With the college football season all wrapped up and the Reese’s Senior Bowl just around the corner, it is time to take a look at the upcoming 2022 NFL draft.
The two biggest draft prospects for the LSU Tigers both come on the defensive side of the ball with Derek Stingley Jr and Damone Clark. Fans and teams alike have been waiting on Stingley to become draft-eligible ever since he showcased his talents as a freshman. Clark on the other hand had to continually build up his stock and the Senior Bowl will help him further.
We pulled the latest mock drafts to see where they are currently projected to go.
Mel Kiper Jr’s Mock Draft
Despite the injuries that limited the former five-star 2019 signee, Stingley is still viewed as a top pick in the upcoming 2022 NFL draft. More often than not the spot he lands in mock drafts is with the New York Jets. A team in need of a variety of playmakers on the backend. However, in this exercise, Kiper mocked Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton to the Jets which left Stingley on the table to fall to the Atlanta Falcons. With no clear top quarterback on the board, Stingley is likely the best player available.
Derek Stingley Jr to the Atlanta Falcons at pick No. 8
So how about a cornerback to play on the other side of rising star A.J. Terrell? Stingley looked like a potential No. 1 pick when he was dominating as a true freshman on LSU’s national title team in 2019, but he was inconsistent in 2020 and then played just three games this season because of a foot injury. A team is going to have to take a little bit of a leap of faith with Stingley because he hasn’t played great for two seasons. The draft is all about upside, though, and he has the potential to be a superstar. I’m hoping he can work out at the combine to ease some concerns. – Mel Kiper Jr’s mock (subscription required)
Next, a look at The Athletic