Comparing draft prospects to NFL players, both former and current, is an annual tradition.
It doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll have the same kind of success at this level. Yet, the comparisons are made based on how similar the way the prospects play the game, their physical measurements, production, role, and traits.
Ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire revealed their top players at each position and gave NFL comparisons for each player.
Now that the draft is behind us, I went back to check out their comparisons for the top three players the Chargers landed.
Let’s take a look.
Zion Johnson compares to former Saints OL Jahri Evans
Johnson profiles well as an in-line and pull/sweep blocker, but it’s his ability to get downfield and just nuke defenders in space that sets him apart and reminds me very much of Evans, who may have been the best move guard of his era. At Evans’ peak, he was an indispensable part of Sean Payton’s offenses with his ability to hit (and kill) the second and third levels of a defense, and I think that Johnson projects similarly with an outstanding combination of power and agility.
Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi’s system mirrors former Saints head coach Sean Payton’s, and new offensive line coach Brendan Nugent spent the past seven seasons with New Orleans. So seeing the Chargers grab Johnson, who has a similar physical profile and traits – footwork, hand technique, strength, and agility – as one of the best to play in Payton’s offensive scheme doesn’t come as a surprise.
JT Woods compares to Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed
Sneed, who the Chiefs selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech, became a plus NFL cornerback after playing safety for the most part in his final season at Louisiana Tech. Sneed had more college reps at cornerback than Woods did, but I wonder if the NFL team taking…
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