Time to update my 2022 NFL draft rankings. With the combine past us and most prospects already working out in front of scouts, NFL teams will spend the next few weeks doing homework. They've largely put together their on-field evaluations of prospects, and so now they're trying to see what each prospect is like off the field. Some of that work will be done with one-on-one interviews, but you can bet that coaches and scouts are also calling their college contacts throughout the country to dig deep.
Let's get into a new Big Board -- my top 25 prospects overall for the class -- plus my rankings for the best at every position. This is my first update since before the combine, so there are a few prospects who are rising and a few others who dropped. Combine workouts are great to see testing numbers and to confirm what you see on film, but be wary of prospects whose tape doesn't match their workouts. That's how teams get into trouble, drafting potential over a combination of production and ceiling.
Rankings updated April 3 at 3:15 p.m. ET.
Jump to: Position rankings
1. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
HT: 6-6 | WT: 265 | Previously: 1
Hutchinson had a consistently dominant season on the way to finishing as the runner-up in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He had 14 sacks, 19 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. He finished fifth in the country in pressure rate (16.5%). He is advanced as a pass-rusher -- he already has a few go-to moves -- and is relentless on every snap. Hutchinson dominated Ohio State at the end of the regular season, picking up three sacks. He played only 144 defensive snaps in 2020 before he sustained a leg injury and had to have surgery; the Michigan defense cratered after he was hurt. He was outstanding as a sophomore in 2019, putting up 4.5 sacks and creating havoc in the backfield (10.5 tackles for loss).
2. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
HT: 6-4 | WT: 320 | Previously: 2
Ekwonu bullies pass-rushers. He toys with them. He has played both guard and tackle in his career, but he excelled at left tackle in 2021. He moves his feet well in the run game and can get to the next level. I still want to see his arm length measurement, but people inside the league whom I trust think he can stick at left tackle regardless. He has been a riser over the past few months, and people I trust in the league rave about him.
3. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
HT: 6-7 | WT: 360 | Previously: 4
It would also not be totally outlandish to see Neal picked No. 1 in the draft. The Jaguars need a stalwart left tackle, and that's Neal, who has a massive frame and stellar physical traits. I put him at No. 3 to the Texans in my debut mock draft. He started at right tackle in 2020 and was Bama's starting left guard as a freshman in 2019. He moved over to the left side in 2021, taking over for first-round pick Alex Leatherwood. Neal is the complete package, excelling as a run-blocker and also in moving his feet as a pass protector.
4. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
HT: 6-3 | WT: 200 | Previously: 8
Gardner is a lockdown corner, and other teams know it. He was targeted just 31 times in 2021, and he allowed only eight catches for 60 yards as the nearest defender in coverage. He was targeted only one time against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal, and the throw was incomplete. In fact, there were five games in 2021 when he allowed zero catches. He's a legit No. 1 corner. Gardner had three picks in 2021 and nine in his three-year career with the Bearcats.
5. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
HT: 6-4 | WT: 219 | Previously: 3
Hamilton played in only seven games in 2021, as he injured his right knee against USC in late October and didn't return. There aren't many safeties with Hamilton's size and speed, and he was one of the most versatile defenders in the country in college. He had two interceptions against Florida State and added another in the win over Purdue. He had eight total in his career. Hamilton has the size to move up to the line of scrimmage and help in the running game and the speed and range to cover pass-catchers out of the slot. He's exactly what NFL teams want in their first-round safeties.
6. Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
HT: 6-5 | WT: 250 | Previously: 6
After missing a few games because of an ankle injury he suffered in the season opener, Thibodeaux was spectacular in his return. He had a strip sack, another sack and nine total tackles against UCLA. Against Cal the week before, he had a sack and 10 pressures. He finished the season with seven sacks and two forced fumbles, and even though he had half as many sacks as Hutchinson, he had the second-best pressure rate in the country (17.8%). Thibodeaux, the No. 1-ranked high school recruit in 2019, is an elite pass-rushing talent with the quickness and bend to get double-digit sacks annually at the next level. He had nine sacks as a true freshman in 2019 and had three more and 9.5 tackles for loss in seven games last season.
7. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
HT: 6-0 | WT: 193 | Previously: 9
Wilson played mostly out of the slot in 2020, catching 43 passes and averaging almost 17 yards per reception, but he did most of his damage outside last season. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands and can run away from defenders after the catch. Here he is doing that against a Minnesota defensive back for a 56-yard score. He had 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, including six in his final three games. His versatility will help at the next level. Wilson and Chris Olave formed one of the best wideout tandems in the country.
8. Drake London, WR, USC
HT: 6-5 | WT: 210 | Previously: 7
London was having a phenomenal season before he fractured his right ankle against Arizona on Oct. 30. He had 88 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 11 catches and 136 yards per game. London, who played on the USC basketball team in 2019-20, towers over Pac-12 defenders, and he can outleap just about any corner. He had 72 catches for 1,069 yards and eight touchdowns from 2019 to 2020. I noticed a few concentration drops this season -- he had five after just one the previous two seasons -- but he does have soft hands and a huge catch radius.
9. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
HT: 6-1 | WT: 195 | Previously: 5
Stingley injured his foot and played in just three games in 2021. It's not ideal for an NFL prospect, but he had two full seasons of starting tape before that, so I don't think it will be an issue in the draft. I wrote about him and his ceiling in the fall, and he's one of the top corners in this class even though he hasn't been consistently great since 2019. This ranking is all about his upside. His freshman film, when he was one of the best players on LSU's national title team, is tremendous. He didn't play as well in 2020, but that can mostly be attributed to the entire LSU defense being dreadful. He has shown that he can lock down SEC receivers. There are going to be questions about his up-and-down play, but NFL teams will see more good tape than bad and draft him based on his ceiling.
10. Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
HT: 6-5 | WT: 275 | Previously: 10
Walker is a great example of why you shouldn't just look at the stat sheet. He pops on tape, even if he doesn't have great production. The Georgia defense was loaded with talent, so he wasn't always the one to get a tackle for loss here or a sack there. But he was always around the football, and he blew up several plays. Walker finished the season with six sacks -- including two in the College Football Playoff games. He could end up as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL.
11. Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
HT: 6-5 | WT: 260 | Previously: 13
Johnson landed on my Big Board in September and hovered in the 30s for most of the season, but I had to move him back up after the Senior Bowl. He dominated in Mobile, Alabama, and looked like one of the best prospects there. He has the potential to be a great edge rusher at the next level. Johnson, who transferred from Georgia, ended the 2021 season with 12 sacks and two forced fumbles. He's a classic defensive end with some bend and burst off the edge.
12. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
HT: 6-5 | WT: 310 | Previously: 14
Cross leveled up in 2021. He allowed just one sack and five pressures, and that's with playing in a pass-heavy Mike Leach offense. He was dominant against a good LSU front and more than held his own against the mega-talented Alabama defense. He forces edge rushers into a stalemate. Cross has long arms and good feet, and his coaches rave about his work ethic and attention to detail. He showed potential last season, his first as a starter, but he's also asked to do a lot in Leach's offense, and so he had some poor pass-blocking reps. He allowed five sacks and 13 pressures on 556 pass blocks in 2020.
13. Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
HT: 6-0 | WT: 191 | Previously: NR
Hill is an intriguing prospect who has risen since the combine because of his speed and versatility. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in Indy, one of the fastest times for a safety in recent years. He played mostly as a nickelback for the Wolverines last season and could end up as a slot corner for his NFL team. The former five-star high school recruit is a playmaker (two picks last season) who tackles well and is a good blitzer. Hill has the positional flex of being a deep safety or matchup corner.
14. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
HT: 6-1 | WT: 188 | Previously: 15
Olave had a tremendously productive four-year career for the Buckeyes, with 176 catches for 2,711 yards and a whopping 35 touchdowns. Thirteen of those scores came in 2021. He's one of the best deep threats in this class -- he averaged 14.6 air yards per target in his career -- and is an improved route runner with great hands, though he did have a few drops this past season. Olave can make defenders look silly in coverage; there are lots of plays on tape in which he doesn't have a player within 5 yards of him. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine.
15. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
HT: 5-11 | WT: 195 | Previously: 12
McDuffie only had two interceptions in three seasons at Washington -- including zero in 2021 -- but don't discount his ability to shut down receivers. He allowed just one reception of more than 20 yards last season, and he didn't allow any touchdowns. In fact, going back to the four games he played in 2020, he didn't allow any scores then, either. McDuffie can play in the slot or outside, and he can play press coverage too. He's a really good player who is rising after a tremendous season.
16. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
HT: 6-1 | WT: 215 | Previously: 18
Willis has been a tough evaluation because of the talent he had around him. He had to elevate his teammates because he didn't get a lot of help; he was sacked 51 times in 2021, which led the FBS. But NFL evaluators are really high on his ceiling, and he's the most talented quarterback in this class. Can he reach that ceiling? That will depend on the situation in which he lands, but the hope is that once he gets around NFL talent, those players can elevate him.
The Auburn transfer threw 27 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 2021, but he had three different three-pick games. He added 13 scores on the ground. His completion percentage dropped from his breakout 2020 season (64.2% to 61.1%), but again, that's not all on him.
17. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
HT: 6-3 | WT: 220 | Previously: 19
I was hoping one of the quarterbacks would emerge at the Senior Bowl as the clear-cut No. 1 in this class, but that didn't happen. It's still very close at the top, and teams are going to differ atop their boards. As of now, Pickett is the guy I feel most comfortable about as an NFL starter. He was incredibly impressive in 2021, throwing 42 touchdown passes with seven interceptions. He was up and down the previous two seasons, with 18 picks and an average of 6.9 yards per attempt. He averaged 8.7 in 2021, taking a huge step in every way. Pickett is accurate to all three levels of the field, has shown patience in taking the checkdown throws when necessary and has good zip on his throws.
My comp for him has been a combo of Derek Carr/Andy Dalton, and NFL teams can win with that kind of guy. As I have mentioned, hand size is an issue -- he measured 8½ inches at the combine -- and some teams could be scared away from that, But there's a lot to like with his improvement; also, his ability to use his legs to maneuver the pocket and scramble when he has to is underrated.
18. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
HT: 6-3 | WT: 290 | Previously: 11
Linderbaum is one of the best center prospects in recent memory. He can do everything, and he excels as a puller to either side. He's a stellar run-blocker and is incredibly strong at the point of attack. He doesn't have many weaknesses. Linderbaum allowed just one sack in the 2019 and 2020 seasons combined. He allowed two in 2021, but I'm still huge fan of his game and upside regardless.
19. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
HT: 6-7 | WT: 321 | Previously: 17
Penning destroyed edge rushers at the FCS level. He's consistently dominant in both the run and pass game. "Rugged" is the word I'd use to describe his game. And though he wasn't playing against NFL-caliber players every week, I think he has a chance to be an elite guy. He played mostly at left tackle for the Panthers, who had 2021 third-rounder Spencer Brown on the right side from 2017 to 2019. Penning has flashed more than Brown did. He could be an early NFL starter; he had a good week at the Senior Bowl in early February.
20. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-2 | WT: 185 | Previously: 24
Williams was one of the best stories of the season. The Ohio State transfer had 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he was targeted 120 times and had just three drops. He turned into the best deep threat in the country. He has blazing speed. Williams, though, tore his ACL in the national title game, which is going to drop him down some teams' boards. He could have been a top-10 pick, and now he's going to slide a little bit. It's a little too early to determine if he's still going in the top 20 picks, but NFL teams will be watching his rehab closely. I was really impressed with his all-around game in 2021; he's a No. 1 NFL receiver when healthy.
21. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
HT: 5-11 | WT: 184 | Previously: 20
Dotson is explosive. He had an incredible leaping catch against Illinois, and look how open he is on this 49-yard touchdown against Wisconsin. Plus, check out Penn State's first offensive play against Villanova, a 52-yard strike to Dotson in which he showed acceleration at the catch. While he had a few drops in 2019 and 2020, he has dropped only two passes this season. He had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 scores, including six in his final four games.
22. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
HT: 6-3 | WT: 235 | Previously: 16
Lloyd had a fantastic season for the Utes, with 111 total tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, four interceptions (two pick-sixes, including one in the Pac-12 title game) and a forced fumble. He blows by linemen at the snap, but Utah also uses him often in coverage, showing off his range as an off-ball defender. Lloyd was used more as a pass-rusher in 2019, racking up 6.5 sacks. He had 16.5 for his career. The versatility stands out as a major plus. I've compared him to former top-five pick Devin White, though he doesn't have the same straight-line speed (he ran an underwhelming 4.66-second 40-yard dash at the combine).
