We’re on the home stretch. Crazy, right? It seems like just a few days ago, we were submitting the first scouting reports of the 2022 NFL Draft cycle, preparing for the impending season. Now, already, things are coming into focus. With our January Top 300 Big Board now finalized here at PFN, here’s a look at some of the top 2022 NFL Draft risers from my personal board.
2022 NFL Draft Risers
The 2022 NFL Draft features dozens of risers who took advantage of their opportunities this past season and elevated their stock. But a select few rose to an impressively steep degree, and those players will be highlighted in this article. Here’s a look at my biggest 2022 NFL Draft risers in the latest big board, starting with an electric talent in the Pac-12.
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
We know by now that this cornerback class has historic potential. Andrew Booth Jr. — my personal CB1 — has a rare combination of explosiveness, fluidity, and instincts at the catch point. Ditto for Derek Stingley Jr., whose biggest red flag is his injury history. Ahmad Gardner can be a lockdown defender with his size and athleticism, and Kaiir Elam turns heads with his fluidity. One other cornerback who needs to be mentioned more often in the top group is Washington CB Kyler Gordon.
Gordon and teammate Trent McDuffie are both top-25 talents on my board, but I have Gordon ranked a couple spots higher. Both players have sky-high ceilings, but Gordon has the few traits that McDuffie lacks. While both are incredibly explosive and fluid defenders, Gordon has great size at 6’0″, 200 pounds, as well as incredible ball skills. He can still be more consistent in some phases, but his efficiency of motion is absurd, and he closes on plays in an instant. He rises 57 spots on my latest board.
Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
In a class with Kayvon Thibodeaux and David Ojabo, you could make the case that there isn’t a freakier edge rusher than Minnesota’s Boye Mafe. Before the season, Mafe made Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List with a barrage of mind-boggling numbers. Among them, he posted a 1.58 10-yard split, a 4.57 40-yard dash, and a 40.5-inch vertical jump at 6’4″, 265 pounds. Traits alone don’t make a great prospect, but the growth Mafe showed in 2021 has sealed the deal.
Mafe still has room to grow. He’s relatively new to football, starting his playing career after attending boarding school in Nigeria. But in 2021, he elevated his game in all phases. As a pass rusher, he employed various rip moves in conjunction with his elite athletic traits. And as a run defender, he displayed the strength and natural leverage necessary to set the edge. He’s one of the twitchiest athletes in this EDGE class, with burst, power, and bend to boot. Now that he’s shown he can develop, he’s closing in on my top 50.
Logan Hall, DL, Houston
Football is naturally a violent game, so calling a prospect “violent” feels a bit redundant at times. To be violent is to exist in football. But to survive and advance, you have to be more violent than the guy across from you. In his standout 2021 season — in which he amassed 13 tackles for loss and 6 sacks — Logan Hall seldom found an opponent who could match his violence in the trenches.
Hall’s violence is a staple of his game. The 6’6″, near-280-pound defensive lineman emanates constant energy, and his fast hands carry deadly force in close quarters. He can execute rips and swims with ruthless efficiency, but he also has a dangerous bull rush with his raw power and short-area burst. Hall is a versatile lineman who can be a terror at 3-technique or build up speed around the edge. Once ranked outside the top 150, he’s now the 51st overall prospect on my board.
Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. This center class is weak. Even before Ricky Stromberg, Jarrett Patterson, and Olusegun Oluwatimi went back, it looked a little thin. But now, there’s almost no high-quality depth beyond Iowa stalwart Tyler Linderbaum. That said, the 2022 center class does have one potential saving grace in Nebraska’s Cameron Jurgens. Jurgens was a late add to the watch list for me. But after getting some exposure to his play, he quickly surged into the top 100 on my board.
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Jurgens is one of the most underrated blockers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3″, 290 pounds, but he has a dense frame with good natural leverage. He can do a better job sustaining blocks at times, but he’s clearly athletic and powerful. Jurgens moves freely in space, and he gets off the line with impressive ferocity. With his physical traits, it’s not brash to say that Jurgens can be a safe Day 2 pick and an early starter.
Damone Clark, LB, LSU
There are a lot of linebackers moving up the board for me. Brian Asamoah is in my top 75 now after opening at 124. Channing Tindall is now safely within the top 100 after starting beyond the top 150. And Quay Walker and Chad Muma now find themselves knocking on the top 50. But the biggest 2022 NFL Draft riser at linebacker on my board is LSU’s Damone Clark, who opened outside the top 300 and now sits at 89th overall.
