Mel Kiper updates defensive end rankings for 2022 NFL Draft

ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper updated his defensive end rankings for the 2022 NFL Draft following several weeks of college football games. Despite Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux suffering an ankle injury to start the season, he remains Kiper’s number one overall prospect.

Kiper’s top defensive ends in 2022 draft

1. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
2. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
3. DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
4. Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State
5. George Karlaftis, Purdue
6. Ali Gaye, LSU
7. Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
8. Zach Harrison, Ohio State
9. Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati
10a. Tre Williams, Arkansas
10b. Amare Barno, Virginia Tech

Of all eleven players Kiper has named to his top defensive ends list, four of them are also featured in his top 25 overall prospects.

Ahead of Saturday’s game against Stanford, Kayvon Thibodeaux had only played 19 snaps on the field following his ankle injury to start the season. Despite the limited appearances, he already recorded a strip-sack in those plays. He had nine sacks as a true freshman in 2019, and he had three sacks and 9.5 total tackles for loss in seven games last season.

One of the largest risers on Kiper’s draft rankings, Kiper wrote of Aidan Hutchinson in preseason that “Hutchinson could have a big year.” So far, he has delivered on that prediction. He has 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble through his first four games.

Kiper keeps DeMarvin Leal near the top of his rankings due to his size and ability to fit into defenses at the NFL level. Leal already has 2.5 sacks to match his last season total. One of his major college highlights was against Alabama last year when he forced a fumble and recorded an interception against quarterback Mac Jones.

Before transferring the FSU, Jermaine Johnson II had 6.5 sacks in two seasons with Georgia. He has nearly matched that output through his first four games with FSU. With 5.5 sacks entering Saturday, he sat tied with Hutchinson for the most in the FBS.

Thibodeaux and Oregon’s rough loss

With Oregon’s game against Stanford nearly finished, Oregon led with a touchdown as Stanford attempted to tie the game with time expiring. Thibodeaux was ejected during the game for targeting on a hit to the head of Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee. McKee left the game as a result of the play.

With Thibodeaux out, Oregon committed several penalties to keep the final drive alive. With zero time remaining, Oregon was flagged for pass interference giving Stanford one last play with no time on the clock. Stanford completed the drive with a touchdown to send the game into overtime.

Stanford would score a touchdown to start overtime, and hold Oregon to a turnover on downs. The no. 3 ranked Oregon fell to Stanford 31-24, missing Thibodeaux in the final moments. As a result of being flagged for targeting, Thibodeaux will also be unavailable for the first half of Oregon’s next game against Cal.