Our goal at Pro Football Network has always been to offer honest, insightful analysis. As we inch closer to the 2022 NFL Draft, we’re offering you a weekly glimpse inside the process that leads to the content you see on our site. In my Weekly NFL Draft Scouting Notebook, you’ll find my thoughts on some of the prospects — in this class and in future classes — that have caught my eye and some of the backstories that don’t make it into my articles.
2022 NFL Draft Q&A
As part of our commitment to honest and insightful analysis on the NFL Draft from 2022 and beyond, we want to be able to communicate more closely and clearly with you. We want to be able to answer meet your thirst for knowledge, whether that relates to prospects, draft philosophy, or our own process. As part of that, I opened up the first segment of this week’s NFL Draft Scouting Notebook to some questions from social media.
Q: If as expected the Jacksonville Jaguars take Aidan Hutchinson at No. 1, what should the Detroit Lions do at No. 2. Invest in a high-value position, target best player available, or look to trade down? – Jack Brentnall
I honestly think the Lions are sitting pretty at No. 2 overall, even if the Jaguars take the player they’ve been linked to for a long time in Aidan Hutchinson. There’s so much talent available at positions of need for them, and my top-ranked EDGE prospect in Kayvon Thibodeaux and top-ranked overall player in Kyle Hamilton would still be there. So you can invest in high value and take a position of need — the holy grail of draft philosophy.
Trading down is an option. However, at this point, I’m not sure someone would need to jump up to 2. The presumption is that the trade up is for a quarterback. Both New York teams have intimated that they’d be willing to trade, and picks 4 or 5 should be the highest you need to jump. The Houston Texans at 3 — as far as I’m concerned — will likely go all-in on Davis Mills this year. They have the picks to surround him with talent or build a monster on defense under the tutelage of Lovie Smith.
At this point, I’d love to see them pull the trigger on Malik Willis. By getting Penei Sewell last year, you’ve got the cornerstone of your offensive line in place for a young quarterback to thrive. With Jared Goff on the roster, there’s no pressure for him to start immediately.
Dan Campbell doesn’t strike me as a guy who will accept the level of losing season that it would take to secure one of the top signal-callers in the 2023 NFL Draft. That first-hand experience of working with Willis at the Senior Bowl might be enough to seal the deal.
Q: Looking across a few different 2022 NFL Draft Big Boards, it seems that you folks at PFN are much higher on Brian Asamoah than most. What are you seeing in him that others aren’t? – Patrick Jackson
Brian Asamoah is a really interesting prospect to study in terms of his perceived value or standing in the 2022 NFL Draft class. In late February, he was knocking around at 50th overall in mock drafts. He’s been as low as 140, and currently, his range in mock drafts is floating around the 100 marker.
He’s significantly higher on the consensus Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board as you rightly point out. Presently, the Oklahoma linebacker is the 65th overall prospect. However, this is slightly elevated due to one of our analysts having him at 44 overall.
From my perspective, I have him as my 87th-ranked player and the seventh linebacker of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Like so many of the prospects in the class, Asamoah flashes elite athleticism. He flies downhill and aggressively pursues ball carriers. Additionally, Asamoah possesses the coverage ability that would enable him to be a three-down player in the NFL.
Yet, Asamoah’s undersized for the position and doesn’t always display the physicality you’d need him to show to win consistently at the next level. I think the best way to describe his game is inconsistent, which is fairly apt when discussing the varying range of his NFL Draft stock.
Q: Do you think NFL Draft analysts project EDGE players differently from NFL teams? We fall in love with athletes and bend. Teams seem to covet athletes but put more on length, straight-line pressure, power, and run support. How do you see it? – Kevin Sayer
I think how this 2022 NFL Draft class plays out will be an interesting study into what NFL teams truly value as the most important trait in an edge rusher. Every EDGE archetype is represented, and it’s a shame David Ojabo‘s injury will ultimately dent his stock because the two Michigan teammates would have provided a great answer to the question.
Ojabo obviously wins with speed and bend, whereas Hutchinson — while explosive and powerful — lacks that bend. Someone like San Diego State’s Cameron Thomas will also be a good barometer of NFL opinion on pass-rush archetype. He’s one of the prospects in this class who is fantastic at winning with straight-line pressure and power.
As far as valuing run support goes, we’re going to get an answer to that question in the form of Jermaine Johnson II out of Florida State. As a pass rusher, Johnson has the ability to win with power, explosion, and length. Furthermore, he may set the edge in the run game more than any other EDGE prospect in the class.
For me personally, I weigh bend and power equally. After all, the quickest way to the quarterback is straight through the offensive tackle. It’s easy to fall in love with a player that flies off the edge and dips under a tackle to take down the quarterback, however. Additionally, I think players like Brian Burns are demonstrating that you can win just as effectively with bend as you can with power.
5 NFL Draft prospects you need to know
Let’s take a look at a few under-the-radar prospects you might want to look at, including a few from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mitchell Tinsley, WR, Penn State (2023 NFL Draft)
A talented two-year player for Hutchinson Community College, Mitchell Tinsley transferred to Western Kentucky for the 2020 season. However, it was in 2021 when he came to life in the Hilltoppers offense. While Jerreth Sterns received acclaim for leading the nation in multiple categories, Tinsley tallied 1,402 yards at 16.1 yards per catch.
Watching Sterns to compile his scouting report, I was repeatedly drawn to Tinsley making excellent catches. He stands out with great ball tracking, open field twitchiness, and elusiveness. There’s also an element of physicality to his game. I’m intrigued to see how the 6’1″, 205-pound receiver competes at the Power Five level following his transfer to Penn State. Definitely an under-the-radar receiver for the 2023 NFL Draft class.
Cole Johnson, QB, James Madison
While Matt Corral was going through his Ole Miss Pro Day, James Madison quarterback Cole Johnson was also putting on a performance for NFL scouts. Reportedly, those interested following that workout include the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, and New England Patriots.
Johnson has the potential to be late-round gold in this 2022 NFL Draft class. He hasn’t attracted a ton of buzz in this class, but he set the program record this season with 41 touchdowns and 3,779 passing yards. Prototypical size at 6’5″, 220 pounds, Johnson has an excellent arm and decent pocket maneuverability that has become increasingly described as “sneaky athletic.”
Stanley Berryhill III, WR, Arizona
Looking for a sleeper wide receiver prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft? How about one from the most slept on conference in college football? A former walk-on, Stanley Berryhill III is used to being overlooked and underrated. Even in this 2022 NFL Draft class, he isn’t a prospect you hear much buzz about as a result of relatively mediocre college production.
Nevertheless, Berryhill’s coming off the back of his most statistically successful season and a standout performance during the East-West Shrine Bowl. A smaller receiver at 5’9″, he makes his 30 2/8″ arms seem longer at the catch point. He plays with an element of explosiveness and has showcased decent route running during his Wildcats career. Throw in special-teams experience as a punt returner, and Berryhill can make an NFL roster this spring.
Zaquandre White, RB, South Carolina
Coming into the 2022 NFL Draft cycle, South Carolina’s Kevin Harris was hot property following a productive 2020 campaign. However, it’s teammate Zaquandre White could be set to make the biggest noise at the next level. While he “only” tallied 583 yards in 10 games this season, White averaged 6.6 yards per carry.
White has the size and strength to be a physical back in the NFL. Yet, it’s his explosiveness and vision that make him an exciting prospect. Throw in some technical ability as a blocker and the pass-catching ability that is almost a requisite for running back prospects transitioning to the NFL, and White could end up being a steal for whichever team pulls the trigger.
James Houston, LB, Jackson State
Numbers aren’t the basis for evaluation. However, some seriously impressive numbers are helping shine a light on Jackson State prospect James Houston. Those numbers begin with 16.5 sacks in the 2021 college football season. They extend to a 39″ vertical jump and 10’5″ broad jump that are elite for a 244-pound linebacker.
Those latter numbers come from a pro day that helped build momentum for a 2022 NFL Draft prospect who is one of several looking to put HBCUs back on the map. Houston switched to defensive end this season and showcased an explosive first step. He’s got the length to be disruptive at the next level and has demonstrated the ability to win with a dip move off the edge.
