NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly set to host two quarterback prospects, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder and North Carolina's Sam Howell, on predraft visits this week.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Ridder will meet with the Steelers' brass on Thursday followed by Howell on Friday.

The 2022 NFL draft kicks off April 28. Pittsburgh owns the No. 20 pick in the first round.

The Steelers signed former Chicago Bears starter Mitchell Trubisky, who spent last season as the Buffalo Bills' backup, to a two-year, $14.3 million contract in free agency. That hasn't taken them out of the running of one of the class' top QB prospects, though.

Ridder is coming off a decorated four-year tenure as the Bearcats starter. He earned AAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 and was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year each of the past two seasons.

The 22-year-old Kentucky native completed 62.1 percent of his throws for 10,239 yards, 87 touchdowns and 28 interceptions across 50 games at Cincinnati. He added 2,180 rushing yards and 28 more scores on the ground.

ESPN's Matt Miller reported Tuesday he's hearing Ridder could come off the board inside the top 20, which matches perfectly with the Steelers being his latest possible landing spot.

Meanwhile, Howell entered his final college season as a contender to become the top prospect in the 2022 class, but he endured an up-and-down final year with the Tar Heels.

He threw for the fewest touchdowns (24) and most interceptions (nine) of his three-year college career in 2021, but he still finished his UNC tenure with a strong 92-23 TD-to-INT ratio in 37 games.

"That's kind of the main thing I learned throughout this past season. I don't have to be the hero on every single play. Just stay with my framework and I stay true to who I am as a player," Howell told reporters in February.

In all likelihood, if the Steelers draft a quarterback at No. 20—Liberty's Malik Willis, Pitt's Kenny Pickett and Ole Miss' Matt Corral are other options, depending on who's still available—they'll likely enter their rookie year as the backup to Trubisky.

Going with both a veteran and a prospect will increase the team's chances of quickly finding the long-term replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January after 18 years of leading the offense.

Ohio State's Garrett Wilson edges out USC's Drake London as the top wide receiver on the big board of ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.

Kiper dropped his 2022 big board Sunday and broke down the receiver position on Get Up on Wednesday.

Here are Kiper's five best wideouts:

1. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State 
2. Drake London, USC 
3. Chris Olave, Ohio State 
4. Jameson Williams, Alabama 
5. Jahan Dotson, Penn State

Wilson is No. 6 on Bleacher Report's big board as London and Olave top the list. Arkansas star Treylon Burks is another point of divergence as he's sixth on Kiper's board and third at the position on B/R.

Five receivers were taken in the first round of the 2021 draft, and six were selected within the first 32 picks in 2020. By contrast, the 2018 and 2019 drafts saw only two wideouts in the first round each year.

While using a first-rounder on a wideout can be risky, the trend may not be subsiding.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday the Buffalo Bills agreed to a four-year, $104 million extension with Stefon Diggs that includes $70 million guaranteed.

That comes after Davante Adams signed a record-setting five-year, $140 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. The record didn't last long as Tyreek Hill inked a four-year, $120 million extension with the Miami Dolphins following his trade from the Kansas City Chiefs.

The receiver market is soaring, and that will cause a domino effect for elite pass-catchers looking to cash in.

Receivers aren't as irreplaceable as quarterbacks, though. If you need immediate help at wideout, you can often find good value in the draft.

Diggs is a prime example. The Minnesota Vikings traded him to the Bills in 2020 and used one of the picks they got back on Justin Jefferson, who's already a two-time Pro Bowler.

For teams with a receiver soon to hit free agency, the 2022 draft is an opportunity to lay out a succession plan, so it's worth watching where the top players at the position land.

The Carolina Panthers are planning to perform their due diligence when it comes to the top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL draft class.

The MMQB's Albert Breer reported Tuesday the Panthers are planning to invite a group of signal-callers to Charlotte, North Carolina, next week:

Carolina will be on the board at No. 6 overall for its only pick in the first three rounds.

Taking a quarterback figures to be among the options in play because Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker are the only signal-callers on the roster. Trading for Darnold was a flop in 2021, as the 24-year-old threw for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 12 appearances.

The question for the Panthers is whether targeting a quarterback at No. 6 will be the best course of action.

There isn't a standout QB prospect in this year's class, nor is there much strength in depth. Coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder (No. 16) and Liberty's Malik Willis (No. 47) were the only quarterbacks ranked in the top 50 overall on Bleacher Report's big board.

