2022 NFL Draft Class: Ranking the position classes this year

When it comes to the 2022 NFL Draft class, ranking the positions is no easy task. With a bevy of draft prospects with elite potential, it seems easy at the top. But the question of which position presents the best top-tier options versus the position that offers the most starter-level players and depth makes it a fun exercise.

Based on the Pro Football Network 2022 NFL Draft Consensus Big Board of the Top 300 Players, here are the position groups ranked from most stacked to least stacked.

2022 NFL Draft Class Rankings: Value to be found at the bottom

Ranking a group of position players about to make the professional leap they’ve all dreamt about is in no way an indictment of specific players mentioned. Some position groups may have an elite prospect or two, but the depth at the position may be challenged. As such, these are the positional rankings — as a whole — with eyes on their immediate impact and potential long-term effect during their NFL careers.

12) Specialists

It’s tough to crack the top 10 of the positional rankings when you post only three total players in the consensus. Yet, this is an excellent class when it comes to punters. Matt Araiza takes the cake as our highest-ranked specialist, coming in at 220th overall. “Punt God” booted multiple kicks over 60 yards, including a couple of 80-yarders in his San Diego State career, and should have a long career ahead of him in the NFL.

Other players of note in the specialist group are Jake Camarda, our second-ranked punter, as well as Gabe Brkic, our top-ranked kicker. LSU K Cade York and Penn State P Jordan Stout also were represented on our individual analyst’s big boards as just part of the value this class presents.

11) Interior Offensive Line

There may be a “generational talent” from the interior offensive line this class, but after that, this group is Day 3 at best. Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum anchors this group from his center position. His wrestling background affords him the luxury of understanding body angles and how to use his tremendous strength. After Linderbaum, it’s Boston College’s Zion Johnson as the top guard prospect.

Texas A&M interior lineman Kenyon Green should crack the top two rounds. Nonetheless, it may be likely that no guard or center except for those three is selected until Day 3. The rest of the class is marred in issues, whether small or big. Some players come with an injury history; others carry less weight or strength. Baylor’s Xavier Newman-Johnson is one of the biggest sleepers in this group, but even his presence isn’t enough to buoy this class as a whole.

10) Running Backs

In an era of lesser importance at the position, this running back class in 2022 is loaded at the top and presents a few potential game-changers. However, it’s a class that lacks a true threat to take over a three-down running back spot in the NFL. Starting at the top, there’s a bottleneck with Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, and Isaiah Spiller commanding the most attention.

The jury is out on the middle round running backs, however. Some, like Georgia’s James Cook and Alabama’s Brian Robinson Jr., have flashed at times but played sparingly due to crowded backfields throughout their careers. Tyler Badie, Tyler Goodson, and Rachaad White enter with terrific skills and dual-threat capabilities as they pose threats in the receiving game. The class is good at the top but falls off after the second-tier group.

9) Quarterbacks

Not known for quarterback prowess, the 2022 NFL Draft class has taken the term “bridge QB” to new heights. Some franchises that clearly have quarterback as their top need opted to sign veteran quarterbacks in the meantime. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky to replace Ben Roethlisberger. Replacing Matt Ryan with Marcus Mariota, the Atlanta Falcons also replaced a future Hall of Famer with a journeyman.

Still, there’s value and upside presented in the top quarterbacks. Sam Howell is an interesting study as he presents a ton of tools. Matt Corral will have to shake his system but has plenty of athletic ability. Kenny Pickett is NFL-ready today. Malik Willis had linear growth in his time in college and has the best upside perhaps of any skill player.

But then you have questions surrounding the rest of the Day 2 quarterbacks: Desmond Ridder‘s accuracy and Carson Strong‘s long-term health. After that, a quarterback likely won’t earn a start in the NFL for some time. Bailey Zappe is the dark horse of the group as he’s transcended the Air Raid offense.

8) Linebackers

There are a couple of linebackers who should dramatically change their defenses for the better. Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean should immediately factor into the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation and improve their NFL team’s defense from Day 1. Lloyd excels in all facets but is downright terrific in coverage. Dean is as strong as an ox and smarter than all other 10 defenders on the field.

Chad Muma offers three-down linebacking ability at a high rate behind the top two. Then there’s a grouping of linebackers with unproven but near-elite level traits: Channing Tindall, Brian Asamoah, and Troy Andersen. Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal is rising up draft boards and could surprise with where he ultimately lands.

What keeps this linebacker group down at No. 8 overall is the fact that after the top two groups of players, it falls off. Only three linebackers cracked the top 200. For that reason, expect to see teams potentially moving up for their linebacker if the run starts early at the position.

7) Defensive Tackles

Stacked at the top, the defensive tackle class is headlined by the Georgia duo of Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt. Davis wowed everyone with his athletic ability at his size. Wyatt, on the other hand, is just as physically dominant (and still underrated). With seven defensive tackles ranked in the top 75 overall players, it’s a group heavy at the top.

There is talent in the middle rounds, but the group of tackles is just that, heavy at the top and light near the bottom. Stanford’s Thomas Booker and LSU’s Neil Farrell Jr. are likely underrated at this point — they both present upside and versatility in terms of where they can line up.

6) Tight Ends

If it weren’t for the utter power of the positions above them here, this tight end class could’ve been historic in terms of future NFL success. As NFL teams start to grasp at how important a pass-catching tight end is for their offense in today’s NFL, this group’s positional importance is sure to rise as well. At the top, Colorado State’s Trey McBride and Coastal Carolina’s Isaiah Likely will battle for the TE1 spot. McBride can do it all, while Likely excels as a pass catcher.

As much was discussed around Texas A&M TE Jalen Wydermyer during the season, this group’s third-best option at tight end is still up for grabs. While Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert has flashed high-end potential, the second tier of tight ends could make an impact immediately in the NFL. Maryland TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, Virginia TE Jelani Woods, and UCLA TE Greg Dulcich anchor this group, but it’s not limited to just those players. Day 2 is likely the ceiling for this group and don’t be surprised to see a bevy of them off the board by Round 5.

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