23. Devonte Wyatt, DE, Georgia
HT: 6-3 | WT: 304 | Previously: 23
Wyatt has been a huge riser during the pre-draft process, as he impressed at the Senior Bowl and then had a great workout at the combine. He had only five sacks in four college seasons, but many scouts think he could thrive as a 3-technique penetrator at the next level. He has a nice blend of quickness and strength at the point of attack. I projected him as a fit for Arizona in my latest mock draft.
24. Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
HT: 6-4 | WT: 323 | Previously: NR
Green started games at four different positions last season, including both tackle and guard spots. There was some thought before the season that he could end up as a left tackle, but his best position is guard. He's a strong run blocker and moves his feet well when pulling. He can crunch defenders. Green allowed just two pressures last season on 194 pass blocks at left guard, the position he played most. He will be an instant starter in the NFL.
25. David Ojabo, OLB, Michigan
HT: 6-5 | WT: 250 | Previously: 25
Ojabo has dropped down the board because of a crushing Achilles injury suffered at his pro day in mid-March. He might fall all the way into Round 2 now. Still, he was one of the most impressive newcomers in the country in 2021. A third-year sophomore who spent his youth in Nigeria and Scotland (check out my colleague Jordan Reid's piece on him for more), he had 11 sacks and five forced fumbles playing on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson. He has flashed advanced pass-rush moves -- check out this spin on the right tackle for a strip sack against Indiana -- and his physical traits pop on tape. While Ojabo needs to work on his all-around game, there's a lot to like. Good teams that don't have immediate needs should target him late on Day 1.
Rankings at every position for the 2022 NFL draft
Quarterbacks
1. Malik Willis, Liberty
2. Kenny Pickett, Pitt
3. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
4. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
5. Carson Strong, Nevada
6. Sam Howell, North Carolina
7. Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
8. Cole Kelley, SE Louisiana
9. Jack Coan, Notre Dame
10a. Skylar Thompson, Kansas State
10b. Dustin Crum, Kent State
10c. E.J. Perry, Brown
10d. Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan
Running backs
1. Breece Hall, Iowa State
2. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
3. James Cook, Georgia
4. Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State
5. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M
6. Rachaad White, Arizona State
7. Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
8. Dameon Pierce, Florida
9. Jerome Ford, Cincinnati
10a. Tyler Badie, Missouri
10b. Ty Chandler, North Carolina
10c. Tyler Goodson, Iowa
Fullbacks/H-backs
1. Connor Heyward, Michigan State
2. Jeremiah Hall, Oklahoma
3. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Maryland
4. Abram Smith, Baylor
5. Tanner Conner, Idaho State
6. John Chenal, Wisconsin
7. Clint Ratkovich, Northern Illinois
8. Sean Dykes, Memphis
9. Jack Colletto, Oregon State
10. Roger Carter, Georgia State
Wide receivers
1. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
2. Drake London, USC
3. Chris Olave, Ohio State
4. Jameson Williams, Alabama
5. Jahan Dotson, Penn State
6. Treylon Burks, Arkansas
7. Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
8. Christian Watson, North Dakota State
9. Alec Pierce, Cincinnati
10a. Calvin Austin III, Memphis
10b. John Metchie III, Alabama
10c. George Pickens, Georgia
10d. Wan'Dale Robinson, Kentucky
10e. Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee
10f. Khalil Shakir, Boise State
10g. Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa
Tight ends
1. Trey McBride, Colorado State
2. Greg Dulcich, UCLA
3. Jelani Woods, Virginia
4. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
5. Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
6. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State
7. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
8. Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State
9. Cade Otton, Washington
10a. Derrick Deese Jr., San Jose State
10b. James Mitchell, Virginia Tech
10c. Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin
Offensive tackles
1. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
2. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
3. Charles Cross, Mississippi State
4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
5. Tyler Smith, Tulsa
6. Abraham Lucas, Washington State
7. Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
8. Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
9. Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
10a. Matt Waletzko, North Dakota
10b. Kellen Diesch, Arizona State
10c. Luke Goedeke, Central Michigan
Guards
1. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
2. Zion Johnson, Boston College
3. Dylan Parham, Memphis
4. Sean Rhyan, UCLA
5. Cole Strange, UT-Chattanooga
6. Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
7. Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
8. Logan Bruss, Wisconsin
9. Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma
10a. Joshua Ezeudu, North Carolina
10b. Chris Paul, Tulsa
10c. Thayer Munford, Ohio State
Centers
1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
2. Cameron Jurgens, Nebraska
3. Dohnovan West, Arizona State
4. Luke Fortner, Kentucky
5. Zach Tom, Wake Forest
6. Alec Lindstrom, Boston College
7. Dawson Deaton, Texas Tech
8. Luke Wattenberg, Washington
9. Doug Kramer, Illinois
10. Ben Brown, Ole Miss
Defensive ends
1. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
3. Travon Walker, Georgia
4. Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
5. George Karlaftis, Purdue
6. Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
7. Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati
8. Alex Wright, UAB
9. Eric Johnson, Missouri State
10a. Josh Paschal, Kentucky
10b. Sam Williams, Ole Miss
10c. Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
Defensive tackles
1. Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
2. Jordan Davis, Georgia
3. Travis Jones, Connecticut
4. Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma
5. Logan Hall, Houston
6. DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
7. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
8. Matthew Butler, Tennessee
9. Neil Farrell Jr., LSU
10. Kalia Davis, UCF
Inside linebackers
1. Devin Lloyd, Utah
2. Nakobe Dean, Georgia
3. Quay Walker, Georgia
4. Troy Andersen, Montana State
5. Chad Muma, Wyoming
6. Damone Clark, LSU
7. Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
8. Brandon Smith, Penn State
9. Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma
10a. Chance Campbell, Ole Miss
10b. Darien Butler, Arizona State
10c. Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin
10d. Mike Rose, Iowa State
Outside linebackers
1. David Ojabo, Michigan
2. Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
3. Channing Tindall, Georgia
4. Amare Barno, Virginia Tech
5. Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
6. Boye Mafe, Minnesota
7. Christian Harris, Alabama
8. DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky
9. Drake Jackson, USC
10a. JoJo Domann, Nebraska
10b. Dominique Robinson, Miami (Ohio)
10c. Adam Anderson, Georgia
Cornerbacks
1. Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
2. Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
3. Trent McDuffie, Washington
4. Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
5. Kyler Gordon, Washington
6. Kaiir Elam, Florida
7. Roger McCreary, Auburn
8. Marcus Jones, Houston
9. Tariq Woolen, UTSA
10a. Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
10b. Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston State
10c. Josh Jobe, Alabama
Safeties
1. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
2. Daxton Hill, Michigan
3. Lewis Cine, Georgia
4. Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
5. Jalen Pitre, Baylor
6. JT Woods, Baylor
7. Nick Cross, Maryland
8. Verone McKinley, Oregon
9. Kerby Joseph, Illinois
10a. Percy Butler, Louisiana-Lafayette
10b. Bryan Cook, Cincinnati
Kickers and Punters
1. Jordan Stout, Penn State (P)
2. Jake Camarda, Georgia (P)
3. Cade York, LSU (K)
4. Matt Araiza, San Diego State (P)
5. Ryan Wright, Tulane (P)
6. Jonathan Garibay, Texas Tech (K)
7. Blake Hayes, Illinois (P)
8. Cameron Dicker, Texas (K & P)
9. Trenton Gill, NC State (P)
10a. Tommy Heatherly, Florida International (P)
10b. Andrew Mevis, Iowa State (K)
10c. Ryan Stonehouse, Colorado State (P)
10d. Gabe Brkic, Oklahoma (K)
Long-snappers
1. Cal Adomitis, Pitt
2. Daniel Cantrell, Boise State
3. Jordan Silver, Arkansas
4. Billy Taylor, Rutgers
5. Antonio Ortiz, TCU
6. Damon Johnson, USC
7. Cameron Kaye, Troy
8. Ross Reiter, Colorado State
9. Ethan Tabel, Illinois
10. Keegan Markgraf, Utah
Returners
1. Marcus Jones, Houston
2. Calvin Austin III, Memphis
3. Britain Covey, Utah
4. Velus Jones Jr., Tennessee
5. Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston State
6. Justin Hall, Ball State
7. Jalen Virgil, Appalachian State
8. Trestan Ebner, Baylor
9. Deven Thompkins, Utah State
10. Travell Harris, Washington State