2022 NFL Draft Team Mock Drafts. You must be logged in to post a comment The likes of Mitch Wishnowsky and Max Duffy from recent draft classes utilized this style of punting before entering the NFL. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza The NFL Draft doesn't usually surprise us much when it comes to punting, but on Saturday it came with two big surprises. Inconsistent accuracy on his field goals. My names David Ojabo. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. All Rights Reserved. Clouding Strongs status is a knee injury that he picked up playing basketball as a kid, one that saw him miss his senior year of high school football. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. There have only been two draft classes since the turn of the century where a punter hasnt been selected in the NFL Draft. Round 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (No. section: | slug: 2022-nfl-draft-shocker-bills-land-punt-god-matt-araiza-who-surprisingly-gets-taken-behind-two-other-punters | sport: football | route: article_single.us | From his own end zone here, he manages to kick the ball roughly 70 yards through the air, and it bounces enough to make it an 86-yard punt in the stat book. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. Mock drafts will dance around the internet for the next two months they've already started and in a cozy 5th-Round spot nestled will be the name Matt Araiza because every team should want a glimpse of the field-position machete.. And if Araiza's draft stock remains at the 5th Round or lower . 174) - 1. In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. But that style is outdated in the modern NFL, where the last remaining stick-slide-climb thrower is the ever-ageless Tom Brady. His performances earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where Jim Nagy had this to say about the 2022 NFL Draft prospect: Had calls with some of [the] top kicking gurus and overwhelming opinion is Georgias Jake Camarda is among best punting prospects to come out in past 5-10 years. Punters can be prolific athletes, too! While a running start can provide for more power, power is far from an issue with Araiza. Araiza has made three 50-yard field goals so far this season, the second most in NCAA football. NFL MOCK DRAFT. Redshirting his 2018 season, Araiza learned under San Diego State kicker John Barron II. To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined last season. With his cannon for a leg, positional versatility, and publicity few punters have ever attracted, Araiza has the potential to be selected significantly higher than most punters have in recent NFL Draft classes. Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled punter prospect in recent history. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. Hes not just the last line of defense, either. Upon arriving at the school, he knocked on the door of the football coach. He had a scholarship offer before he even put a helmet on. Those two picks were also somewhat surprising, if only because you almost never see two punters get taken that early With Stout going at 130th overall and Camarda going three picks later, this year marked just the third time since 1993 that two punters were taken before the end of the fourth round. Do It All. During a college career that started at Virginia Tech before his transfer to the Nittany Lions, Stout has been a kickoff specialist, punter, field-goal and extra-point kicker, and even turned his hand to playing quarterback on a fake punt against Michigan in his final season. Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Scroll through to view photos of P Matt Araiza, Buffalo's pick in the sixth round, 180th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Although he didnt participate in any all-star games, Araizas ascension has continued through the pre-draft process. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! Based on net punting averages, you can usually find UDFAs who will rank above average at the position in directional punting and hang time.. These arent just courtesy of a lucky bounce either these punts are traveling through the air. However, 17 punters have actually been selected on what we would now call Day 2 of the NFL Draft. If he passes those criteria while youre working him out and he hits the Duke well, able to turn the ball over, then yes, you check off the boxes., Once a special teams coach feels comfortable with Araizas ability, the coach may want to suggest the rest of the front office look into acquiring him in the draft. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. The list of accomplishments is unreal. We've been studying the players for 11 months. Kenny Pickett College Football Highlights 2021, Aaron Rodgers is Using Leverage to Help Davante Adams, DEBUT Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen! (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. The biggest thing to note from the preseason is Epenesa. Araiza joined the NFL in April as a sixth-round draft pick. Ill make a bold statement and say that, if the Bears trade down and acquire a pick in Round 4, I wouldnt be furious if they took Araiza with that selection. Use our promo code VENDETTA or use the link below to get a 100% instant matchon any deposit. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . Now time for my prediction: I believe Matt Araiza will be selected in the later portion of Round 4, or in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. 147, a high fifth-round pick. Updated. Matt Araiza boots 90-yard punt (!! Punting out of the end zone can be tough for some punters, as there isnt much margin for error if pressure gets into the backfield, and there is more of a condensed space to operation out of. But there can be no doubt that in a jumbled quarterback class, taking a punt on the best pure thrower would represent the best value play for quarterback-needy franchises. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. Although Araizas leg strength is the crown jewel of his scouting report, there are times when hell need to take a little off his punts to achieve success at the next level. If youre sitting comfortably, lets begin. 