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
Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky Team sources told WalterFootball.com they think Paschal may not get beyond the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was a rock-solid defender at Kentucky for multiple seasons, so he has a lot of good tape, but Paschal has also been a star in the pre-draft process, according to scouts. He has been phenomenal in the interviews and has been superb in pre-draft workouts. Scouts consider Paschal to be a very clean and safe pick. His late rise could have him off the board as a top-60 selection.
Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin Chenal broke out for the Badgers in 2021, recording 96 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. The 6-foot-3, 261-pounder is a solidly built outside linebacker who is capable of getting after the quarterback on the edge. Some evaluators have graded him in the second round, but in a survey of sources, the majority had him as a third- or fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State Emerson is a tall cornerback with good length and the size to handle big NFL receivers. In 2021, Emerson recorded 49 tackles and three passes defended. He made 72 stops with 11 breakups in 2020. Emerson did not notch an interception in either of those season, with his lone collegiate interception coming in 2019 when he also had 31 tackles for the Bulldogs. The lack of ball skills and production was disappointing, but Emerson has a lot going for him according to team sources. The 6-foot-2, 201-pounder has shown the skills to be a press-man corner, and he is not stiff at opening his hips to turn and run. Emerson could end up being a candidate for second-day pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue When top prospects get injured or have character issues that drop them as a draft approaches, other prospects rise to take their place. Michigan defensive end David Ojabo tore an Achilles at the program’s pro day, which benefits Karlaftis because Ojabo will not most likely slide to Day 2 and Karlaftis will move up to being the fourth edge rusher off the board after Aidan Hutchinson, Travon Walker and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Karlaftis could crack the top-10 picks and looks safe to end up as a top-20 choice. He worked out well at the combine, and team sources say he interviewed well also. Karlaftis should not have a long wait come the 2022 NFL Draft.
2022 NFL Draft Stock Down
Damone Clark, LB, LSU Clark was a consensus second-round pick with an outside chance of sneaking into Round 1 until it was discovered in the combine medical exam that he would need neck surgery. The hernia procedure will probably cost Clark his rookie season, but he is expected to make a full recovery. This really hurts Clark and will probably send him significantly lower in the 2022 NFL Draft. The third round is probably the earliest he could come off the board, and he could slide well into Day 3.
Clark, however, could end up being a steal because he was one of the best linebackers in the 2022 NFL Draft and a tackling machine at LSU. Still, he has an unfortunate stock down late in the process even after a good week at the Senior Bowl and an excellent combine workout.
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas Burks had an excellent 2021 season for the Razorbacks, but questions about his speed to translate to the NFL were present all year. The speed concern has only been aggravated in the pre-draft process because Burks has run poor times in the 40 dash – just below 4.6 seconds. That is a slower time for a wide receiver. As a result, multiple league sources think Burks could slide in the 2022 NFL Draft. They feel he has a shot at going late in Round 1 and won’t slip out of the second round. What they don’t see, however, is Burks going in the top half of the first round like some of the projections from months ago.
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