2022 NFL Draft: DE Rankings

1

Strengths

Hutchinson is one of the most dominant players in this draft class. He often wins with pure strength and power. His bullrush is highly effective, and on several occasions, he was able to push his opponent right back into the QB. Hutchinson is effective with his swipe, and his hands are powerful enough to knock his opponent off balance. He has good bend and is able to win his way around the edge with his athleticism. His quick get-off also helps him get a jump on his opponent. Hutchinson is violent with his hands and is able to disengage from blocks and bring down the ball carrier.

Weaknesses

Not a ton to knock about Hutchinson’s game. Of the few things, one would be to use his rush moves more often, especially when his initial move is stopped. There were flashes, but he often won on his initial attempt, so the counters didn’t get much of an opportunity to see the light of day. When he did have the chance, he didn’t always take it. There were a few plays against the run where he might have had the chance to chase down the ball carrier from behind, but he let the play go. Didn’t happen often, but is worth mentioning when he doesn’t have many other weaknesses.

2

Strengths

Thibodeaux is a high ceiling prospect. He is a very good athlete with the speed to blow right by tackles around the edge. He combines it with good strength, and he does well to convert speed into power. His bull rush is good. Thibodeaux plays with strong hands and doesn’t often let his opponent win that battle. His ability to disengage from blocks is good, which frees him up to make tackles close to the line. His tackling technique is good, and he doesn’t miss very many. Thibodeaux was dropped into coverage from time to time, showing just how athletic he is.

Weaknesses

Thibodeaux does a lot well, but the finer points of his game still need development. Because of his athleticism, he was often able to win without any counters. This part of his game needs to be developed further, as he won’t be able to win nearly as often in the NFL with such a straightforward plan. As well, his instincts in the run game are still developing. There were some errors in his processing and play recognition, preventing him, at times, from making a play on the ball carrier.

3

Strengths

Walker is a high upside defensive lineman. He lines up primarily on the edge, but is capable of kicking inside. Walker is good against the run and sets a strong edge. He doesn’t let his opponent move him off his spot, and he is waiting in good position to tackle the ball carrier. As a pass rusher, you see the speed on tape, and his testing at the Combine lays out just how athletic he is. In addition to speed, Walker has the power to win with bullrushes, and can be lethal when he combines the two. His spin move is a nice touch in pass rushing situations. Walker’s good length helps him to win leverage battles in both phases.

Weaknesses

Walker is still a raw prospect, but not entirely to his own fault. Georgia is largely known for having their DE’s keep contain, which is what it often seems like Walker is doing. Still, he doesn’t have as much pure pass rushing experience as you’d like. I’m sure having such a stacked DL also made it so that they didn’t have to rely on Walker as much as a pass rusher. Nevertheless, at this point, his hand technique is unrefined. Going into the NFL with just a trait-based (speed and power) rush attack is a dangerous game, as savvy lineman who know what is coming will be able to shut it down. Walker’s dense frame somewhat takes away from his bend, giving him a bit of a tougher time getting around the corner. 

4

Strengths

Johnson is an athletic speed rusher. He’s got this extra spring in his step that makes it a handful for OT’s to keep him contained. Johnson is a high motor player who doesn’t give up on any play. Even when you think you have him contained, he has the ability to keep fighting and generate a late sack. Strength is solid and he has shown the ability to bullrush with success. His best work might just be against the run, where he disengages from blocks with the help of his long arms, and then falls on the ball carrier as he attempts to just cross the line of scrimmage. His effort shows up even more against the run where he chases down the ball carrier from behind after an incredible second effort. 

Weaknesses

Lack of bend is concerning, considering he is a speed rusher. He gets that jump on his opponent, but can’t turn the corner, and ends up getting redirected out the back door. If this remains the case, Johnson will seriously need to add some counter moves to his toolbox. Having some good inside rush moves would allow him to keep the play going, as opposed to letting the OT push him around the arc. Instincts in both phases are still developing, but he has shown improvement.

5

Strengths

Hall is a good prospect with a nice combination of size, strength, speed, and skill. He brings positional versatility, offering the ability to play DE or DT. Hall has a mean bull rush, in which he extends his arms and just ploughs his opponent backwards. His speed is good, and he has a quick get-off. Further, his pass rush technique is nicely developed. His swim move is highly effective, and can push/pull his way into more leverage. Hall has a long frame and can swallow up ball carriers. He is a reliable tackler, and has the ability to stop the run from the inside, or set the edge on the outside. 

Weaknesses

There will be questions about his positional fit. Ultimately, is he versatile or is he a tweener? His height may cause leverage issues on the inside if NFL guards can get him to raise his pad level. On the other hand, he may not have the agility and quickness to be as effective on the edge. As well, he doesn’t have a ton of starting experience and his instincts are still developing.

6

Strengths

Ojabo is a speedy player, but not at all a one trick pony as a pass rusher. Speed is his primary weapon, and he is able to bend around the corner. However, he also has a number of pass rush moves that he uses to get to the QB. He sometimes wins with an inside counter that he uses when his initial rush stalls. Ojabo also does well to swipe at his opponent’s hands, and use leverage to his advantage. His spin move might be the most impressive thing in his tool box, as he has shown the ability to embarrass OT’s, leaving them behind after they overset to protect the outside. His  hands are highly active, in addition to the rush moves. As he gets close to the QB, he always marks sure to take a swipe at the ball, and has forced his fair share of fumbles. He doesn’t just settle for the sack.

Weaknesses

Ojabo is undersized, and this limits his effectiveness in some areas. As a pass rusher, strength and power isn’t a huge part of his game. Further, bigger offensive linemen are able to plough him right out of the way when run blocking, to the point where he was heavily rotated in/out depending on the situation. There is a chance that he might be limited to just a pass rusher in the NFL, unless he can improve.

7

Strengths

Ebiketie is highly skilled as a pass rusher. Technique is how he will win at the next level. His hands are very active and quite strong. He has a good swim move and a good inside move that he uses to get into the backfield. His good length should allow him to maintain his success in this area. Ebiketie plays smart and uses his opponent’s positioning against him, finding gaps to sneak through. His motor is always running and second efforts have led to more sack opportunities. He is quick to fill gaps as a run defender, and was surprisingly good at standing him up without allowing extra yards. Ebiketie has a smaller frame, but is dense. He has some power to his game.

Weaknesses

Ebiketie is on the smaller side, which may turn off some coaches. Despite this, his athleticism isn’t as good as you would expect. He doesn’t win a ton with speed around the edge, but rather technique and effort. As well, he is a bit stiff when moving laterally. While his strength is solid, bigger, stronger players should still be able to handle him.

8

Strengths

Karlaftis is a powerful player who stands out in this aspect as a pass rusher. His bull rush has been effective. Karlaftis latches on and can take his opponent for a ride into the QB’s lap. He is a great pocket pusher. Karlaftis takes advantage of tackles that play at a high pad level, getting underneath and driving him backwards. His hand technique is nicely developed. While the bullrush is his go to, he is able to pull an inside move out of the bag if his initial rush stalls out. His hand strike is strong and, if he lands first, gets an early advantage in the rep. He has the frame and strength to have more success as an edge setter and run defender.

Weaknesses

Athleticism is average to below average. Karlaftis is slow off the snap and can take a while when trying to bend his way around the edge. He lacks the lateral agility and body control to reposition himself to make plays on the ball carrier. His run defence was a concern. The athleticism is largely to blame, but instincts are also a guilty culprit. He over plays the pass rush, and can end up out of position when the play is a run. 

9

Strengths

Mafe has a pretty solid combination of athleticism and power. He tested well at the Combine and you see some of that speed on tape. He shows flashes of quick wins around the edge, where not only his speed comes into play, but also his bend. I wouldn’t say he is the strongest guy out there, but he is solid at implementing power into his game, and can generate more when he builds up some early momentum. He does well to swipe away his opponents’ hands. Additionally, he seems to sense when his opponent is a bit off balance, and he takes advantage. Mafe is a good tackler when defending the run. He is quick to pounce on the ball carrier and wrap him up.

Weaknesses

Mafe is a raw player. The traits are good, but he needs to turn the flashes into consistency. While the speed and power are good, he doesn’t have much else if the initial rush stalls. He needs to develop his hand technique and add counters to his toolbox. As well, he needs to improve his footwork and timing off the snap. At times, he looks a little stiff when moving laterally, which slightly affects his ability to turn the corner when rushing the passer.

10

Strengths

Sanders is an athletic edge rusher who has a slippery element to him. He is not the strongest guy, yet he manages to get off of blocks and find his way into the backfield. Sanders has the speed and bend to win around the edge. He has good length and can wrap up ball carrieres. There were some nice plays where he leveraged his way off of his opponent at just the right time to make a play on the ball carrier. As a pass rusher, he does well to stay active while also pushing and pulling his opponent. He shows some flashes of strength, and his frame should be able to hold more, alluding to more upside.

