Vikings Draft Profile: The Top Five EDGE Prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft
Despite losing Danielle Hunter just seven games into the 2021 NFL season, the Vikings pass rushing group ended up being quite effective this past year. They ended the regular season second in the league in sacks with 51. The only team to outpace them? The Pittsburgh Steelers, who recorded 55 sacks led by T.J. Watt’s NFL record-tying 22.5. That said, the Vikings will need to restock their supply of EDGE rushers if they plan on continuing that success into 2022. This could lead them to select one such player in the upcoming NFL Draft. Here is a look at the top five 2022 EDGE prospects from my recent 2022 NFL Draft big board.
1. Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
Kayvon Thibodeaux has been the cream of the crop of this 2022 NFL Draft class since he got to Oregon in 2019. He immediately lived up to the hype by recording 14 TFLs and nine sacks over 13 games in that freshman season; both of which ranked among the top five in the PAC-12.
After a bit of a step back in the shortened 2020 season, Thibodeaux got right back to his usual production in 2021, and unless the winter months have made some a little too desperate for a story, he should firmly be in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall pick in April.
But what makes Thibodeaux such a tantalizing prospect? Well, at 6’5 he creates the perfect leverage to play defensive end in the NFL, and his long arms allow him to maneuver around opposing OTs while also being able to wrap up ball carriers. His technique is impeccable, and along with that, he has freakish athleticism. His explosive first step is often too much for even the quickest of linemen, and his strength completely outmatches any tight end matched up with him. Thibodeaux is the whole package, and he should wreak havoc in the AFC South when the Jaguars draft him.
2. Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
There were some rumblings of Aidan Hutchinson potentially going first overall, particularly after his monster performance against Ohio State to win the Big 10 East. He recorded three sacks in that game and completely outdueled the Buckeye offensive line for that entire game. The trend continued in the Big 10 championship game against Iowa where he recorded another sack.
However, things changed when Michigan went up against Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Hutchinson was unable to generate much of any pressure against the Bulldogs in the 34-11 loss. That offensive line is loaded with future NFL talent, and it’s a little concerning that when matched up with comparable players that he will see in the NFL, he struggled.
However, the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year dominated competition all year long, and he can be given the benefit of the doubt over one poor performance. Like Thibodeaux, there is great size, length, and athleticism to play the defensive end position in the NFL. I have him ranked No. 3, but he could easily go No. 2 to Detroit as well.
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3. George Karlaftis (Purdue)
George Karlaftis doesn’t have the benefit of superior athleticism and speed that both Thibodeaux and Hutchinson have in their passing rushing repertoires. However, an unending motor propelled him to a successful career at Purdue. His consistent energy and effort propelled him to a breakout freshman season in 2019 in which he recorded 17 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.
Karlaftis may lack the finesse and quickness that Thibodeaux and Hutchinson have used to perfect their skills, but the Boilermaker is possibly the best pure power-rusher in this class. He has a bulldog mentality where he doesn’t care how big or strong an opponent is; he is coming after you every motherflippin’ snap.
He’s a technician at the position as well, knowing exactly when and where to attack the o-line. He may never put up gaudy stats like others in the 2022 NFL Draft have the potential for, but he will certainly generate pressure for any NFL team.
4. David Ojabo (Michigan)
The second Wolverine pass-rusher on this top-five put up some ridiculous stats of his own in 2021, recording 11 sacks. The scariest thing about David Ojabo though is the fact that he is essentially an infant in football terms. He didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school, and he only got two years of playing time at Michigan.
Even still, Ojabo put up spectacular numbers, again, behind his athletic skills. The junior needs to put a ton of work into his technique to find lasting success in the NFL, but he certainly has a good base with his current assets of explosive speed and strength.
5. Drake Jackson (USC)
Again, Drake Jackon is a specimen to behold in terms of his athleticism. His speed especially has translated extremely well to his game, and it has allowed him not only to contribute to pass rushing but also in coverage. The diverse skillset has given him a versatility to not only play up at the line of scrimmage, but also as an outside linebacker. We just saw how rookie OLB Micah Parsons can affect the game in all aspects from this position, and while Jackson isn’t as talented as the Dallas Cowboy, that could be the model towards maximizing his effectiveness in the NFL.
However, Jackson actually finishes the least amount of his plays in this group. Put simply, he misses far too many tackles. 2021 saw a bit of an improvement in this area, and that may be due to the fact that he was finally able to fully adjust to playing at OLB, but it’s still a big concern going into April’s draft. I would expect Jackson to end up in the middle-late first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.