3-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft after Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams Trades
Defensive Lineman. Purdue. 48. Scouting Report. George Karlaftis. 27. player. Pick Analysis
In case you haven’t heard, Tom Brady is back! After a brief bout with retirement, the 44-year old is back for another season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are now once again in win-now mode.
The Tampa defense is littered with pending free agents, leaving lots of question marks as to what the unit may look like in 2022. With players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamakong Suh, William Gholston and Steve McLendon all potentially on their way out, the Bucs may look to bolster their defensive line.
For a line with possibly many holes, drafting a versatile player like George Karlaftis will give Tampa some flexibility. Karlaftis is a big and thick edge presence with an NFL body and play style. He is probably the best power rusher of the 2022 NFL Draft edge class, giving him the versatility to kick inside when needed.
Todd Bowles would love to have a player like George Karlaftis on his defense. Not only does his versatility allow him to contribute right away for a team that is looking to seize the moment this season, but his athletic upside could allow him to develop into a dynamic starter on the edge down the road, alongside 2021 first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and two-time Pro Bowler, Shaq Barrett.
Pick Analysis. Michigan. 28. Scouting Report. EDGE. David Ojabo. player. 49
David Ojabo may be the most physically gifted athlete of the 2022 NFL Draft edge class. If he hadn’t recently torn his Achilles at his pro day, Ojabo could have been destined to be a top 10 pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Instead, he falls a bit into the last handful of picks of the first round. As a team that just moved on from Za’Darius Smith, the Green Bay Packers could definitely look to add a dynamic edge rusher like Ojabo.
David Ojabo was overshadowed by his teammate, and potential number one overall pick, Aidan Hutchinson this past season at Michigan. However, Ojabo posted 11 sacks and 12 tackles for loss himself for the Wolverines in 2021. Watching the tape, you can see how his raw athleticism and impressive pass rush moves can lead to such production. Here, the Packers pair their current Wolverine edge rusher, Rashan Gary, with a dynamic player who can recover from injury, learn from Gary and Preston Smith, and develop into a dangerous starter.