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
Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa Linderbaum is the consensus top center prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft, and he gave further proof of that evaluation with an excellent performance against a good Kentucky defense. While Iowa’s offense struggled to maintain consistency against the Wildcats, Linderbaum was phenomenal on the inside. Midway through the fourth quarter, a Kentucky defensive lineman appeared to step on Linderbaum’s left foot, which left Linderbaum gingerly walking into the locker room for a while before he returned to finish the game. Linderbaum looks like a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He could be a plug-and-play starter abd could have the potential to be a Pro Bowler before the end of his rookie contract.
Zach VanValkenburg, DE, Iowa Iowa senior defensive end Zach VanValkenburg one of the stars of the Citrus Bowl. Throughout the game, he used his speed to run around Kentucky’s backup left tackle, producing multiple sacks of quarterback Will Levis. The 6-foot-4, 267-pound VanValkenburg showed ability to blaze around the corner and use active hands to slap blockers away while continuing to work upfield. While VanValkenburg did not put up a prolific senior year in terms of production, his Citrus Bowl performance will help him to become a mid-round or third-day pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Travon Walker, DE, Georgia Walker was non-factor against Alabama in the SEC Championship, but he was the best defensive lineman on the field for Georgia or Michigan their playoff matchup. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Walker showed phenomenal speed, athleticism, strength, and versatility in a fabulous performance.
Walker made an excellent play in the first quarter against the Wolverines, powering through the pulling center and then ripping down the running back for no gain. On the next play, Walker knifed to the inside and hit Cade McNamara just after the pass got out. Early in the third quarter, Walker worked off his blocks to take down McNamara for a sack after some teammates flushed him out of the pocket. Early in the fourth quarter, Walker lined up on the inside and burned the left guard with a speed rush. Walker had the quarterback in his grasp, but the tackle was broken to deny him a second sack. Walker really helped himself against Michigan after underwhelming versus Alabama.
Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State With Jayson Oweh moving on to the NFL, Ebiketie took over as a starter in 2021, and he produced an excellent season for Penn State. Ebiketie totaled 62 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year. Team sources say the 6-foot-3, 256-pound Ebiketie is similar to Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. In the 2022 NFL Draft, Ebiketie should be no lower than a second-day pick.
Brian Robinson Jr, RB, Alabama The star 2022 NFL Draft prospect of the Alabama-Cincinnati playoff game was Crimson Tide running back Brian Robinson Jr. From start to finish, Robinson ripped the Bearcats defense apart, running downhill, powering through tackles, and showing good vision and cutting ability to weave through defenders. He totaled 204 yards on 26 carries and set an Alabama record for rushing yards in a bowl game.
Versus Cincinnati, Robinson showed his power to run through tackles and pick up yards after contact. He has quickness and burst to get to the second level while showing vision and feel. In the passing game, Robinson is very fluid as an outlet receiver for a big back, and Robinson has been excellent as a blocker in blitz protection this season. He has been a real riser with pro teams for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky Robinson could be a potential first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and his performance against Iowa provided NFL evaluators with another tape that displays his excellent speed and playmaking ability. In the second quarter on a third-and-26 against the Hawkeyes, Robinson ran a vertical route out of the slot and got open for a 34-yard gain with an over-the-shoulder catch. On another third-and-long, this one in the fourth quarter, Robinson drew a pass interference from All-American corner Riley Moss, who was holding and draped all over him. Late in the fourth quarter, Robinson caught a slant on a third-and-10 for a 17-yard gain, and he took a massive shot but managed to hold onto the ball.
With just two minutes remaining around mid-field and the Wildcats down by four, Robinson made the play of the game. He ran a corner post from the slot and caught the ball around the 30-yard line. He made a superb juke move on a tackler at the 20, dodged another at the five, and was tackled at the one-yard line. It was a 52-yard gain on what could have been the last reception of Robinson’s Kentucky career. He finished the Citrus Bowl with 10 passes for 170 yards. His performance against Iowa could help make Robinson a first-rounder if he enters the 2022 NFL Draft.
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina As we reported in the Hot Press, sources from one NFL team say their second-rated quarterback is North Carolina’s Sam Howell. “I could see Howell rising through the process, and it would not shock me at all if he bubbles up into the first round,” said an NFC director of player personnel. “His tape was a lot better than I expected. He has some natural passer and instincts to him.”
Howell went under the radar to a degree in 2021 because the supporting cast that helped him be so successful in 2020 had departed for the NFL. Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and Liberty’s Malik Willis have had higher consensus projections for the 2022 NFL Draft. Some in the media even have had Nevada’s Carson Strong as a projected high first-rounder.
“Corral and is a rhythm and anticipation passer,” said the NFC director. “I question his arm strength, and his deep accuracy is off. Willis doesn’t see the field well, and his awareness is bad. I was disappointed in his tape. I was hoping to see Jalen Hurts. We don’t have a first-round grade on Strong. He has good arm strength and can throw it far, but he is a touch passer and not a ton of zip on his passes. He doesn’t drive balls into tight windows. He’s a marginal athlete with marginal mobility.”
While Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett has established himself as the top consensus quarterback for the 2022 NFL Draft, there is a wide array of opinions among NFL teams about who comes next, and some franchises have Howell as their second-rated quarterback at this early point in the 2022 NFL Draft process.
2022 NFL Draft Stock Down
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati Ridder could be a mid-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. ESPN’s uninformed play-by-play talking head said Ridder was a future first-rounder at the beginning of the Alabama-Cincinnati playoff game, but multiple NFL team sources have told WalterFootball.com they had given Ridder a backup grade and saw him as a mid-rounder. Ridder’s limitations were put on display against Alabama. He telegraphed passes, and that led to a string of batted balls by the Crimson Tide defensive line. Ridder also held onto the ball too long and took some unnecessary sacks. Versus Alabama, Ridder completed 17-of-32 passes for 144 yards, but zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He has a decent skill set with size, athleticism, and arm strength, but he looks like a NFL backup given his inconsistency and issues as a pocket passer.
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