2022 NFL Draft Preview – Defensive Line
February 25, 2022
By Steve Thomas and Alex Zeese
We’re beginning our 2022 NFL Draft coverage this week, albeit a little later than normal (thanks, Steve!). Since we have a bit of a compressed schedule this season, plus the fact that Washington’s defensive line group is overloaded, we’re going to combine edge rushers and the interior defensive line into one post. Let’s dive right in.
Edge rushers
Washington has already spent an enormous amount of draft capital on its edge rushers in recent years, not only the obvious in first round picks Montez Sweat and Chase Young, but also recent down-roster draft picks James Smith-Williams, Shaka Toney, and William Bradley-King. Therefore, it seems highly unlikely that the team will continue to draft more absent someone great falling into their lap. At least, it wouldn’t be wise idea. Frankly, it would be a misuse of resources for Washington to ignore other needs and instead draft yet another edge rusher. Here are the top edge rushers in this year’s draft.
1. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan, 6’5” / 270: Played 36 games in 4 years at Michigan, with 156 total tackles, including 85 solo and 27.5 for loss, and 17.5 sacks. In 2021, he played 14 games and made 62 tackles, including 36 solo and 16.5 for loss, and 14 sacks, and was a Unanimous All-American. Hutchinson is the consensus #1 edge rusher in the draft. He only had one big year at Michigan, but he has prototypical size for an NFL 4 – 3 defensive end, although most analysts see him as being able to excel in a 3 – 4 as well. Hutchinson is known as a freak of nature in the weight room. He has tremendous strength, although his burst off of the line of scrimmage is reportedly nothing to write home about. He’s certainly an elite pass rusher, but some feel as though his run defense isn’t as strong. Some have Hutchinson rated as high as the #1 overall prospect in the draft.
Projected draft round: round one, top 5
2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon, 6’5” / 258: Played 30 games in 3 years at Oregon and made 126 total tackles, including 84 solo and 35.5 for loss, and 19 sacks. In 2021, Thibodeaux played 10 games and made 49 tackles, including 35 solo and 12 for loss, and 7 sacks, and was a Unanimous All-American. He was productive for three full years in college. Thibodeaux is known to be athletic with an explosive first step, and is a quality run defender. Most scouts don’t view him as a naturally instinctive pass rusher. He’ll need some NFL coaching to improve his pass rushing moves. Thibodeaux is the consensus #2 edge rusher this year.
Projected draft round: top of round one
3. George Karlaftis, Purdue, 6’4” / 275: Played in 26 games in 3 seasons at Purdue, with 97 total tackles, including 61 solo and 39 for loss, plus 14 sacks. In 2021, he played 12 games and had 39 tackles, including 28 solo and 10 for loss, and 4.5 sacks, and was awarded First Team All-Big Ten and Third-Team All-American honors. Karlaftis’ best season was 2019, in which he played 12 games and made 54 tackles, including 30 solo and 17 for loss, and was credited with 7.5 sacks. He only played in 3 games in 2020 after testing positive for Coronavirus, which means he only has two full seasons of college ball. He’s known to have good strength, which is a benefit in the pass rush; however, he’s not known as elite run defender or as talented of an athlete as either Hutchinson or Thidodeaux. Karlaftis is viewed as a better fit in a 4 – 3 scheme.
Projected draft round: 1
4. David Ojabo, Michigan, 6’5” / 250: Ojabo is very inexperienced. He only played 20 games and just 620 snaps in 3 seasons at Michigan. He did not play at all in 2019, and just 6 games on special teams in 2020, with 1 tackle. Ojabo didn’t play high school football until his junior year. In 2021, Ojabo played in 13 games and made 35 tackles, including 24 solo and 12 for loss, and 11 sacks. His 40 yard dash time is rumored to be in the 4.5 range. Ojabo was a Second Team All American and First Team-Big Ten. He has a very high athletic ceiling that made up for some of his inexperience in college as a pass rusher, but he’s a fairly poor run defender. Some analysts view him as being better in a 3 – 4 system.
