ESPN staff
The NFL 2022 draft is getting closer and closer, which means you will start to hear comparisons between some of the top players in the class and current / former NFL players. These struggles could be based on the way the candidates play the game, their physical measurements, their production, their flexibility and their role, similar characteristics or some combination of these lines of thought. However, independently, NFL reviewers often compare college graduates to established professionals to give a name and a face to what they bring. Comps are an easy way for fans to get a sense of a player’s style of play. But they are not always accurate – and in most cases do not suggest that the candidate will have the same level of success as the NFLer, for better or worse. They just help to better understand the prospects and how they are projected to the next level. So we asked 10 of our NFL analysts for their favorite comp in the class this year. Some you have probably heard of, but others may offer a new way of looking at a particular perspective and what we can expect to see from it every Sunday in the future. We start with one of the top generals in the class. Pickett has a fickle, backyard play style. The Pittsburgh QB is constantly pulling itself out of bad situations with its speed and creativity. And when it comes to rhythm, Pickett is very functional. This compares him to the way Romo, the longtime Dallas Cowboys general, played the game. – Dan Orlovsky, NFL analyst A dynamic perspective with game features, Wilson can stretch defenses vertically or create after capture. And with the high level of ball skills shown on the tape, the Ohio State receiver can win isolation games. In a professional attack, look for Wilson who will develop like Diggs (Buffalo Bills) as a three-level target with in / out flexibility. – Matt Bowen, NFL analyst 2 About Lloyd is a complete player in the back, as was Warner for the San Francisco 49ers. Both college production and measurable data are almost identical.
During his career in Utah, Lloyd had a total of 256 tackles, 16.5 dismissals, two forced tests, five interceptions, eight split passes and three touches. And during his four seasons at BYU, Warner recorded a total of 264 tackles, 6.5 bags, three forced characters, seven cuts, 13 split passes and two touches. In the band this year, Lloyd weighed 6 feet-3 and 235 pounds with a length of 33 inches and a speed of 4.66 seconds on the 40-yard dashboard. Warner, meanwhile, weighed 6 feet 3 and 236 pounds with a length of 32 inches and a speed of 4.64 during the 2018 combination workouts.
Lloyd can stop running, play with the ball under cover and chase the fourth. And the ability to influence the defense of the pass as an inside back makes Lloyd an easy fight with Warner for me. – Todd McShay, NFL draft analyst Gardner is a long and sudden corner, and has not missed a single touchdown this season in Cincinnati. We had the Cromartie in the New York Jets when I was their GM, and the structures and physical characteristics of these two cornerbacks are almost identical. Gardner should be an elite corner of coverage from person to person in the NFL, as is Crow. – Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst Nelson was a great receiver for the Green Bay Packers and Pierce has similar physical characteristics. He was thrilled with a 40-yard run of 4.41 seconds and a vertical 40.5 inches in combination, and the Cincinnati pass can also run any route – and break tackles after the catch. Maybe Green Bay could steal Pierce with one of the two options in the second round. – Mel Kiper Jr., draft analyst NFL NC State Ekwonu is a strong player with amazing skills in the run game. As the Wampers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did when they left Iowa, he stands out as a fantastic Day 1 attacking tackle that will probably be better early in the run game than a pass game. Ekwonu’s goodies – thanks to features such as speed, balance and power – make it arguably the best tackle in this category. – Matt Miller, NFL Planning Analyst I am playing 1:31 Watch footage from NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu as he prepares to become a top pick in the NFL 2022 draft. Both of these corners were known for producing ball in college. Stingley had a great new season at LSU that included six cuts, while Lattimore had four selections in his final season in college before being taken by the New Orleans Saints in the first round in 2017. Stingley has clear technique as a male angle, but he is I also understand with my eyes and instincts in belt coverage. Ability is not the blow with it. It’s his availability – he has lost 13 games in the last two seasons. If Stingley manages to regain his form before the injury, he has the talent to become a top-5 corner in the NFL. – Jordan Reed, NFL Draft Analyst Both of these defensive tackles are huge – Georgia’s Davis weighs 341 pounds and Vecca (Buccaneers) weighed 347 pounds when he was drafted in 2018 – in-house running players with the power to dominate one-on-one races and occupy the double of the team. I do not think either of them will ever be manufacturers of bulky bags, but bags can be overrated. Their ability to push their pockets makes it difficult for generals to climb and can force teams to double them, effectively creating one-on-one battles for each other. – Steve Muench, NFL draft analyst • Grading: Kiper »| McShay »| Seats “• Mocks: Kiper »| McShay »| Reid »• Stacking of QBs» | Interested groups »• Full draft order» First draft podcast »• More coverage »| Full ranking » I covered the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) in 1996 when they picked Runyan, a strong attacking tackle with a bad streak after that, in the fourth round (109th overall). He continued to play 14 seasons in the NFL. Penning, at 6 feet-7 and 325 pounds, has the same physical profile as Rooney, and his toughness in the game and his willingness to finish games with an edge were notable in every game he played in Northern Iowa. But Penning will not have to wait until the fourth round to hear his name. – Jeff Legwold, NFL Nation reporter Both of these tight ends have a dangerous ability to run after grip. Their versatile skill sets show how they were used by the attacking coordinators, with each pass catching out from behind and even taking handoffs. Like Smith of the New England Patriots, Oklandkwo of Maryland will have problems with NFL matchup size and defense against linebackers. – Turron Davenport, NFL Nation journalist
