After countless hours of breaking down college games, taking notes on over 480 players and comparatively evaluating them against one another and positional value, here are the top 103 prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The player ranks are based upon film study (minimum 3 games for each prospect), athletic upside/likelihood of achievement, injury risk/status and other minor factors.

The full big board currently extends out to 287 players, and I’m still tinkering with some of the later rankings and still crash-coursing on more prospects as well. We will link to that with the “What I Would Do” mock draft, which is scheduled to publish on the Monday of draft week.

1. Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame: The top-graded defense back (S or CB) since I started evaluating the draft in 2004. Size, length, power, football IQ, playing speed are all fantastic. Seeing his sideline leadership and easy charisma while at Notre Dame games pushed him over the top. Should be the next John Lynch.
   
   
2. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati: An absolute eraser in coverage, so much that teams often didn’t even think about looking his way. Watching Sauce cover future NFL receivers from coach’s tape is football pornography. He needs to get better at tackling and hold a little less, but Gardner is a ready-made island corner with the attitude to go with it.
   
   
3. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State: Powerful, long left tackle with a fierce style that dominates in both the run and pass game. The improvement he made in following up his strong initial punch over the final season raises him to the top of a very good OT class. Still ascending in his development.
   
   
4. Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan: Exceptional athlete with a high football IQ and positional versatility. Hutchinson compares to a shorter-armed Julius Peppers, a power-to-speed rusher who is lethal against the run on the way to the QB. Based on his college results, Hutchinson’s ceiling isn’t as lofty as Peppers or Jared Allen, another NFL great to whom he’s often compared. But his floor is being a very good NFL starter, a la Chris Long.
   
   
5. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Lloyd has outstanding size and very impressive movement skills who got progressively better even in his final season for the Utes. Tackling power and play recognition both improved from pretty good to elite. I’ll ride that upward rocket with a tone-setting alpha dog who can play all three downs right away.
   
   
6. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama: Very impressive length and lean muscular physique that doesn’t look or move anything like most 335-pounders. Neal proved his technical prowess at both LT and RT. I like him on the left side and handling speed off the edge, as he can be a little docile as a run blocker. Some bust risk but the high ceiling is undeniable.
   
   
7. Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College: Johnson is straight out of central casting for a power-oriented guard. His devastating punch works consistently. Dominant blocker in both run and pass games within two steps of the snap. Not for an outside-zone scheme team, but Johnson is a surefire hit for teams that won’t ask him to use range.
   
   
8. Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: Smooth operator with an outstanding blend of speed, agility and body control. Can win at all levels of the defense and in the red zone, even if he could stand to add a few pounds. Gamer with a flair for making the big play when his team needs it most.
   
   
9. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State: Johnson transferred from the deep Georgia rotation to take a starring role for the Seminoles, and he wore it very well. Explosive speed and decent power off the edge in a picture-perfect frame for a hand-in-dirt EDGE. Proved the one-year wonder wasn’t a fluke with as dominant of a Senior Bowl week as any I’ve seen in 14 trips to Mobile. Arrow pointing way up but I do have some concerns about Johnson’s ability to keep the rocket fueled so highly as it’s shooting right now.
   
   
10. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia: Exceedingly rare physical attributes elevate Walker’s draft stock well above his college game tape. Walker has the potential to do a lot more than was asked at Georgia, but don’t be fooled into thinking his Bulldogs’ tape isn’t also very impressive in its own right. Power-to-speed moves, great eyes for the ball and the ability to win over either shoulder of both the guard and tackle, it’s all there. Just needs to be more consistent and Walker has to prove he can be the catalyst instead of one among relative equals.
    
    
11. Daxton Hill, S, Michigan: Cat-quick, instinctive coverage safety who can also thrive being a full-time slot CB. Hill doesn’t have outstanding size or athletic traits but has enough of each to be a very good starter right away.
    
    
12. Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss: Covered my thoughts on Corral in the QB Big Board breakout; his improvement in 2021 despite a lesser supporting cast is something I think bodes well for his continued growth.
    
    
13. Devonta Wyatt, DT, Georgia: Attack dog 3-technique with disruptive tendencies and steadily improving barrage of moves. If Wyatt learns to finish more consistently he can be a major impact talent for a 4-man front. His game reminds me of former All-Pro Gerald McCoy.
    
    
14. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon: Thibodeaux can produce splash plays that take games over, and his athletic profile is very impressive. The key for Thibodeaux will be to make those impact plays more frequently and avoid the long lulls where he’s largely anonymous. The potential is there.
    
    
15. George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue: Quick, yoked-up power-to-speed rusher who is a major force against the run. Love his punch and his energy, don’t always love his path to the QB or ability to get off blocks. Reminds me of Trey Flowers but with faster feet and a higher ceiling.
    
    
16. Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson: Long, speedy man-coverage outside CB with great ball skills and an improving sense of field vision and recognition. Booth has to aim his tackling attempts lower and stay more patient in coverage, but his quick feet and confidence cover a lot of issues. There are durability issues that could hold him back.
    
    
17. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Giant (6-2/220) slot receiver with excellent play strength and impressive burst, but he can also win over the top on the outside. A thrilling weapon with the ball in his hands. Think of a faster Anquan Boldin who can top that if he adapts to more pro-style offenses and route concepts.
    
    
18. Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia: Behemoth interior presence who reminds me a great deal of the one awesome season Shaun Rogers had for the Lions as a heavyweight pass rusher and immovable object with surprising range against the run. Vince Wilfork comparisons also work.
    
    
19. George Pickens, WR, Georgia: A knee injury wiped out most of 2021 and all the buzz on Pickens. I haven’t forgotten the potential top-10 overall talent Pickens was with his blend of length, speed and savvy. Durability and play strength are legit concerns, but Pickens has a sky-high ceiling.
    
    
20. Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor: Pitre has earned comparisons to Tyrann Mathieu and it’s easy to see why--he’s all over the field in a variety of roles. Optimal heavy nickel who can fluctuate between free safety and slot CB based on matchups. Solid tackler and very good ball skills, though Pitre’s coverage range is only average and he doesn’t always have instant reactions to the ball.
    
    
21. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
22. Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M
23. Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
    
    
24. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: Flashy playmaker from both the slot and outside with great vision but inconsistent hands and smallish frame that won’t work for every offense.
    
    
25. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
26. Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
27. Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
28. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
    
    
29. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU: Covered Stingley and the risk/reward here.
    
    
30. Travis Jones, DT, UConn
31. Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
32. Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State
33. Logan Hall, DL, Houston
    
    
34. Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State: Sure-handed slot with instant speed and great balance/body control. Neither big nor strong and not overly impressive after the catch, but Dotson is always open and catches everything near him.
    
    
35. Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
36. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
37. Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
38. Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
    
    
39. Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington: Ascending talent who got better at route recognition and quicker reactions. Plays bigger than his average size and doesn’t back down. Can play in the slot but I like Gordon’s potential playing outside in any scheme.
    
    
40. Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
41. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
42. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
43. Lewis Cine, S Georgia
    
    
44. Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA: Ridiculously athletic outside CB with easy speed and incredible length (6-4), though it’s obvious he’s still transitioning from WR to defense at times. Boom/bust prospect with the kind of traits and mindset that make me bet on the former.
    
    
45. Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky
46. Drake London, WR, USC
47. Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis
48. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
    
    
49. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: If Taylor Lewan and Garrett Bolles had a love child, it would be Penning. Surly, long-limbed power tackle with impressive speed but often without a plan on how to use it all. Must tighten his focus and cut back on the absurd amount of penalties, but the physical skills are there for an All-Pro right tackle.
    
    
50. Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
51. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
52. Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
53. Cole Strange, IOL, Chattanooga
    
    
54. Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State: Optimal size and play strength for the NFL and his short-range routes and in-line blocking are NFL-ready. Wasn’t asked to do much down the field by Ohio State and his blocking in space needs work. Capable of a lot more than he showed in college.
    
    
55. Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
56. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
57. Luke Goedeke, OL, Central Michigan
58. Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
    
    
59. Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, Iowa State: Productive, versatile interior presence with great length and good play strength. Hands and pad level need work but showed improvement over time. Has some Larry Ogunjobi to him.
    
    
60. David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
61. Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina
62. Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
63. Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
    
    
64. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State: Long, lean (6-5/208) powerful athlete with rare open-field speed for a player of his size. Needs a lot of development as a route-runner and puts way too many balls on the ground, but showed quick learning curve during Senior Bowl week and comes in as an exceptional blocker and is noted for his work ethic. Keenan Allen-type ceiling.
    
    
65. Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
66. Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
67. D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State
68. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
    
    
69. Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati: Big target who consistently won on deep routes with his length and long speed for the Bearcats. Must play quicker off the line and with more precision to his routes in the NFL. Has some Jordy Nelson to him.
    
    
70. Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
71. DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
72. Darian Kinnard, IOL, Kentucky
73. David Bell, WR, Purdue
    
    
74. Nick Cross, S, Maryland: Seek-and-destroy type of safety with quick eyes and good range but inconsistent coverage recognition and very stiff movement in space.
    
    
75. Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
76. JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska
77. Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
78. Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
    
    
79. Marcus Jones, CB, Houston: Undersized transfer from Troy would be a top-20 player if he had better size. The skills, speed, tackling and mindset are all there, but a 5-8 outside CB is a tough sell to a lot of NFL defenses.
    
    
80. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
81. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
82. Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
83. Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
    
    
84. Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin: Weight-room freak with straight-line speed and head-first downhill mentality as an off-ball LB, though he does have solid coverage instincts. Think Brian Cushing playing MLB.
    
    
85. Nik Bonnito, EDGE, Oklahoma
86. Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
87. Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
88. Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
    
    
89. John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas: Converted OT and wrestler who transferred up from Illinois State; shows power, length and steadily improving technique but must continue to work on keeping his pads down and attacking off the snap.
    
    
90. Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
91. Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
92. Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
93. Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
94. Alex Wright, EDGE, UAB
95. Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
96. Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
97. Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
98. Kevin Austin, WR, Notre Dame
99. Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
100. Verone McKinley, S, Oregon
101. John Metchie, WR, Alabama
102. Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
103. Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State. Yes, punters are people too…