Weaknesses

His frame is a bit of a concern at this moment. It is really lean, and he can end up getting bounced around when going up against stronger OT’s. Sanders can look a bit awkward as a mover, and he sometimes can be inefficient in his movement, taking unnecessary steps. Sanders doesn’t incorporate a lot of power in his game, which isn’t a surprise given his frame. He is much more of a finesse rusher, which can get a bit predictable without other elements. On that one, he would benefit from implementing more pass rush moves into his attack.

11

Strengths

Bonitto is a good athlete who wins as a pass rusher with pure speed. He has a quick get-off and is able to get an early step on the tackle. His speed then makes it tough for the OT to recover. Bonitto has the bend to compliment the speed. This allows him to turn the corner and complete the play. Bonitto was effective on stunts, and this is something that should carry over into the NFL. He was dropped into shallow zone from time to time, showing off his athleticism. Bonitto also shows flashes of good pass rush moves.

Weaknesses

Bonitto is undersized for an NFL edge rusher, and it may turn teams off. While he wins with speed some of the time, at other times, he gets completely eliminated from the play by bigger OT’s that just engulf him. He brings no element of power, and his bullrush is ineffective. As well, Bonitto is more of a liability in the run game. Strength will need to be added, or he will just be a role player.

12

Strengths

Paschal has good burst and a good get-off. He is noticeable early in the snap. There is something about him, he is just always buzzing. He is aggressive in his pursuit of the QB, delivering heavy strikes and keeping his hands constantly moving. His swim move is good. Speed is solid, and if he manages to get into the backfield, he is capable of hunting down the QB. He has a dense frame that can take on contact. This helps him in run defence when he is looking to bring down the ball carrier. He does a good job of getting off blocks, freeing himself up to make tackles.

Weaknesses

Paschal is a tweener. He rotated around between the interior on edge spot for Kentucky. I don’t know if he has the bend or lateral agility to be consistent as a pass rusher from the edge. Yet, on the other hand, he seems a bit undersized for an interior player. While his jittery style has its benefits, it can also cause his play to lack control at times, and his footwork and general technique can get sloppy. 

13

Strengths

Malone is an intriguing player in this class. He is extremely athletic, both in terms of speed and lateral agility. He can fly off the edge, and he has the bend to turn the corner and get to the QB. He is pretty aggressive and has active hands, looking to swipe away those of his opponent. Malone has good length to disengage and he makes nice wrap up tackles. His athleticism was on full display with how he was used in different ways. He was sometimes put into coverage, and he looked more than fluid enough to pass as a stand up LB. He had an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, which could boost his stock.

Weaknesses

Malone is a former WR, and you can tell from his athleticism, but also his size. His frame is very lean for an edge rusher, and will have trouble at the next level if he doesn’t get stronger. The jump will especially be considerable since he is newer to the position and went up against lesser competition in college. I would like to see him add pass rush moves to his toolbox. He largely relied on his pure speed and bend to get to the QB. Most of his attempts to get anywhere with power were stifled, showing the importance of him adding bulk and getting stronger. 

14

Strengths

Thomas has shown flashes of playing with good power over the course of his college career. However, his biggest strength is his toolbox that is filled to the top with pass rush moves. He uses the swim move, dip/rip, and club, among others. Thomas is a determined player in his pursuit of the QB. His excitement level seems to increase as he is about to make a tackle. You see him get a boost of acceleration and he really delivers a hard hit. Thomas does a good job of getting off of blocks on run plays, and he is able to get to and bring down the ball carrier. He is a versatile player who has had success rushing from the edge and the inside.

Weaknesses

Thomas was highly inconsistent in college, and the most concerning thing about that is that it is against lesser competition. He will need to do work to get stronger. However, the downside is that bulking up may take away from his already average athleticism. Speed is ordinary and agile OT’s shouldn’t have much problem mirroring his attack. 

15

Strengths

Jackson is an athletic speed rusher with the upside to develop into a starter. His burst off the line is good and he has the speed to outrun his opponent in a footrace around the arc. Jackson has good bend to ensure he is able to make it around the corner, as opposed to being pushed out the back door. Flashes have come in run defence, where he is able to chase down the ball carrier from behind. 

Weaknesses

Jackson is a high upside player thanks to his great all around athleticism. But he is a boom/bust player. He is currently lacking the strength to be a starter and would benefit from adding more power to his game. As well, it is important that he adds pass rush moves into his attack plan. He won’t be able to get away with just using his speed. Jackson will need to diversify his game and be more consistent to become a starter at the next level.