Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd runs a drill on the NFL soccer scouting mix, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis. Lloyd is projected in most NFL mock drafts to be a mid first-round choice in April’s 2022 NFL draft. Charlie Neibergall, Related Press
Devin Lloyd is anticipated to make some historical past.
He's projected to turn into the primary former Utah Utes linebacker to be chosen within the first spherical of the NFL draft, becoming a member of eight different former Utes as first-round picks.
The place will the defensive playmaker land?
In the latest NFL mock drafts, Lloyd, rated by many as the highest inside linebacker within the 2022 NFL draft class, is projected as a mid first-round choose who might slide into the highest 10 or have to attend till late within the first spherical to listen to his identify known as.
Whoever takes Lloyd is getting a participant anticipated to supply the type of disruptive, fly-around-the-field skill he demonstrated at Utah.
Lloyd was a consensus All-American final season and began 32 video games for Utah over the previous three seasons. Throughout his Utes profession, Lloyd had 255 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 5 interceptions (three for touchdowns), 9 move breakups, a compelled fumble and a fumble restoration.
With the primary spherical kicking off the NFL draft a month from now, the place are nationwide specialists predicting Lloyd might be drafted?
Right here’s a take a look at 15 mock drafts printed previously week from a mess of nationwide publications, so as of Lloyd’s earliest projection to the newest:
Professional Soccer Community, Cam Mellor
Lloyd’s choice:No. 9, Seattle Seahawks
Mellor’s evaluation: “The Seattle Seahawks know a factor or two about stellar linebacker play. With Bobby Wagner now gone, Jordyn Brooks will get a brand new linebacker duo with related abilities. Devin Lloyd is the perfect sideline-to-sideline linebacker on this class and will play probably the most snaps in his rookie season amongst each participant drafted.”
CBS Sports activities, Pete Prisco
Lloyd’s choice:No. 13, Houston Texans
Prisco’s evaluation: “Touchdown a run-and-chase linebacker who may rush the passer can be an excellent transfer for this younger crew. Texans want gamers at loads of spots, so take the most effective on this draft.”
USA Immediately, Nate Davis
Lloyd’s choice:No. 13, Houston Texans
Davis’ evaluation: “Lloyd offers an all-around ability set that enables him to be a multi-faceted weapon, one thing a Thirty first-ranked protection hasn’t loved in a while. He had 22 TFLs in 2021 and may be able to a Micah Parsons-lite affect within the professionals.”
CBS Sports activities, Ryan Wilson
Lloyd’s choice:No. 15, Philadelphia Eagles
Wilson’s evaluation: “Lloyd is a particular expertise. We have been impressed by him throughout the ’21 season and nothing modified on the mix. He’s the prototypical off-ball linebacker in right this moment’s NFL (pay no consideration to his 4.7-something 40 occasions — he performs immeasurably quicker), and it’s like he was in-built a lab. This may increasingly appear excessive however, properly, it’s not.”
NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah
Lloyd’s choice:No. 16, Philadelphia Eagles
Jeremiah’s evaluation: “I do know the Eagles sometimes keep away from taking linebackers within the first spherical, however Lloyd can be too good to move up at this level within the draft.”
ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr.
Lloyd’s choice:No. 19, Philadelphia Eagles
Kiper’s evaluation: “Lloyd was the most effective all-around defenders in faculty soccer final season, racking up 111 complete tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions and a compelled fumble. He has some juice as a blitzer and may cowl tight ends and working backs within the passing sport.”
Professional Soccer Focus, Austin Gayle
Lloyd’s choice:No. 19, Philadelphia Eagles
Gayle’s evaluation: “Lloyd was a heat-seeking missile and an every-down affect participant for the Utes. He earned a 91.1 PFF grade as certainly one of faculty soccer’s prime defenders in 2021. He steps in as a direct difference-maker for an Eagles protection with none high-end expertise at off-ball linebacker.”
Draft Wire, Luke Easterling
Lloyd’s choice:No. 19, Philadelphia Eagles
Easterling’s evaluation: “Philly’s persistence pays off right here, as they wait to fill certainly one of their largest wants, and nonetheless land this 12 months’s finest prospect on the place. Lloyd is a three-down playmaker with and spectacular measurement/size/athleticism combo, who brings the flexibility to make massive issues occur towards the run and move, in addition to a rusher.”
NFL.com, Chad Reuter
Lloyd’s choice:No. 20, Minnesota Vikings (in projected commerce)
Reuter’s evaluation: “Lloyd jogs my memory of a extra slight model of Anthony Barr, a longtime Vikings star who's at the moment a free agent. Lloyd can play exterior or inside and have become fairly adept at speeding the passer when given the possibility final fall.”
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic
Lloyd’s choice:No. 21, New England Patriots
Baumgardner’s evaluation: “The Patriots might additionally use assist up the center defensively, and in an excellent linebacker class, it doesn’t get higher than Lloyd. He could possibly be too robust to move on.”
NFL.com, Maurice Jones-Drew
Lloyd’s choice:No. 21, New England Patriots
Jones-Drew’s evaluation: “Lloyd is a high-IQ chief in the midst of the protection, filling a gap left by the presumed departures of Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins in free company. He steps proper in to play alongside — and study from — veteran Matthew Judon.”
Sports activities Illustrated, Zack Patraw
Lloyd’s choice:No. 21, New England Patriots
Patraw’s evaluation: “Displaying good leverage when taking over blocks, he possesses the size to lock out and even outreach blockers. He makes use of his fast lateral agility to keep away from blockers in area.”
The Draft Community, Brentley Weissman
Lloyd’s choice:No. 26, Tennessee Titans
Weissman’s evaluation: “Lloyd is a protracted and instinctive linebacker who provides three-down skill as an efficient participant towards the run and move. I do know Titans followers love them some Zach Cunningham however Lloyd is a considerably higher participant.”
The Ringer, Danny Kelly
Lloyd’s choice:No. 28, Inexperienced Bay Packers
Kelly’s evaluation: “Lloyd pairs up with the not too long ago re-signed De’Vondre Campbell to provide Inexperienced Bay a pair of rangy playmakers in the midst of the protection.”
CBS Sports activities, Tom Fornelli
Lloyd’s choice:Not chosen in first spherical
Of observe: Fornelli has the Philadelphia Eagles taking Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean, seen as the opposite prime linebacker together with Lloyd on this 12 months’s class, at No. 19.
When is the 2022 NFL draft?
- April 28-30.
- Las Vegas.
- On TV:ESPN, ABC, NFL Community.
- Begin occasions: April 28 (Spherical 1), 6 p.m. MDT; April 29 (Rounds 2-3), 5 p.m; April 30 (Spherical 4-7), 10 a.m.