McShays final 2022 NFL draft rankings: Stacking 367 prospects, plus position breakdowns

04/28/2022

ESPN College Football and NFL Draft Analyst
Joined ESPN in 2006
Played quarterback in high school and was a backup QB for the University of Richmond.

It’s time to lock in my 2022 NFL draft board. No more game tape, no more pre-draft workouts, no more tinkering. With Round 1 just a couple of days away, my complete rankings for this year’s class are final.

What a fun class to evaluate. There are a ton of extremely talented prospects who will make a difference for their new NFL teams immediately, even though there isn’t a surefire franchise QB. The wide receiver group is super deep, and the edge rushers and offensive tackles at the top of the class are potential perennial Pro Bowlers. And in talking with execs, scouts and coaches over the past few weeks, it sounds like there isn’t much consensus among teams about which prospects are the best of the class at their respective positions, which means things could get interesting very quickly on Thursday.

In all, 262 names will be called over seven rounds and three days, but my personal board goes 367 deep. I’ve provided our Scouts Inc. grades in parentheses after each player’s name, and the first 50 prospects include abridged scouting reports. I also rolled out my full positional breakdown of the rankings at the bottom. Here are my final rankings for the 2022 draft class.

1. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

Height: 6-7 | Weight: 260 | Grade: 94

Hutchinson’s combination of explosiveness on contact, agility, power and relentlessness makes him special. He’s the most technically efficient pass-rusher in the class, syncing his feet and hands exceptionally well, and he always has a pass-rush plan. His inside move is fantastic, and he knows how to work the edges of offensive tackles. He’s a tone-setter and a plug-and-play high-level starter as a rookie.

2. Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 272 | Grade: 93

Walker’s 4.51-second 40-yard dash was the fastest by a 270-plus pound player at the combine since at least 2006. He has a versatile tool set but is at his best working as a defensive end in an even-man front. His game is built on strength and straight-line explosion, and he’s at his best working off the edge with momentum behind him in order to jack up offensive linemen upon initial contact. If he can develop smoother countermoves, Walker can improve his sack production.

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