This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2022 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2022 NFL Draft Stock Up
Logan Hall, DE, Houston Hall is enjoying a breakout season for the Cougars, showing length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to set the edge. In 2021, Hall has 23 tackles and four sacks. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has the strength to set the edge in the ground game and has the length to play 3-4 five-technique defensive end. Hall looks like the rare five-technique prospect who is capable of putting pressure on the quarterback. He is a riser who could go in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Zachary Carter, DE, Florida Team sources have been impressed with Carter this season and say he’s helped himself with his 2021 performance. Thus far in this year, he has six sacks, 17 tackles and one forced fumble. Sources feel Carter is a heavy edge defender who can bump inside to rush the quarterback in the sub package. They say that while Carter doesn’t like to grind blocks and got tossed around some as a run defender versus Alabama, they like his athleticism and speed for a defender who is roughly 6-foot-4, 285 pounds. They compare Carter to Boogie Basham, who was a second-round pick by the Bills last year. Scouts feel that if Carter continues to produce sacks, he could put himself into late first-round contention even though they are grading him more as a second-round talent.
Nick Grant, S, Virginia The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Grant has yet to put together a massive season of production, but he has a good skill set with the traits of a NFL starter. Grant is a tall, quick, long, and rangy free safety for the back end. In 2021, he has 21 tackles and a forced fumble, plus he has shown his ability to defend the back end with seven passes broken up. Grant had two interceptions in each of the previous two seasons to go along with eight breakups in 2019 and 51 tackles.
Joey Blount, S, Virginia The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Blount has been a productive player for the Cavaliers and is having a solid season season, providing a lot of stops in the ground game. In 2021, Blount has 49 tackles, two passes defended and one interception. In 2019, he had 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, three interceptions and three passes defended. Blount took advantage of a fifth season and will enter the NFL with a lot of experience from his time with Virginia. He is a strong safety type for the NFL.
Lewis Cine, S, Georgia Cine is a mid-round prospect who has played well for Georgia in 2021. He has 28 tackles, an interception and five passes defended. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Cine has a quality skill set of size, quickness and athleticism. In 2020, he had 52 tackles and three breakups. Team sources say Cine could be a mid-round pick who starts out as a backup but has the upside to potentially develop into being a starter.
Ed Ingram, G, LSU Ingram really played well against Florida to show that he has plug-and-play starting potential for the NFL. In the first quarter, Ingram pulled around to the right side and absolutely flattened Zach Carter with a bone-rattling block that helped open an 18-yard touchdown run for LSU. Early in the third quarter, the Tigers went behind Ingram, and he got a push off the line to blast open a hole for a 40-yard touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, Ingram did it again, helping to open up a hole for another touchdown run from about 20 yards out. In a shocking output, Ingram and the LSU offensive line dominated Florida’s defense, allowing Tigers running back Tyrion Davis-Price to set their single-game rushing record with 287 yards on 36 carries. That broke the previous mark held by Leonard Fournette.
For the NFL, Ingram is a powerful left guard who can generate a push in the ground game. He is a physical force to hit defensive linemen and deliver some violent hits when on the move. This year, Ingram’s pass-protection ability looks improved with his technique this year. He’s playing with better leverage, feet, and hand placement. Ingram is a powerful people mover, but he is not super athletic or shockingly fast, so he might be a better fit for a man-blocking scheme as opposed to a zone-blocking scheme. While his run blocking is ahead of his pass protection for the next level, Ingram is well rounded. He could be a Day 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and could become a quick starter in the NFL.
Corey Sutton, WR, Appalachian State The Mountaineers have enjoyed Sutton as a deep threat the past three seasons, and he’s on track to produce his best year yet as a sniper. Sutton broke out in 2018 with an average of 17.6 yards per catch, snatching 44 passes for 773 yards and 10 touchdowns. His production was similar (41-601-7) in 2019, and this season, Sutton has put together some impressive games against Elon, Marshall, and Georgia State. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder has quality size as well. He is sleeper prospect who could be a nice mid-round value in the 2022 NFL Draft.
2022 NFL Draft Stock Down
Luke Matthews, C, Texas A&M There was a lot of hype and excitement coming out of College Station about Matthews entering this season. It looked like he was poised to carry on the family tradition of good NFL offensive linemen, but unfortunately, his season was for naught because he only played in one game before being ruled out for the rest of the year. Matthews had season-ending surgerym and his arm has been in a sling. It might make more sense for Matthews to take a medical redshirt and return to Texas A&M for next year.
Myles Jones, CB, Texas A&M Team sources said Jones did not look right in the two games he played this year after a leg injury kept him out of some of the early contests. After not playing well versus Arkansas, Jones was out of the lineup, and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said Jones is out for the year following surgery. In the 2022 NFL Draft’s crowded class of cornerbacks, this hurts Jones draft grade and will put a medical flag next to him on NFL teams’ draft boards.
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