2022 NFL Draft Notebook: Preseason All-Underrated Offensive Team

Now that NFL Draft Notebook has taken a look at each offensive position in the 2022 NFL Draft it’s time to come out with our second annual preseason All-Underrated team. This team is led by Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim who despite averaging a school-record 153 rushing yards a game is still receiving free agent grades from NFL scouts. This team also features a quarterback who has the ability to rise from a day three prospect to a late first-round pick, a big athletic wide receiver who is being completely overlooked, and a tight end who could have a breakout season this year.

Along with naming our preseason all-underrated team this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also takes a look at the following

• How the 2021 all-underrated team is doing with their new team
• A small school running back worth watching this season
• The top centers in the 2022 NFL Draft
• Why the Miami Dolphins will likely look to add a center in next year’s draft
• And much more

All-Underrated offensive team

Quarterback: Phil Jurkovec, Boston College

It seems like every year we see a quarterback rise from a day-three prospect into a first-rounder and this year that quarterback could be Phil Jurkovec of Boston College. In his first year as a starter, last season, Jurkovec threw for 2,588 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to only five interceptions. He has the prototypical size the NFL loves as well coming in at 6-foot-5 and 226 pounds and moves well for someone his size.

Running Back: Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota

Any time a player is described as a bowling ball going downhill with razor blades on it, by his head coach he is someone worth keeping an eye on. To go along with his praise from his head coach Ibrahim has the production to be day two draft pick. Last season, he set a school record with an average of 153 rushing yards per game and also scored 15 rushing touchdowns. Despite this though Ibrahim is receiving free agent grades by NFL scouts according to Pro Football Network, which definitely makes him one of the most underrated prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Fullback: Zander Horvath, Purdue

A prospect who is in the Kyle Juszczyk mold is Zander Horvath. Like Juszczyk, Horvath can hurt teams in various ways, including rushing the ball or catching the ball out of the backfield. Last season, he rushed for 442 yards and averaged five yards per carry. He also was able to record 30 receptions on the year, giving him a total of 51 career receptions.

Wide Receiver: Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama

One of the best Group of Five players in the 2022 NFL Draft is Jalen Tolbert of South Alabama who grades out as the eighth-best receiver on NFL Draft Notebook’s draft board. Some of the traits that make him such an intriguing prospect include his 6-foot-3 size, impressive athletic ability, and consistent hands. Tolbert is someone who could see his stock rise significantly if he has a strong Senior Bowl.

Wide Receiver: Elijah Cooks, Nevada

A player who is off the draft radar going into the season is Nevada wide receiver, Elijah Cooks. The reason he is being overlooked is that he missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury. However, when you go back and watch his junior film you see a big athletic wide receiver who excels at making the tough catch.

Tight End: Lucas Krull, Pittsburgh 

The player with the least amount of production on this team is Pittsburgh tight end, Lucas Krull. Krull who started his college career off at Florida, before transferring to Pittsburgh last season, only has 10 career receptions and zero touchdowns. Despite this lack of production, he has the overall measurables including his 6-foot-6 260-pound size, and 4.6 speed to be a sleeper in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Offensive Tackle: Obinna Eze, TCU

Obinna Eze is an enormous prospect (6-8 315) who has only been playing football since his senior year in high school. Despite his limited experience on the field Eze has proven he is one of the better tackles in college football, and his length, long arms, and overall strength should help him transition to the NFL.

Offensive Guard: Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State

The most feared lineman in the ACC is Ikem Ekwonu of North Carolina State. What makes Ekwonu such a feared prospect is his overpowering strength. Last season, he led the Wolfpack with 50 pancake blocks and 22 knockdowns and was overall one of the strongest run blockers in college football last season.

Center: Alex Forsyth, Oregon

Last season was the first season Alex Forsyth was a full-time starter and he made the most of this opportunity. He was named to the Pac 12 All-Conference team and showed enough to earn a high day three draft grade by NFL Draft Notebook. Despite this strong season though he is still being overlooked by most draftniks including Mel Kiper who doesn’t list him as one of his top centers and NFL Draft Scout which lists him as the 15th best center.

Offensive Guard: Josh Sills, Oklahoma State

One of the bigger offensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft is Josh Sills who comes in at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds. He has the strength to go with this size as well and is able to control his defender consistently once he gets his hands on him.

Offensive Tackle: Trevor Penning, UNI

The University of Northern Iowa will likely produce a second-day offensive tackle draft pick two years in a row this season in Trevor Penning. Last season, the Panthers saw Spencer Brown go in the third round and Penning has the talent to be an even high draft pick.

Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, NDN named its all All-Underrated team. In order to make this team, each player had to carry a fourth-round or later grade by Pro Football Network. Now that these players have been drafted and are in training camp it is a good time to look at how these players are doing with their new teams.

Quarterback: Sam Ehlinger, Indianapolis Colts

Last year’s quarterback class was a very thin position as only two quarterbacks were drafted on day three of the draft. One of those players was former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger who made the All-Underrated team last year mainly due to his toughness and high football IQ which are two of the traits the Colts saw in him as well. Going into training camp it looks like he should make the team or at least the practice squad as the team’s third quarterback.

