2022 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Defensive End

4/27/22: Scouts were buzzing about Walker in the early going of the 2021 season, and he really helped move himself up boards for the 2022 NFL Draft. The junior put together an impressive 2021, including a number of games against good opponents in which he wreaked havoc. On the year, he had 34 tackles and five sacks, but he played much better than the numbers indicate.

Team sources say Walker is big, athletic and speedy. They feel is a well-rounded defender with a lot of upside and versatility. They feel he could add 10 pounds and be a speedy defensive tackle like DeForest Buckner, or drop 10 pounds and be a standup outside linebacker, or stay as is and be solid base end like Cam Jordan. Walker has the size to set the edge and is quick off the ball. He has risen during the 2022 NFL Draft process, and he will probably end up as one of the first players drafted. A number of NFL sources have Walker graded higher than Aidan Hutchinson.

4/27/22: In 2021, Leal had 58 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended. He decided to skip the Gator Bowl to prepare for the pre-draft workouts. The Aggies played him at end and tackle, but his pass-rushing talents are most dangerous on the inside. Some in the media have even projected Leal as a high first-round pick, but in speaking to multiple team sources, they have a second-round grade on Leal.

"He'll probably go in the second," said a director of player personnel. "I love his ability to rush the passer, and he's instinctive versus the run. But I have my struggles with him. I think he's going to have issues early on playing the run inside. And he has sort of a bad body. Feels like more of a package guy early on."

"I don't see a high first-rounder with Leal," said a national scout. "He's not powerful or sudden, but he's agile and fluid. He will struggle inside."

7/10/21: Leal flashed for the Aggies in 2020 and 2019, but really looked like things were clicking for him at the end of the 2020 season. As a sophomore, he had 30 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and three passes defended. In 2019, he recorded 38 tackles and two sacks. Leal has a good skill set with a ton of upside.

4/27/22: Hall broke out for the Cougars in 2021, showing length, strength, quickness, and athleticism to set the edge. On the year, he had 47 tackles and six sacks. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has the strength to set the edge in the ground game and has the length to play 3-4 five-technique defensive end. Hall looks like the rare five-technique prospect who is capable of putting pressure on the quarterback. He is a riser who could go in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Hall helped himself with a quality week at the Senior Bowl.

7/10/21: Hall was listed as a defensive tackle on NFL teams' preseason watch list, but at his current size, he would have to move to defensive end in the NFL. Hall has good length and speed, but he is too light to line up every down on the inside. With his skill set taking on easy competition, Hall needs to produce more in 2021.

4/27/22: Paschal was a difference maker once again for Kentucky in 2021. He put together impressive games against Florida and Georgia. On the year, Paschal had 52 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble.

Paschal is a tough run defender who can contribute some pass rush. He has some quickness, strength, and athleticism that was illustrated with good workouts. Additionally, Paschal received outstanding marks from teams for his football, locker room leadership, and off-the-field intangibles. Some teams are eyeing him late in the second round and early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

7/10/21: Paschal was a tough competitor in the ground game in 2020, but he did not produce much in the pass rush. He was wise to go back to school. Paschal needs to improve his pass-rush production as a senior. He could be a tweener defensive tackle/end, and he should probably gain weight to play on the inside as a pro.

Paschal does have a thick build with strength for a defensive end. He flashed more pass-rush ability in 2019 and 2017. Paschal lost his 2018 season to fighting malignant melanoma, but after beating cancer, he returned to the field in 2019 to put together a quality year for Kentucky.

4/27/22: In 2021, Mathis recorded 53 tackles, nine sacks and one forced fumble. He has some interior pass-rush ability alongside some quickness and athleticism. Mathis has very good intangibles as a leader, worker and teammate. While he has not gotten a lot of attention, Mathis could be a sleeper steal. Some teams are eyeing him late in the second round and early in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

7/10/21: Mathis played well for Alabama in 2020, recording 31 tackles with 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes defended. It was his first season of serious playing time, so he could rise in 2021 now that he has experience. Mathis has excellent size with athletic upside.

4/27/22: Ridgeway recorded 39 tackles and two sacks in 2021. He played well and impressed team evaluators. Some team sources say they think Ridgeway is really a very large defensive end akin to former Seahawk Red Bryant.

7/10/21: Ridgeway made a good impression on the advance scouts, and they have given him a favorable projection entering the season. Ridgeway has excellent size and strength at the point of attack. He could help himself in 2021 by producing more sacks and impressing at an all-star game.

4/27/22: Butler totaled 47 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble in 2021. He put together a quality year for Tennessee, but he needs to get stronger for the NFL.

7/10/21: Butler was a solid defender for the Volunteers over the past two seasons, contributing in both phases. It would help the senior to show more pass-rush ability in 2021 and to gain some strength for the NFL.

4/27/22: Farrell notched 45 tackles, two sacks and two passes batted in 2021. He could be a solid heavy nose tackle rotational player, but without much pass-rush ability, he does not have a spot in the sub package to be a true three-down starter.

7/10/21: Farrell originally initially opted out of the 2020 season, but he then re-joined LSU. He had a solid game against Florida and was a quality run defender at the point of attack. Ferrell was a rotational defender for LSU with only three starts as a junior, but he flashed athletic ability with pass-rush potential and was a solid run defender. With Tyler Shelvin moving onto the NFL, Farrell should be a starter as senior. If he can increase his pass-rush production, he could rise.

4/27/22: Ray recorded 11 tackles and one sack in 2021. He never produced up to his skill set during his time at Alabama.

7/10/21: In 2020, Ray was a solid defender for Alabama, but he did not show significant progress as a pass rusher and also dealt with injuries. He was wise to return to Alabama for 2021. Ray has trimmed weight off his frame, and it will be interesting to see if emerges as a serious speed rusher as a result.

Ray recorded nine tackles with a sack and forced fumble during his 2019 season. He went out of the lineup in September because of a foot injury that required surgery. While Quinnen Williams was the star of the Alabama defensive line in 2018, Ray flashed at times for the Crimson Tide and had some nice moments that year. Ray totaled 39 tackles with six for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two passes batted for the season.

4/27/22: Otomewo recorded 30 tackles and three sacks in 2021.

7/10/21: Otomewo made modest contributions in 2020. He has a skill set with upside, including some speed to go with size. Over the past few seasons, Otomewo has done a nice job of gaining weight and filling out his frame. Otomewo flashed as a sophomore to earn a spot on NFL teams' preseason watch list, and he has reappeared on their watch list for the 2022 NFL Draft.

4/27/22: Tisdale recorded eight tackles and zero sacks in 2021 from playing over four games before going out for the season in early October. He needed to show more pass-rushing talent.

7/10/21: Tisdale is a big defensive end who is a tough run defender at the point of attack. He has good strength and length to set the edge, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production dramatically as a senior in order to rise for the 2022 NFL Draft.

4/27/22: Stills recorded 36 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2021. He was a good defender for West Virginia.

7/10/21: Stills showed pass rush potential in 2019 when he recorded seven sacks for the Mountaineers. In 2020, he improved as a run defender, upping his stops from 23 to 35, but his pass rush was not as good with only two sacks on the season. Stills needs to improve in both phases to rise for the 2022 NFL Draft.

4/27/22: In 2021, Byers recorded 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

7/10/21: Byers has a decent skill set with some upside, but he needs to produce more as a run defender and pass rusher as a senior to be more than a late-round pick.