at No. 6 may wind up being the difference between saving his position and the unemployment line a year from now. 

Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles have maintained that Jalen Hurts will be the team's starter next season. Their reported approach to the quarterbacks in this year's draft class seems to back that up. 

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral has "scheduled a Wednesday visit with the Eagles, and that one at least interests me, maybe because it's the only quarterback whom I've heard Philly is bringing in."

It would make sense for the Eagles to hold off on the quarterback position for at least another season, giving them another year to decide if Hurts can be a franchise quarterback.

Next year's class of quarterbacks is considered a stronger group than this year's bunch, and the Eagles could use their two first-round picks this year to retool a roster that is transitioning from a veteran core to one built around young players like DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Jordan Mailata, among others. 

But an alternative approach might be to see which quarterbacks fall to the second day of the NFL draft. If the Eagles are high on a player like Corral and he falls to them, taking a flier on him would make sense. They did so with Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft with Carson Wentz still on the roster—a decision that proved to be savvy. 

That would give them a backup plan to Hurts in the short term and a developmental project in the long term. And it wouldn't prevent them from taking an elite prospect next year—the Eagles have never been averse to flipping a backup quarterback for trade capital down the road. 

As for Corral, he divides opinion. The B/R Scouting Department has him ranked 73rd on its big board, putting him firmly in the Day 2 mix. 

The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah is higher on Corral, ranking him 35th on his latest big board and writing that he has "excellent athleticism and a strong arm" with "an intriguing skill set, but the size (6'2" and 212 pounds) combined with his play style is a concern."

While ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't have Corral on his latest list of top-25 players, he does believe he's the No. 3 quarterback in the Class of 2022 behind Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett. He also projected the Detroit Lions to select Corral No. 32 overall in his latest mock draft.

Unless the Eagles love Corral, it's hard to see him ending up in Philly unless he falls to them in the second round. Even then, the Eagles have enough needs to address that quarterback may not be a priority.

Hosting Corral for a visit may simply be the Eagles putting out a smoke screen, hoping to entice a quarterback-needy team below them to overpay in a trade up the board. However, the Eagles only get 30 such visits, so they likely have at least some interest in Corral. 

Still, if the Eagles are going to use a first- or second-round pick on a quarterback, it seems more likely to be in 2023.