However, the importance of the position is bound to trump what value a team could find in the early stages of the first round. In B/R's most recent mock draft, Willis landed with the Detroit Lions at No. 2 overall.

The Panthers were projected to take North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu.

As much as an upgrade for Darnold is needed, Carolina allowed 52 sacks and ranked 27th in adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders. Without improvements to the offensive line, it might not matter much who's lining up under center.

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly set to host Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave on Tuesday ahead of the 2022 NFL draft.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Cowboys also expressed interest in trading for wideout DeVante Parker before he was sent to the New England Patriots, signaling Dallas' plans to bolster its receiving corps at some point this offseason.

The Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns last month in a cap-saving move.

While the team parlayed some of those savings into re-signing free agent Michael Gallup, he's coming off a torn ACL suffered in January and might not be ready for the start of the regular season. 

CeeDee Lamb is more than capable of handling WR1 duties, but he's likely looking at a lot of focused coverage until Gallup returns the lineup. Drafting a receiver early and plugging him into the Cooper role could alleviate some of those concerns.

That said, the Cowboys are likely far down Olave's list of preferred destinations. Dallas does not pick until the No. 24 selection in Round 1; Olave undoubtedly hopes he'll be off the board by then. ESPN's Scouts Inc. has him as the No. 17 overall player in the 2022 class and third-ranked receiver behind former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson and USC's Drake London.

B/R's scouting department has Olave as the No. 10 player in this class and second-ranked wideout. 

There are six receivers in B/R's top 21 players in this class, so it's possible the depth of the position could lead to some of the names after Wilson and London falling down the board. In that case, Dallas could wind up lucking out and landing Olave. 

ESPN's Todd McShay released his latest mock draft for the 2022 NFL draft on Tuesday with a blitz of edge-rushers projected to open the proceedings April 28.

McShay kept Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson as the predicted selection for the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1 overall, which is the same as his previous mock, but there are changes starting with the Detroit Lions at No. 2.

Here's a look at the top five picks:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
2. Detroit Lions: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
3. Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
4. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
5. New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

The first quarterback comes off the board at No. 6, when McShay projects the Carolina Panthers grab Pitt's Kenny Pickett.

The Jags' decision to use the franchise tag on offensive tackle Cam Robinson moved them firmly in the market for a defensive end with the first pick, and Hutchinson is trending toward consensus No. 1 status with just over three weeks until draft day.

He's coming off a breakout senior season at Michigan that saw him tally 62 total tackles, 14 sacks, three passes defended and two forced fumbles in 14 games. He'd recorded just 3.5 sacks in 22 appearances across his first three years with the Wolverines.

"It would mean a lot," Hutchinson told reporters in March about potentially going No. 1 overall. "A lot of hard work has gone into this. It's been a very long journey, but I'm ready to start a new chapter."

The 6'7", 260-pound edge-rusher would be a welcome addition to the Jaguars defense opposite Josh Allen and could instantly bolster a pass rush that ranked joint-28th in the NFL last season with 32 sacks.

Walker is a polarizing prospect because he lacks the sack production of his fellow top-ranked defensive ends. He only recorded 9.5 sacks in 29 games during his three years at Georgia, including a modest six quarterback takedowns in his final season with the Bulldogs.

That said, he's showcased the ability to play anywhere along the front four, and McShay believes the 21-year-old Georgia native has the "explosion to anchor the Lions' defensive line."

Thibodeaux also doesn't come without some question marks despite racking up 19 sacks in 30 games for the Ducks.

ESPN's Matt Miller reported Friday the Oregon edge-rusher could be trending toward a draft-day slide because of some "poor" interviews with interested teams.

The need for defensive ends and outside linebackers is too high around the league for him to sit on the board too long, however, and McShay still has him inside the top three.

After the early run on defenders, McShay's mock evens out over the rest of the first round, with 18 offensive players and 14 defensive players selected.

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 232

HAND: 9 5/8"

ARM: 30 1/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'1 1/8"

40-YARD DASH: 4.52

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 39.5"

BROAD: 10'0"

POSITIVES

— Very good vision and discipline. Identifies run and pass concepts quickly and does not hesitate to react.

— Plays fast downhill. Knows how to stay tight to the DL and work in traffic.