Clark put together a fantastic final season for the Tigers, amassing 135 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, an interception, 3 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles in 12 games. His production speaks for itself, but Clark’s talent goes beyond the stats. He’s a burly 6’3″, 240-pound linebacker with reported 4.5 speed. Additionally, he has the sideline-to-sideline range and the strength to fill gaps in run defense. With more development, he can be an impact player at the next level.
Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
It’s rare you see redshirt sophomores from the Group of Five declare early, but that’s exactly what we saw this offseason when Tulsa OT Tyler Smith put his name into the NFL Draft pool. It takes a talented player to stand out that much that early, and that’s what Smith is — a worthy top-100 prospect by default. He’s a 6’6″, 330-pound mauler who dominated AAC competition and stood tall against juggernauts like Ohio State in 2021.
Standing tall, of course, doesn’t always work in Smith’s favor. He can play with a high pad level at times. He can also refine his hand placement and timing, and he opens up his torso a bit too much, exposing himself to power rushes. There’s a lot to clean up in Smith’s game, but the talent is undeniable. He’s athletic, has great knee bend, and is a powerful, high-torque blocker with a vicious attacking mentality. He has great potential at tackle, but maybe even more inside.
JT Woods, S, Baylor
The Baylor defense was stocked to the brim with NFL talent in 2021. Jalen Pitre and Terrel Bernard both have a chance to be Day 2 picks. Kalon Barnes should get a chance in the NFL with his speed and natural ability. But one Bears defender who’s had almost no hype is safety JT Woods. Recently added to the Senior Bowl roster, Woods has finally caught the eye of scouts. Once that happens, it’s hard to look away.
Woods opened the year at No. 154 overall on my board. I was intrigued by his length and athleticism but wanted to see more. Down the stretch in 2021, he showed exactly what he needed to — using his explosiveness and range to make plays in coverage, as well as come down and deliver crushing hits in the box. He’s a clear top-100 talent now, and he should only keep rising as the process plays out.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
Dameon Pierce only had 329 career rushing attempts in four years with the Florida Gators. That’s a number that some running backs surpass in a single season. Nevertheless, volume shouldn’t sink Pierce’s stock. The Florida running back routinely made the most of his carries, and he has the feel of a prospect who’ll be a better pro than he was in college.
Sporting a stout 5’10”, 215-pound frame, Pierce runs with anger on every snap. He may not have an elite athletic skill set, but he has enough burst to hit the hole, and he has underrated creative instincts as well. His high-end contact balance allows him to bounce off defenders, and he finishes every run with maximum physicality. As if that isn’t enough, Pierce is an extremely natural receiver. He’s a top-100 player for me, and after the Senior Bowl, he should be one of the biggest risers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Dai’Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls State
The biggest FCS mover on my latest big board is Nicholls State wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon. The Colonels pass catcher doesn’t have a ton of hype, and he likely won’t go as high as I have him, but he’s a top-150 prospect for me, lingering toward the top 100. A spot at the NFLPA Bowl helps Dixon, but he’s already proven plenty in five years at college.
Dixon has been one of the most dominant offensive threats at the FCS level in his time at Nicholls State. In total, since 2017, he has 3,802 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’s broken the 1,000-yard mark twice, most recently in 2021 when he amassed 71 catches, 1,002 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Dixon has an NFL frame at 6’4″, 200 pounds, but he also has surprising hip sink for his size. He’s explosive off the line, and he possesses the deep speed to stack defensive backs. His hands can be more consistent, but he could be a diamond in the rough come April.
Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
We’ll close out the list of 2022 NFL Draft risers with another wide receiver — because you can never have enough. The 2022 class is absolutely stacked at the position, but the depth is what truly presents opportunity for teams. One player who’s quickly ascending is Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton. Once out of my top 300 completely, he’s now barreled into the top 150, and he might not be done moving.
There’s a reason Thornton is one of my 2022 NFL Draft risers. The 6’3″, 182-pound receiver embarked on a stellar campaign for the Bears, putting up 948 yards and 10 touchdowns on 62 catches. Thornton flashed impressive ball-tracking ability and acrobatic body control time and time again. But he can also take short catches and explode in open space. With his long strides, he might legitimately have 4.4 speed.
