They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. It is officially mock draft season! Win at all costs happens with every team. He also set the FBS mark for 50-yard punts with his 33rd of the season. When it comes to punters, the bigger surprise is that the Buccaneers took Camarda over Araiza. 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 number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. 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. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. Think thats an exaggeration? His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. At the very least, remember the name Matt Araiza and the punt god designation following him. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. For this reason, I believe its time for me to do something Ive only done once before: a special teamer breakdown. The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . Although it is important to recognize that some of these punters have not had as many seasons as others theyve competed against, some believe a player like Araiza should be one of the top NFL punters immediately upon entering the league. The Packers in 2021 saw Mason Crosby struggle and it may have been the end of his Packers career. Obviously, the ability to pin your opponent deep in their own territory represents a significant advantage.
Matt Araiza: Wikipedia| Tackles| NFL draft projection| Stats One other theory is that teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage in the NFL.
Bills release punter Matt Araiza after gang rape allegation Hes not just the last line of defense, either. They call him Punt God.
17 for the first round of the draft. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. Davis was the force behind college footballs most dominant defense last season, fueling a Georgia group that carried their team to the national championship. He reportedly said, "Bills Mafia, there is no off-season.".
Matt Araiza NFL Draft Predictions, Stats & Profile - The Duel Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. Get the latest on Buffalo Bills P Matt Araiza including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . Where most people have legs attached to their torso, Araiza has an actual cannon. , given to the best punter in college football. Brewer.
Should the LA Chargers draft punter Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft? Stop by our 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel for Bear Bones LIVE at FIVE as we get in on some mock draft fun! In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. . The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. Whoever drafts him could be ending up with a perennial All-Pro talent. Yep, thats his shirt size and thats eight Xs for those keeping score at home. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft.
How Early Could SDSU Punter Matt Araiza Get Taken in the NFL Draft 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. With his power and quick punting style, gunners often have minimal time to cover Araizas punts. The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. But when you boom not just one, but two punts over 80 yards, you earn some attention. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. and that Bill Belichick is already salivating over using a second-round pick on him in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Matt Araiza, San Diego State P | NFL Draft Scouting Report In 'Punt God' Matt Araiza, Bills getting a promising prospect, but far San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. 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. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. Of course he was. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza 901 I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said.
Bills claim that they knew nothing of Matt Araiza allegations seems His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. 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. He only makes two steps upon catching the ball, as opposed to a running start that some college punters use. That's no fault to the other guys on the offensive or defensive side of the . For whatever reason, punters have been a popular position to pick in this year's draft.
Ethan Sears. 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. Forces a lot of fair catches. 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. 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 . Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so.
Matt Araiza Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights, 2022 NFL Draft Projection Matt Araiza draft projection. There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982.
Matt Araiza expecting NFL return after Mexican team confusion Araiza seems like he's going to be a good fit in Buffalo. He created a draft buzz. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . You dont get the award that celebrates collegiate punting excellence without being exceptional. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. He played fewer than half of Georgias defensive snaps in 2021 and played only 18% of third-down snaps.
2022 NFL Draft: Many position groups boosted by early entrants Matt Araiza 2022 NFL Draft Profile. In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. 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. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; .
Matt Araiza Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com Inconsistent accuracy on his field goals. Pro Football Network, LLC. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. The roster has been set for awhile in the defensive trenches. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Theres simply no escaping it. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. and 387lb (!!) But there are tantalising stories further down the board. Matt Araiza Overview. Winning the first down forcing a negative play or creating a second-and-ten is how defenses can keep up in the era of the chunk play offense. 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. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically inclined general managers. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. He wound up landing at Minnesota, using the Madden video game series to swot up on the rules and regulations. Current. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his 86-yard punt against San Jose State in October. We've been studying the players for 11 months. 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. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable..
NFL Draft Prospects in the 2021 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl 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. Consistent directional punter that can kick it out to the sidelines or place it inside the 10-yard line. The [] 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. . His ceiling could be much higher. 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. He isnt a novelty: hes an assured pass protector who has the huge frame that could make him special. At Michigan, he excelled as partner in crime for Aidan Hutchinson, the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming draft. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? Picking at No. Matt Araiza is the greatest collegiate punter I have ever watched. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. In 35 games across three years at San Diego State, he punted 84 times for 4,293 yards a 51.1 yards-per-punt rate. 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. 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. 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. 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. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Colorado States Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. 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. 147, a high fifth-round pick. 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 . 201. DBs and Specialists. Let them know that we sent you! This season, Araiza has set records and social media alight with his left leg cannon. Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Araiza can be quite a weapon for NFL teams adding a punter in the 2022 draft. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. 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. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. In 2021, the Bills only punted a total of 52 times, which was tied for the fifth-lowest total in the NFL. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. 16.0. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. C.J. 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). https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. Hang time and accuracy are just as important in the NFL. He also has the FBS record for 60+ yard punts. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. Chase Daniel: Young's Height Is Non-Issue, Stroud: I Don't Want to Be Drafted By Bears, Smith-Njigba: Packers Looking at Receivers, Dave Wannstedt: Mike McCarthy's 'Run the Damn Ball' Comment Ill-Advised, Samari Rolle: Forbes Worthy of Comp to Me, Friday's DB Workout Displayed Clear No. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. The Ray Guy Award bears his name. 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? In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker.
Final 2022 roster projection for Buffalo Bills 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. 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. Araiza must ensure that his strides and ball striking remain consistent from kick to kick. You must be logged in to post a comment Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. At least three punters will be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft that is the prediction. 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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest he is projected to go is in the fifth round picks 144 through 179. Punt God. 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. MattAraiza. 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. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined last season. The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. The only question now is whether the franchise that selects him is stocked up on enough XXXXXXXXL gear. 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.
Matt Araiza is sued for gang rape - ProFootballTalk Every front office in the NFL may have Araiza at a different spot on their boards come the last week in April, but the standout college special teams player should hear his name called during the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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. 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. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . But, thats not all Araiza can do. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. 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. No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. 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. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. Upon arriving at the school, he knocked on the door of the football coach. Araiza has made three 50-yard field goals so far this season, the second most in NCAA football. Negatives: Takes a while to get the ball off his foot. Araiza joined the NFL in April as a sixth-round draft pick. Here are the San Diego State Aztecs headed for the 2022 NFL Draft, from Cameron Thomas to Matt Araiza. Matt Araiza Scouting Report. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. 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. Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. Such a talented punter can serve as a valuable asset for a defense, as burying the opposing offense deep into their own territory makes their lives a lot easier. 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 . Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL.
2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three 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. For reference, the NFL single-season record for average punt is 51.4 yards. The list of accomplishments is unreal.
Buffalo Bills 53-man roster projection with Matt Araiza released 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. 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.
Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football. Hes also hit a 60+ yarder in each of his four years for the Bulldogs. Past. I didnt know the positions or what roles they played. With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the team. That group includes not only several picks taken inside the top 100 overall players, but also four players taken in the second round and another two taken in the first round. 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. 12.0Matt Araiza, SDSU (48 Punts)Inside 20 63%Inside 10 27%Touchback 29%Avg. In yesterdays game, Matt Araiza elevated his NCAA record with his 16th punt of 60+ yards this year. Araiza in 2021 booted 79 punts for 4,044 yards for an NCAA-record 51.18 yards per punt. As for Araiza, the Bills could potentially be getting a steal with their selection of the player known as "Punt God.".