NFL Draft

Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson has declared for the 2022 NFL draft, he announced on Monday.

Wilson also told Austin Ward of Letterman Row that he won't play in the Rose Bowl against Utah on Saturday. The star won't be the only notable Ohio State player to sit out, though:

Wilson committed to Ohio State as a 5-star recruit out of Lake Travis High School in Texas, and it didn't take long for him to make a name for himself in Columbus. During his freshman season, he caught 30 passes for 432 yards and five touchdowns. 

As a sophomore, he racked up 43 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns in eight games. The 21-year-old had his best season in 2021. Through 11 games, he caught 70 passes for a 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Wilson has a strong ability to create separation and is a sharp route-runner. He can play the X, Z or slot positions and also run effectively on handoffs, per Pro Football Focus. That outlet compared him to Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. 

Sports Illustrated described some of Wilson's biggest assets:

"Wilson is a very smooth mover in space, both as a ball-carrier and a route-runner. He makes changing direction at full speed look extremely easy and silky. He has the versatility to line up anywhere on the offense. Excellent ball locator when he turns his head around on passes. He is extremely aware of his surroundings at all times and feels his space out. Near the sidelines, he seems to always know exactly how much room he has to safely secure each pass that comes his way in that area of the field."

Now that Wilson has committed to turning his NFL dreams into reality, he'll be able to focus on the NFL Scouting Combine and gear up for his first year in the pros.

Michigan State star Kenneth Walker III is turning pro coming off a breakout 2021 season. 

Walker announced on Twitter he will skip the Peach Bowl and begin preparing for the 2022 NFL draft. 

Spartans head coach Mel Tucker posted a farewell message to Walker on Twitter following the running back's announcement:

Walker began his college career at Wake Forest, where he played from 2019-20. He was the No. 3 running back as a freshman, behind quarterback Jamie Newman, who led the team in carries, and Cade Carney. 

Despite only carrying the ball 98 times, Walker racked up 579 yards on the ground and scored four touchdowns. He continued to play at a high level in 2020 with 579 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 119 attempts in seven games. 

After entering the transfer portal in January, Walker announced he would be attending Michigan State. The Spartans only had two rushing touchdowns for the entire 2020 season. 

Walker turned into arguably the best running back in the nation in 2021. He ran for 1,646 yards and 18 touchdowns on 264 attempts in 12 games. The 21-year-old won the Walter Camp Award, Doak Walker Award and was named Big Ten Running Back of the Year. 

He also finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. The Spartans posted their first 10-win season since 2017 with Walker leading the offense. 

B/R's latest big board for the 2022 draft has Walker ranked as the top running back and No. 23 overall player in the class. 

Michigan State will take on ACC champion Pitt without Walker in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.     

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is the projected No. 1 overall pick of the Detroit Lions in the latest 2022 NFL mock draft released by ESPN's Todd McShay on Tuesday.

Here are McShay's predicted top-five selections for the April 28 event following Week 14 of the 2021 season:

1. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

2. Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

4. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

5. New York Giants: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

The first quarterback doesn't come off the board until No. 12, when the Pittsburgh Steelers select Pitt's Kenny Pickett to keep him in Steel City.

Hutchinson finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. The senior edge-rusher has recorded 58 total tackles, 14 sacks, three passes defended and two forced fumbles across 13 appearances for the Wolverines this season.

The 6'6", 265-pound senior will try to cap his collegiate career by helping lead Michigan to a national championship. UM faces off with Georgia in the Orange Bowl semifinal on New Year's Eve.

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh praised the standout defender's decision to return for his senior campaign at the Heisman ceremony Saturday night.

"He stayed, he became a champion, he improved his game, he became a captain, he was a great leader," Harbaugh said. "... And I think he's gonna be the No. 1 pick in the draft."

In a year without a quarterback as the obvious No. 1 choice, the focus typically then shifts to the best pass-rusher available, and it appears that's the case here with a competition setting up between Hutchinson and Thibodeaux for the top spot.

Meanwhile, Pickett finished third in the Heisman vote after a breakout 2021 season.

The redshirt senior posted a modest 39 touchdowns and 25 interceptions across his first four years with the Panthers. He's exploded on the scene this year, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards with 42 passing scores and seven picks in 13 games.

Pickett is also a threat with his legs, recording 801 rushing yards and 20 TDs on the ground across 52 college games.

The Lions need a quarterback of the future, so it'll be interesting to see whether Pickett or another signal-caller can make a push for the No. 1 spot if Detroit stays in the slot at season's end.

