JACKSONVILLE – There is talent at the top and depth after that.
That may or may not be enough to make edge defender the clear-cut best position in the 2022 NFL Draft, but it’s more than enough to make it a major storyline in the coming days.
Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan. Travon Walker of Georgia. Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon. Those three only begin the list of potential first-round edge defenders in the ’22 draft – and they’re names that for months have been associated to varying degrees with the Jaguars at No. 1 overall.
“This is a really good year because you have athletes who are also terrific in terms of production,” Jaguars/NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks said of the ’22 edge class. “They’re more than just athletes coming off the edge.”
In addition to Hutchinson/Walker/Thibodeaux, players such as Jermaine Johnson II of Florida State, George Karlaftis of Purdue, Arnold Ebiketie of Penn State and David Ojabo of Michigan have been projected as potential first-round edge defenders.