2022 Top 100

[Pachyderm_Wave]

1st Round Grades:


1. Evan Neal* / OT / Alabama

2. Ahmad Gardner* / CB / Cincinnati

3. Aidan Hutchinson / EDGE / Michigan

4. Charles Cross* / OT / Mississippi St.

5. Travon Walker / DE / Georgia

6. Kayvon Thibodeaux* / EDGE / Oregon

7. Devin Lloyd / LB / Utah

8. Nakobe Dean* / LB / Georgia

9. David Ojabo* / EDGE / Michigan

10. Kaiir Elam* / CB / Florida

11. Lewis Cine* / S / Georgia

12. Breece Hall* / RB / Iowa St.

13. Treylon Burks* / WR / Arkansas

14. Ikem Ekwonu* / OT / NC State

15. Jameson Williams* / WR / Alabama

16. Christian Watson / WR / N. Dakota St.

17. Kenneth Walker* / RB / Michigan St.

18. Perrion Winfrey / DT / Oklahoma

19. Jermaine Johnson / EDGE / Florida St.

20. Sam Williams / EDGE / Ole Miss

21. Andrew Booth* / CB / Clemson

22. Leo Chenal* / LB / Wisconsin

23. Derek Stingley Jr.* / CB / LSU

24. Arnold Ebiketie / EDGE / Penn St.

25. DeMarvin Leal* / DE / Texas A&M

26. Jordan Davis / DT / Georgia

27. Devonte Wyatt / DT / Georgia

28. Trevor Penning* / OT / N. Iowa

29. Tyler Smith* / OT / Tulsa

30. Zion Johnson / OG / Boston College

31. Tyler Linderbaum* / C / Iowa











Day 2 Grades:


32. Kenny Pickett / QB / Pittsburgh

33. Chris Olave / WR / Ohio St.

34. Jahan Dotson / WR / Penn St.

35. Garrett Wilson* / WR / Ohio St.

36. Drake London* / WR / USC

37. George Pickens* / WR / Georgia

38. Travis Jones* / DT / UCONN

39. Trent McDuffie* / CB / Washington

40. Kyle Hamilton* / S / Notre Dame

41. Drake Jackson* / EDGE / USC

42. Nik Bonitto* / EDGE / Oklahoma

43. Kenyon Green* / OG / Texas A&M

44. Jaquan Brisker / S / Penn St.

45. Dax Hill* / S / Michigan

46. Chad Muma / LB / Wyoming

47. Boye Mafe / EDGE / Minnesota

48. George Karlaftis* / EDGE / Purdue

49. Cameron Thomas* / EDGE / San Diego St.

50. Troy Andersen / LB / Montana St.

51. Christian Harris* / LB / Alabama

52. Brandon Smith* / LB / Penn St.

53. Kyler Gordon* / CB / Washington

54. Tre McBride / TE / Colorado St.

55. Jalen Tolbert / WR / S. Alabama

56. David Bell* / WR / Purdue

57. Isaiah Spiller* / RB / Texas A&M

58. Carson Strong* / QB / Nevada

59. Malik Willis / QB / Liberty

60. Darrian Kinnard / OT / Kentucky

61. Abraham Lucas / OT / Washington St.

62. Bernhard Raimann / OT / C. Michigan

63. Justyn Ross* / WR / Clemson

64. Tyler Allgeier* / RB / BYU

65. Jeremy Ruckert / TE / Ohio St.

66. Damone Clark / LB / LSU

67. Channing Tindall / LB / Georgia

68. Tay Martin / WR / Oklahoma St.

69. Velus Jones Jr. / WR / Tennessee

70. Zamir White* / RB / Georgia

71. Phidarian Mathis / DT / Alabama

72. Kyler McMichael* / CB / N. Carolina

73. Brian Robinson / RB / Alabama

74. James Cook / RB / Georgia

75. Rachaad White / RB / Arizona St.

76. Tyquan Thornton / WR / Baylor

77. Calvin Austin / WR / Memphis

78. Zachary Carter / DE / Florida

79. Jelani Woods / TE / Virginia

80. Skyy Moore* / WR / W. Michigan

81. John Metchie* / WR / Alabama

82. Greg Dulcich* / TE / UCLA

83. Josh Paschal / DE / Kentucky

84. Kellen Diesch / OT / Arizona St.

85. Zach Tom / C / Wake Forest

86. Matthew Butler / DT / Tennessee

87. Daniel Bellinger / TE / San Diego St.

88. Leon O’Neal Jr. / S / Texas A&M

89. Jalen Pitre / S / Baylor

90. Roger McCreary / CB / Auburn

91. Alontae Taylor / CB / Tennessee

92. Cam Taylor-Britt / CB / Nebraska

93. Jamaree Salyer / OG / Georgia

94. Nicholas Petit-Frere* / OT / Ohio St.

95. Thomas Booker / DT / Stanford

96. Akayleb Evans / CB / Missouri

97. Isaiah Thomas / DE / Oklahoma

98. Myjai Sanders / EDGE / Cincinnati

99. Micah McFadden / LB / Indiana

100. Chance Campbell / LB / Ole Miss

101. Sam Howell* / QB / N. Carolina

102. Desmond Ridder / QB / Cincinnati

103. Matt Corral* / QB / Ole Miss

 

[jimthefin]

Two LB's in the Top 10, no 1st Round QB, what a weird class this is.

