Best Prospect-to-Team Matches in the 2022 NFL Draft

Rachaad White, Running Back, Arizona State

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

I promise it is not just because of the last name, but Rachaad White out of Arizona State gives me James White vibes. He is a bit taller and a bit faster than the former New England Patriot standout but isn’t likely to be a feature back in an offense. Due to his skillset, White does have a great chance of spending a decade in the NFL though. He rushed for 1000 yards on the dot in 2021, to a tune of five-point-five yards per carry. He also contributed 15 touchdowns on the ground.

Additionally, he was a threat out of the backfield with his 43 catches and 456 receiving yards ranking second out of all Sun Devil players last season. One of the guys most instrumental in the success of the aforementioned James White is Tom Brady. Leonard Fournette returns as the leader of the backfield, but Rachaad can step in immediately as a change-of-pace option. He is the kind of player that you want to have on your radar for fantasy football drafts.

Daniel Bellinger, Tight End, San Diego State

Team: Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts lost a stalwart at tight end this offseason after Jack Doyle announced his retirement following a nine-year stint with the franchise. It is always sad when an era ends, but with it comes a major opportunity for the Colts to rejuvenate the position with youth and versatility. Kylen Granson, a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of SMU, should take a step forward in his development and Mo Allie-Cox is back on a multi-year deal as well.

However, Daniel Bellinger is an ideal option to round out the positional group. Bellinger put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, which takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Rest assured that general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich took notice of Bellinger. Similar to Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert, he didn’t produce big numbers due to the crowded offense he was in, but there are traits for days and Bellinger is a stud blocker. He’s a perfect fit for the Shoe.

Eyioma Uwazurike, Defensive Line, Iowa State

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Eyioma Uwazurike is a prospect that I was late on, but oh man do I love this guy. He is very raw and will need to buy in to the philosophy that his defensive coordinator runs, but there is so much potential here. In his final season for the Iowa State Cyclones, Uwazurike sacked the quarterback nine times, good enough for second on the squad. He has a frame made to thrive on the interior but still looks like a baby giraffe trying to learn how to walk at times.

Uwazurike must be more consistent in the technique he uses to get into the backfield, because offensive linemen in the NFL will eat up his sloppy tendencies and tie his long arms up with little-to-no effort. The Cowboys have Neville Gallimore and Osa Odighizuwa on the interior, both of whom I like, but keeping Odighizuwa as a rotational piece and bringing in Uwazurike in the 2022 NFL Draft to replace Trysten Hill would set the defensive line up for years to come.

Slade Bolden, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Team: New England Patriots 

I know, I know. Stereotyping slow, white wide receivers to the New England Patriots is an activity old as time. By my estimation, Slade Bolden is a slot-only player at the next level but he brings a winning cache with him and we all know how much Bill Belichick loves tapping into the Alabama pipeline. Bolden never produced at a high clip during any of his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, but found a niche as the security blanket for quarterback Bryce Young over the final handful of games in 2021. The Patriots are in need of any-and-all contributors in the pass catching department, so taking Bolden as a middle-to-late day three player in the 2022 NFL Draft fits the teams’ DNA to a T.