Projected draft round: 1
5. Jermaine Johnson, Florida St., 6’5” / 265: Johnson played for Independence Community College in Kansas for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He then transferred to the University of Georgia and played for the Bulldogs for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Johnson then transferred to Florida St. for his senior season, 2021. In total, between George and Florida St., Johnson played 28 games and made 106 tackles, including 53 solo and 24.5 for loss, and 18 sacks. In 2021, he played 12 games, with 70 tackles, including 33 solo and 17.5 for loss, plus 11.5 sacks. Johnson earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-ACC honors in 2021. His 40 yard dash time is projected to be in the mid-4.6 second range. Johnson is known as a high-motor player with good football instincts, and the ability to play in either a 4 – 3 or 3 – 4 system. Some scouts view him as having underdeveloped pass rush moves, but as having a good combination of strength and athleticism.
Projected draft round: 1 – 2
6. Travon Walker, Georgia, 6’5” / 275: Walker is a true junior who played 29 games in three seasons at Georgia. He made a total of 61 tackles, including 32 solo and 13 for loss, and 9.5 sacks. In 2021, Walker played 13 games and made 33 total tackles, including 17 solo and 7.5 for loss, plus 6 sacks. More than anything else, he’s known for having elite athleticism. Analysts view him as possibly being a better fit in 3 – 4 system. Walker is more of a run-stopper and will need to improve his pass rushing ability.
Projected draft round: 2
Defensive tackles
Looking at the various draft sites, there isn’t much consensus right now as to who is the top defensive lineman in this draft, although all three of Georgia’s linemen, Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, and Devonte Wyatt, are somewhere in the top 5 of this class, in one order or another. While the last two spots in that top five are typically filled out with a slew of other names and while one site may show Travis Jones of the University of Connecticut as a top 3 prospect, others may not even have him in the top 10. Like I have said, very little consensus exists for the top of the board for this position group.
The good news for Washington is that defensive tackle doesn’t appear to be a major need right now. Even if Tim Settle leaves via free agency, this is still a deep group for the team, probably their best position group on the roster.
The top defensive tackles in this draft look like they will be:
Jordan Davis, Georgia, 6’6” / 330 lbs
Devonte Wyatt, Georgia 6’3” / 315
Travon Walker, Georgia- 6’5” / 275
Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma, 6’3” / 298
DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M 6’4” / 290
In Washington’s case, they won’t spend a high pick on a DT, and would more likely look towards the back of the draft for someone. So here are some names to watch for later in the draft:
Esezi Otomewo, Minnesota, 6’5 / 292: Otomewo has a lot of versatility. Minnesota used him both at DT and DE, in 3-4 and 4-3 looks, that’s a thing we know that this coaching staff loves to see. He looks like he had decent speed when they used him on the edge, and when on the inside he held his own. 81 Tackles, 7.5 Sacks, and a fumble recovery over 4 years, 34 games.
Neil Farrell Jr, LSU, 6’4 / 319: He gets a very good push up front gets into the backfield with some real frequency and has a knack for getting past interior offensive linemen to get to the QB or RB. 45 Tackles 2 sacks his final year. In his 5 seasons at LSU, he played in 48 games, totaling 143 tackles 7.5 sacks a forced fumble.
Marquan McCall, Kentucky, 6’3 / 358: “Bully Ball” McCall has some impressive size but a long injury history, he missed most of his senior season with an injury. He would be a very high risk to bring in for that reason but he’s clearly would be a massive space-eater with that size. As I said, he missed some time over his 4-year career, he played in 31 games at Kentucky he totaled 57 tackles 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Travis Jones, Connecticut, 6’4” / 333: Missed his junior year, but in 3 seasons he played in 33 games totaled 134 tackles 8.5 sacks, was very consistent each year. He plays the nose tackle position quite a lot which makes sense given his size.
Matthew Butler, Tennessee, 6’4” / 295: A solid pass rusher for his size, if he can get a shot at the QB he has good closing speed. The thing to like about him is his year in, year out consistency. From 2019-to 2021 he averaged 45 tackles a season. 44 games, 152 Tackles, and 9.5 sacks, 2 FF.
Damion Daniels, Nebraska, 6’3” / 325: A nose tackle who’s primary duty tended to be clogging things up at the center of the field rather than making big plays himself. Daniels played in 32 games in his college career and has had, 83 tackles no sacks in 4 years.
Christopher Hinton, Michigan, 6’4” / 310: While he is very athletic for his size, numbers don’t really stand out as a Junior, he has played in just 22 games had 55 tackles and 2 sacks.