It's not often the best player on a team is the punter, but that was the case for the Aztecs last season. The buzz over this punting class begins with Araiza. , given to the best punter in college football. The fact that Araiza can punt, take field goals, and act as the kickoff man for a team is a crucial element of his scouting report. If Im punting five to seven times per game and the disparity in average yards is just a few, this doesnt translate to that significant of a difference overall. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. Hes not just the last line of defense, either. Punt God. All Rights Reserved. So why not invest a valuable resource in a player who can boom the ball farther, higher, and with more accuracy than anyone else at his position? Banners rationale is driven by the notion of replacement value. August 28, 2022 2:44pm. 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. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Whoever drafts him could be ending up with a perennial All-Pro talent. Jimmypinthe416 says: August 28, 2022 at 11:39 am Was belichik lying when he drafted Hernandez. The term generational talent is incredibly cliche and should be avoided more often than not, as hyperbolic analysts can throw it around to simply describe prospects who are very good, regardless of whether theyre far and away better than other players at their position over the last few decades. I am sure he is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney, Araizas lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, told the AP. The [] All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. According to the Associated Press, executives from two different NFL teams became aware that Araiza had been involved in an incident in the lead-up to the draft, though they didnt know the extent of the allegations. Hawaii had to employ an insane punt coverage against him. On his list of the top 150 prospects on NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah listed Araiza at No. However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. Entry: 2022 Draft, Round 6, #180 overall (Bills) Contract History. Matt Araiza is one of the more fascinating prospects of the 2022 NFL Draft which is saying something, considering he's a punter. 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. That isnt the case for Araiza, whose naturally quick delivery makes it easy for him to get the ball out and seriously flip field position for his team. For context, two Pro Bowl punters are named each year, leaving about an 20% clip of the Pro Bowl punters in the last 15 seasons being players who were drafted. For the . Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. 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. However, this style doesnt really translate to the NFL. It is officially mock draft season! Or are they? During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). He created a draft buzz. Now time for my prediction: I believe Matt Araiza will be selected in the later portion of Round 4, or in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. NFL GMs have got to love that. 2:39 pm ET, did he lead the nation in punting average, 2023 NFL free agent interior offensive linemen, NFL free agent offensive tackles: Sizing up 2023 market, Free agent WR market: Breaking down available talent, NFL 2023 free agency: Top TEs set to hit open market, NFL 2023 free agency: Top RBs set to hit open market, 'Punt God' Matt Araiza not first punter taken, NFL Combine: QB, WR, TE run 40s, compete in drills, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Rodgers' trade value, logistics, best fit, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. Since 2000, just two draft classes (2017 and 2011) have not had a punter selected to the NFL. If this was 2005, Strong would be in play to be the first name called. Copyright 2019-2023. Check this out. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. Araiza may be the greatest college punter of all time. While his power has never been in question, the San Diego State punter displayed accuracy while placing punts with aplomb in front of the eyes of the NFL. And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. An achilles injury at Michigans pro day has seen his stock take a hit and served as an example of the dark side of the draft process. 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. In this graphic, there appears to be nearly no association between where a player was selected and his average AV per season. If you look at his numbers, it's pretty clear that Araiza has one of the strongest legs of any punting prospect in NFL history. 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. Matt Araiza Overview. Araiza has a cannon for a leg, shown with his. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. Colorado States Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. The only question now is whether the franchise that selects him is stocked up on enough XXXXXXXXL gear. They ignored us, [when] I warned them [what] would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand. Let them know that we sent you! During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). Get the latest on Buffalo Bills P Matt Araiza including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. He was an unanimous All-American and the Ray Guy Award winner in 2021, making FBS history as the single-season leader with 51.19 yards . San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images) Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. 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? He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. There have only been two draft classes since the turn of the century where a punter hasnt been selected in the NFL Draft. Even these statistical accomplishments usually wouldnt attract the adoration that Araiza has received in this NFL Draft process. As a FG kicker, his completion percentage has declined with every college season. For this reason, I believe its time for me to do something Ive only done once before: a special teamer breakdown. Other Aztecs are also headed for the NFL Draft as well. 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. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 17 for the first round of the draft. If we include the multi-faceted Travon Walker in the discussion, he may wind up being the third defensive lineman taken from Georgias all-world defensive front. If Araiza is the Punt God and Camarda is Mr. According to Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus, 63 percent of Araiza's punts were downed inside the 20; another 27 were downed inside the 10. 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. In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. Brewer. Jump around this article Click to show Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. 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. Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. Could Matt Araiza be the next one? Daniel Faalele after Minnesotas win over Colorado in September. That demonstrates a level of composure that will be invaluable at the next level. The Buffalo Bills are going to have a tough decision to make. In 35 games across three years at San Diego State, he punted 84 times for 4,293 yards a 51.1 yards-per-punt rate. At the very least, remember the name Matt Araiza and the punt god designation following him. The coach offered Faalele a scholarship on the spot. 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. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. That was surprising.. But now Araiza is gone, released Saturday afternoon, and with the preseason games over, the Bills have to trim . Additionally, few of these punters have been widely recognized as the best at their position, even for one season. While a running start can provide for more power, power is far from an issue with Araiza. Faalele looks more like a long-lost third Clegane brother than a starting NFL tackle. The draft is sharpening into focus. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. Araiza denied the allegations in a statement released by his agent on Friday, but has not spoken publicly himself.