2022 NFL Draft: 3 Loaded Positions On The Senior Bowl Watch List
Three positions on the Senior Bowl watch list that will have plenty of top talent for the 2022 NFL Draft.
The watch list for the Reese’s Senior Bowl was released today, and with that it truly starts to feel like the 2022 NFL Draft cycle is upon us. The list is full of excellent senior talent that could end up down in Mobile in the late winter, an event that is a must for draft fans.
Every year, certain positions have the cream of the crop when it comes to seniors. 2018 saw Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen lead the quarterbacks. The 2019 group had Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel headlining the wide receivers, and Erik McCoy and Elgton Jenkins on the line. 2020 had another good receiver group and talent across the defensive line.
Every position is going to look good on the early list because it’s so expansive. However, three positions in particular caught this writer’s eye. Let’s take a look.
Cornerback
It feels like the corner group always gets dusted down at the Senior Bowl, mostly because more juniors at corner declare early (an obvious statement). This year, though, the group could be fantastic and make life difficult for receivers in 1v1s.
Akayleb Evans transferred to Missouri this offseason, and he’s on plenty of radars for the 2022 NFL Draft. He has the length and attitude to be a disruptor in press coverage, and he’s a force in the run game. Evans also has some speed to carry vertically and transitions fairly well for his size.
Derion Kendrick also transferred after being let go by Clemson, and he joins a Georgia team that was looking for help in the secondary after four players left for the draft. Kendrick is still relatively new to the position after coming to college to play wide receiver, but he offers a lot of upside due to his ball skills and athleticism.
Arizona State boasts two corners on the list, Chase Lucas and Jack Jones. Both have had their inconsistencies, but have flashed enough to get down to Mobile in 2022 with a strong campaign this fall.
Sevyn Banks is the latest Ohio State corner with a lot of buzz, and while he probably shouldn’t have first round buzz to this point, he’s still an uber-athletic and fluid player who has the prototypical size to boot. If he refines his decision-making and his instincts to quickly read and break in coverage, he can be another high upside player.
TCU’s Noah Daniels ended up on Bruce Feldman’s freaks list to start the season. If he stays healthy, look out. He could end up firmly in the first round conversation. Josh Jobe is another corner who has done very well so far at Alabama. He’s patient, has strong technique and stays physical throughout route stems and at the catch point.
Tariq Castro-Fields and Coby Bryant are two others to make note of this season. Castro-Fields is incredibly physical and plays with the temperament you want in a press corner. Bryant is fluid as makes some very good plays at the catch point.
The corner class has so many to watch for during the season, and all of these guys could show up for the Senior Bowl and be picked in the 2022 NFL Draft.