ESPN’s Todd McShay broke down the top prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft utilizing draft grades and separating them into tiers to help predict where the players will come off the board in the first three rounds.
There are 106 players with at least a 70 grade via Scouts Inc.
Six FCS players are featured in the rankings:
Tier 4
Grades between 85 and 89. Good future NFL starters. Second-round value.
No. 25. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa (89 Grade)
ESPN Evaluation: Penning pushes defenders off the ball with his power, and he moves well for his size. I’d like to see some improvement in his footwork, and he has some issues with mirroring, but Penning is an absolute mauler. He’d likely be a swing tackle to begin his NFL career, but his upside is immense.
RELATED: Trevor Penning feature story
No. 45. Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State (85 Grade)
Watson is the eighth-highest graded WR in the draft.
Tier 6
Grades between 70 and 79. Project as future solid starters but need time to develop, have limited upside or come with red flags. Third-round value.
No. 70 Troy Andersen, ILB, Montana State (79 Grade)
McShay: “I love Andersen’s game. He wowed me at the Senior Bowl and combine.”
No. 78 Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga (77 Grade)
No. 90 Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston (73 Grade)
RELATED: Zyon McCollum feature story
No. 99 Dai’Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls State (71 Grade)
ESPN Evaluation: Dixon has long arms, good body control and good hands. He tracks the ball well and makes over-the-shoulder catches. He makes contested catches downfield and over the middle.
