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. We’ve been studying the players for 11 months. Following a flourish of free agency action, there’s a clearer picture of NFL team needs. The draft is sharpening into focus. In the first of these predictions pieces, Matt Araiza leads a cast of at least three punters selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three punters picked
With his record-breaking antics and social media ascension to “Punt God,” San Diego State punter Matt Araiza is making special teams sexy again. “Coffin corners,” “hang-time,” and “inside the 20” are phrases being used in evaluation that barely see the light of day ordinarily. The truth of the matter, however, is that Araiza is just the tip of the iceberg of a talented punting class.
Before we produce the punting protagonists of this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, it’s worth discussing the place this class could hold in NFL history. The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. Certainly, the conversation around Araiza as a potential Day 2 prospect fuels that narrative. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. Or are they?
If you’re sitting comfortably, let’s begin. Four drafted punters are actually less rare than one might imagine. Of course, Ray Guy’s first-round selection in 1973 is an anomaly. You don’t get the award that celebrates collegiate punting excellence without being exceptional. However, 17 punters have actually been selected on what we would now call Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as you’d think. In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. Of course, there were more rounds and selections back then. However, even in recent history, multiple punters were selected in 2019 and 2020. Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The punter prospects projected to be drafted in this 2022 NFL Draft prediction
There have only been two draft classes since the turn of the century where a punter hasn’t been selected in the NFL Draft. And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. Starting with the “Punt God” himself, let’s examine the punter prospects that make up this unlikeliest of NFL Draft predictions.
Matt Araiza, San Diego State
The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. There’s simply no escaping it. While I’ve 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. Drawing attention across the media landscape — driven by the king of punters himself, Pat McAfee — Araiza has broken records with his ridiculously powerful left leg.
The list of accomplishments is unreal. The Ray Guy Award bears his name. No other punter in history has more 50+ and 60+ yard punts in a single season. No other punter has nailed two 80+ yard punts in 2021. His 51.2 yards per punt is the most in a single season by any college punter in the history of the sport. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker.
Jake Camarda, Georgia
While Araiza has been electrifying college football this season, Georgia punter Jake Camarda should earn himself the nickname “Mr. Consistency.” Consistent ball striking, hang time, and placement are key factors in punter evaluation. Fewer punters have been more consistent than the Georgia prospect.
Camarda has averaged 46.8, 46.6, and 46.7 yards per punt, respectively, over the past three seasons. Like clockwork. He’s also hit a 60+ yarder in each of his four years for the Bulldogs. 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 Georgia’s Jake Camarda is among best punting prospects to come out in past 5-10 years. Safely draftable and carrying middle-round grades in the league.”
Jordan Stout, Penn State
If Araiza is the “Punt God” and Camarda is “Mr. Consistency,” then Penn State punter Jordan Stout should be called “Mr. 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.
Increasing his punt average with every year, Stout earned an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed in sometimes torrid conditions. Showcasing an exceptionally powerful leg, he holds the Penn State field-goal record with a 57-yard strike against Pitt in 2019. With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the “special” in special teams. 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.
Ryan Stonehouse and Cameron Dicker round out punter predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft
Araiza leads the punter predictions for this 2022 NFL Draft. Some national NFL Draft analysts with NFL information have openly stated that he might be selected on Day 2.
PFN Draft Analyst Tony Pauline has Araiza graded as a top-100 player on his latest big board. Both Stout and Camarda carry draftable grades from NFL scouts. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board.
At least three punters will be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft — that is the prediction.
Colorado State’s Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. Dicker “The Kicker” has a 46.3-yard career punting average and 75.9% career field-goal completion.
Both are a long shot to be drafted at the end of the month. 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?