matt araiza draft projection

, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. Matt Araiza NFL Draft projections. Field Pos. . In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. 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. For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. According to PFF, Araiza had the eighth-lowest kickoff return percentage in the country at less than 15%. The Bears find themselves not only needing a new punter to replace Pat ODonnell and compete with Ryan Winslow, but they also have several other needs on the roster. Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. If youre sitting comfortably, lets begin. In our heart of hearts, I can lay my head down at night knowing that Ive tried to do whats right., The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, accused of being involved in the gang rape of a 17-year-old, the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza, Josh Allen and girlfriend Brittany Williams kiss during offseason getaway, Bills GM provides Damar Hamlin update regarding potential comeback, Bills coordinator abruptly leaves team during critical time, The favorite to win NFLs Comeback Player of the Year may surprise you, Giants QB carted off after big hit by Jets lineman, Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. section: | slug: 2022-nfl-draft-shocker-bills-land-punt-god-matt-araiza-who-surprisingly-gets-taken-behind-two-other-punters | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Redshirting his 2018 season, Araiza learned under San Diego State kicker John Barron II. No other punter has nailed two 80+ yard punts in 2021. Araiza now holds the record for punts of 50+ yards. Youll see here part of what makes Araiza so special. FILE - San Diego State's Matt Araiza (2) celebrates his field goal against . If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. Showcasing an exceptionally powerful leg, he holds the Penn State field-goal record with a 57-yard strike against Pitt in 2019. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. 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. Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . That is the nickname San Diego State's Matt Araiza has received from his incredible collegiate career. He followed that up with a Thanos-like performance at the scouting combine: the 341 lb Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds, the fastest for any player over 330 lb at the combine since 2006; Davis later had a standing broad jump of 10ft 3in, the record for a player over 300 pounds; he tacked on a 34in vertical leap for good measure, a doubletake-worthy figure for someone of his size. However, what makes Araiza special is that he also kicks field goals and does kickoffs. Araiza has made three 50-yard field goals so far this season, the second most in NCAA football. Use our promo code VENDETTA or use the link below to get a 100% instant matchon any deposit. Punt God. 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. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. Achieving a historic 12-win season and earning a spot in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings brought many advantages for the San Diego State Aztecs. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. The NFL only allows the two end defenders to do so. All Rights Reserved. Matt Araiza 2022 NFL Draft Profile. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. In his first season, Araiza handled kicking and kickoff duties, as his punting prowess remained hidden. But there are questions about Davis viability at the NFL level. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. The Packers in 2021 saw Mason Crosby struggle and it may have been the end of his Packers career. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . FREE Boxing fight stream. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. 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. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. Super Bowl 2023 Daytona 500 College Basketball Rankings NBA All-Star . Before we produce the punting protagonists of this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, its worth discussing the place this class could hold in NFL history. Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. Hawaii had to employ an insane punt coverage against him. In yesterdays game, Matt Araiza elevated his NCAA record with his 16th punt of 60+ yards this year. 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. This power was proved in the 2021 season, as he had 18 punts of 60+ yards and two of 80+ yards. Stout was one of the top punters in this year's class and it wasn't a total shocker to see him become the first punter taken. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft. 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. All Rights Reserved. "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. 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. The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. 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. Round 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (No. 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. He also set the FBS mark for 50-yard punts with his 33rd of the season. Jimmypinthe416 says: August 28, 2022 at 11:39 am Was belichik lying when he drafted Hernandez. 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. In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. Using AV from Pro-Football-Reference, this somewhat normalizes the impact of a punter on his team. According to the Associated Press, executives from two different NFL teams became aware that Araiza had been involved in an incident in the lead-up to the draft, though they didnt know the extent of the allegations. Araiza denied the allegations in a statement released by his agent on Friday, but has not spoken publicly himself. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. Given the recent trends of where punters have been drafted, it would make sense for Araiza to be selected on Day 3 since only Bryan Anger has been taken before then in the past 15 years. 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. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. Meet Matt Araiza, San Diego State punter who could be among the highest-drafted punters of all time, NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. WCGs Lead Draft Analyst shares brief anecdotes on each of his top performers from Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Combine. This season, Araiza has set r. Above is a plot of the average. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. T Formation Conversation: Live from the NFL Combine. Let them know that we sent you! Eric D. Williams goes to practice with Matt Araiza, who could be the first punter selected on Day 2 of a draft since 2012. . San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. His broad jump of 10 1 was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including Aidan Hutchinson, David Bell, Isaiah Spiller, Brian Robinson Jr., and Trey McBride. Think thats an exaggeration? The Bills, though, were aware that Araiza was the subject of a police investigation when they releasedMatt Haack his competition for the starting punter job on Monday. Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. Versatility, athleticism, and competitive toughness, Tony Paulines scouting report for Matt Araiza. 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. Some national NFL Draft analysts with NFL information have openly stated that he might be selected on Day 2. The left-legged punter can effortlessly boom the ball the entire length of the field. Araiza must ensure that his strides and ball striking remain consistent from kick to kick. 1 pick, Richardson logs colossal measurements at combine, Commanders rip 'blatantly false' team sale report, Top QB in draft has one team he doesn't want to play for. But why wasnt he on the field for Georgia on third down? a general manager told NBCs Peter King at the combine. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. At 6ft 9in (!) In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. 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. As a FG kicker, his completion percentage has declined with every college season. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. What Would a Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Look Like in 2022? He can be seen putting his high school track athleticism to good use getting downfield. Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. Finally, Araiza has shown toughness and athletic ability during his time at San Diego State. 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. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. 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. 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. That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. Starting with the Punt God himself, lets examine the punter prospects that make up this unlikeliest of NFL Draft predictions. go off the board in the second round. Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. Jordan Davis combines size and athleticism. San Diego State. But, thats not all Araiza can do. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. 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. Punter Bryan Anger famously went five picks before Russell Wilson in 2012 with the 70th overall pick. 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. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. Can he step, drop, and reset to cut off Khalil Mack trying to knife inside? San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. It's not clear why Araiza dropped all the way down to the sixth round, but there are plenty of theories. and 387lb (!!) Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. 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. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. The punt went for a touchback, but when you still factor the flipping from San Diego States 21-yard line to Hawaiis 20-yard line, thats still a 59-yard flip with the touchback. The former San Diego State punter didn't get selected until the Bills made him the first pick of the sixth round (180th overall). You must be logged in to post a comment The 22-year-old was expected to be the Bills' starting punter after playing well during the preseason. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. Although he didnt participate in any all-star games, Araizas ascension has continued through the pre-draft process. One of the most important punting stats is net punting average and Araiza finished the year at 44.3, which ranked sixth in the country. 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. Win at all costs happens with every team. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The biggest thing to note from the preseason is Epenesa. While Araiza has been electrifying college football this season, Georgia punter Jake Camarda should earn himself the nickname Mr. Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. # . 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. NFL Draft Provile. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. MattAraiza. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Araiza stands at just over 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Entry: 2022 Draft, Round 6, #180 overall (Bills) Contract History. Araiza has as many 80-yard punts in just this season as the NFL has produced since 2013. Whoever drafts him could be ending up with a perennial All-Pro talent. I didnt know the positions or what roles they played. This unit was added to a lot this offseason. 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. Matt Araiza, punter, San Diego State . A team will take the bet that Faalele can, probably in the first round. He isnt a novelty: hes an assured pass protector who has the huge frame that could make him special. The team admits learning about the allegation in July. Obviously, the ability to pin your opponent deep in their own territory represents a significant advantage. Team Contract Type Status Year Signed Yrs Total APY Guarantees 174) - 1. 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. In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. 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. He had a scholarship offer before he even put a helmet on. His ceiling could be much higher. Four drafted punters are actually less rare than one might imagine. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. Consistency, then Penn State punter Jordan Stout should be called Mr. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. He is a big-armed, big-bodied quarterback who plays in the classic, dropback, Carson Palmer style. Consistency. Consistent ball striking, hang time, and placement are key factors in punter evaluation. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. Gambling problem? 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. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. 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 . We have an 86 yard punt EIGHTY SIX (CC @RKalland) pic.twitter.com/KIi5d3VTTO. 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. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. NFL draft projection. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. Pro Football Network, LLC. Forces a lot of fair catches. Stroud Shares Praise for Justin Fields, Fields former OSU teammate and top draft prospect spoke highly of the Bears QB at a Combine media session, Trevis Gipson to particpate in NFL Career Tours. For the . Meanwhile, Araiza saw some sophomore struggles, completing only 71% of his field goals and missing an extra point for the first time in his career. The truth of the matter, however, is that Araiza is just the tip of the iceberg of a talented punting class. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. 17 for the first round of the draft. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. He was a sixth-round pick of the team at the 2022 NFL draft. 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. Those two picks were also somewhat surprising, if only because you almost never see two punters get taken that early With Stout going at 130th overall and Camarda going three picks later, this year marked just the third time since 1993 that two punters were taken before the end of the fourth round. Apr 22, 2022. Or so it seems. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. Even these statistical accomplishments usually wouldnt attract the adoration that Araiza has received in this NFL Draft process. These primarily center around consistency. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. 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. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the team. Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. 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. Matt Araiza Draft Stock & Draft Projection. The big-footed San Diego native is considered one of the best prospects in his position over the years and many are eager to see . The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. 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. Does a terrific job selling fake punts. But how high, exactly, can we expect a team to take Araiza, winner of the 2021 Ray Guy Award? For whatever reason, punters have been a popular position to pick in this year's draft. He created a draft buzz. Picking at No. One other theory is that teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage in the NFL. Like clockwork. Matt Araiza draft projection. That's no fault to the other guys on the offensive or defensive side of the . Could Matt Araiza be the next one? This season, Araiza has set records and social media alight with his left leg cannon. Inconsistent accuracy on his field goals. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Of course he was. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. This is what enablers do.. With the 175th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. The. DATABASE. On his list of the top 150 prospects on NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah listed Araiza at No. Matt Araiza, better known as "Punt God", played for the San Diego State Aztecs for a total of three seasons between 2019 and 2021. Faalele is from Melbourne, and an assistant coach for Hawaii on a scouting trip to Australia discovered him while he was rehabbing an injury at a local gym. 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. And yet in a weak quarterback class, Strong remains the most gifted thrower of the bunch, a fact that should matter when a quarterbacks principal responsibility is to pass the ball. The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007. Reportedly other teams did. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. The [] Theres simply no escaping it. Carson Strong has a great arm but teams will worry about his injury history. But that style is outdated in the modern NFL, where the last remaining stick-slide-climb thrower is the ever-ageless Tom Brady. We're not controlling field position.' That hasn't happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal's . Matt Araiza did the unthinkable for a punter during the 2021 college football season. Copyright 2019-2023. The NFL Draft doesn't usually surprise us much when it comes to punting, but on Saturday it came with two big surprises. To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined 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. 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. 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. We've been studying the players for 11 months. 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.