201. Not too shabby. One other theory is that teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage in the NFL. Matt Araiza, Daniel Bellinger and Cameron Thomas, though, have gotten the most buzz . Meet Matt Araiza, San Diego State punter who could be among the highest-drafted punters of all time, NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. Despite that, things haven't really changed from out first look at it. Chicago Bears Schedule, News, Roster and Stats | Windy City Gridiron, 2022 NFL Draft: The Matt Araiza film breakdown, 2023 NFL Combine: Winners from Day 2 of DB workouts. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. According to Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus, 63 percent of Araiza's punts were downed inside the 20; another 27 were downed inside the 10. As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. According to the Associated Press, executives from two different NFL teams became aware that Araiza had been involved in an incident in the lead-up to the draft, though they didnt know the extent of the allegations. It also helps that Araiza is a quality kickoff specialist, as he has finished in the top-5 in the FBS in average distance on kickoffs in 2020, and his touchback percentage of 84.9 percent was the fourth-most in the nation in 2021. Youll see here part of what makes Araiza so special. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . One of the most important punting stats is net punting average and Araiza finished the year at 44.3, which ranked sixth in the country. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. If you look at his numbers, it's pretty clear that Araiza has one of the strongest legs of any punting prospect in NFL history. Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. Jordan Davis combines size and athleticism. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. Tracking where Matt Araiza could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. He gets the ball off quickly and generates an insane amount of force from his left leg. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Dicker The Kicker has a 46.3-yard career punting average and 75.9% career field-goal completion. Brugler's take: The Ray Guy Award winner last season, Araiza has a booming leg and showed it off as a punter and kicker (field goals, extra points, kickoffs . Landing both prospects would fill position needs, but that's a dream scenario because Gardner will likely be long gone if the Chargers decide to stay at No. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. Araiza now holds the record for punts of 50+ yards. . Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. SUBSCRIBEto the Vendetta YouTube Channel! We have an 86 yard punt EIGHTY SIX (CC @RKalland) pic.twitter.com/KIi5d3VTTO. Furthermore, its reported that Araiza routinely makes kicks from 50+ in practice. Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. He reportedly said, "Bills Mafia, there is no off-season.". Meanwhile, Araiza saw some sophomore struggles, completing only 71% of his field goals and missing an extra point for the first time in his career. The Bills, though, were aware that Araiza was the subject of a police investigation when they releasedMatt Haack his competition for the starting punter job on Monday. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. At the very least, remember the name Matt Araiza and the punt god designation following him. Jump around this article Click to show Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. But why wasnt he on the field for Georgia on third down? a general manager told NBCs Peter King at the combine. He played fewer than half of Georgias defensive snaps in 2021 and played only 18% of third-down snaps. Pro Football Network, LLC. Consistency. Consistent ball striking, hang time, and placement are key factors in punter evaluation. , given to the best punter in college football. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. go off the board in the second round. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". By. In fact, there hasnt been an NFL starter in the 21st century built as big as the Aussie. Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . With only two defenders shooting downfield, returning teams dont have to worry as much about initial pressure up the middle and have more of an opportunity to rush the punter. Given the recent trends of where punters have been drafted, it would make sense for Araiza to be selected on Day 3 since only Bryan Anger has been taken before then in the past 15 years. They call him Punt God. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled punter prospect in recent history. Some collegiate punters especially Australian punters with Aussie rule backgrounds work out of a rugby-style delivery, which includes wider splits between blockers and a running approach from the punter before kicking it low with the intention of having it bounce and be difficult for returners to field. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three punters picked, The punter prospects projected to be drafted in this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, Ryan Stonehouse and Cameron Dicker round out punter predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. Hawaii had to employ an insane punt coverage against him. Teams worried about Davis role on third down should instead be focused on how he can tip the scales in their favor on the most important down of all. Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. Special teamers are usually able to be secured as an undrafted free agent or in Round 7, but an elite punting prospect like Araiza who can flip field position at an incredible rate is worth that investment. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. Although the 40-yard-dash may not be a direct indicator of a players game speed, the fact that Araiza ran a 4.68 is notable in its own right. They'll give up some big returns, but they'll also have some giant flips of field position.". The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football.He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? Harbaugh seems to prefer a finesse punter, which is what he's had over the years with Sam Koch, who's been Baltimore's punter since 2006. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, it's time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. 1. player. Four drafted punters are actually less rare than one might imagine. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. While I ordinarily like to steer clear of pro comparisons, there are striking similarities between Stout and four-time first-team All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker. Heading into the pre-draft process, Ojabo was projected to be a top-15 pick. @matt_araiza. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. The NFL Draft doesn't usually give us very many surprises when it comes to punting, but it came through with two big surprises on Saturday. Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza, who has quickly risen to fame with a strong leg and a catchy nickname, faces a very serious off-field issue before his first NFL game.According to the Los Angeles . Analysis: Araiza took a step to the forefront last season and was a rockstar punter for the Aztecs. If you were going to bet on a long shot, however, who better than two prospects whose whole careers have been about making those long shots? Could Matt Araiza be the next one? Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. Chatter among leaky scouts has suggested that Faalele may be too big to play tackle in the league, that he will struggle to dip and sink to wall off the leagues premier dip-and-rip pass-rushers. It is officially mock draft season! They could trade out of the first round and gain a lot by doing so as other teams look to get back into that opening round for a faller. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. So why not invest a valuable resource in a player who can boom the ball farther, higher, and with more accuracy than anyone else at his position? The San Diego State punter set a 4.68-second 40-yard dash while registering a 101 broad and 32 vertical jump. San Diego State's Matt Araiza is putting punters on the map, and his scouting report reveals why he's a highly rated 2022 NFL Draft prospect. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. That isnt the case for Araiza, whose naturally quick delivery makes it easy for him to get the ball out and seriously flip field position for his team. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. For reference, the NFL single-season record for average punt is 51.4 yards. Daniel Faalele after Minnesotas win over Colorado in September. Although the 40-yard-dash may not be a direct indicator of a players game speed, the fact that Araiza ran a 4.68 is notable in its own right. That group includes not only several picks taken inside the top 100 overall players, but also four players taken in the second round and another two taken in the first round. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL GMs have got to love that. Other Draft Prospects: TE Daniel Bellinger (UFA), LB Caden McDonald (UFA) Colorado States Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. He only makes two steps upon catching the ball, as opposed to a running start that some college punters use. San Diego State P Matt Araiza. Matt Araiza is one of the only players in the 2022 NFL Draft who can make an immediate impact. Yep, thats his shirt size and thats eight Xs for those keeping score at home. They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. After the horrendous playoff performance, the Packers . The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. 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There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. We're not controlling field position.' For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. Together, they were unblockable. , our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. We explored a massive trade-down scenario in a recent seven-round mock draft. Although drafting a punter often indicates this player will be the unquestioned starter, the position simply is not at a premium where the best at the position and an average player are not too far apart from one another. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego state product is well known for averaging 80 yards of bounce and an NCAA-record 51.19 yards per punt in 2021. . Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. The San Diego State product has shot up draft boards (relatively) thanks to a season in which he set an NCAA record by averaging 51.19 yards per punt, eclipsing the record set by Texas A&M's Braden Mann in 2018. DATABASE. All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. Of Araiza's 79 punts, 37 went for at least 50 yards; 17 went for 60 yards or more; six went at least 70 yards; and two went for 80-plus yards (no other punter had two punts of 80 yards). Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. That was surprising.. Hi coach, Ojabo said. Below is a quick blurb about each Cornerback, Safety, Kicker, Punter, and Long Snapper I have scouted for the 2022 NFL Draft. The term generational talent is incredibly cliche and should be avoided more often than not, as hyperbolic analysts can throw it around to simply describe prospects who are very good, regardless of whether theyre far and away better than other players at their position over the last few decades. The whole nfl knew. In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. Thats what teams are still trying to figure out. 2023 NFL Combine Hand Size Results: Notable Quarterback Measurements and More, 2023 NFL Combine Risers: Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks, and Brian Branch Perform Well, Anthony Richardson Combine Results: Florida Star Makes Case for QB1, Jahmyr Gibbs Landing Spots: Eagles, Saints, and Cardinals Most Popular in Mock Drafts. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. Picking at No. Hutchinson was an effort player; Ojabo the beat-them-out-of-their-cleats, vintage, get-off-and-go rusher. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. Talk about flipping the field. 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