Who’s No. 1 in the N.F.L. Draft? Depends on Who You Ask.

Edge rushers will have a big night.

Most mocks have tabbed defensive linemen as the top pick, though they’re split on who will shake Commissioner Roger Goodell’s hand first.

The Ringer, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports and readers of Bleacher Report all tabbed Aidan Hutchinson, an edge rusher from Michigan and the runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting, as the No. 1 pick. The 6-foot-6 Hutchinson had 62 tackles as a senior and would be a centerpiece of the Jaguars’s defensive line. Hutchinson had a solid performance at the league’s scouting combine in March, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.74 seconds.

ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Fansided are banking on Travon Walker, a junior defensive end from Georgia, being the top selection. At 6-foot-5, with a wingspan of 7 feet, Walker used his length for leverage against offensive linemen as a starter on Georgia’s national championship team. He had a mere 9.5 sacks in his college career (he played on a loaded defensive line), but his combine numbers fueled his late rise up several mocks. He ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and had a 123-inch broad jump. If Walker is selected first overall, it could provide an odd moment for the televised broadcast, since he is expected to participate remotely.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/28/sports/football/2022-nfl-draft-predictions.html