His performances earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where Jim Nagy had this to say about the 2022 NFL Draft prospect: Had calls with some of [the] top kicking gurus and overwhelming opinion is Georgias Jake Camarda is among best punting prospects to come out in past 5-10 years. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. Lets start with the obvious. The victims lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July. Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. Kiper's updated Big Board for the 2022 NFL draft: Ranking the best prospects at every position 1y Mel Kiper Jr. Araiza, who had one year left of eligibility, set the record for punting average in . Does a terrific job selling fake punts. #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. PFN Draft Profile. The LA Chargers could consider drafting Matt Araiza in 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. Pro football is a game of land acquisition, played four downs at a time. Ethan Sears. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. You cant even tell that traveling more than 60 yards through the air is a difficult task for a punter by how easy Araiza makes it look. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Fewer punters have been more consistent than the Georgia prospect. But there are questions about Davis viability at the NFL level. The NFL Draft doesn't usually give us very many surprises when it comes to punting, but it came through with two big surprises on Saturday. 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. Look how Hawaii prepped for Matt Araiza. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). Through the first 180 picks, there were more punters selected (3) than were taken in the entire 2021 draft combined (The Steelers selection of Pressley Harvin was the only punter pick last year). The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. As Araiza prepares to break positional norms in the 2022 NFL Draft class, his prolific performances as a punter can be traced back to his roots at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. Although on-field punter drills werent televised, onlookers inside Lucas Oil Stadium reported that Araiza was impressive during those sessions at the NFL Combine. DB/Specialist Pre-Draft Notes (2022 NFL Draft) by Shane Hallam April 21, 2022 0 520. Before we get into the sexier traits of punter scouting if such a thing exists I want to get into San Diego States punt formation being a benefit for Araiza. Four drafted punters are actually less rare than one might imagine. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. From his own end zone here, he manages to kick the ball roughly 70 yards through the air, and it bounces enough to make it an 86-yard punt in the stat book. 1. player. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. Increasing his punt average with every year, Stout earned an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed in sometimes torrid conditions. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. Inconsistent accuracy on his field goals. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. The [] Call 1-800-GAMBLER. August 28, 2022 2:44pm. Yes, thats right Araiza truly flipped the field for the Aztecs, changing the line-of-scrimmage from their own 11-yard-line to the 3-yard-line of the Spartans. Landing both prospects would fill position needs, but that's a dream scenario because Gardner will likely be long gone if the Chargers decide to stay at No. Araiza has made three 50-yard field goals so far this season, the second most in NCAA football. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. 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. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Araiza, who began his career at San Diego State as a kicker, also converted 96 of 97 extra point attempts and 50 of 68 field goal attempts (73.5 percent), with a long of 54. More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. Here's everything you need to know about Araiza heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL draft projection. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. At worst, the allegation contained in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday that Araiza, a former San Diego State star . Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. After the horrendous playoff performance, the Packers . As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. You must be logged in to post a comment Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. He wound up at the same school as Odafe Oweh, a first-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens in last years draft. He can be seen putting his high school track athleticism to good use getting downfield. His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza, who has quickly risen to fame with a strong leg and a catchy nickname, faces a very serious off-field issue before his first NFL game.According to the Los Angeles . Landing both prospects would fill position needs, but that's a dream scenario because Gardner will likely be long gone if the Chargers decide to stay at No. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. San Diego State. Reportedly other teams did. Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. He possesses all the tools to start in the NFL and will be a very early draft pick for a punter. The Sporting News breaks down everything you need to know about Araiza's record-breaking season in 2021, and the elite group of punters he hopes to join who managed to leverage their collegiate career into high draft picks: Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. Matt Araiza Draft Stock & Draft Projection. The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. 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. Scroll through to view photos of P Matt Araiza, Buffalo's pick in the sixth round, 180th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. 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. All Rights Reserved. The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. That said, it appears unlikely that Araiza will be a realistic target for them unless he somehow falls to Round 5. Round 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (No. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. Field Pos. The San Diego State product has shot up draft boards (relatively) thanks to a season in which he set an NCAA record by averaging 51.19 yards per punt, eclipsing the record set by Texas A&M's Braden Mann in 2018. Current. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. A minor nitpick in Araizas game is that a quick delivery like his can make it tougher for his teammates to cover significant ground in coverage, but when you factor in how much stronger his leg is than the average punter, it doesnt even matter. Jimmypinthe416 says: August 28, 2022 at 11:39 am Was belichik lying when he drafted Hernandez. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. His season average of 51.19 yards set a new single-season record. So why not invest a valuable resource in a player who can boom the ball farther, higher, and with more accuracy than anyone else at his position? If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. He had a scholarship offer before he even put a helmet on. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. Although the 40-yard-dash may not be a direct indicator of a players game speed, the fact that Araiza ran a 4.68 is notable in its own right. He probably wont be the first defensive lineman selected from his own team. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. The team admits learning about the allegation in July. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Ive never seen a team do thisTheres a returner at the 30 (50 yards deep from the LOS)Then there's a DEEPER returner at the 10 (SEVENTY YARDS AWAY)AND IT WENT OVER BOTH THEIR HEADS https://t.co/m7Hlsa2tLa. If Im punting five to seven times per game and the disparity in average yards is just a few, this doesnt translate to that significant of a difference overall. . In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. 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. 12.0Matt Araiza, SDSU (48 Punts)Inside 20 63%Inside 10 27%Touchback 29%Avg. Araiza, one of the Buffalo Bills' sixth round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, boomed a . With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. This provides for a quicker delivery and is the standard in the NFL. Furthermore, its reported that Araiza routinely makes kicks from 50+ in practice. Certainly, the conversation around Araiza as a potential Day 2 prospect fuels that narrative. The Buffalo Bills had no choice but to cut their youngpunter after so badly botching their response to our claim, Gilleon said in a statement, per the AP. Matt Araiza Scouting Report. He has another 80-yard punt this season too. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. When and how often will Davis play? The WCG crew ran through several free agency questions in this roundtable, and today we gave our pick for the signings we want the Bears to avoid. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. A three-time CIF San Diego State section Kicker of the Year and a sophomore first-team All-American, Araizas athletic accolades werent restricted to the football field. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. Like clockwork. The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. Of course he was. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Araiza has as many 80-yard punts in just this season as the NFL has produced since 2013. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Matt Araiza Overview. Araiza, who was released by the Bills on Saturday, was accused of being involved in the gang rape of a 17-year-old, with details coming to light after a lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court accusing Araiza and two of his teammates at San Diego State. Dallas Intends to Tag Pollard, Head of Pro Scouting, NFL Player Personnel Executive, One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. Of course, Davis didnt need to play third downs at Georgia because the damage was already done on the first two downs. What Would a Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Look Like in 2022? . Win at all costs happens with every team. The big-legged San Diego native is considered one of the best prospects at his position in years and many are eager to see where he lands. Surely theres some NFL team that takes him earlier than you would expect. It's probable that he would have hit a fourth for 55 yards . More important than the distance is Araizas unusual control of the ball, allowing him to pin opposing offenses deep in their own half rather than just booming the ball out the back of the endzone. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. Its time to look at five of the upcoming classs most intriguing (rather than the best) prospects. Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. That said, it wouldnt be surprising at all if somebody took him as early as Round 3. 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. All Rights Reserved. For reference, the NFL single-season record for average punt is 51.4 yards. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. But there can be no doubt that in a jumbled quarterback class, taking a punt on the best pure thrower would represent the best value play for quarterback-needy franchises. The LA Chargers have 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft and there is a chance that the team could draft San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. He created a draft buzz. Both are a long shot to be drafted at the end of the month. That is the nickname San Diego State's Matt Araiza has received from his incredible collegiate career. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. He also set school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during his high school career. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. Matt Araiza Position: PunterHeight: 61Weight: 200 lbsAge: 21College: San Diego State Aztecs. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? Being a left-footed punter, teams will have to adjust their formations to help fit his needs. Do It All. During a college career that started at Virginia Tech before his transfer to the Nittany Lions, Stout has been a kickoff specialist, punter, field-goal and extra-point kicker, and even turned his hand to playing quarterback on a fake punt against Michigan in his final season. San Diego State's Matt Araiza is putting punters on the map, and his scouting report reveals why he's a highly rated 2022 NFL Draft prospect. If that seems confusing/odd/laughable (delete as applicable), think about this: In 2021 he hit 18 punts of 60-plus yards and a pair of 80-plus yarders. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, it's time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. 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. Just the 270th-ranked player in California and 2,609th nationally, Araiza held only three offers, with San Diego State winning out over UMass and FCS-level Montana. He was a sixth-round pick of the team at the 2022 NFL draft. The 22-year-old was expected to be the Bills' starting punter after playing well during the preseason. He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. Twenty-nine percent of his punts went for touchbacks. 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. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. For this reason, I believe its time for me to do something Ive only done once before: a special teamer breakdown. Of Araiza's 79 punts, 37 went for at least 50 yards; 17 went for 60 yards or more; six went at least 70 yards; and two went for 80-plus yards (no other punter had two punts of 80 yards). Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. While a running start can provide for more power, power is far from an issue with Araiza. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. MattAraiza. I cant see him falling past Round 4, which seems like a weird thing to say about a punter, but thats definitely the case with him. 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. | NFL All Day Pack Opening, Jimbo Fisher Isnt Leaving Texas A&M Football, New Texas State Football Coach Wont Last Long, Best PrizePicks College Football DFS Picks and Player Props for CFP National Championship, TCU vs Georgia Prediction, Odds and College Football National Championship Betting Picks, Marcus Jones Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights and 2022 NFL Draft Projection, Cameron Dicker Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights and 2022 NFL Draft Projection, How To Watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury In Canada, Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury LIVE! The biggest thing to note from the preseason is Epenesa. According to Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus, 63 percent of Araiza's punts were downed inside the 20; another 27 were downed inside the 10. A team will take the bet that Faalele can, probably in the first round. 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. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. Other Draft Prospects: TE Daniel Bellinger (UFA), LB Caden McDonald (UFA) Carson Strong has a great arm but teams will worry about his injury history. According to NYup.com, Moulds shared a video of Shakir working out with him. Finally, Araiza has shown toughness and athletic ability during his time at San Diego State. The NFL Draft doesn't usually surprise us much when it comes to punting, but on Saturday it came with two big surprises. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest he is projected to go is in the fifth round picks 144 through 179. PFN Draft Analyst Tony Pauline has Araiza graded as a top-100 player on his latest big board. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. Hawaii had to employ an insane punt coverage against him. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. For context, two Pro Bowl punters are named each year, leaving about an 20% clip of the Pro Bowl punters in the last 15 seasons being players who were drafted. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. The rest of the league has moved to embrace the off-script creators, players who can go and get a bucket all by themselves with their arms or legs when the offensive structure breaks down. go off the board in the second round. It is officially mock draft season! Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. The. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. Stroud doesnt want to go to the Bears because Justin Fields, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way When the idea of, CONTENT 2018 2022 VENDETTA SPORTS MEDIA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions, Why Mitchell Trubisky Is Destined To Fail In The NFL, Barstool Sports Employee Jordyn Woodruff Joins OnlyFans, Sean Allen Sucks At Fantasy Hockey: 2022 Edition, Predicting Four 2023 Middle Linebacker Free Agent Destinations, Von Miller Eyeing GM Career Post Retirement, C.J. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Negatives: Takes a while to get the ball off his foot. Faalele looks more like a long-lost third Clegane brother than a starting NFL tackle. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. Picking at No. The Buffalo Bills are going to have a tough decision to make. Theres simply no escaping it. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. The roster has been set for awhile in the defensive trenches. Think thats an exaggeration? The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. Mock drafts will dance around the internet for the next two months they've already started and in a cozy 5th-Round spot nestled will be the name Matt Araiza because every team should want a glimpse of the field-position machete.. And if Araiza's draft stock remains at the 5th Round or lower . 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. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we dont want to see. 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. And no, thats not the type of gimmicky love youll see bestowed on some other athletes in minor roles. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. NFL GMs have got to love that. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! Also, a higher average yards per punt does not always mean better sometimes you want to directionally punt, so this can be misleading. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined last season. While I ordinarily like to steer clear of pro comparisons, there are striking similarities between Stout and four-time first-team All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. 16.0. Updated. 147, a high fifth-round pick. P Matt Araiza earned $216,148 in his NFL career. Yes, thats right Araiza truly flipped the field for the Aztecs, changing the line-of-scrimmage from their own 11-yard-line to the 3-yard-line of the Spartans. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. and that Bill Belichick is already salivating over using a second-round pick on him in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. 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. Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. Matt Araiza draft projection. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. If he passes those criteria while youre working him out and he hits the Duke well, able to turn the ball over, then yes, you check off the boxes., Once a special teams coach feels comfortable with Araizas ability, the coach may want to suggest the rest of the front office look into acquiring him in the draft.

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