Running Back: Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles

It was a surprise to see Gainwell fall to the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, as he was rated as the 6th best running back in the draft. Lucky for Gainwell though he landed in a good situation in Philadelphia, where he should see plenty of carries behind Miles Sanders.

Fullback: Ben Mason, Baltimore Ravens

Ben Mason finds himself in a tough situation in Baltimore. He will likely not beat out Patrick Richard as the number one fullback. He will also have a hard time making it as the team’s number three tight end especially after showing questionable hands so far. His best bet might be to be a member of the Ravens practice squad.

Wide Receiver: Pooka Williams, Cincinnati Bengals

Former Kansas running back Pooka Williams made this team off the potential he showed as a slot receiver which is something the Cincinnati Bengals saw in him as well. While Williams went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft he has a strong chance of making the team as an offensive weapon and punt returner.

Wide Receiver: Jaelon Darden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jaelon Darden has already opened peoples eyes with how easily he is able to get open in his few practices with the Buccaneers. He has also seen some time on special teams returning kicks which is where he could make the most impact this coming season. One area he does need to improve on though is securing the catch as he has had some drops.

Tight End: Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers

Former Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble was the second-highest draft pick of this group when he went to the Carolina Panthers with the 83rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite being drafted in the third round he might not see a ton of time on the field this season since he is currently behind Ian Thomas and Dan Arnold on the depth chart.

Offensive Tackle: Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams

It seems very unlikely that Alaric Jackson will make the Rams squad and at best he will make some team’s practice squad.

Offensive Guard: Kendrick Green, Pittsburgh Steelers

A pleasant surprise for the Pittsburgh Steelers has been third-round choice Kendrick Green. Green has earned plenty of first-team reps at center and from all accounts looks like he has a strong chance of winning the job over J.C. Hassenauer.

Center: Drake Jackson, Detroit Lions

Despite going undrafted, former Kentucky offensive lineman Drake Jackson has a solid shot of making the Lions opening day roster. Jackson should fit in well in Detroit as the Lions want to play a physical style of football and Jackson was one of the best run blockers in college football last season.

Offensive Guard: Jack Anderson, Buffalo Bills

A player that I had a much higher grade on than where he went in the draft is Jack Anderson. Anderson carried a fourth-round grade on my board but fell all the way to the seventh round when the Buffalo Bills took him with the 236th pick. He is currently in a training camp battle with Tommy Doyle and Ryan Bates to earn a spot on the Bills roster.

Offensive Tackle: Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers

The only NFL franchise to add two players from the All-Underrated offensive team is the Carolina Panthers who took tight end Tommy Tremble and offensive tackle Brady Christensen. If the team decides to have Taylor Moton play left tackle this season there is a good chance Christensen will win the starting right tackle job.

• A player with plenty of experience is Washington center Luke Wattenberg who has already started 36 games during his career, and if he stays healthy this year will have started more games than any player in Washington football history. To go along with his experienced play Wattenberg has the versatility the NFL is looking for having started at offensive tackle in 2017, offensive guard during the 2018 and 2019 seasons and then taking over at center last year.
• Julius Chestnut of Sacred Heart is a small school running back to watch this year. Chestnut led the FCS in rushing yards per game and all-purpose yards last season averaging 171 yards on the ground and 205 yards overall. When watching his film he shows impressive contact balance and the speed to routinely beat NEC defenders. His true test will come after next season where he will need a strong performance at a game like the East-West Shrine Bowl and put up strong testing numbers in the pre-draft process.
• One center that is being overlooked is Michael Maietti of Missouri. Maietti has proven to be one of the best pass-blocking centers in college football going 1,329 snaps without giving up a sack which is the most from a Power Five center since Pro Football Focus started tracking this data. One of the reasons he is so productive is his outstanding technique. He is rarely out of position and uses his active hands extremely well. He shows surprising strength to his outstanding technique especially for a player only 6-foot-1 and 292 pounds. While Maietti likely won’t go before day three of the draft it would not be a surprise if he ended up being a solid NFL player.
• A player with all the physical talent to be an NFL starter is Auburn’s Bo Nix. Unfortunately, what he does lack is the ability to play calm and under control. He tends to force throws into tight coverage on a consistent basis which is the main reason he has thrown 13 interceptions over the past two years and why his completion percentage is low against the top teams he plays. This lack of calmness in the pocket also forces him to take off at the first sign of pressure at times and to throw with little touch which leads to uncatchable passes. If Nix can go to the right coach who can calm his play down and help him read defenses he could be a good developmental quarterback at the next level.

Top center: Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa

By far the best center in the 2022 NFL Draft and best interior offensive lineman in the class is Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum has all the skills to be a standout in the NFL, displaying outstanding quickness off the ball and overall athletic ability. He also shows impressive strength despite being only 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds and has handled massive defensive tackles like Nebraska’s 6-foot-3 325-pound defensive tackle Damion Daniels.

Most Overrated: Colin Newell, Iowa State

This was a hard pick to make as no center stood out as someone who was being vastly overrated. However, the player whose stock might be a little too high is Iowa State’s Colin Newell. While Newell shows good strength and could be a backup center in a power scheme his lack of agility and tendency to lunge hurts him in space.

