2022 NFL Draft Best Fits: Defensive Line
2022 NFL Draft Best Fits: Defensive Line
Alas friends, we have reached the end of the bit fits series. The defensive line is the final position group to be highlighted. We are most likely going to see DL come off the board at picks one and two unless something crazy happens. So naturally, we’re going to talk about those two players. Defense wins championships and that starts in the trenches. Let’s break it all down.
Aidan Hutchinson
Aidan Hutchinson is going to be the number one pick in the draft. The Michigan Man terrorized college football in 2021. He was the best pass rusher in college football and will fit with any team he joins. Hutchinson is a freak of nature and is pretty close to the perfect pass rushing prospect, he can do it all. There aren’t many faults in his game, but he needs to touch up his technique and hand placement. He also needs to add some more moves to his arsenal.
He’s going to be a Jacksonville Jaguar and this is exactly what they need. He would instantly become the best defensive end on the roster. Hutchinson joins a defense with a lot of former first round picks and can help make it a dangerous unit.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon was supposed to be the number one overall pick. But, a final season hindered by injuries as dropped him a bit. He is still a great player. Thibodeaux is fast and versatile, and has phenomenal explosiveness. He is someone who can play end, D-tackle, or outside linebacker. Good luck getting away from this guy. He’ll need to clean up his pursuit technique similar to Hutchinson and not take unnecessary angles.
He’ll fit in perfectly with the Detroit Lions, who own the second overall pick. Defensive line is a position that is lacking a little bit in Motown. What better way to fix it then with the second best player in the country? It will be interesting to see if he moves around on the line or just sticks with one spot. Charles Haley was famous for always lining up everywhere, maybe we see a similar strategy with Thibodeaux.
Jordan Davis
Why did Georgia win the National Championship? The answer in part is Jordan Davis. He is a beast at the defensive tackle position. He’s strong and for his size, has great speed. He is 6 foot 6, 340 pounds. He is easily the best defensive tackle in the draft and will dominate at the next level. Did I mention he’s an engineering major too? That means he’s smart on top of all of the physical traits. Davis isn’t much of a pass rusher right now, but that could change. He also needs to work on shedding blocks. It isn’t always his fault when he is being double teamed.
His best fit is the Cleveland Browns. While the Browns defense has taken some good strides, they are missing that monster in the middle. No disrespect to Malik Jackson, but he needs to get out of the way. Malik McDowell got in trouble with the law for a second time…his status is TBD. Minus those two, the DT depth is not good. If the Browns want a dominant front, they need to draft Davis if he is available at pick 13.
DeMarvin Leal
Texas A&M Dt DeMarvin Leal is what you would call a douzy. He’s an elite athlete, powerful, moves well, and shows good balance. He became a game wrecker for the Aggies. Leal also has good versatility to play anywhere on the line. But, there is a major concern with him - effort and character. Leal tends to give up on plays and takes way to many plays off. That won’t fly in the NFL. His scouting report also says he lacks the “violent hands” (that’s fresh, never heard that one before) to shed blocks and he struggles against double teams.
His best fit is the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens interior defensive line is aging, and they have a proven track record with drafting and developing defensive players. Leal might be a bit of a project, and players like that need an organization with good structure and strong developmental skills. He will most likely slip to the later rounds where the Ravens love to find diamonds in the rough. Those of you who remember Alladus Thomas know he was a sixth round pick and had 38.5 sacks in seven seasons with the team.
George Karlaftis
From Athens Greece to Purdue, George Karlaftis established himself was one of the best pass rushers in the country. He’s an elite athlete with great speed and agility. He can play inside and outside. Karlaftis also has a lot of power to his game. However, he will need to improve against the run.
The Minnesota Vikings make sense here. They really need help in the pass rushing department. The pass rushing numbers have not been good the last couple of seasons. The Vikings don’t have a future plan at the position, but drafting Karlaftis could go a long way. A fresh approach on defense would probably be helpful now that Mike Zimmer is gone.
Devonte Wyatt
We’re going to wrap things up with another big man from the National Champs, Devonte Wyatt. Wyatt is a dominant inside rusher and is good against the run. At times he needs a double a team and has pretty good speed for the position. Wyatt also brings quickness and good initial jump after the ball is snapped. His hands need to get stronger and sometimes he can get pushed around by bigger linemen. Based on that he probably needs to bulk up a bit more.
His best fit is the Arizona Cardinals. They have Corey Peters and Rashard Lawrence on the roster as DT’s, but that’s it. Peters is 33 years old. The Cardinals defense had good moments in 2021 but really faltered late in the season, albeit the whole team did. This is the biggest need on defense both literally and figuratively and should be addressed early on.
Final Thoughts
That’s a wrap on the NFL Draft best fit series. If you missed any articles about the prospects, feel free to check them out. The DT position at times is an unsung hero. In the right system, they can become starts and certified franchise players. Vince Wilfork and Joe Green are perfect examples of that.
Watch out for:
Remaking two major college football conferences
The new slinging Sooner QB
WNBA free agency breakdown
All of that and more still to come!