2022 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper names his best available prospects entering Day 3
The final day of the 2022 NFL Draft is upon is, with Rounds 4-7 set to begin on Day 3 at 12 noon ET on Saturday. With a lot of trades and some surprising falls over the first two days of the draft, there is still a lot of talent on the board entering Day 3.
Ahead of Day 3, ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper revealed his top available prospects entering the final day of draft weekend. There are still a lot of quality players remaining on Kiper’s board, including a couple that were ranked inside his second round.
Here is a full look at Kiper’s best prospects remaining entering Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Kiper’s top available NFL Draft prospects entering Day 3
Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey (Kiper’s No. 55 prospect)
Winfrey played the last two seasons at Oklahoma. He played in nine games in 2020 with 17 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and three passes defended. This past season, he broke out with 23 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Winfrey is one of the top defensive players remaining on the board, and he shouldn’t have to wait long to be off the board on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Virginia Tech outside linebacker Amare Barno (No. 60)
Barno spent two seasons at Virginia Tech, becoming a solid and consistent contributor for the Hokies. In 2020, he broke out as a star with 43 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. In 2021, Barno’s production dipped a little bit, as he had 35 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (No. 68)
Many expected Howell to be a Day 2 pick, but that was before the slide for quarterbacks through the first three rounds. With just four quarterbacks off the board through three rounds, Howell is the top option remaining in the NFL Draft entering Day 3. Howell produced at a high level in Chapel Hill, and with him still available in Round 4, teams could be more willing to take him now.
Memphis wide receiver Calvin Austin III (No. 75)
Austin is a burner, and he displayed his incredible speed in four years at Memphis. In his collegiate career, he totaled 2,541 yards with 22 touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per catch. Austin has 1,000 receiving yards in two straight seasons to end his collegiate career, and he has 19 touchdowns since the start of the 2020 season, too.
Boise State wide receiver Khalil Shakir (No. 81)
After having 170 receiving yards as a freshman in 2018, he had 872 yards in 2019 and 719 in 2020, hauling in six touchdown receptions in each of those two seasons and adding three rushing touchdowns in 2019. In 2021, Shakir broke out even more with 77 receptions for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns.
Minnesota offensive tackle Daniel Faalele (No. 82)
Faalele is an offensive tackle that was getting first-round hype earlier in the draft process. He was more realistically expected to be a Day 2 selection, but he remains on the board entering Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Faalele is likely to be an attractive option for teams still looking to bolster their offensive fronts.