Top 10 NFL Draft Prospects in the Pac-12
Pac-12 football is less than a month away and NFL scouts are preparing to dive into prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft class. Without further ado, let’s get down to the top 10 NFL Draft Prospects in the Pac-12, according to PFF. Washington and USC lead the list with the most NFL prospects with three each, while Oregon has two.
2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS: PAC-12
10. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE (Oregon)
Kayvon Thibodeaux is a player that has been on NFL scouts’ radars for quite some time now. Coming out of high school, he was the highest rated prospect to sign with Oregon in school history. He even ranked as the 23rd-highest rated prospect all-time, according to 247sports.com.
9. Trent McDuffie, DB (Washington)
PFF spoke glowingly on McDuffie in their write-up, saying, “There may not be a more aesthetically pleasing cornerback to watch in the country. The way he moves across the field with such ease and grace is a joy for any film-watcher.” That’s one of the most beautiful things you could say about any football prospect. His resume as a tackler is absolutely outstanding. Per PFF, he’s only missed two tackles on 64 career attempts. If he keeps that kind of tackling up, he is sure to grab NFL scouts’ attention in 2021.
8. Jaxson Kirkland, OT (Washington)
Kirkland is without a doubt one of the more versatile offensive linemen in college football. He started two seasons at right guard for the Huskies but then moved to left tackle in 2020. The 6-7, 295-pounder has excellent feet as well and moves well in space. Here is a clip of PFF’s write-up on him.
“The Washington offensive lineman possesses some of the best feet of any tackle prospect in the country, which shows up routinely in space. Tracking down opposing defenders comes naturally to him, and that’s a great starting point to have at the position.”
He’s likely to be one of the top offensive linemen selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
7. Kedon Slovis, QB (USC)
Kedon Slovis was one of the most clutch quarterbacks in college football in 2020. He led the Trojans to three comeback wins in the final two minutes, including a heart-stopping touchdown pass against UCLA. He completed his fifth touchdown pass against the Bruins with 16 seconds left in the game, lifting the Trojans to a 43-38 win.
PFF raved about his intermediate accuracy, “In terms of intermediate accuracy, he’s been the best of any returning quarterback in the FBS over the past two seasons.”
6. Drake London, WR (USC)
London is big and athletic. His size helps him to break open tackles in the open field. Per PFF, he broke 14 tackles on just 33 catches. He’s got great size at 6-5, 210 pounds. The gifted athlete also plays on USC’s basketball team. He’ll be a receiver prospect to keep your eyes on for the NFL Draft.
5. Jermayne Lole, DT (ASU)
Lole checks in at 6-1, 300 pounds. He moves remarkably well for a player his size. He’s also improved drastically over the past few years, so he’s got a ton of upside. Per PFF, he graded out at 60.5 as a freshman, 75.3 as a sophomore, and 85.9 as a junior. Look for his grade to improve yet again this season.
4. Zion Tupola-Fetui, Edge (Washington)
He demonstrated he was one of the more skilled pass rushers in America in 2020, racking up 20 pressures in just four games. He tore his Achilles in April, so it’s a 6-10 month estimated recovery timeline for that. He’ll likely have to return for the 2022 season to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. The 6-1, 280 pounder is a man to keep on your radar.
3. Drake Jackson, Edge (USC)
Jackson really flashes on tape when you watch him. He’s 6-4, 255 pounds and it’s immediately understandable why NFL scouts are so excited about this guy. He slimmed down to 255 pounds last season after playing in 2019 at 275 pounds. His spin and rip moves at the line of scrimmage are nasty. He’s going to be garnering some buzz for the 2022 NFL Draft this fall.
2. Devin Lloyd, LB (Utah)
Lloyd is powerful at the point of attack and is excellent at fighting through blocks. PFF just wants to see him show more in pass coverage. They write, “Now we’d just like to see more plays from him in coverage, as he’s managed only one pick and two pass breakups in his year and a half as a starter.” He’s an exciting prospect to keep your eye on for the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Mykael Wright, CB (Oregon)
Mykael Wright is one of the top defensive back prospects in the Pac-12 and he’s got the stats to prove it. Per PFF, he only allowed eight catches on 23 targets as a freshman. As a sophomore, he only allowed 18 catches on 34 targets for 228 yards. The 5’11, 182 pounder figures to get some serious NFL Draft buzz this fall.
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