Bills claim that they knew nothing of Matt Araiza allegations seems He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. Analysis: Araiza took a step to the forefront last season and was a rockstar punter for the Aztecs. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. He has the power to flip the field with one kick. The left-legged punter can effortlessly boom the ball the entire length of the field. Negatives: Takes a while to get the ball off his foot. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. He also set school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during his high school career. They also dont currently have a fourth-round pick, barring some wheeling and dealing on Draft Day. 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. 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. San Diego State P Matt Araiza. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. At Michigan, he excelled as partner in crime for Aidan Hutchinson, the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming draft. Furthermore, its reported that Araiza routinely makes kicks from 50+ in practice. Potential Chargers draft targets: Punter Matt Araiza has their https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. But there are questions about Davis viability at the NFL level. With the 175th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. Araiza has made three 50-yard field goals so far this season, the second most in NCAA football. Incredible run. # . It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. From his own end zone here, he manages to kick the ball roughly 70 yards through the air, and it bounces enough to make it an 86-yard punt in the stat book. His ceiling could be much higher. Pro Football Network, LLC. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. Of course he was. Hes not just the last line of defense, either. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . He was an unanimous All-American and the Ray Guy Award winner in 2021, making FBS history as the single-season leader with 51.19 yards per punt. 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. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. Upon arriving at the school, he knocked on the door of the football coach. 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. Somebody Will Draft This 'God.' Why Not the Vikings? What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. Of the 27 punters drafted in the past 15 seasons, just six of these players have made a Pro Bowl these six punters only made one Pro Bowl each. Khalil Shakir working out with former Bills WR Eric Moulds Araiza, one of the Buffalo Bills' sixth round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, boomed a . He has another 80-yard punt this season too. Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. 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. Fewer punters have been more consistent than the Georgia prospect. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? Thanks for contacting us. That isnt the case with Araiza, who ran pro-style formations at San Diego State. Matt Araiza Draft Stock & Draft Projection. 2:39 pm ET, did he lead the nation in punting average, 2023 NFL free agent interior offensive linemen, NFL free agent offensive tackles: Sizing up 2023 market, Free agent WR market: Breaking down available talent, NFL 2023 free agency: Top TEs set to hit open market, NFL 2023 free agency: Top RBs set to hit open market, 'Punt God' Matt Araiza not first punter taken, NFL Combine: QB, WR, TE run 40s, compete in drills, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Rodgers' trade value, logistics, best fit, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. The LA Chargers could consider drafting Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft. , given to the best punter in college football. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. NFL punter Matt Araiza and two San Diego State football players accused in gang-rape lawsuit. How does Matt Araiza figure in calculus of 2022 NFL Draft? The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007. 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. 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. Additionally, Ray Guy was a first-round pick in 1973, with the award for punting success named after him. The NFL only allows the two end defenders to do so. Look how Hawaii prepped for Matt Araiza. MattAraiza. Stroud: I dont want to go to the Bears; thats Fields team, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way. It also helps that Araiza is a quality kickoff specialist, as he has finished in the top-5 in the FBS in average distance on kickoffs in 2020, and his touchback percentage of 84.9 percent was the fourth-most in the nation in 2021. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Yep, thats his shirt size and thats eight Xs for those keeping score at home. MORE:NFL Draft prospects 2022: Updated big board of top 150 players, rankings by position. He wound up landing at Minnesota, using the Madden video game series to swot up on the rules and regulations. However, 17 punters have actually been selected on what we would now call Day 2 of the NFL Draft. During his three-year stint as the starter for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza boomed a 71-yard long punt. Following a flourish of free agency action, theres a clearer picture of NFL team needs. 2022 NFL Draft shocker: Bills land 'Punt God' Matt Araiza who As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. This begs the question: how well will Matt Araiza transition to the NFL? Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. 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. Mocks. 2022 NFL Draft: Many position groups boosted by early entrants To put that in perspective, there were only six punts of 70 or more yards by every NFL punter combined last season. 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. While Araiza has been electrifying college football this season, Georgia punter Jake Camarda should earn himself the nickname Mr. If youre sitting comfortably, lets begin. Picking at No. On his list of the top 150 prospects on NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah listed Araiza at No. 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. DBs and Specialists. Above is a plot of the average. Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? When and how often will Davis play? Matt Araiza Draft Profile 2022 | NFL Mock Draft Database In yesterdays game, Matt Araiza elevated his NCAA record with his 16th punt of 60+ yards this year. 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 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. Twenty-nine percent of his punts went for touchbacks. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. 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. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft. 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. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 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. NFL GMs have got to love that. San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. At 6ft 9in (!) Araiza must ensure that his strides and ball striking remain consistent from kick to kick. 2. His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. FREE Boxing fight stream. 