The 2022 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday as college football players from across the country turn their dreams of playing on Sundays into reality.
That includes plenty of Arkansas Razorbacks. With plenty of prospects including wide receiver Treylon Burks and defensive tackle John Ridgeway, a number of Hogs will hear their names called in the coming days.
Our resident college football expert and Arkansas alum Collin Wilson broke down the top draft prospects from Sam Pittman's team, along with potential bets and team fits.
Arkansas NFL Draft Prospects
WR Treylon Burks | 6-foot-2, 225 lbs.
The Warren High School alum has the chance to be the highest-drafted wide receiver in Razorback history since the AFL and NFL merged in 1966.
While the Ohio State duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave continue to get early first-round attention, Burks is expected to go anywhere after the first 15 picks.
Whichever NFL team that drafts the Arkansas product will have an instant home-run threat on offense. Of all FBS wide receivers in 2021, Burks finished sixth in yards after catch per reception and third in yards per route run.
Targeted 88 times on the season, Burks managed to post just three drops while posting the second-highest quarterback rating when targeted.
Treylon Burks reached a top speed of 22.6 MPH on this play in week 3. No NFL player reached a top speed higher than that this season and only Raheem Mostert did the year before. But Burks didn’t get out of the blocks well at the combine so he is probably slow 🙄 pic.twitter.com/qE0rVkPXVW
— Shane Haff (@HAFFnHAFF_TPL) April 17, 2022
Burks’ underwhelming performance at the NFL Combine may provide value for a team needing an outside threat. Despite having multiple lower-body injuries forcing the receiver into a boot, Burks was crucial in all Arkansas victories during SEC play.
NFL teams will have the Razorback on the radar as early as Pick 15 with the Philadelphia Eagles through two top-20 picks for the New Orleans Saints, who are desperate to build receiver depth for quarterback Jameis Winston.
If the numbers from the combine drop Burks further in the first round, expect the receiver to be scooped before the end of the first round by the Tennessee Titans at 26th or the Green Bay Packers, who have the 22nd and 28th picks.
Teams that run heavy play action like the Titans would benefit from Burks, who posted 47 play-action targets while being the highest-graded receiver from the slot, per PFF.
DT John Ridgeway | 6-foot-5, 321 lbs.
When Ridgeway transferred to Arkansas from Illinois State, the expectation level was low before the pandemic season of 2020. The nose tackle quickly gained attention and became regarded as one of the more fierce defensive linemen in the SEC against the run and pass.
Ridgeway was often double- and triple-teamed by all of the offensive lines in conference play.
John Ridgeway III is going to be surrounded by three Alabama offensive linemen here. He will then break out of it and go to help out on a tackle. Not on the stat sheet. If you're looking at the stat sheet for nose tackles, we have a problem. pic.twitter.com/WLZ91KrCvJ
— Matt Alkire (@mattalkire) March 10, 2022
Reviews of Ridgeway through the combine and his Pro Day have been mixed. The Bloomington, Illinois, product ranked 18th of all FBS defensive interior players in stop percentage, a PFF stat that tracks a “failure” by the offense.
Ridgeway is expected to go anywhere from the 90th to the 185th pick in the draft, going from the end of the third through the sixth round.
Any prop on Ridgeway ending up in the AFC North would be well worth a wager, as the Steelers, Browns, Bengals and Ravens are all in search of a defensive interior presence.
CB Montaric Brown | 6-foot, 196 lbs.
A former top player in the state of Arkansas, Brown was recruited by Alabama and LSU before settling on the Razorbacks.
The cornerback improved his coverage and tackling grade each of the past three seasons in Fayetteville. Brown lined up at corner in 712 snaps versus 83 in the box and just 31 in the slot in Barry Odom’s dime scheme. His five interceptions were the most by a Hogs defender since the 2011 season.
Montaric Brown with the full extension INT 😮💪
(via @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/aHW1sqfD7K
— FanSided (@FanSided) September 25, 2021
Brown is expected to be a reserve defensive back and special teams player in the NFL. His skill set shines in short and intermediate passing lanes but has been prone to being beaten off of the block by deep routes.
No projections place Brown before the sixth round, but teams looking for help on the outside may select the Razorback. Both the Cardinals and Chargers would be likely destinations, especially as Los Angeles has four picks in the seventh round.
OT Myron Cunningham | 6-foot-5, 320 lbs.
The Razorbacks’ offensive line was one of the better run units in all of college football. Cunningham posted 891 snaps at the blind-side left tackle position, protecting future NFL quarterback KJ Jefferson.
PFF graded the senior just inside the top 100 of all FBS tackles in run- and pass-block snaps. The left tackle has caught the attention of NFL teams searching for a sixth-man offensive lineman or fill-in blind-side tackle.
Myron Cunningham vs. De’shaan Dixon pic.twitter.com/qMXMh0KVSY
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 30, 2022
The projections from Cunningham run anywhere from the fourth to the seventh round, as scouts are mixed after a 30-pound weight gain through the 2020 pandemic season. There’s no doubt that the former Razorback is still growing while looking to maintain the athleticism from his previous 285-pound frame.
Spin moves and a narrow base have been cited as reasons that Cunningham may not work as an NFL tackle.
There are a minimum of five teams looking to draft depth at the tackle position. The Commanders, Jaguars, Colts and Patriots are among the teams looking to add offensive line pieces. Specifically, Jacksonville has four picks in the sixth round if Cunningham is going to slip in the draft.