— Good quickness in the box. Can hop gap to gap and function in tight spaces.

— Effective at slipping blocks thanks to his quickness, natural leverage and decent balance.

— Good speed. Can make plays in space and toward the perimeter.

— Heads-up, physical coverage player. Effectively plays his zones and reroutes when possible.

NEGATIVES

— Short build with poor arm length. Prone to losing engagements with OL and giving up ground.

— Despite putting up 36 reps of 225 at the Oklahoma State pro day, his play strength is inconsistent. He is willing to play violently but just does not have the functional strength or explosion to do it consistently.

— Change of direction in space can get clunky. Needs to take perfect angles to the perimeter.

— Sound form as a tackler, but his short arms can lead to missed tackles.

2021 STATISTICS

14 G, 129 TOT, 16 TFL, 3 SK, 4 FF, 1 INT

NOTES

— 3-star recruit in 2017.

— Recruited to Oklahoma State as a safety but transitioned to linebacker by the time he became a starter in 2018.

— Four-year starter.

— 2019 and 2020 second-team All-Big 12; 2021 first-team all-Big 12.

— Team captain in 2020 and 2021.

OVERALL

Malcom Rodriquez has all the necessary skills of an NFL linebacker, but he will be fighting an uphill battle against his small build.

At 5'11" and 232 pounds, Rodriguez sports a thick build, but he will be one of the shortest linebackers in the league. Likewise, he measured in at the combine with 30⅛" arms. That lack of length regularly showed up on film when going to take on blocks. He rarely proved he could them head-on, both due to his poor length and wavering play strength. Even in the most optimistic projection, there will be instances where he is outmatched physically.

Rodriguez has plenty to offer, though. Despite his size and strength, he still finds ways to excel in the box. He plays with a hair trigger that is seldom wrong, allowing him to get the jump on run plays. Rodriguez is also quite comfortable playing tight to blocks and finding creative ways to slip blocks in congested areas, helping him overcome his deficiencies. He's also mostly impressive in space. Though his change of direction can get ugly at times, he plays with good initial burst as well as long speed to chase to the perimeter.

Rodriguez can hold his own in coverage as well. Keeping up with quicker running backs and slot receivers may be tricky with his change-of-direction limitations, but his awareness and speed allow him to play effectively in zone coverage. He can patrol windows all around him while also excelling at triggering downhill to kill yards-after-catch situations.

Size and strength are Rodriguez's limiting factors. Everything else about his game screams NFL starting-caliber linebacker. That said, size and strength are major limitations to overcome, and Rodgriguez would need to develop into an elite processor and technician to make it work at a high level. He would be best served as a "Mike," where his quick processing, coverage skills and range can be accentuated.

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player - 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 117

POSITION RANK: LB11

PRO COMPARISON: Discount Eric Kendricks

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

HEIGHT: 6'4 1/8"

WEIGHT: 253

HAND: 10"

ARM: 33 3/4"

WINGSPAN: 6'8 3/4"

40-YARD DASH: 5.08

3-CONE: 7.20

SHUTTLE: 4.24

VERTICAL: 26.5"

BROAD: 8'8"

POSITIVES

— Elite length. Allows him to engage with OL on his own terms more often than not.

— Active hands that pair well with his length. Shows an array of moves and counters.

— Good at inside counters. Effectively baits OTs to set hard outside before crossing their face.

— Great first step. Comes off the ball with real juice.

— Above-average lateral quickness and burst.

NEGATIVES

— Slow to react against the run. Does not see blocks well; struggles to trigger when playing in space.

— Poor anchor in the run game. Regularly blown off his spot and surrenders ground.

— Below-average bend as a pass-rusher. Struggles to widen out and turn the corner with balance.

— Aggression bleeds into recklessness. Prone to earning penalties.

— Generally impressive first step, but sometimes relies too much on snap jumping.

— Did not jump or run at the NFL Combine nearly as well as his tape suggests. 

2021 STATISTICS

10 G, 28 TOT, 6 TFL, 6 SK

NOTES

— Charged with DWI near the end of the 2021 season.

— 3-star recruit in 2016.

— Earned playing time for four seasons at Missouri before transferring to Arkansas for his final season.

— 2017 SEC All-Freshman (Coaches).

OVERALL

Tre Williams brings juice off the edge on film, but the rest of his profile is filled with complications.

