Linebacker Brian Asamoah and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto were both projected as second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft in Austin Gayle’s latest two-round Pro Football Focus mock draft.
In fact, Asamoah was the first Big 12 player off the board in this PFF mock draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Asamoah at pick No. 33. Meanwhile, Bonitto was projected to be drafted by the Buffalo Bills with pick No. 57.
In his Oklahoma career, Asamoah played in 37 games and started 19. The 6-foot-1, 228 pound linebacker finished his career with 179 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one interception. Asamoah was a Butkus Award semifinalist and was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection by the Big 12 coaches and the Associated Press.
Bonitto was a pass-rushing nightmare for opponents. The 6-foot-3, 240 pound outside linebacker started 29 games and played in 39. Bonitto finished his OU career with 117 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception. According to PFF, Bonitto was the 2021 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a Bednarik Award semifinalist.
Surprisingly, Oklahoma defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey wasn’t in Gayle’s 2022 NFL mock draft. Winfrey has been shooting up draft board projections ever since winning the Most Valuable Player honors in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Winfrey had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the Senior Bowl and was impressive all week long.
The only other Big 12 player that Gayle had selected in his two-round mock draft was Baylor defensive back Jalen Pitre at pick No. 34 by the Detroit Lions.
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