Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. 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 . Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. He quickly became a nationally known name after delivering a 82-yard punt in the preseason. Matt Araiza is one of the only players in the 2022 NFL Draft who can make an immediate impact. Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as youd think. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). Together, they were unblockable. Some national NFL Draft analysts with NFL information have openly stated that he might be selected on Day 2. Whoever drafts him could be ending up with a perennial All-Pro talent. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Before you scoff at this notion and dismiss it based on the allegation that Reeder is a "terrible" NFL player who wasn't even drafted, let's look at how the 2 players measure up. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. This season Araiza hasnt had a single kick punt or field goal blocked. This provides for a quicker delivery and is the standard in the NFL. NFL GMs have got to love that. Araiza, one of the Buffalo Bills' sixth round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, boomed a . The truth of the matter, however, is that Araiza is just the tip of the iceberg of a talented punting class. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. 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. . Mock Draft Database Sites; NFL NBA NHL MLB. With his record-breaking antics and social media ascension to Punt God, San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is making special teams sexy again. Upon arriving at the school, he knocked on the door of the football coach. PFN Draft Analyst Tony Pauline has Araiza graded as a top-100 player on his latest big board. The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. By. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. Matt Araiza #19 of the Buffalo Bills takes the field during practice on Aug. 5, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York. 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. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. SUBSCRIBEto the Vendetta YouTube Channel! Furthermore, its reported that Araiza routinely makes kicks from 50+ in practice. Other Aztecs are also headed for the NFL Draft as well. This unit was added to a lot this offseason. He wound up at the same school as Odafe Oweh, a first-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens in last years draft. In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. The whole nfl knew. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. Matt Araiza 2022 NFL Draft Profile. He quantified the athletic ability displayed on punt return coverage with an excellent showing at the NFL Combine. And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. According to Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus, 63 percent of Araiza's punts were downed inside the 20; another 27 were downed inside the 10. 901 Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. 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. In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. T Formation Conversation: Live from the NFL Combine. Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. No wonder the "punt god" is generating NFL draft buzz. and 387lb (!!) 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. 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. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. 16.0. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. I cant see him falling past Round 4, which seems like a weird thing to say about a punter, but thats definitely the case with him. His footprints adorn the record books at the position. FILE - San Diego State's Matt Araiza (2) celebrates his field goal against . 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. It's probable that he would have hit a fourth for 55 yards . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. FREE Boxing fight stream. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. 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. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three punters picked, The punter prospects projected to be drafted in this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, Ryan Stonehouse and Cameron Dicker round out punter predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. But, thats not all Araiza can do. In his first season, Araiza handled kicking and kickoff duties, as his punting prowess remained hidden. Lets start with the obvious. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. We have an 86 yard punt EIGHTY SIX (CC @RKalland) pic.twitter.com/KIi5d3VTTO. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? The San Diego State punter set a 4.68-second 40-yard dash while registering a 101 broad and 32 vertical jump. I didnt know what a first down was or anything, Faalele told ESPN in 2018. 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. 174. Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. Positives: Strong-legged punter whos also an exceptional directional kicker. But now Araiza is gone, released Saturday afternoon, and with the preseason games over, the Bills have to trim . Araiza also boomed an 86-yard punt last season, which was the longest in college football. , given to the best punter in college football. Araiza can be quite a weapon for NFL teams adding a punter in the 2022 draft. From the aforementioned information, it appears that Araiza is an elite punting prospect. The left-legged punter can effortlessly boom the ball the entire length of the field. The. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. 2. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? 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. 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. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. 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. All Rights Reserved. We're not controlling field position.' 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. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. The list of accomplishments is unreal. The fact that Araiza can punt, take field goals, and act as the kickoff man for a team is a crucial element of his scouting report. NFL punter Matt Araiza and two San Diego State football players accused in gang-rape lawsuit. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. MKFs unique style and gameplay make betting fun and easy. Login. Theres simply no escaping it. The Ray Guy Award bears his name. Brewer. Araiza must ensure that his strides and ball striking remain consistent from kick to kick. Cut (s): Eli Ankou, Prince Emili, Mike Love, Kingsley Jonathan, Brandin Bryant, Daniel Joseph, C.J. During his three-year stint as the starter for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza boomed a 71-yard long punt. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. 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. 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 . That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. He had a scholarship offer before he even put a helmet on. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. Although on-field punter drills werent televised, onlookers inside Lucas Oil Stadium reported that Araiza was impressive during those sessions at the NFL Combine. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football.He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. That, combined with the more condensed splits in the NFL, makes a rugby-style delivery tough to impossible to pull off consistently. The San Diego State redshirt junior did so by setting an NCAA record with 36 punts of . This versatility only adds to his value heading into the NFL Draft since he can be the kickoff specialist as well as fill in as an emergency kicker should the starter suffer an injury during a game. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Jordan Davis combines size and athleticism. The likes of Mitch Wishnowsky and Max Duffy from recent draft classes utilized this style of punting before entering the NFL. Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. They could trade out of the first round and gain a lot by doing so as other teams look to get back into that opening round for a faller. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. Matt Araiza Position: PunterHeight: 61Weight: 200 lbsAge: 21College: San Diego State Aztecs. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. The only question now is whether the franchise that selects him is stocked up on enough XXXXXXXXL gear. We've been studying the players for 11 months. But how high, exactly, can we expect a team to take Araiza, winner of the 2021 Ray Guy Award? Punter. While a running start can provide for more power, power is far from an issue with Araiza. Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. No other player this season has two 80+ yard punts. For his career, Araiza averaged 51.1 yards per punt. 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. . Consistency, then Penn State punter Jordan Stout should be called Mr. It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. 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. Incredible run. 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. You must be logged in to post a comment He gets the ball off quickly and generates an insane amount of force from his left leg. 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. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. Above is a plot of the average. 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. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007. @matt_araiza. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. 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. Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. At 6ft 9in (!) Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. At least three punters will be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft that is the prediction. 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. He reportedly said, "Bills Mafia, there is no off-season.". Of course, there were more rounds and selections back then. San Diego State. Team Contract Type Status Year Signed Yrs Total APY Guarantees Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. According to NYup.com, Moulds shared a video of Shakir working out with him. Look how Hawaii prepped for Matt Araiza. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. He possesses all the tools to start in the NFL and will be a very early draft pick for a punter. But I can tell you, we just tried to do what was right, Beane said. Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft. The team admits learning about the allegation in July. Following a flourish of free agency action, theres a clearer picture of NFL team needs. 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. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. 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. He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. While college kickers take their share of criticism, the level of scrutiny and the ability to quickly lose your job in the NFL requires an exceptional level of equilibrium. That includes CBSSports.com, which lists Araiza as the 126th prospect in the draft. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . the 341 lb Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds. 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. On his list of the top 150 prospects on NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah listed Araiza at No. 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. 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. More important than the distance is Araizas unusual control of the ball, allowing him to pin opposing offenses deep in their own half rather than just booming the ball out the back of the endzone. The Buffalo Bills are going to have a tough decision to make. Araiza's controversial stay in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills is well noted. 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. Just the 270th-ranked player in California and 2,609th nationally, Araiza held only three offers, with San Diego State winning out over UMass and FCS-level Montana. If youre sitting comfortably, lets begin. 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. Araiza is currently averaging 52.2 yards per punt. FanSided.com; . This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. The 22-year-old was expected to be the Bills' starting punter after playing well during the preseason. Obviously, the ability to pin your opponent deep in their own territory represents a significant advantage. Punting out of the end zone can be tough for some punters, as there isnt much margin for error if pressure gets into the backfield, and there is more of a condensed space to operation out of. In fact, there hasnt been an NFL starter in the 21st century built as big as the Aussie. Weve been studying the players for 11 months. Matt Araiza Scouting Report. No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. Punters can be prolific athletes, too! All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. Or so it seems. The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. Punt God. 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. Matt Araiza, punter, San Diego State . Round 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (No. 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. Using AV from Pro-Football-Reference, this somewhat normalizes the impact of a punter on his team. With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. 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. The draft is sharpening into focus. DB/Specialist Pre-Draft Notes (2022 NFL Draft) by Shane Hallam April 21, 2022 0 520. The NFL only allows the two end defenders to do so. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. Despite those struggles. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. Thanks for contacting us. 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. That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. 17 for the first round of the draft. Araiza stands at just over 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds.