Top of the board: Ten ​​of the most-hyped prospects coming into the 2022 NFL Draft

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, April 28, 2022 | 2 a.m.

The first NFL Draft ever held in Las Vegas will have something most of its recent predecessors have lacked—suspense to start.

There might be less clarity on how the first handful of picks in the 2022 NFL Draft will go than ever before. That’s partly a byproduct of a perceived weak quarterback class. When a can’t-miss prospect or two are available at the sport’s most important position, teams are typically rushing to trade up and potentially secure their future.

But there’s no five-star passer this year. All the top-rated options—Liberty’s Malik Willis, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder and Ole Miss’ Matt Coral—come with questions. And that same theme can apply to most of the other expected top picks, regardless of position.

Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was considered the likely No. 1 choice for months before dropping down amid reported concerns about his passion for football. In his place, Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson and Alabama tackle Evan Neal became linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the overall No. 1 pick, with the former eventually pulling away as the likeliest option.

But, in the final weeks before the draft, reports spread that Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke preferred the upside of Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker over Hutchinson. Reports of four different potential No. 1 picks in the span of few months is practically unprecedented when it comes to the modern day of the draft.

The professional careers of that quartet, and those selected around them, will ultimately go a long way in determining how the 2022 NFL Draft is remembered. Here’s a closer look at 10 players likely to be among that group.

Aidan Hutchinson

Michigan edge rusher, 6-foot-7, 260 pounds

Hutchinson was considered a fringe first-round prospect coming into the season but was arguably the most valuable defensive college football player in the country, tallying 14 sacks.

Travon Walker

Georgia edge rusher, 6-foot-5, 270 pounds

Walker has never put up the statistical production of Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, but he’s regarded as an athletic freak who’s fast enough to drop into coverage regularly in addition to pressuring quarterbacks.

Kayvon Thibodeaux

Oregon edge rusher, 6-foot-5, 258 pounds

Thibodeaux was a unanimous All-American selection in his final season at Oregon despite dealing with an ankle injury, which kept him out of two games.

Evan Neal

Alabama offensive tackle, 6-foot-7, 337 pounds

Neal was surrounded by blue-chip talent with the Crimson Tide and rarely stood out over his teammates, but that was largely because he never made any mistakes, especially in pass protection.

Ikem Ekwonu

North Carolina State offensive tackle, 6-foot-10, 310 pounds

Ekwonu might be the single most physically imposing player available—he mauled opponents in the run game and racked up endless pancake blocks in three years with the Wolfpack.

Charles Cross

Mississippi State offensive tackle, 6-foot-5, 307 pounds

Cross made a major leap last season to live up to his hype as one of the nation’s top-ranked high school players and tantalize evaluators with how much further he might progress.

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner

Cincinnati cornerback, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds

Gardner is the ultra-rare defensive player who logged more touchdowns than he surrendered in college. He had a pair of kick-return scores as a freshman bu2t never gave up a touchdown in three years of pass coverage.

Derek Stingley Jr.

LSU cornerback, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

Stingley was a day-one college superstar, helping the Tigers win the national championship as a freshman, but he has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in the two years since.

Malik Willis

Liberty quarterback, 6-foot, 225 pounds

Willis could be the biggest game-changer in the draft with his dual-threat passing and running ability, but he has rarely faced elite competition after failing to win the starting quarterback job at Auburn to start his college career.

Kenny Pickett

Pittsburgh quarterback, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds

Pickett was one of college football’s best players this season, finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting behind non-draft eligible Bryce Young and Hutchinson, but he’s older, soon to turn 24 years old, and had an up-and-down career otherwise.

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.