 

[jimthefin]

I did not notice before but I have to ask why you have Kyle Hamilton so low?

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I did not notice before but I have to ask why you have Kyle Hamilton so low?

Well I think he’s a good player and a good prospect, but I don’t necessarily subscribe to the hype. He’s not Sean Taylor.

I think some may like to compare him to Kam Chancellor, but he’s not that physical or the hitter and tackler Chancellor was - and Chancellor was a 5th round pick.

Not as fast or physical as Lewis Cine. That dude is a different level when he runs and hits.

Alabama’s running backs were running over Kyle Hamilton in the playoff game in 2020. But at least he hung on while getting run over.

He’s a good player that shows good range for his size despite his 4.6 speed. He’s about as good as Harrison Smith was coming out of Notre Dame in my opinion.

But a top 5 pick - Don’t really see that.

 

[mrhankey81701]

Doubtful it will happen but I'd be happy with Zion Johnson and Drake London in rounds 1-2.

 

[jimthefin]

Well I think he’s a good player and a good prospect, but I don’t necessarily subscribe to the hype. He’s not Sean Taylor.

I think some may like to compare him to Kam Chancellor, but he’s not that physical or the hitter and tackler Chancellor was - and Chancellor was a 5th round pick.

Not as fast or physical as Lewis Cine. That dude is a different level when he runs and hits.

Alabama’s running backs were running over Kyle Hamilton in the playoff game in 2020. But at least he hung on while getting run over.

He’s a good player that shows good range for his size despite his 4.6 speed. He’s about as good as Harrison Smith was coming out of Notre Dame in my opinion.

But a top 5 pick - Don’t really see that.

I don't subscribe to the Sean Taylor hype(that is a terribly unfair comp to put on a kid)but he is a physical specimen for a true S.

It will interesting to see where he goes, Jamal Adams was taken 6th back in 2017 and i don't remember a S being close to that since.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

I don't subscribe to the Sean Taylor hype(that is a terribly unfair comp to put on a kid)but he is a physical specimen for a true S.

It will interesting to see where he goes, Jamal Adams was taken 6th back in 2017 and i don't remember a S being close to that since.

Adams was another safety that I had graded a lot lower than the hype. I believe I had him ranked around #33 overall.

Everyone can decide on their own whether his career mirrors that of the #6 overall player where he was drafted, or the #33 overall player.

I know which way I’m leaning.

 

[jimthefin]

Closer to 33 than 6 but he is a terrific player.

In a re-draft he probably belongs in the middle of R1.

You have to be Sean Taylor or his DA U buddy Ed Reed to go that high at that position.And Ed Reed was late R1 as it was.

It still amazes me that a college team had a pair of safeties like Reed and Taylor together.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Several players I like just missed out on a Day 2 grade, and all of these players could play for me any day.

I’ll list a few of my top graded players for Day 3 -






Quarterback:

Jack Coan - Notre Dame {Not many guys that are going to run to the sidelines to have their dislocated finger reset with the play clock running, and throw a TD pass on the next play}





Running back:

Dameon Pierce - Florida

Max Borghi - Washington St.

Kevin Harris - S. Carolina






Wide Receiver:

Charleston Rambo - Miami

Danny Gray - SMU

Khalil Shakir - Boise St.

Isaiah Weston - N. Iowa

Braylon Sanders - Ole Miss

Emeka Emezie - NC State

Stanley Berryhill - Arizona

Jalen Nailor - Michigan St.






Tight End:

Nick Muse - S. Carolina {Second only to Daniel Bellinger in the blocking department}

Austin Allen - Nebraska

Connor Heyward - Michigan St.







Offensive Line:

Bam Olaseni - Utah

Josh Sills - Oklahoma St.

Ben Brown - Ole Miss

James Empey - BYU

Doug Kramer - Illinois







Defensive End/EDGE:

Scott Patchan - Colorado St.

Ali Fayad - W. Michigan

Chris Allen - Alabama

Jeffrey Gunter - Coa. Carolina







Linebacker:

James Skalski - Clemson

Olakunle Fatukasi - Rutgers

Nate Landman - Colorado

James Houston - Jackson St.







Defensive Tackle:

Eyioma Uwazurike - Iowa St.

John Ridgeway - Arkansas






Cornerback:

Ja’Quan McMillian - E. Carolina

Marcus Jones - Houston

Kalon Barnes - Baylor

Chase Lucas - Arizona St.

Damarcus Fields - Texas Tech

Dallis Flowers - Pittsburgh St.

Josh Thompson - Texas

Baylen Buchanan - LA-Tech {Son of Ray Buchanan}

Christian Holmes - Oklahoma St.







