By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports
October 15, 2021
We’re halfway through the college football season and there has been a ton of shuffling with the Pac-12’s top 2022 NFL Draft prospects now that we’ve played a handful of games.
Some previously highly-ranked players have tumbled down the board while some wild cards have emerged as potential First-Round picks.
Let’s check in on the top of the Pac-12’s board for the 2022 Draft.
1. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Sophomore Defensive End, Oregon
The unquestioned top Pac-12 prospect for the 2022 Draft and potentially any conference is the consensus to go first in the draft overall right now.
In an NFL where elite quarterbacks dictate everything these days, a QBs worst nightmare is a killer pass rusher like Thibodeaux (just ask Kedon Slovis). It is a defense’s best weapon.
Thibodeaux is one of the most natural and consistent pass rushers in recent Pac-12 history, and an elite athlete on the edge.
I think he might slightly slip the way Penei Sewell did last year depending on how he measures, how scouts view his tape when they really watch it, and when questions of what position he plays arise.
2. Drake London, Junior Wide Receiver, USC
I like London even a little more than the Draft expert consensus. He’s just so big, so smooth and so consistent.
He can make big plays and also be a go-to third and long possession receiver.
London reminds me a bit of JuJu Smith-Schuster, and that should get him off the board early in the First. The only question is how he tests speed-wise and his route running as some of the bigger WR prospects have lost juice in recent years.
3. Drake Jackson, Junior Linebacker, USC
Jackson is improved from 2020 and has shown off his freakish skills. Even if he’s not the most ridiculously productive player and plays on a bad team, there’s no denying Jackson’s skills.
He could easily be a top half of the First-Round pick.
His hangup might be a more severe situation than Thibodeaux, where it’s unclear if he’s a DE or an OLB at the next level and how good is he at either of those spots in the NFL.
4. Sean Rhyan, Junior Tackle, UCLA
Rhyan has emerged as the top offensive line prospect from the Pac-12 this year and one of the best in all of college football.
I loved him as a prospect coming out of high school—he’s just so fluid and polished, so it makes sense he’s turning into a first-round pick as he puts it all together.
One question is how much scouts truly love his tape as he’s not supremely-highly-graded by PFF this year.
5. Devin Lloyd, Junior Linebacker, Utah
I’ve loved Lloyd for a long time. He’s the best defensive player in the Pac-12 in my opinion this season, and playing well enough that NFL Draft experts and mocksters are finally taking note of him, slipping him into some first round mocks.
He’s big, strong, proven, tough, and can defend the run and pass as a playmaker—just a flat out great football player. He may have to prove himself at the Combine a bit.
6. Trent McDuffie, Sophomore Cornerback, Washington
McDuffie has solidified himself as one of the smoothest and simply reliable lockdown corners in the nation thus far in 2021.
He barely gets thrown against and, like Thibodeaux, he is just so smooth and natural at his position he already looks like an NFL player.
How he measures in will be something to watch as he’s not as tall as the NFL likes cornerbacks to be now, and that could drop him down into the Second Round.
7. Jaxson Kirkland, Junior Tackle, Washington
To be honest, each year there’s a Pac-12 player or two I see high in mock drafts early on who I’m just not sold on, and Kirkland might be that guy for me this year.
He’s an interesting athlete with great height and athleticism and a four-year starter and multi-year All-Conference player, but I just am not sure if he’s a left tackle at the next level.
The good news for Kirkland is he’s only played a handful of games at left tackle thus far, so he could get Draft board points for his potential.
8. Abraham Lucas, Senior Tackle, Washington State
Lucas has been a mainstay as a long-time All-Pac-12 player, and one of the best pass blockers in the nation.
He’s doing his thing yet again in 2021 and is a nice NFL prospect for the pass-happy league.
The only thing holding him back is he’s a true right tackle, which generally limits the Draft potential of offensive linemen.
9. Dohnovan West, Junior Center, Arizona State
West is part of an Arizona State OL that’s doing a great job right now, and he’s the most-talented, as well as one of the best interior linemen prospects in this year’s draft.
He can move well and is polished in just three short years in college, and is starting to get attention on draft boards.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s one of those interior offensive linemen who rockets up boards as the Draft approaches.
10. Mykael Wright, Sophomore Cornerback, Oregon
Wright has the size, speed, physicality and experience to easily be at least a Second-Round pick in 2022.
If he can show some more consistency and playmaking ability like some of the other players in the Oregon secondary, he could easily be a First-Round pick.
11. Zach Charbonnet, Junior Running Back, UCLA
The Michigan transfer has made a huge impact in Chip Kelly’s offense and has emerged as one of the Pac-12’s best players.
He’s big, fast, smooth, and can get tough yards—a complete back with NFL size, which makes him a nice prospect for the 2022 Draft.
12. B.J. Baylor, Junior Running Back, Oregon State
The Texas prospect is just another killer Beaver running back.
He’s not huge but strong and a tough runner with the speed and vision to finish off plays.
I have a feeling he’s going to keep climbing up and up draft boards as more people get their eyes on him this season.
Other Top Prospects
Jayden Daniels, Junior Quarterback, Arizona State
DJ Davidson, Senior Defensive Tackle, Arizona State
Greg Dulcich, Junior Tight End, UCLA
Jermayne Lole, Senior Defensive Tackle, Arizona State
CJ Verdell, Junior Running Back, Oregon
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