ESPN, Todd McShay update player rankings ahead of 2022 NFL Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft is around the corner with the first round on April 28 in Las Vegas. The college football season is in the books and the Senior Bowl is now in the rearview mirror as well. Up next for the draft prospects is the combine in Indianapolis.

Now that there’s more clarity on the full draft class and draft order, the various rankings and mock drafts got a shakeup this week. ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay just updated his top 32 prospects for the upcoming draft. His new list includes some risers from the Senior Bowl and a few potential first-round quarterbacks.

Todd McShay’s updated top 32 for 2022 NFL Draft

1. Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson
2. Alabama OT Evan Neal
3. Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton
4. NC State OT/G Ikem Ekwonu
5. Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner
6. Georgia LB Nakobe Dean
7. Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
8. LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
9. USC WR Drake London
10. Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson
11. Utah LB Devin Lloyd
12. Washington CB Trent McDuffie
13. Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum
14. Georgia DE Travon Walker
15. Michigan DE David Ojabo
16. Florida State DE Jermaine Johnson II
17. Liberty QB Malik Willis
18. Ohio State WR Chris Olave
19. Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett
20. Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
21. Georgia DT Jordan Davis
22. Mississippi State OT Charles Cross
23. Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt
24. Washington CB Kyler Gordon
25. Alabama WR Jameson Williams
26. Purdue DE George Karlaftis
27. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
28. Penn State WR Jahan Dotson
29. Clemson CB Andrew Booth
30. Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
31. UTSA CB Tariq Woolen
32. Central Michigan OT Bernhard Raimann

Todd McShay also updated his top 10 at each position ahead of the NFL Draft.

First-round mock includes new faces, surprises

For much of the season, Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux was viewed as the likely top pick in this year’s NFL Draft. But Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s monster season, which saw him finish as a Heisman finalist, has propelled him into the top spot. Either defensive end could become the top pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars on draft night. Todd McShay ranks Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal just behind Hutchinson, ahead of the versatile Kyle Hamilton. Some mocks have the Jaguars opting to help protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence by selecting Neal first.

McShay has three quarterbacks going in the first round: Liberty’s Malik Willis, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral. Corral was viewed by many as a potential top QB pick this year but an ankle injury during bowl season has counted against him in the rankings lately.

Some potential landing spots for the top quarterbacks available include the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Washington Football Team, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints, among others.

Joining Ahmad Gardner, Malik Willis and Bernhard Raimann in the ranks of the Group of Five prospects in McShay’s new rankings is UTSA corner Tariq Woolen. Woolen really impressed at the Senior Bowl, according to McShay:

“(Woolen) has long arms and excellent speed, and he shows the burst needed to recover in time when he is caught out of phase. He’s a converted receiver but isn’t a ball hawk: Woolen has two interceptions and eight pass breakups over the past two seasons. He is still learning the position, but his upside is immense.”