On tape, Williams wins with an explosive first step and good lateral quickness. Sometimes his first step is aided by snap jumping, but he still comes off the ball well in the majority of instances when he is not trying to time things up. Additionally, he covers a ton of ground when moving side to side, whether that is just to win a two-way go or to knife inside on a twist or stunt. In addition to explosiveness, Williams shows off quality hand usage. He does not have the most violent hands, but he has great length and regularly mixes up his approach to keep offensive linemen on their toes. Unfortunately, none of that was backed up at the NFL Combine, but at least his tape suggests those traits are there to be unlocked.

Williams struggles mightily in other areas, though. As a pass-rusher, he does not show good bend. He can occasionally drop his hips and work through contact, but he typically displays stiff hips and gets knocked off his outside path too often right now. That is a problem for a pass-rusher on the lighter side.

At this stage, Williams is a wreck versus the run as well. He takes an extra beat to see concepts developing, which only worsens his already poor anchor. Williams too often ends up out of his gap one way or another, even though he does flash the ability to knife through for tackles for loss.

Chances are Williams will need to be a rotational pass-rusher only early on. Additionally, he is a better fit for 3-4 teams that will allow him to stand up and rush with a little more space to work with. Despite some of those limitations, Williams does offer the length, hand usage and explosiveness that make him a Day 3 dice roll.

GRADE: 6.0 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 231

POSITION RANK: EDGE26

PRO COMPARISON: Tarell Basham

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

HEIGHT: 6'5 3/8"

WEIGHT: 308

HAND: 10 1/2"

ARM: 35 1/2"

WINGSPAN: 7'1 3/8"

40-YARD DASH: 5.30

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 27"

BROAD: 8'4"

POSITIVES

— Above-average snap get-off.

— Strong, consistent punch, particularly in the run game.

— Great upper-body strength. Gets easy extension after engaging and can control blocks.

— Very good anchor when he sees the play correctly. Does well to settle and hold ground, even against doubles.

— Above-average movement skills for his size. Comes off blocks with decent range.

— Good leg drive. Keeps his legs churning to get deep into the backfield.

— Can be an effective pocket pusher on passing downs.

NEGATIVES

— Balance is an issue at times. Can lean and put himself on the ground.

— Vision and feel for run concepts can be spotty.

— Natural leverage issues due to tall frame. Could be more of a problem in the NFL.

— Tested as a worse athlete than he shows on film.

2021 STATISTICS

11 G, 43 TOT, 7 TFL, 2 SK, 1 FF, 1 INT

NOTES

— 4-star recruit in 2017.

— Two-and-a-half-year starter.

OVERALL

Jayden Peevy has all the components of a starting NFL defensive tackle, but he will need some fine-tuning to unlock that potential.

Peevy is a nice athlete on tape. He gets off the snap well and shows surprising movement skills, both across the line of scrimmage and in space, for a player who looks as heavyset as he does. Peevy may not have the juice to consistently end up in the backfield by slicing through gaps, but he can keep up with outside plays and chase well enough in space. While he did not back any of that up at the NFL combine, at least it shows on tape.

The core of Peevy's game is really about strength and physicality anyway. He's a nasty, relentless player who packs a ton of punch in his upper body. He may not be the craftiest hand fighter right now, but he brings enough power and length that he makes it work. Peevy rarely has issues controlling blocks with his strength. Likewise, he anchors exceptionally well when he keeps his feet with him. He can hunker down and hold his ground against double-teams when need be. Peevy's power bleeds into his pass-rushing reps as well. He brings great leg drive and will be an effective pocket pusher at the next level.

Peevy's issues right now are mostly technical. As of now, he does not have quick feet, and he can struggle to keep his base under him, leading to balance issues. Peevy's balance issues are partly related to his leverage as well. Being 6'5", Peevy naturally plays high and sometimes has issues trying to play lower. Additionally, his awareness comes and goes. He has too many moments where he fails to identify a blocking scheme correctly and ends up taking himself out of the play.

Peevy could reasonably play 1-tech or 3-tech in the NFL, though 1-tech may be a more natural home. He may be volatile early on due to his unrefined technique and awareness, but he has the strength, physicality and baseline movement skills to be a net-positive run defender and useful pocket compressor in the passing game.

GRADE: 7.0 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter - 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 106

POSITION RANK: DL10

PRO COMPARISON: Austin Johnson

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen