17 for the first round of the draft. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. In his first season, Araiza handled kicking and kickoff duties, as his punting prowess remained hidden. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.". However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. For the . If youre sitting comfortably, lets begin. Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. A team will take the bet that Faalele can, probably in the first round. Consistency, then Penn State punter Jordan Stout should be called Mr. He gets the ball off quickly and generates an insane amount of force from his left leg. 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. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. 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. The only question now is whether the franchise that selects him is stocked up on enough XXXXXXXXL gear. Araiza also boomed an 86-yard punt last season, which was the longest in college football. Moreover, his lack of blocked kicks demonstrates that Araiza consistently gets good elevation. 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. At 6ft 9in (!) 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. Picking at No. 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. That, combined with the more condensed splits in the NFL, makes a rugby-style delivery tough to impossible to pull off consistently. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. 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. At the very least, remember the name Matt Araiza and the punt god designation following him. Faalele looks more like a long-lost third Clegane brother than a starting NFL tackle. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. Matt Araiza. However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. In this past season alone, Araiza had the following: I have not seen a punter with the sheer power that Araiza displays on a consistent basis. His season average of 51.19 yards set a new single-season record. And no, thats not the type of gimmicky love youll see bestowed on some other athletes in minor roles. 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. 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. In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza Copyright 2019-2023. Some draft projections have listed Araiza as a potential Day 2 selection, when rounds 2-3 will be conducted. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. Thats what teams are still trying to figure out. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! 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. The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. 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. The NFL Draft doesn't usually surprise us much when it comes to punting, but on Saturday it came with two big surprises. Matt Araiza did the unthinkable for a punter during the 2021 college football season. 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. Coffin corners, hang-time, and inside the 20 are phrases being used in evaluation that barely see the light of day ordinarily. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 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 | Araiza leads the punter predictions for this 2022 NFL Draft. There have only been two draft classes since the turn of the century where a punter hasnt been selected in the NFL Draft. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. 16.0. The roster has been set for awhile in the defensive trenches. Talk about ineptitude.) As soon as the ball left Matt Araiza's foot, the competition between the rookie and Matt Haack was over. The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. C.J. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. Tracking where Matt Araiza could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. Incredible run. 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. Team Contract Type Status Year Signed Yrs Total APY Guarantees Twenty-nine percent of his punts went for touchbacks. 5th Year Option Projections; Free Agency. We've been studying the players for 11 months. 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. He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. With his cannon for a leg, positional versatility, and publicity few punters have ever attracted, Araiza has the potential to be selected significantly higher than most punters have in recent NFL Draft classes. 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. In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. Matt Araiza Position: PunterHeight: 61Weight: 200 lbsAge: 21College: San Diego State Aztecs. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. . So that builds his value to your team especially if you have an older kicker who now you can take the kickoff duty from.. But I can tell you, we just tried to do what was right, Beane said. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. Mocks. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). 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. Hang time and accuracy are just as important in the NFL. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. Below is a quick blurb about each Cornerback, Safety, Kicker, Punter, and Long Snapper I have scouted for the 2022 NFL Draft. Redshirting his 2018 season, Araiza learned under San Diego State kicker John Barron II. They call him Punt God. That said, it appears unlikely that Araiza will be a realistic target for them unless he somehow falls to Round 5. 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 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. DBs and Specialists. 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. Versatility, athleticism, and competitive toughness, Tony Paulines scouting report for Matt Araiza. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. Past. Meanwhile, he averaged 41.7 yards on 120 punts that tallied over 5,000 yards. 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. Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. 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. Cut (s): Eli Ankou, Prince Emili, Mike Love, Kingsley Jonathan, Brandin Bryant, Daniel Joseph, C.J. NFL Draft: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God His booming kicks made fourth-and-long must-watch TV at San Diego State. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. If you were going to bet on a long shot, however, who better than two prospects whose whole careers have been about making those long shots? Although on-field punter drills werent televised, onlookers inside Lucas Oil Stadium reported that Araiza was impressive during those sessions at the NFL Combine. 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 Scouting Report. He probably wont be the first defensive lineman selected from his own team. Being a left-footed punter, teams will have to adjust their formations to help fit his needs. Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. That is the nickname San Diego State's Matt Araiza has received from his incredible collegiate career. For this reason, I believe its time for me to do something Ive only done once before: a special teamer breakdown. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. The left-legged punter can effortlessly boom the ball the entire length of the field. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. 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. Ethan Sears. To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined last season. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. Daniel Faalele after Minnesotas win over Colorado in September. An achilles injury at Michigans pro day has seen his stock take a hit and served as an example of the dark side of the draft process. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. 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. , given to the best punter in college football. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . . That said, it wouldnt be surprising at all if somebody took him as early as Round 3. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. He has a repeatable and pro-ready approach with consistently polished footwork. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. 1 CB, Paul Burmeister: Why Derek Carr Might Not Be QB to Win You a Championship, Tracker: Patriots Release QB Hoyer. 174) - 1. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. He was a sixth-round pick of the team at the 2022 NFL draft. 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Special teamers are usually able to be secured as an undrafted free agent or in Round 7, but an elite punting prospect like Araiza who can flip field position at an incredible rate is worth that investment. 901 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. Here are the San Diego State Aztecs headed for the 2022 NFL Draft, from Cameron Thomas to Matt Araiza. If a team is uncomfortable with your holding skills, that could absolutely lead you to dropping in the draft. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? Whoever drafts him could be ending up with a perennial All-Pro talent. Based on net punting averages, you can usually find UDFAs who will rank above average at the position in directional punting and hang time.. This is the most yards per punt a player has ever averaged in a single NCAA season, illustrating his sheer dominance. It is officially mock draft season! Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. 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. FREE Boxing fight stream. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego state product is well known for averaging 80 yards of bounce and an NCAA-record 51.19 yards per punt in 2021. . As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. I recognize that my train of thought may be different from the rest of the league. You dont get the award that celebrates collegiate punting excellence without being exceptional. 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. Brugler's take: The Ray Guy Award winner last season, Araiza has a booming leg and showed it off as a punter and kicker (field goals, extra points, kickoffs . San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. 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. The victims lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. The Punt God is averaging far more yards per punt than Anger did his senior year. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. That might scare some people given the hype and eventual failures of Roberto Aguayo, but some team will still take a shot on him earlier than the average punter. 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? Copyright 2019-2023. 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. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). 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, nicknamed the "Punt God," was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Ray Guy Award in 2021. PFN Draft Profile. 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.
