It can bail out a sloppy offensive possession by turning it into a healthy defensive position. against San Jose State in October. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. He is a big-armed, big-bodied quarterback who plays in the classic, dropback, Carson Palmer style. Ethan Sears. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. We've been studying the players for 11 months. 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. WCGs Lead Draft Analyst shares brief anecdotes on each of his top performers from Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Combine. That, combined with the more condensed splits in the NFL, makes a rugby-style delivery tough to impossible to pull off consistently. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. The. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Increasing his punt average with every year, Stout earned an invite to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed in sometimes torrid conditions. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. Four drafted punters are actually less rare than one might imagine. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. Brewer. San Diego State's Matt Araiza is putting punters on the map, and his scouting report reveals why he's a highly rated 2022 NFL Draft prospect. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? That said, it wouldnt be surprising at all if somebody took him as early as Round 3. We've received your submission. 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. Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . Login. But there can be no doubt that in a jumbled quarterback class, taking a punt on the best pure thrower would represent the best value play for quarterback-needy franchises. Mock drafts will dance around the internet for the next two months they've already started and in a cozy 5th-Round spot nestled will be the name Matt Araiza because every team should want a glimpse of the field-position machete.. And if Araiza's draft stock remains at the 5th Round or lower . Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically . These primarily center around consistency. While a replication of Guys first-round selection is as unlikely as Pat Bradys 99-yard punt for Nevada in 1950, Araizas scouting report reveals an NFL-worthy talent who should hear his name called as early as Day 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. Thats what teams are still trying to figure out. NFL GMs have got to love that. In addition to his prowess as a punter, Araiza has a 73.5% success rate as a field-goal kicker. 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. He kicks returners back a considerable amount that the potential for big returns is still limited. He reportedly said, "Bills Mafia, there is no off-season.". However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. He also set the FBS mark for 50-yard punts with his 33rd of the season. Incredible run. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . As mentioned before, Araiza is incredibly versatile and can help the special teams unit in an impactful way. Dallas Intends to Tag Pollard, Head of Pro Scouting, NFL Player Personnel Executive, One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State Universitys Matt Araiza. No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Araizas game against UNLV gave the football world its first glimpse of him as a punter, nailing 4 of 5 punts over 50 yards. Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza, who has quickly risen to fame with a strong leg and a catchy nickname, faces a very serious off-field issue before his first NFL game.According to the Los Angeles . That hasn't happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal's . Matt Araiza, Daniel Bellinger and Cameron Thomas, though, have gotten the most buzz . While a running start can provide for more power, power is far from an issue with Araiza. Araizas punting style with a nose-down punt leaves improvement for coffin corners. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. FanSided.com; . If Araiza is the Punt God and Camarda is Mr. holy crap.you know what I just realized? Punters can be prolific athletes, too! That says two things in particular: one, that I am a sad enough person to have scouted dozens of punters, and two, that Araiza is a special talent at his position. But how have other drafted punters panned out in the NFL? Araiza's controversial stay in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills is well noted. What I was asked to do was different from a skill set (perspective) than maybe other players have. Matt Araiza Draft Stock & Draft Projection. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. NFL Draft: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God His booming kicks made fourth-and-long must-watch TV at San Diego State. The left-footer with the big leg has been widely projected by draft analysts as the top . Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. Matt Araiza is one of the only players in the 2022 NFL Draft who can make an immediate impact. Surely theres some NFL team that takes him earlier than you would expect. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. As a matter of fact, he already seems to be fully embracing his new team. During his three-year stint as the starter for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza boomed a 71-yard long punt. Despite those struggles. School: San Diego State. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza Or are they? Did I mention that Araiza has a powerful leg? Thanks for contacting us. Gambling problem? , our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically inclined general managers. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. Landing both prospects would fill position needs, but that's a dream scenario because Gardner will likely be long gone if the Chargers decide to stay at No. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. Meanwhile, he averaged 41.7 yards on 120 punts that tallied over 5,000 yards. MKFs unique style and gameplay make betting fun and easy. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Matt Araiza. Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux will feature as top picks later this month. San Diego State's Matt Araiza is putting punters on the map, and his scouting report reveals why he's a highly rated 2022 NFL Draft prospect. Talk about ineptitude.) The temptation to declare it the greatest punting class of all time is understandable. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. Inconsistent accuracy on his field goals. Consistent directional punter that can kick it out to the sidelines or place it inside the 10-yard line. While Araiza had decent success in landing punts inside the 20 this season, he needs to demonstrate consistency in this regard. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. After the horrendous playoff performance, the Packers . An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. It is officially mock draft season! For starters, college football allows for any player to go downfield after the snap on a punt. Theres simply no escaping it. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. However, 17 punters have actually been selected on what we would now call Day 2 of the NFL Draft. 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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They'll give up some big returns, but they'll also have some giant flips of field position.". Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. NFL draft projection. The TCU Horned Frogs and the Georgia Bulldogs will tie a bow on the After a pair of epic College Football Playoff Semifinals on New Years Eve, the Arnold Classic 2023 Live Online: How To watch From Anywhere, Where To Watch Tim Hortons Brier 2023 Live Online, Curling Update: How To watch Tim Hortons Brier 2023 Live Here, Rough N Rowdy 20: Preview, Fight Card, Venue and Live Online, Ian Garry vs Song Kenan Prediction, UFC 285 Card, Betting Odds and Picks, Where To Watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury Live Free Online, South American U-20 Championship 2023 Live Online For Final day, 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Final Day Live TV Channel, Super Bowl Coin Toss Results History, Betting Odds and Props 2023, Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Prop Bets and Picks. When a guy leads college football in all major punting statistics including average yards, punt yards per game, punts inside the 20 yard line, and PATs made, he's going to draw NFL draft attention. Hawaii had two returners lined up with one much farther back than the traditional return distance and the punt still went over both of their heads. He showcases very good touch and a repeatable delivery. This season Araiza hasnt had a single kick punt or field goal blocked. # . 174. Hes not just the last line of defense, either. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Scroll through to view photos of P Matt Araiza, Buffalo's pick in the sixth round, 180th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The first two punters went off the board in the fourth round with the Ravens selecting Jordan Stout and the Buccaneers taking Jake Camarda. With Camarda now in Tampa, that likely spells the end of Bradley Pinion's three-year run with the team. Matt Araiza, punter, San Diego State . This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. The roster has been set for awhile in the defensive trenches. Updated. It's probable that he would have hit a fourth for 55 yards . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. 1. player. Talk about ineptitude.) According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . One other theory is that teams are afraid Araiza might outkick his coverage in the NFL. Personally, I would not draft a punter, regardless of how good he is, until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest. DATABASE. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). Win at all costs happens with every team. But, thats not all Araiza can do. In 2020, he made 71.4%, and in 2021, hes down to 64.3%. They are going to have to choose between cutting their sixth round draft pick who recently won the starting punter job, or getting harassed by the fans for not cutting him. PFN Draft Profile. The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. In 2019, he hit 84.6% of his kicks. Apr 22, 2022. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Of course, Davis didnt need to play third downs at Georgia because the damage was already done on the first two downs. No other player this season has two 80+ yard punts. At Michigan, he excelled as partner in crime for Aidan Hutchinson, the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming draft. Araiza stands at just over 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds. P Matt Araiza earned $216,148 in his NFL career. However, this style doesnt really translate to the NFL. Chase Daniel: Young's Height Is Non-Issue, Stroud: I Don't Want to Be Drafted By Bears, Smith-Njigba: Packers Looking at Receivers, Dave Wannstedt: Mike McCarthy's 'Run the Damn Ball' Comment Ill-Advised, Samari Rolle: Forbes Worthy of Comp to Me, Friday's DB Workout Displayed Clear No. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Of Araiza's 79 punts, 37 went for at least 50 yards; 17 went for 60 yards or more; six went at least 70 yards; and two went for 80-plus yards (no other punter had two punts of 80 yards). According to PFF, Araiza had the eighth-lowest kickoff return percentage in the country at less than 15%. Matt Araiza Overview. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. Below is a quick blurb about each Cornerback, Safety, Kicker, Punter, and Long Snapper I have scouted for the 2022 NFL Draft. Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft. 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. 2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM (COACHES): PK - Matt Araiza, Jr., San Diego State,.Araiza, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, has already set NCAA records in 50-yard punts (38) and 60-yard punts (18) in a season, and is on track to break Braden Mann's record of 50.98 set in 2018 while with Texas A&M. 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. Here's everything you need to know about Araiza heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. 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. It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. The Buffalo Bills have claimed they did not know about allegations recently made in a lawsuit against former punter Matt Araiza prior to the 2022 NFL draft. Matt Araiza Scouting Report. Brugler's take: The Ray Guy Award winner last season, Araiza has a booming leg and showed it off as a punter and kicker (field goals, extra points, kickoffs . In 2021, Araiza has emerged as something of a rockstar in the punting community. The [] Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. That's no fault to the other guys on the offensive or defensive side of the . For whatever reason, punters have been a popular position to pick in this year's draft. T Formation Conversation: Live from the NFL Combine. 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. According to NYup.com, Moulds shared a video of Shakir working out with him. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest he is projected to go is in the fifth round picks 144 through 179. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. The victims lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Copyright 2019-2023. 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 . Chicago Bears Schedule, News, Roster and Stats | Windy City Gridiron, 2022 NFL Draft: The Matt Araiza film breakdown, 2023 NFL Combine: Winners from Day 2 of DB workouts. Hi coach, Ojabo said. We're not controlling field position.' These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? 17 for the first round of the draft. He gets the ball off quickly and generates an insane amount of force from his left leg. 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. More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as youd think. But when you boom not just one, but two punts over 80 yards, you earn some attention. Cut (s): Eli Ankou, Prince Emili, Mike Love, Kingsley Jonathan, Brandin Bryant, Daniel Joseph, C.J. 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. Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That is the nickname San Diego State's Matt Araiza has received from his incredible collegiate career. He converted all but one of his 97 career extra-point attempts, too. The left-legged punter can effortlessly boom the ball the entire length of the field. You must be logged in to post a comment Other Draft Prospects: TE Daniel Bellinger (UFA), LB Caden McDonald (UFA) The Bills may not have known about the allegations hanging over punter Matt Araiza when they . 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. Araiza can be quite a weapon for NFL teams adding a punter in the 2022 draft. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. 174) - 1. 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. This provides for a quicker delivery and is the standard in the NFL. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! 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 . Matt Araiza Position: PunterHeight: 61Weight: 200 lbsAge: 21College: San Diego State Aztecs. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. Punt God. San Diego State P Matt Araiza. Odds & lines subject to change. This unit was added to a lot this offseason. The Bears find themselves not only needing a new punter to replace Pat ODonnell and compete with Ryan Winslow, but they also have several other needs on the roster. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Positives: Strong-legged punter whos also an exceptional directional kicker. Jimmypinthe416 says: August 28, 2022 at 11:39 am Was belichik lying when he drafted Hernandez. At the very least, remember the name Matt Araiza and the punt god designation following him. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . I didnt know what a first down was or anything, Faalele told ESPN in 2018. The 2022 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, with the first round kicking off on Thursday, April 28th. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. 12.0Matt Araiza, SDSU (48 Punts)Inside 20 63%Inside 10 27%Touchback 29%Avg. Yep, thats his shirt size and thats eight Xs for those keeping score at home. Coach Marwan Maalouf, currently coaching special teams at the University of Miami and longtime NFL special teams coach, thinks highly of Araiza. The likes of Mitch Wishnowsky and Max Duffy from recent draft classes utilized this style of punting before entering the NFL. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. Despite that, things haven't really changed from out first look at it. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images) Nicknamed "Punt God," the San Diego State product became well known for booming punts 80 yards and averaging an NCAA-record 51.19 yards . Of course he was. The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. , given to the best punter in college football. . Through the first 180 picks, there were more punters selected (3) than were taken in the entire 2021 draft combined (The Steelers selection of Pressley Harvin was the only punter pick last year). 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. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. Araiza denied the allegations in a statement released by his agent on Friday, but has not spoken publicly himself. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. His 32 vertical jump was the same as Chris Olave, our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. The Aztec junior is an offensive weapon that frequently puts his defense in favorable spots. Every front office in the NFL may have Araiza at a different spot on their boards come the last week in April, but the standout college special teams player should hear his name called during the 2022 NFL Draft. 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? 2023 NFL Draft Top 25 Big Board: Young No. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. 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. . Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . Faalele is from Melbourne, and an assistant coach for Hawaii on a scouting trip to Australia discovered him while he was rehabbing an injury at a local gym. Matt Araiza did the unthinkable for a punter during the 2021 college football season. As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. In his first season, Araiza handled kicking and kickoff duties, as his punting prowess remained hidden. The biggest thing to note from the preseason is Epenesa. 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. At 6ft 9in (!) 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. Harbaugh seems to prefer a finesse punter, which is what he's had over the years with Sam Koch, who's been Baltimore's punter since 2006. But I can tell you, we just tried to do what was right, Beane said. Araiza, who began his career at San Diego State as a kicker, also converted 96 of 97 extra point attempts and 50 of 68 field goal attempts (73.5 percent), with a long of 54. Given the recent trends of where punters have been drafted, it would make sense for Araiza to be selected on Day 3 since only Bryan Anger has been taken before then in the past 15 years. Simply put, Araiza is the best punting prospect to enter the NFL Draft in quite some time. And yet in a weak quarterback class, Strong remains the most gifted thrower of the bunch, a fact that should matter when a quarterbacks principal responsibility is to pass the ball. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. Matt Araiza boots 90-yard punt (!! Field Pos. We explored a massive trade-down scenario in a recent seven-round mock draft. Most fans expected San Diego State's Matt Araiza to be the first punter selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but multiple prospects at his position came off the board before he heard his name called .