Of the 27 punters drafted in the past 15 seasons, just six of these players have made a Pro Bowl these six punters only made one Pro Bowl each. In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. Chatter among leaky scouts has suggested that Faalele may be too big to play tackle in the league, that he will struggle to dip and sink to wall off the leagues premier dip-and-rip pass-rushers. One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. Matt Araiza. It also helps that Araiza is a quality kickoff specialist, as he has finished in the top-5 in the FBS in average distance on kickoffs in 2020, and his touchback percentage of 84.9 percent was the fourth-most in the nation in 2021. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. A versatile punter who can flip field position and force the opposition to account for him while nailing game-winning field goals with regularity is hard to find. His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. Although Araizas leg strength is the crown jewel of his scouting report, there are times when hell need to take a little off his punts to achieve success at the next level. For reference, the NFL single-season record for average punt is 51.4 yards. Every coach will want to do their due diligence as far as timing his touch to toe operation and seeing how he does with a real NFL Duke ball. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. Does a terrific job selling fake punts. For whatever reason, punters have been a popular position to pick in this year's draft. His ceiling could be much higher. The draft is sharpening into focus. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three NFL punter Matt Araiza and two San Diego State football players accused in gang-rape lawsuit. Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as youd think. Most fans expected San Diego State's Matt Araiza to be the first punter selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but multiple prospects at his position came off the board before he heard his name called . Hawaii had two returners lined up with one much farther back than the traditional return distance and the punt still went over both of their heads. Some NFL teams knew about Matt Araiza incident before the draft As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. Dicker The Kicker has a 46.3-yard career punting average and 75.9% career field-goal completion. What Would a Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Look Like in 2022? Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically . While his power has never been in question, the San Diego State punter displayed accuracy while placing punts with aplomb in front of the eyes of the NFL. Matt Araiza: Bills rookie crushes 82-yard punt in NFL preseason debut If we include the multi-faceted Travon Walker in the discussion, he may wind up being the third defensive lineman taken from Georgias all-world defensive front. Manage Settings In the rare occurrence that one of his kicks is returned, Araiza can be found taking down the returner. The Bills may not have knownaboutthe allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they drafted him, but at least two other teams had an inkling that something had happened. NFL draft's top punter is Matt Araiza - Sports Illustrated These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? Forces a lot of fair catches. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza | Prime Time Sports Talk The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. Both are a long shot to be drafted at the end of the month. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. Matt Araiza draft projection. Matt Araiza is sued for gang rape - ProFootballTalk By. Not only did he lead the nation in punting average with an FBS-record 51.4 yards per punt, but he also had six punts of at least 70 yards in 2021, which was the most in the country. Such a talented punter can serve as a valuable asset for a defense, as burying the opposing offense deep into their own territory makes their lives a lot easier. With the NFL Draft fast approaching, six former San Diego State players soon may learn their football fates. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. That isnt the case for Araiza, whose naturally quick delivery makes it easy for him to get the ball out and seriously flip field position for his team. . Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. That was surprising.. But when you boom not just one, but two punts over 80 yards, you earn some attention. Araizas punting style with a nose-down punt leaves improvement for coffin corners. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. Following a flourish of free agency action, theres a clearer picture of NFL team needs. Eric D. Williams goes to practice with Matt Araiza, who could be the first punter selected on Day 2 of a draft since 2012. . SDSU Aztecs in the 2022 NFL Draft | East Village Times No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. At 6ft 9in (!) Should the LA Chargers draft punter Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft? All 2022 NFL Draft Projections are taken from the latest Sporting News NFL Mock Draft by Vinnie Iyer. Starting with the Punt God himself, lets examine the punter prospects that make up this unlikeliest of NFL Draft predictions. Despite his relatively low recruiting profile, there was a level of expectation around the program when the versatile kicking weapon was finally handed the opportunity to play for the Aztecs in 2019. With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. Former Aztecs punter Matt Araiza reaching new heights with his kicks In fact, there hasnt been an NFL starter in the 21st century built as big as the Aussie. That hasn't happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal's . Every front office in the NFL may have Araiza at a different spot on their boards come the last week in April, but the standout college special teams player should hear his name called during the 2022 NFL Draft. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. 2022 NFL Draft: The Matt Araiza film breakdown - Windy City Gridiron 2023 NFL Draft Top 25 Big Board: Young No. He has another 80-yard punt this season too. Im tougher, stronger, more athletic than Odafe Oweh. SUBSCRIBEto the Vendetta YouTube Channel! San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. Report: Some NFL teams knew of Matt Araiza allegations before 2022 draft Ill make a bold statement and say that, if the Bears trade down and acquire a pick in Round 4, I wouldnt be furious if they took Araiza with that selection. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. FILE - San Diego State's Matt Araiza (2) celebrates his field goal against . It can bail out a sloppy offensive possession by turning it into a healthy defensive position. In his first season, Araiza handled kicking and kickoff duties, as his punting prowess remained hidden. Past. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. He isnt a novelty: hes an assured pass protector who has the huge frame that could make him special. Bills release punter Matt Araiza after gang rape allegation MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. 147, a high fifth-round pick. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Matt Araiza Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com Matt Araiza draft rumors: San Diego State punter declares for 2022 NFL Matt Araiza expecting NFL return after Mexican team confusion Araiza joined the NFL in April as a sixth-round draft pick. Like clockwork. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. With the 175th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. He only makes two steps upon catching the ball, as opposed to a running start that some college punters use. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. Matt Araiza 2022 NFL Draft Profile. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. Although drafting a punter often indicates this player will be the unquestioned starter, the position simply is not at a premium where the best at the position and an average player are not too far apart from one another. FREE Boxing fight stream. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. Although it is important to recognize that some of these punters have not had as many seasons as others theyve competed against, some believe a player like Araiza should be one of the top NFL punters immediately upon entering the league. Possesses a monster leg, gets tremendous hang time on punts, and allows coverage teams to get downfield and make the play. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. Surely theres some NFL team that takes him earlier than you would expect. Stop by our 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel for Bear Bones LIVE at FIVE as we get in on some mock draft fun! Daniel Faalele after Minnesotas win over Colorado in September. I am sure he is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney, Araizas lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, told the AP. We explored a massive trade-down scenario in a recent seven-round mock draft. The WCG crew ran through several free agency questions in this roundtable, and today we listed the one signing we expect Ryan Poles to make. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled . What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. Matt Araiza, Daniel Bellinger and Cameron Thomas, though, have gotten the most buzz . 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. With only two defenders shooting downfield, returning teams dont have to worry as much about initial pressure up the middle and have more of an opportunity to rush the punter. Troy . Upon arriving at the school, he knocked on the door of the football coach. Matt Araiza did the unthinkable for a punter during the 2021 college football season. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. Matt Araiza Draft Profile 2022 | NFL Mock Draft Database Specialists don't often get drafted, but with Araiza being able to flip the field so easily (he has had punts go over 80 yards), an NFL team will likely draft him earlier than fans expect. The LA Chargers could consider drafting Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft. San Diego State. Between high school punting and a love of soccer, he developed a powerful leg that has been comfortably the most powerful in college football this last season. Ojabo is now anticipated to go in the late stages of the first round, though he could fall further if teams fear that some of the first-step quickness that made him such a tantalizing prospect has been sapped by the injury. Matt Araiza Archives - NFL Draft Countdown PFN Draft Profile. For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. If you look at his numbers, it's pretty clear that Araiza has one of the strongest legs of any punting prospect in NFL history. That's no fault to the other guys on the offensive or defensive side of the . Current. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! LA Rams 2022 NFL Draft Big Board for punters? Yes, punters - Ramblin' Fan 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. San Diego State P Matt Araiza. Despite those struggles,Araizas game against UNLV gave the football world its first glimpse of him as a punter, nailing 4 of 5 punts over 50 yards. Araiza, nicknamed the "Punt God," was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2021. Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. NFL Draft 2022: Why 'Punt God' Matt Araiza was third off the board Can he step, drop, and reset to cut off Khalil Mack trying to knife inside? # . Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Hang time and accuracy are just as important in the NFL. He created a draft buzz. That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Cincinnati Bengals 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft: Trade-up edition NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. The Packers in 2021 saw Mason Crosby struggle and it may have been the end of his Packers career. I hope he is back in the NFL soon., Asked about the decision not to contact Gilleon, Bills GM Brandon Beane said in a press conference that Kathryn DAngelo, the teams attorney, heard what he had to say and thats when we began our process., Were not perfect. Matt Araiza, better known as "Punt God", played for the San Diego State Aztecs for a total of three seasons between 2019 and 2021. Gambling problem? Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. When a guy leads college football in all major punting statistics including average yards, punt yards per game, punts inside the 20 yard line, and PATs made, he's going to draw NFL draft attention. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". While a replication of Guys first-round selection is as unlikely as Pat Bradys 99-yard punt for Nevada in 1950, Araizas scouting report reveals an NFL-worthy talent who should hear his name called as early as Day 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three punters picked, The punter prospects projected to be drafted in this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, Ryan Stonehouse and Cameron Dicker round out punter predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft. Round 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM (COACHES): PK - Matt Araiza, Jr., San Diego State,.Araiza, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, has already set NCAA records in 50-yard punts (38) and 60-yard punts (18) in a season, and is on track to break Braden Mann's record of 50.98 set in 2018 while with Texas A&M. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. Final 2022 roster projection for Buffalo Bills Matt Araiza College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College That said, it appears unlikely that Araiza will be a realistic target for them unless he somehow falls to Round 5. That group includes not only several picks taken inside the top 100 overall players, but also four players taken in the second round and another two taken in the first round. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. Updated. Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Hutchinson was an effort player; Ojabo the beat-them-out-of-their-cleats, vintage, get-off-and-go rusher. Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled punter prospect in recent history. He was an unanimous All-American and the Ray Guy Award winner in 2021, making FBS history as the single-season leader with 51.19 yards . The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. Predicting Four 2023 Middle Linebacker Free Agent Destinations The 2023 NFL offseason should be stacked, Von Miller Eyeing GM Career Post Retirement NFL legend and current Buffalo Bills Edge rusher, Former OSU quarterback C.J. Coffin corners, hang-time, and inside the 20 are phrases being used in evaluation that barely see the light of day ordinarily. Now time for my prediction: I believe Matt Araiza will be selected in the later portion of Round 4, or in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Teams worried about Davis role on third down should instead be focused on how he can tip the scales in their favor on the most important down of all. He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. Entry: 2022 Draft, Round 6, #180 overall (Bills) Contract History. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football.He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. Chase Daniel: Young's Height Is Non-Issue, Stroud: I Don't Want to Be Drafted By Bears, Smith-Njigba: Packers Looking at Receivers, Dave Wannstedt: Mike McCarthy's 'Run the Damn Ball' Comment Ill-Advised, Samari Rolle: Forbes Worthy of Comp to Me, Friday's DB Workout Displayed Clear No. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. He had a scholarship offer before he even put a helmet on. Potential Chargers draft targets: Punter Matt Araiza has their It is officially mock draft season! We've been studying the players for 11 months. Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. Matt Araiza, Buffalo Bills, P - News, Stats, Bio - CBSSports.com But I know there are other players in the league who are told to just bang the ball as far as they can down the field, and the team is going to cover. Matt Araiza Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . On Aug. 25 shortly after the team awarded Araiza the starting punting job, he was accused of being part of a gang raping of a 17-year-old girl while he attended San Diego State, according to the Los Angeles Times. While Ive just talked you through a brief history lesson of punting in the NFL Draft, the San Diego State product is coming off a historic season of college football punting. "The coach I had for my first eight years in New Orleans, if I hit a punt over 55 yards, he was mad," Morstead said. They ignored us, [when] I warned them [what] would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand. Matt Araiza Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights, 2022 NFL Draft Projection In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. They'll give up some big returns, but they'll also have some giant flips of field position.". This power was proved in the 2021 season, as he had 18 punts of 60+ yards and two of 80+ yards. Many even called him the 'Punt God.' The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . No other player this season has two 80+ yard punts. That says two things in particular: one, that I am a sad enough person to have scouted dozens of punters, and two, that Araiza is a special talent at his position. Araiza leads the punter predictions for this 2022 NFL Draft. Hes a talented guy who should help with winning the field position category., However, just like any other special teams prospect, Coach Maalouf believes the San Diego State product should be worked out by coaches. This begs the question: how well will Matt Araiza transition to the NFL? PFN Draft Analyst Tony Pauline has Araiza graded as a top-100 player on his latest big board. 201. FanSided.com; . Jump around this article Click to show Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. While his NFL.com draft profile suggests Araiza could use some work on his directional or pooch punting, he is a field-flipper, as evidenced by his 18 punts of 60 yards or longer in 2021. When and how often will Davis play? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. DBs and Specialists. Bills claim that they knew nothing of Matt Araiza allegations seems They are going to have to choose between cutting their sixth round draft pick who recently won the starting punter job, or getting harassed by the fans for not cutting him. Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. Faalele looks more like a long-lost third Clegane brother than a starting NFL tackle. All Rights Reserved. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. Chicago Bears Schedule, News, Roster and Stats | Windy City Gridiron, 2022 NFL Draft: The Matt Araiza film breakdown, 2023 NFL Combine: Winners from Day 2 of DB workouts. Below are the top 10 highest-drafted punters in the history of the NFL draft: Of that group, Guy went onto become a Pro Football Hall of Famer; Stark was a first-team All Pro selection in 1983 and four-time Pro Bowler; Skladany was a 1981 Pro Bowler; Sauebrun was a four-time All-Pro selection, three-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL punt yards leader; Tupa was a 1999 All-Pro selection; and Anger was a 2021 second-team All-Pro selection, as well as the 2013 NFL punting yards leader. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. 2023 NFL Combine Hand Size Results: Notable Quarterback Measurements and More, 2023 NFL Combine Risers: Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks, and Brian Branch Perform Well, Anthony Richardson Combine Results: Florida Star Makes Case for QB1, Jahmyr Gibbs Landing Spots: Eagles, Saints, and Cardinals Most Popular in Mock Drafts. 17 for the first round of the draft.
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