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. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. The San Diego State punter has a career-long 53-yard field goal to his name. There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. 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. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. But how high, exactly, can we expect a team to take Araiza, winner of the 2021 Ray Guy Award? According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest he is projected to go is in the fifth round picks 144 through 179. One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. Matt Araiza draft rumors: San Diego State punter declares for 2022 NFL Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. 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. 174. 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. 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. Theres simply no escaping it. Matt Araiza Scouting Report. Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . Even these statistical accomplishments usually wouldnt attract the adoration that Araiza has received in this NFL Draft process. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). The biggest surprise is that college football's top punter, Matt Araiza, wasn't the first punter off the board this year. The Punt God has a legitimate shot at being a day two selection. 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. 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 Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. According to PFF, Araiza had the eighth-lowest kickoff return percentage in the country at less than 15%. DATABASE. Matt Araiza Position: PunterHeight: 61Weight: 200 lbsAge: 21College: San Diego State Aztecs. Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. 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. Davis was the force behind college footballs most dominant defense last season, fueling a Georgia group that carried their team to the national championship. Super Bowl 2023 Daytona 500 College Basketball Rankings NBA All-Star . This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. That said, it wouldnt be surprising at all if somebody took him as early as Round 3. Araiza also boomed an 86-yard punt last season, which was the longest in college football. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Kenny Pickett College Football Highlights 2021, Aaron Rodgers is Using Leverage to Help Davante Adams, DEBUT Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen! Cincinnati Bengals 7-round 2022 NFL mock draft: Trade-up edition Lawyer: Matt Araiza & Bills knew nothing of allegations before Draft Day In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. Some NFL teams knew about Matt Araiza incident before the draft Matt Araiza draft projection. Former Aztecs punter Matt Araiza reaching new heights with his kicks The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically inclined general managers. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . Talk about ineptitude.) 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. Araizas leg power is also demonstrated as a field goal and kickoff specialist. San Diego State. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. These primarily center around consistency. 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. Not too shabby. Ethan Sears. Jimmypinthe416 says: August 28, 2022 at 11:39 am Was belichik lying when he drafted Hernandez. Should the LA Chargers draft punter Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft? The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . Araiza now holds the record for punts of 50+ yards. Araiza can be quite a weapon for NFL teams adding a punter in the 2022 draft. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza. This season, Araiza has set r. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. 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. It is officially mock draft season! Matt Araiza's rape accuser speaks out: "I had no idea who Matt Araiza Matt Araiza Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com He possesses all the tools to start in the NFL and will be a very early draft pick for a punter. Carson Strong has a great arm but teams will worry about his injury history. 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. 147, a high fifth-round pick. 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 . This provides for a quicker delivery and is the standard in the NFL. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. Obviously, the ability to pin your opponent deep in their own territory represents a significant advantage. Moreover, his lack of blocked kicks demonstrates that Araiza consistently gets good elevation. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? Punters can be prolific athletes, too! Manage Settings Gambling problem? Win at all costs happens with every team. 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. . FanSided.com; . #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. We're not controlling field position.' There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. 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. Both Stout and Camarda carry draftable grades from NFL scouts. August 26, 2022. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we dont want to see. Together, they were unblockable. Buffalo Bills made right decision releasing Matt Araiza, but serious Araizas punting style with a nose-down punt leaves improvement for coffin corners. After the horrendous playoff performance, the Packers . He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. 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. 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. 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. In his first season, Araiza handled kicking and kickoff duties, as his punting prowess remained hidden. Login. Stroud doesnt want to go to the Bears because Justin Fields, OPINION: Cocaine Bear is stupid, but in a really good way When the idea of, CONTENT 2018 2022 VENDETTA SPORTS MEDIA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions, Why Mitchell Trubisky Is Destined To Fail In The NFL, Barstool Sports Employee Jordyn Woodruff Joins OnlyFans, Sean Allen Sucks At Fantasy Hockey: 2022 Edition, Predicting Four 2023 Middle Linebacker Free Agent Destinations, Von Miller Eyeing GM Career Post Retirement, C.J. 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 . 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. 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. 154) - 1 - Cincinnati Bengals (No. The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . NFL MOCK DRAFT. 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. Tracking where Matt Araiza could be drafted in the 2022 NFL mock draft. 2022 NFL Draft: The Matt Araiza film breakdown - Windy City Gridiron The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. Zac Al-Khateeb is a content producer for The Sporting News. No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. Safely draftable and carrying middle-round grades in the league.. 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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