Safety:

Verone McKinley - Oregon

Percy Butler - ULL

Reed Blankenship - MTSU {Known this kid since he was 15 years old playing here for West Limestone}

 

[BROGS]

Living in Jersey having Rutgers guy on your list is good for a change.

 

[Zachofferdahl]

Mr Pachyderm, quick question. Do you have Zion Johnson graded higher than Lindstrom because he’s projected to play either C or G? Do you feel Zion will ultimately be a better C than Lindstrom in the NFL?

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Mr Pachyderm, quick question. Do you have Zion Johnson graded higher than Lindstrom because he’s projected to play either C or G? Do you feel Zion will ultimately be a better C than Lindstrom in the NFL?

Well the quick answer is yes, but a little more went into it. Linderbaum really hasn’t done anything to improve his stock while Zion Johnson has. Linderbaum wasn’t able to workout at the combine and show what he could do.

Secondly, what Linderbaum did do at the combine was measure, and coming in with barely over 31” arms can’t help you.

Johnson is simply bigger and more versatile. He can play more positions. Not just man them, but play them well. He’s played tackle and guard at Boston College (and Davidson prior to transferring to BC) and Center at the Senior Bowl. He’s just done more to lock in his grade as opposed to leaving questions.

Now, I’ve seen Linderbaum execute blocks on film from his center position that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before. However, he’s just going to be more limited in terms of what schemes he fits into. Some blocking schemes just aren’t going to be a fit for him.

All that said, Linderbaum is just terrific with his feet, hand placement and leverage. A lot of that stems from his background as a championship wrestler. And he can move.

I think he has a shot to be Tom Nalen in that type of scheme and play 15 years in the league. Nalen was smaller than Linderbaum but had longer arms.

Mark Stepnoski made many pro bowls playing center at 6’2”, 265. I’ve never really understood why size is a concern with Linderbaum. If he can’t succeed at center in the NFL it won’t be due to size.

To answer your second question, I haven’t seen enough of Johnson at center to say with any certainty that he’d be a better center than Linderbaum in the NFL.

You asked two excellent questions.

 

[EJay]

Now, I’ve seen Linderbaum execute blocks on film from his center position that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before. However, he’s just going to be more limited in terms of what schemes he fits into. Some blocking schemes just aren’t going to be a fit for him.

Do you believe a ZBS to be among those bad fits?

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Do you believe a ZBS to be among those bad fits?

Well I think it depends on which variation of ZBS. He already plays in a variation of ZBS at Iowa.

To me Linderbaum fits into more of a pin-and-pull variation. This kid’s ability to reach shaded defenders all the way out to a 4i is something I’ve never seen before. It allows for you to basically choose which lineman you want to pull to get downfield.

Similar to Jeff Saturday when he was with the Colts, who actually might be a better comparison for Linderbaum than the Tom Nalen one I made. Saturday’s frame and 31” arms are all essentially a carbon copy of Linderbaum. Linderbaum is just significantly more athletic than Saturday was, and Jeff Saturday was pretty good for a long time because of his fit in that scheme.

In a pin-and-pull scheme you’re basically just pinning the nose playside if he’s lined up as as 0-tech with a reach block and allowing the play side guard to pull on OZ. If the nose is shaded, the center can no longer reach him in theory, and is supposed to make a call with the playside guard indicating that the guard now reaches the nose, and the center pulls. They just swap. but it’s on the center to make the call.

I say in theory because I believe Linderbaum could actually reach that block. I’ve seen him execute blocks significantly more difficult than reaching a shaded nose - like reaching a 4i.

Linderbaum is excellent at reaching and pulling to get to the second level. Two critical functions of the pivot in the pin/pull variation.

 

[EJay]

Well I think it depends on which variation of ZBS. He already plays in a variation of ZBS at Iowa.

To me Linderbaum fits into more of a pin-and-pull variation. This kid’s ability to reach shaded defenders all the way out to a 4i is something I’ve never seen before. It allows for you to basically choose which lineman you want to pull to get downfield.

Similar to Jeff Saturday when he was with the Colts, who actually might be a better comparison for Linderbaum than the Tom Nalen one I made. Saturday’s frame and 31” arms are all essentially a carbon copy of Linderbaum. Linderbaum is just significantly more athletic than Saturday was, and Jeff Saturday was pretty good for a long time because of his fit in that scheme.

In a pin-and-pull scheme you’re basically just pinning the nose playside if he’s lined up as as 0-tech with a reach block and allowing the play side guard to pull on OZ. If the nose is shaded, the center can no longer reach him in theory, and is supposed to make a call with the playside guard indicating that the guard now reaches the nose, and the center pulls. They just swap. but it’s on the center to make the call.

I say in theory because I believe Linderbaum could actually reach that block. I’ve seen him execute blocks significantly more difficult than reaching a shaded nose - like reaching a 4i.

Linderbaum is excellent at reaching and pulling to get to the second level. Two critical functions of the pivot in the pin/pull variation.

I suppose the obvious follow up question is, do you think he’s a potential fit for the variation of the ZBS Mike McDaniel employs?

I haven’t studied the Niners or Broncos schemes under Shanahan to know if they are pin-and-pull or some other variation.