Other QBs who were selected in McShay's first-round mock include Ole Miss' Matt Corral, Liberty's Malik Willis, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder and UNC's Sam Howell.

There's some talent available at the sport's most important position, just nobody who's quite proved themselves as a potential No. 1 pick. At least not yet with bowl games and the predraft process still to come.

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson could be as good as the top pass-rushers to enter the NFL in recent years.

"Everyone will compare him to T.J. Watt and the Bosas; those are fair comparisons," an AFC executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "He's got really good hands, can bend and can win through contact. There lots of guys in college that are just speed-rush guys. He can win through contact."

T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Joey Bosa were all first-round picks and each earned Pro Bowl selections within their first two years in the NFL. The Bosas each won Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Watt is a contender for Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Hutchinson will try to live up to that as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. 

The 6'6", 265-pound lineman tallied 14 sacks this season, lifting Michigan to a Big Ten title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinal. He especially turned heads with three sacks in the upset win over Ohio State, helping him finish second in voting for the Heisman Trophy. 

"He’s got a great motor," the executive said. "He plays with outstanding effort—always, always playing hard. You know he’s gonna empty the tank. And again, it’s against the run, too. He sets a firm edge, he’s tough to move and he chases the ball, makes plays outside and down the field. He’s not a dynamic athlete as a rusher, but he can bend and power through."

The comparison to some of the top pass-rushers in the NFL creates a high bar for arguably the biggest name in the 2022 draft class.

There will still be competition for the No. 1 spot in the draft, including from other edge-rushers like Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux and George Karlaftis from Purdue. Quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis could also challenge for the top pick in April depending on which team is on the board first.   

The 2022 NFL draft is considered weak at the quarterback position—so much so that executives are wistfully looking at players who aren't even eligible.

One NFC scouting director said Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who is not eligible for the draft, would be the top quarterback selected in the 2022 class if he were eligible. 

“He’d be the first QB taken [if he were eligible to declare],” the scouting director told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “He’s improved each week. Mature player who doesn’t force the ball, seems to take what the defense gives him. He’s good in rhythm and shows the ability to make plays off script. Accuracy and arm strength are very good. He can anticipate and is improving his consistency. … Also, Mac [Jones] and Tua [Tagovailoa] had more talent around them. Bryce has carried the offense at times this year.”

Young won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday after throwing for 4,322 yards and 43 touchdowns against four interceptions while leading Alabama to an SEC championship. He's the second straight Crimson Tide player to take home the trophy after wide receiver DeVonta Smith hoisted it in 2020.

The 2021 quarterback class is considered one of the weakest in recent memory. No signal-callers are expected to become the No. 1 overall pick, which would break a four-year streak of that position occupying the top selection. It's possible no QB will go inside the top 10 for the first time since 2013.

Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett, Ole Miss' Matt Corral, Liberty's Malik Willis and Nevada's Carson Strong are expected to compete to be first-round selections. Pickett is arguably the only one of the four who is a mortal lock to go in Round 1. 

Young will eligible for the 2023 draft, which is when he will reach the NFL requirement of being at least three years out of high school. If the former Mater Dei (California) standout returns with another stellar season, Young will likely be in the conversation for the No. 1 pick. 

The Houston Texans have an uncertain quarterback situation going forward, but that doesn't mean they will target the position early in the 2022 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Davis Mills will have a chance to prove himself as a long-term option over the final five games of the season. If he plays well, the Texans could look to draft defensive ends such as Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux early in the first round instead of a quarterback.

Deshaun Watson remains on the roster, but he has been the subject of trade talks since last offseason.

Mills, a third-round pick in 2021 out of Stanford, has been named the starter for the rest of the season for the 2-10 Texans over veteran Tyrod Taylor. The 23-year-old has seven touchdowns with eight interceptions and a 78.4 quarterback rating in eight appearances (six starts) this year.

Despite modest production to this point, the Texans think highly of Mills. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported in October the team liked him better than Tua Tagovailoa amid trade talks with the Miami Dolphins.

The upcoming draft is also seemingly not the best one to find a new franchise quarterback.

Bleacher Report's Scouting Department didn't list a single quarterback prospect among the top 20 overall players in its latest big board. Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder was considered the top player at the position at No. 22 overall.

Thibodeaux and Hutchinson are considered top-five prospects and could each provide an immediate impact as elite pass-rushers. Though Houston's offense has gotten plenty of attention this year, the defense has struggled as well while ranking 30th in points allowed per game (26.9).

Pairing another young edge-rusher with Jonathan Greenard could give the team quality building blocks for the rebuild.