Center that should significantly improve his stock: Chris Owens, Alabama

Alabama center Chris Owens took over for Landon Dickerson in the SEC Championship Game after Dickerson suffered a season-ending injury, and this year he should be a full-time starter. More time on the field this year will definitely help Owens stock this year as he shows the power to be a mid-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Biggest risk: Matt Allen, Michigan State

To say Michigan State’s Matt Allen is injury prone is an understatement. He missed all but one game last year due to a foot injury. He also missed four games in 2019 and three games in 2018 due to injuries. On the positive side, Allen is a quick athletic lineman who could be an ideal fit in a zone offense if he can stay healthy.

Top small school school center: Colby Thomas, Sam Houston State

This year’s small school group of centers does not offer much with Colby Thomas being the only player to earn a draftable or priority free agent grade. Thomas has been one of the better linemen in the FCS though being named an AP All-American last year and is a two-time All-Southland pick.

Overall Rankings

1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa (first round)

2. Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame (third round)

3. Dohnovan West, Arizona State (third round)

4. Alec Lindstrom, Boston College (fourth round)

5. Alex Forsyth, Oregon (fifth round)

6. Luke Wattenberg, Washington (fifth round)

7. Chris Owens, Alabama (fifth round)

8. James Empey, BYU (fifth round)

9. Michael Maietti, Missouri (sixth round)

10. Kody Russey, Louisiana Tech (seventh round)

11. Colin Newell, Iowa State (seventh round)

12. Nathan Eldridge, Oregon State (free agent)

13. Matt Allen, Michigan State (free agent)

14. Jack Wohlabaugh, Duke (free agent)

15. Nick Ford, Utah (free agent)

16. Liam Shanahan, LSU (free agent)

17. Colby Thomas, Sam Houston State (free agent)

18. Dawson Deaton, Texas Tech (free agent)

• Despite spending two draft picks on the position in the 2021 NFL Draft it would not be a shock to see the San Francisco 49ers draft another corner on day two of the 2022 NFL Draft. This is due to the fact the team has several questions with its starting corners including  K’Waun Williams and Emmanuel Moseley having disappointing years last season and Jason Verrett only being on a one year contract. It would not be a shock if third-round pick Ambry Thomas won one of the starting corner jobs this season, and it would almost be a surprise if he wasn’t in the starting lineup in 2022. However, fifth-round pick Deommodore Lenoir is going to have to surprise people this year if the team is to count on him earning significant playing time next year.
• A team that could be looking to add a center in next year’s NFL Draft is the Miami Dolphins since it is one of the team’s biggest concerns going into the season. Currently, the battle for the starting job is between Matt Skura who has had trouble consistently delivering shotgun snaps and former third-round pick Michael Deiter who is best served as being a backup at both guard and center. It is also worth pointing out that Skura only signed a one year contract, which is another reason the Dolphins would be wise to strongly consider a center in the 2022 NFL Draft.
• Another team that could be looking to address the offensive line next year is the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the team is happy with its current starting offensive tackles Chukwuma Okorafor and Zach Banner, depth at this position could be a major concern. The team currently has two veterans competing for the number three tackle job in Joe Haeg and Chaz Green. Unfortunately, neither of these players should install much confidence from the coaching staff as Haeg has seen his play slip the past few years, and Green had a poor season with the Indianapolis Colts last year. The team did spend a fourth-round pick on Dan Moore Jr. in this year’s draft, but he graded out as a sixth-round pick on NFL Draft Notebook’s board.
• The recent surgery on Michael Thomas’s ankle shines a light on how little depth the New Orleans Saints have at the wide receiver position. The team currently only has two healthy receivers with more than 26 career receptions in Tre’Quan Smith and Chris Hogan and neither one of these players is anything close to a number one wide receiver. The team also does not have any young promising players with the only healthy receiver on the roster drafted before the seventh round is Smith. One receiver who would make a lot of sense for the team is Ohio State’s Chris Olave who the team could likely get with their first-round pick.

• Houston center Kody Russey set the Texas state high school deadlift record with a lift of 740 pounds. This strength has paid off on the field as well as he has made 46 starts during his college career.
• North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. Howell goes into the year graded as NFL Draft Notebook’s number two quarterback and carries a high first-round draft grade.
• An interesting stat from NFL.com’s Gil Brandt is that of the 255 players drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft all but 19 of them are still with the team that drafted them.
• California center Michael Saffell has medically retired from football. Saffell who battled numerous injuries during his college career including ankle and knee injuries called it quites due to a back injury he suffered in 2020.
• BYU center Jame Empey received high praise last year from his old offensive line coach Eric Mateos who called Empey the smartest player he has ever coached.

• One concern with Oklahoma tight end Austin Stogner is that he dropped 13% of the passes thrown his way last year. While this is a high percent his athletic ability and overall receiving skills still earn him a third-round grade.
• Make sure to check out next week’s NFL Draft Notebook which will take a look at the 2022 NFL Draft defensive end class.