With the 2022 NFL Draft approaching, we will continue to see an influx of news and rumors about some of the NFL’s most significant prospects. With pro days finished and top-30 visits continuing to take place, here is the latest I am hearing on guys like Calvin Austin III and John Metchie III.
NFL Draft News and Rumors: Chiefs interested in Calvin Austin?
Calvin Austin III is one of the few triple-threat skills players in the 2022 NFL Draft. He beats opponents for big plays as a receiver, return specialist, or running reverses. Austin posted a career-best 74 receptions for 1,149 receiving yards last season and added 8 TD receptions along the way. Austin was spectacular during three days of Senior Bowl practices and was arguably the top route runner on the field.
Austin’s numbers from the Combine were out of sight and included a vertical jump of 39 inches, a broad jump of 11-feet, 3-inches, a 4.32 40, and an insanely fast three-cone time of 6.65 seconds. The issue for Austin? At 5’7 3/4″, he’s vertically challenged. But don’t let that fool you, as Austin plays big football.
At face value, Austin seems like the perfect replacement in Kansas City for the recently traded Tyreek Hill. But the Chiefs have been quiet about Austin — no official 30 visits, no private workouts. Then again, that could be the giveaway. Historically, Andy Reid chooses to remain on the outside looking in when it comes to prospects he’s interested in — until draft day, of course, when Reid pulls the trigger. Kansas City has a pair of picks in the bottom half of Round 2 (Nos. 50 and 62). I could absolutely see them using one of those selections to draft Austin.
Who else is interested in Austin? He’s had an official 30 visit with the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are showing a lot of interest as well.
Which teams are interested in John Metchie III?
John Metchie III seems like the odd man out with all the talk surrounding his teammate Jameson Williams, but don’t sleep on this Tide receiver.
At one time considered a potential late first-round pick, Metchie was the first Alabama wideout to go down with a torn ACL. However, he suffered the injury a month earlier than Williams, during the SEC title game against Georgia. Metchie’s injury has been explained to me as a clean tear, which means he should be back sooner rather than later.
Metchie has been on more than a half dozen official 30 visits around the league, including with the Chiefs, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Samori Toure a late-round WR sleeper?
One of my favorite receivers few speak about, Samori Toure was a tremendous wideout at Montana before taking his game to Nebraska and showing big-play ability for the Cornhuskers. Toure then had three outstanding days of practice during the Shrine Bowl in January and later timed 4.45 seconds in the 40 at his pro day after being snubbed by the Combine.
Toure will be drafted at some point during Day 3. I have a seventh-round grade on him, while some teams feel he’ll be off the board as early as Round 5.
Toure has made official 30 visits to see the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Chiefs. Prior reports that Toure had made an official visit to see the Chicago Bears were incorrect.
Another team showing a lot of interest in Toure is the San Francisco 49ers. The team ran Toure’s pro day drills, met with him extensively, and are very impressed with the Cornhusker receiver.