2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: I'M STARTING TO THINK BLIMP ISN'T COMING BACK • Page 25

@Randall Mentzos baltimore

 

Ravens select Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State. let me tell you about this punter. Last season, he had:

-two punts of 80+ yards. There have only been two 80+ yard punts by anybody in the entire NFL in the last decade. A third, 79 yarder (it really went 82 but, in the end zone) vs Hawaii didn’t even bounce off the turf, the ball literally travelled further in the air than a touchback kickoff.

-39 punts of 50+ yards (FBS record and would be an NFL record too). His 18 punts of 60+ yards / 6 punts of 70+ absolutely shatter the NFL records - in 13 games.

-51.37 average per punt - also an FBS record, and would tie an NFL record that has stood since 1969. He was above 54 per punt until late November.

-He has accuracy also. in 13 games, he had 36 punts inside the 20. If this was stretched to a 16 game season, he’d have 44; which would be second only to Johnny Hekker’s 2016 in NFL history. In fact, only four punter seasons ever in the NFL had more than 36.

His impact could potentially revolutionize special teams strategy. He actually forces opponents to send out two kick returners - one for normal punts and one for the possible 70-80 yarders. If they put one returner out there, Araiza has so much range that they have problems even tracking the ball. He is the most powerful punter of all time, even Ray Guy never had a season like Araiza’s 2021.

Araiza even runs a 4.68 40 for fucks sake. He might be successful running for fake punts. There are multiple video examples of him punting the ball and then tackling the guy within 10-12 yards! He’s an ex-defensive player who even knows how to tackle. A desperation tackle to save a touchdown is already a big play for most punters; he’s punting the ball and then being his own gunner at times. The Ravens like to get an edge in the most petty ways… imagine having a 3 and out inside the 10, but still pinning your opponent inside the 5. It’s like a get out of jail free card:

With this pick the Ravens take sole possession of the best kicker AND punter of all time (unless punting in the NFL is different?) That plus Marlon Humphrey and Chuck Clark are excellent special teams gunners, and Devin Duvernay / Hollywood Brown returning punts and kicks. It sounds crazy to say this… but their special teams would literally take over games at times. Imagine how much pressure you could put on teams if they had to start most drives inside the 15 while you can get 3 automatic points just for crossing midfield lol.

 

@preppyak I know you’re not mock drafting but I feel like you’d be a huge nerd for the stuff above ^ Araiza is nuts lol

 

It’s really not that hard to tag the next person folks

 

Lol @Randall Mentzos literally is the next pick

 

Just regular North Dakota btw

 

Titans still want to trade up

 

Sorry about that y’all

Saints select Neil Farrell, NT, LSU.

sources seem divided on what his skillset actually is, but sorting through it, it sounds like a lot of writers either expect him to be a 3-4 nose tackle because of his size, or expect him to get after the QB more. However, he’s neither.

This guy is actually exactly what the Saints need - a one technique nose tackle who’s job is to blow up the A gap. He fits better in 4-3 than 3-4 looks. He’s just a bull rushing menace up the middle and despite his size he actually is better at penetrating than passively two gapping - think DJ Reader.

He didn’t test well but, anyone who is judging a nose tackle’s long speed is judging something that doesn’t affect their game at all. He might have a little more body fat than ideal but he’s explosive in short areas on tape and that’s more what teams will be looking for. He has enough juice to stay in front of his lineman on stretch / off tackle runs, and is capable of clean up sacks because of his bulldozer-like upfield power.

PFF is just A resource and they’re wrong a decent amount of the time, but for what it’s worth they graded him 89.6 against the run (highest in the Power Five) AND a decent 78.8 pass rush grade.

I love Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport is coming along. But the Saints didn’t resign Rankins, so Onyemata is their only good interior guy right now. Farrell will help them remain one of the NFL’s best run defenses.

 

@JoshIsMediocre Chiefs

 

Defer to group pick, I’m at a work thing and can’t refer to my notes unfortunately

 

Zach carter

 

@whitenblue88

 

@CarpetElf is sock back to picking or should I make that pick for him?

 

Colts select Carson Strong, QB, Nevada

My favorite QB in this draft class is probably QB6, whoever that ends up being. Strong feels like great value in the 4th, and is a sneaky good fit as a developmental QB in an offense tailored to Matt Ryan (versus Wentz or some of the other options floated out there this offseason)

 

I knew it

legit almost took him as a backup for Trevor lol we pretty much don’t have one

 

go ahead sock’s busy

 

@PeacefulOrca pick for both LAC and PHI

 

God damnit titans were trying to move up for strong

 

The offer wasn’t quite enough for me to wanna do it, sorry my dude. Late picks aren’t the most fun thing in a mock draft and the Saints have only taken Cross and Howell lol, needed a third pick that felt like QUALITY

 

The chargers select dameon pierce, rb, florida

This just seems like something telesco would do

The iggles select jalen wyrdeer, te, txam

Think howie would do that

 

@xbrokendownx phins

 

hahahaha did you just give up trying to spell this

 

No, only @CarpetElf will understand

 

ya'll can pick for me I am away from my computer for a bit here

I already got a C, LB, and RB in this universe where I don't have Tyreek Hill. So I would say maybe best OT, EDGE, or WR

 

Yo Chargers have Ekeler and we already took Spiller haha