The early picks got most of the hype into the draft, but it’s the later picks that can make all the difference in a final Super Bowl. These 20 players could be the diamonds in the rough in the 2022 NFL Draft.
1 out of 20
Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
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Badie tore the SEC when he finally got a chance to play last season, averaging 6.0 yards per take at nearly 2,000 yards from the script. Some just consider him a third to return due to his not large size, but Badie has some power in his game and has a great combo. He can return immediately three times available on Day 3.
2 out of 20
Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
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Corral is rarely mentioned as a top quarterback in the draft class, but he could be worthy. He has three years of experience starting at Ole Miss, completing more than 67% of his passes, and also has the moves to lead an NFL strike. After suffering an injury in a bad match against the Rebels, Corral is still healthy and capable of becoming a rookie.
3 out of 20
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
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Dotson is a bit underrated, but he’s had a solid combination and been a multi-faceted threat to the Nittany Lions over the past three years. He may not be just an average collector.
4 out of 20
Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
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Ebiketie has really helped its stock last season after moving from Tempe to Penn State, scoring 9.5 covers and 18 tackles on losses. There are some questions about whether he is capable of playing late-game defense in a 4-3, but producing top-notch competition is eye-opening.
5 out of 20
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
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The Crimson Tide seems to have a first reserve team drafted every year, and Harris will likely be next as a proven player. He scored 80 tackles and 5.5 tackles last season, topping only his 2020 numbers, but is likely to drop to Day 2 due to his lack of overarching skill. that. That could have been a mistake, as Harris had good connectivity right out of the box.
6 out of 20
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
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Hall is likely to return to the top in the 2022 tier after dominating at the combined level. He ran a brilliant 4.39-second 40-yard run, and also had the best vertical jump of any backrunner. After consecutive seasons of high productivity, he could very well be this year’s Jonathan Taylor.
7 of 20
Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
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Teams know they’re taking up more than the short-distance runner with Haskins, but he could be the driving force in that role. The Michigan man showed his impressive strength when pressing the bench (27 times) and has a long run for the position. Despite his potentially draft status on Day 3, he can be a good weapon.
8 out of 20
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
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Howell’s draft stock suffers in 2021 with the supporting cast demoted in North Carolina. His lack of size and poor accuracy is a concern, but Howell is still able to produce spectacular plays without description. With the right coaching, Howell can become an excellent value behind top midfielders.
9 of 20
Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa
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Iowa has become an attack chain factory, and Linderbaum is the next chain factory. He’s one of the few domestic athletes who has a chance to start in the first round and could be a good value with a high probability of a career in the Pro Bowl.
10 of 20
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
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There was already some helium in McBride’s draft stock after a fantastic season, which ended with 90 catches from 1,121 yards. His lack of height can be an issue in the Red Zone, but his receiving ability is rare.
11 of 20
Verone McKinley, S, Oregon
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McKinley has become a pretty good center forward after moving from full-back to a safe position at university. He led college football with six interceptions last season. His short size will push him down the draft board, but he has proven he can play.
12 of 20
George Pickens, WR, Georgia
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A torn ACL really hurt Pickens’ production and draft, but he still showed talent in the first round. He was large, 6-foot-3 tall, and was dominant when it came to Georgia. He has a chance to become a superstar despite falling too far in the first round.
13 of 20
Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
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Pierce showed himself to be a leading deep threat in college, and the numbers are supported by his combined performance. He ran a powerful 40-yard run of 4.41 and finished first in the vertical jump and space shuttle. After catching the Bearcats averaging 17.5 yards at a time, Pierce looked like a high-priced lottery ticket.
14 of 20
Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
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There’s a reason Raimann attracts first consideration despite his lack of experience as an offensive guide. The Austrian moved in late 2020 but has impressed in training as his shares continue to soar.
15 of 20
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
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Some teams might have been knocked out by Robinson’s official 5-foot-8 measurements, but he’s shown himself to be a go-to player in Kentucky. He was used as a runner early in his career at Nebraska and touched the leaderboard 111 times for the Wildcats at last year’s transfer. He got the chance to be a poor man’s Tireek Hill as a Day 2 pick.
16 of 20
Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
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Ross was already considered a top 10 future pick before major neck surgery in 2020. He’s not quite what he used to be when he returned last season, but is still showing great form. . The sprawling 6-foot-4 is a terror in the Red Zone and has a rare talent for a player who can drop to Day 3.
17 out of 20
Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
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Strong might be the quarterback with the best prospects in the draft if it weren’t for his injury concerns. He’s completed more than 70% of his passes in recent years, but injury questions are likely to push his stock into Day 2 or beyond. If Strong can have better luck, he could be a cheap starter.
18 out of 20
Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State
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Strong was a superstar in the State of South Dakota and ran a brilliant 40-yard run that lasted 4.37 seconds. Recent prospect James Robinson pointed out that non-FBS backers shouldn’t be ignored, and Strong shows the potential for a third rate change back.
19 of 20
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
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If there was any doubt that Watson could stack up to the top in the draft after playing at North Dakota State, they were cleared at the combination. He ran a 4.36-second electric 40-yard run and was an excellent jumper, while being only 6 feet-4 tall. Watson will become an elite pick on Day 2.
20 of 20
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
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Williams is a household name, but his torn ACL suffered at the end of the year will likely push him late in the first round. He has the talent to make teams regret ignoring him, exhibiting truly stellar pace with 19.9 yards per catch at Bama last year. There’s a solid chance that he’s the most influential player on the pitch for the entire class of 2022.