WATCH: Joel Klatt ranks his top 10 EDGE rushers in 2022 NFL Draft
The 2022 NFL Draft features a bevy of pass rushing talent, and the top of the draft will reflect that. Many NFL experts have theorized that as many as four pass rushers could going in the first ten selections, with the Jacksonville Jaguars expected to select one with the first overall selection.
With so much talent in one position group, Joel Klatt of FOX Sports attempted to rank the best of the best. Prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, Klatt revealed his top ten pass rushers taking their talents to the next level.
10) Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma — “Saw a lot of Nik Bonitto. Explosive, can get off the edge. I really like what he’s able to do,” stated Klatt.
9) Boye Mafe, Minnesota — “I think he had a terrific career, and he’s a guy that is on the radar for a lot of teams,” said Klatt. “They like what he brings to the table.”
8) Logan Hall, Houston — “Terrific edge player,” explained Klatt.
7) Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State — “He had a really good year on a defense that was asked to do a lot for Penn State,” stated Klatt. “That offense did not produce like it should, and the defense was asked time after time after time to win games, in particular at the end. With guys like [Jaquan] Brisker on the back-end at safety and Ebiketie up-front getting to the quarterback, they were able to do that.”
6) David Ojabo, Michigan — “Folks, can we stop it with the shorts and t-shirts workouts?” pleaded Klatt. “I’m sick to my stomach that David Ojabo tore his Achilles tendon in a glorified P.E. class, in-front of a bunch of scouts that could’ve just turned on his film, and seen the type of football player that he is. First of all, he’s not that experienced in football. So, he wasn’t even on the field a ton for Michigan. And yet, he still had a tremendous impact.
“When you would speak to opposing coaches, so whether it was Kirk Ferentz for Iowa, Ryan Day for Ohio State — they would say things like listen, we know Aidan Hutchinson is a great player. But the guy who’s really scary is on the other side in David Ojabo, because he’s an absolute freak athletically.”
5) George Karlaftis, Purdue — “I’ve got George Karlaftis from Purdue up at No. 5,” stated Klatt. “All of these guys, down to about Ebiketie maybe. Maybe Logan Hall, maybe even Boye Mafe — they could get selected in the first round.”
4) Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State — “A lot of teams like Jermaine Johnson,” started Klatt. “He’s going to get selected somewhere between, I would guess 14 and 8. 8 and 14. Why? Because the guys ahead of him are all going to get selected maybe in the top six or seven picks. Maybe even the top three picks.”
3) Travon Walker, Georgia — “He could very easily be No. 2,” stated Klatt. “I think No. 1 is pretty consensus No. 1, we all know who’s going to be right there. But Walker is a guy that could be the second player.”
2) Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon — “Thibodeaux, it’s really interesting, I could see Thibodeaux getting drafted second by the Lions. I could see him falling maybe even behind Jermaine Johnson,” explained the FOX analyst. “There’s a lot of different opinions right now within NFL organizations about Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“I think it’s interesting because he’s had some injuries. He had an injury last year, kept him out of that Ohio State game that the Ducks eventually won, even without him not on the field. Another reason why teams might be a little bit hesitant with Thibodeaux is that there were several games late where Oregon needed a stop on the last drive defensively, and they didn’t quite get it. And that’s why they ended up losing some of those games late in the season. So, like I said, mixed right now in NFL circles.”
1) Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan — “Aidan Hutchinson is the clear cut No. 1 EDGE rusher, I think he’s the clear cut No. 1 pick,” revealed Klatt. “The way that the Jacksonville Jaguars signed some offensive players. Brandon Scherff of the offensive line. They tagged Cam Robinson, I believe. You get a sense that it’s about the EDGE rusher, Aidan Hutchinson.
“.. A guy like that, that you’re going to have that’s a leader. He helped create a turnaround for Michigan, and beat Ohio State for the first time in ten years. So, you know he’s got high football character. He plays really hard on every single snap. He’s got the explosiveness to get to the quarterback, and has the production to really affect the passer. And at the NFL level, you know you’re going to need that.
“So to me, this guy is a sure-fire No. 1 pick in the draft. I have him as my top EDGE rusher. He should have a very good career for a very long time in the NFL.”