Top 5 edge rushers in 2022 NFL Draft
It might not be the best overall class in recent years, but the edge prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft are widely anticipated to make waves in the league.
There might not be a standout Myles Garrett or Nick Bosa type player, but there is certainly solid depth at the position.
Infact, this edge class is clearly the strongest of any position in 2022. Teams are going to find talent here well into Day 2, with many players poised to make an impact in the NFL early in their careers.
There are speedy athletic rushers, long defenders and pure athletic powerhouses to choose from, something which should suit for every team.
Here’s our top five rushers in the upcoming draft:
Honourable mentions: David Ojabo, Boye Mafe, Drake Jackson, Arnold Ebiketie
5. George Karlaftis, Purdue
We start with one of the best pass rushers in college football over the past few years, Purdue’s George Karlaftis.
A non-stop worker who reminds us of Trey Hendrickson as a pro comparison, Karlaftis ranked second in QB hits among Power Five defenders in 2021, amassing five sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 12 games last year.
Karlaftis’ athleticism is by far the most impressive aspect of his profile. He’s big in size and backs this up with some impressive strength, as he put on show at his recent pro day.
Why is he positioned at number five in our rankings? Mainly due to the quality of his peers, but Karlafitis also needs make improvements against the run in the NFL.
If he can fill in the gaps and prevent running backs from getting through, his stock as a starter will soar.
In our recent mock draft, we had Karlaftis going to the Eagles at 15th overall. That might be too high, but even with trade ups, we expect him to go in the first round.
The Greek native could be a great match for a lot of teams.
4. Travon Walker, Georgia
Georgia’s Travon Walker has rocketed up mock draft rankings in recent weeks.
An impressive display at the NFL Combine is to thank, but there is no question that Walker deserves this recognition.
He started all 15 games for Georgia on their run to becoming national champions in 2021, recording six sacks and 37 total tackles.
His strength and length is perfect for outreaching blockers and
With an outstanding 4.51 in the 40-yard-dash in Indianapolis in March,
Fourth seems really low for a player who’s potential ceiling is high as anyone on this list.
But he’s still developing as a pass rusher and with some decent mentoring, Walker can mould into a great player.
If he can resemble his college performances as a pro, Walker will make a big jump in the NFL.
3. Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
It was almost a coin toss between Walker and Jermaine Johnson II, two elite rushers. We’ve gone with the Florida State man, one of our favourite players in the entire draft.
A relentless, physical runner with a tremendous football IQ, Johnson is going to make the transition to the NFL look easy.
He ranked eighth nationally among edge rushers in 2021, with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in just 12 starts.
Johnson is a little rough around the edges as a pass rusher, but in the right system Johnson could develop into a premium starter as a 4-3 end or a 3-4 outside linebacker.
His dominance and athleticism make him one of the best prospects in the entire draft class.
2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Once projected as the best prospect in the whole draft, a slightly underwhelming 2021 has hammered Kayvon Thibodeaux profile in recent months.
But make no mistake, the Oregon rusher is going to be a star in the NFL.
We’ve spoken before about how we don’t expect Thibodeaux to fall too much in the draft. Whoever selects him will be getting an athletic beast, who has unrivalled change-of direction quickness and explosive power.
With shades of Khalil Mack, Josh Allen and, as Daniel Jeremiah suggested last year, NFL great DeMarcus Ware, Thibodeaux has all the potential to go far. If he can become a consistent pain and improve his awareness, he can defy expectations.
Good luck to offensive linemen next year. They won’t know what to do when coming up against Thibodeaux.
1. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Aidan Hutchinson is widely anticipated to be the first name called out in Las Vegas on April 28.
The most dominant player in college football from the last year, Hutchinson led Big Ten players in pressures last season as he finished as a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
He’s a quick and athletic defender who possesses a unique combination of strength, speed and versatility that will help him to excel in the NFL.
Hutchinson is by no means the end product, however. Improvements can still be made to his pass rush game and he needs to backup his outstanding 2021 season this year.
Regardless, Hutchinson is an elite playmaker and is going to become a great player in the NFL.
