Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. That ability to flip the field to pin opponents deep in their own half, no matter where his own offense stalls out serves as a cheat code. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. The Punt God has a legitimate shot at being a day two selection. Talk about ineptitude.) No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Potential Chargers draft targets: Punter Matt Araiza has their Here's everything you need to know about Araiza heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. That said, it appears unlikely that Araiza will be a realistic target for them unless he somehow falls to Round 5. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. He has another 80-yard punt this season too. 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. March 25, 2022 5 min read. August 26, 2022. Can he step, drop, and reset to cut off Khalil Mack trying to knife inside? Brewer. The Buffalo Bills have claimed they did not know about allegations recently made in a lawsuit against former punter Matt Araiza prior to the 2022 NFL draft. But the San Diego State punter, nicknamed "Punt God" by Twitter and anyone that has seen his 80-yard moonshots for three seasons with the Aztecs, has declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. The former San Diego State punter didn't get selected until the Bills made him the first pick of the sixth round (180th overall). Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. At worst, the allegation contained in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday that Araiza, a former San Diego State star . Check this out. 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. Let them know that we sent you! Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Field Pos. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. Here are the San Diego State Aztecs headed for the 2022 NFL Draft, from Cameron Thomas to Matt Araiza. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . The [] And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. 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. (AV) of a punter per season who has been drafted in the last 15 seasons. He kicks returners back a considerable amount that the potential for big returns is still limited. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. LA Rams 2022 NFL Draft Big Board for punters? Yes, punters - Ramblin' Fan Positives: Strong-legged punter whos also an exceptional directional kicker. 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? As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. He was a sixth-round pick of the team at the 2022 NFL draft. Matt Araiza expecting NFL return after Mexican team confusion Matt Araiza. Former San Diego State Punter Matt Araiza Discusses NFL Future - NBC 7 Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. 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. Jump around this article Click to show Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. Get the latest on Buffalo Bills P Matt Araiza including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . Meet Matt Araiza, San Diego State punter who could be among the highest Matt Araiza Scouting Report. Former Bills punter Matt Araiza and former SDSU teammates will not face charges in connection with an alleged gang rape of a minor that occurred at an off-campus party in October 2021, the San . Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. With the 175th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. Bills claim that they knew nothing of Matt Araiza allegations seems The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. 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. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Its time to look at five of the upcoming classs most intriguing (rather than the best) prospects. 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). Davis was the force behind college footballs most dominant defense last season, fueling a Georgia group that carried their team to the national championship. Although there's some concern that Araiza's booming punts could lead to him outkicking his coverage, San Diego State seemed to do just fine covering his punts. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. Araiza is averaging 54.0 yards per punt, which would crush the NCAA and NFL records51.0 in college (set in 2018 by Braden Mann) / 51.4 in the NFL (set in 1940 by Slingin' Sammy Baugh). The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. Using AV from Pro-Football-Reference, this somewhat normalizes the impact of a punter on his team. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. Hes also hit a 60+ yarder in each of his four years for the Bulldogs. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. That hasn't happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal's . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. NFL Draft: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God His booming kicks made fourth-and-long must-watch TV at San Diego State. Matt Araiza NFL Draft projections. Incredible run. He quickly became a nationally known name after delivering a 82-yard punt in the preseason. Drawing attention across the media landscape driven by the king of punters himself, Pat McAfee Araiza has broken records with his ridiculously powerful left leg. In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. Former Bills punter Matt Araiza signs to play in Mexico Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. 147, a high fifth-round pick. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. Just How High Could Elite Punter Matt Araiza Be Drafted? Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. Some NFL teams knew about Matt Araiza incident before the draft Negatives: Takes a while to get the ball off his foot. We've received your submission. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. The truth of the matter, however, is that Araiza is just the tip of the iceberg of a talented punting class. Could Matt Araiza be the next one? 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. 17 for the first round of the draft. 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. In 2019, he hit 84.6% of his kicks. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. @matt_araiza. An immobile quarterback with a sketchy knee will be a no-no for most teams, and depending on how concerned teams are about the injury he could slip all the way to day three of the draft. Manage Settings PFN Draft Profile. Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. Matt Araiza's rape accuser speaks out: "I had no idea who Matt Araiza Report: NFL Teams Could Make Surprising Decision At Punter Matt Araiza College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College But when you boom not just one, but two punts over 80 yards, you earn some attention. He can be seen putting his high school track athleticism to good use getting downfield. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. It is officially mock draft season! 2022 NFL Draft: Many position groups boosted by early entrants 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three When it comes to punters, the bigger surprise is that the Buccaneers took Camarda over Araiza. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. Both are a long shot to be drafted at the end of the month. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. San Diego State P Matt Araiza. August 28, 2022 2:44pm. Hi coach, Ojabo said. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. 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. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. The list of accomplishments is unreal. Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. When and how often will Davis play? He has a repeatable and pro-ready approach with consistently polished footwork. Matt Araiza, Daniel Bellinger and Cameron Thomas, though, have gotten the most buzz . 2022 NFL Draft shocker: Bills land 'Punt God' Matt Araiza who Clouding Strongs status is a knee injury that he picked up playing basketball as a kid, one that saw him miss his senior year of high school football. 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. 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. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . If Araiza is the Punt God and Camarda is Mr. However, this style doesnt really translate to the NFL. 17 for the first round of the draft. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. Talk about ineptitude.) Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. He wound up landing at Minnesota, using the Madden video game series to swot up on the rules and regulations. You dont get the award that celebrates collegiate punting excellence without being exceptional. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. Khalil Shakir working out with former Bills WR Eric Moulds Coffin corners, hang-time, and inside the 20 are phrases being used in evaluation that barely see the light of day ordinarily. Araiza has a pure fourth-round grade on my board, and he is one point away in my grading scale from what would be considered the greatest punting prospect of all time. The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. Some collegiate punters especially Australian punters with Aussie rule backgrounds work out of a rugby-style delivery, which includes wider splits between blockers and a running approach from the punter before kicking it low with the intention of having it bounce and be difficult for returners to field. DATABASE. T Formation Conversation: Live from the NFL Combine. 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. Should the LA Chargers draft punter Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft? One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. Matt Araiza #19 of the Buffalo Bills takes the field during practice on Aug. 5, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York. 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. All 2022 NFL Draft Projections are taken from the latest Sporting News NFL Mock Draft by Vinnie Iyer. At 6ft 9in (!) 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. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. The Bills may not have known about the allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they . John Harbaugh is a former special teams coach and he has a better eye for punters and kickers than any other head coach in the NFL, so if he wanted Stout, you can bet he liked his punting style more than he liked Araiza's booming style. Of course, there were more rounds and selections back then. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 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. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. From there, lift off. 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 power was proved in the 2021 season, as he had 18 punts of 60+ yards and two of 80+ yards. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. 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. and that Bill Belichick is already salivating over using a second-round pick on him in the 2022 NFL Draft. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism.