It also helps that Araiza is a quality kickoff specialist, as he has finished in the top-5 in the FBS in average distance on kickoffs in 2020, and his touchback percentage of 84.9 percent was the fourth-most in the nation in 2021. There have been multiple third-round selections, while FSU punter John Stark was a second-round choice in 1982. 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. The truth of the matter, however, is that Araiza is just the tip of the iceberg of a talented punting class. NFL Draft: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God His booming kicks made fourth-and-long must-watch TV at San Diego State. Fewer punters have been more consistent than the Georgia prospect. Certainly, the conversation around Araiza as a potential Day 2 prospect fuels that narrative. During his three-year stint as the starter for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza boomed a 71-yard long punt. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. 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. Our written profile to add to our NIL Apparel and Podcast Interview of College Football's #1 Punter #sdsu #NFLDraft. 2022 NFL Draft Predictions: Matt Araiza leads class of at least three punters picked, The punter prospects projected to be drafted in this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, Ryan Stonehouse and Cameron Dicker round out punter predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft. Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. That might scare some people given the hype and eventual failures of Roberto Aguayo, but some team will still take a shot on him earlier than the average punter. 17 for the first round of the draft. 31, the Cincinnati Bengals sit in one of the most interesting spots of any team in the 2022 NFL draft. Obviously, the ability to pin your opponent deep in their own territory represents a significant advantage. Can he step, drop, and reset to cut off Khalil Mack trying to knife inside? 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. That said, it appears unlikely that Araiza will be a realistic target for them unless he somehow falls to Round 5. Punter. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Ill make a bold statement and say that, if the Bears trade down and acquire a pick in Round 4, I wouldnt be furious if they took Araiza with that selection. We explored a massive trade-down scenario in a recent seven-round mock draft. That ability to flip the field to pin opponents deep in their own half, no matter where his own offense stalls out serves as a cheat code. . 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. The Buffalo Bills had no choice but to cut their youngpunter after so badly botching their response to our claim, Gilleon said in a statement, per the AP. Buffalo Bills could target insanely good punter Matt Araiza early in Before we produce the punting protagonists of this 2022 NFL Draft prediction, its worth discussing the place this class could hold in NFL history. 1. player. Negatives: Takes a while to get the ball off his foot. In Araizas scouting report, we break through the numbers and noise to scrutinize his pro potential ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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). Matt Araiza draft rumors: San Diego State punter declares for 2022 NFL Araiza also boomed an 86-yard punt last season, which was the longest in college football. Possesses a monster leg, gets tremendous hang time on punts, and allows coverage teams to get downfield and make the play. and 387lb (!!) There have only been 10 punts of 80 yards in the entirety of college football this century. Above is a plot of the average. Although there's some concern that Araiza's booming punts could lead to him outkicking his coverage, San Diego State seemed to do just fine covering his punts. Versatility is next to ability or something of that nature. 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. 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. According to NYup.com, Moulds shared a video of Shakir working out with him. Araiza has made three 50-yard field goals so far this season, the second most in NCAA football. Hes unlikely to be the first defensive lineman off the board. Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News, for example, projects Araiza to go 174th overall to the defending AFC champion Bengals. All this high school success mattered very little when it came to the recruiting process. 2023 Draft Scout/NCAA College Football These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? Somebody Will Draft This 'God.' Why Not the Vikings? Look how Hawaii prepped for Matt Araiza. Matt Araiza 2022 NFL Draft Profile. But when you boom not just one, but two punts over 80 yards, you earn some attention. They ignored us, [when] I warned them [what] would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. 16.0. 2022 NFL Draft: Matt Araiza Highlights, Punting Stats - The Duel 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 youre sitting comfortably, lets begin. MKFs unique style and gameplay make betting fun and easy. 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. Matt Araiza Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights, 2022 NFL Draft Projection Jump around this article Click to show Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. , our 15th-highest-ranked prospect. Scroll through to view photos of P Matt Araiza, Buffalo's pick in the sixth round, 180th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. Stroud Shares Praise for Justin Fields, Fields former OSU teammate and top draft prospect spoke highly of the Bears QB at a Combine media session, Trevis Gipson to particpate in NFL Career Tours. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Now for the burning question: where will Araiza be drafted in April? Incredible run. The Sporting News breaks down everything you need to know about Araiza's record-breaking season in 2021, and the elite group of punters he hopes to join who managed to leverage their collegiate career into high draft picks: Despite Araiza's incredible 2021 season, he is not expected to be among the highest-drafted punters of all time. Matt Araiza had two punts of more than 80 yards last season, including an 86-yarder that was the longest punt in college football.He might be able to punt a football from San Diego to Buffalo. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. 5th Year Option Projections; Free Agency. 2022 NFL Draft: Profiles for 20 potential LA Rams picks on Day 3 But why wasnt he on the field for Georgia on third down? a general manager told NBCs Peter King at the combine. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. Just How High Could Elite Punter Matt Araiza Be Drafted? Hes not just the last line of defense, either. 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. That said, Matt Araiza is a generational talent at punter. Chatter among leaky scouts has suggested that Faalele may be too big to play tackle in the league, that he will struggle to dip and sink to wall off the leagues premier dip-and-rip pass-rushers. This begs the question: how well will Matt Araiza transition to the NFL? He only makes two steps upon catching the ball, as opposed to a running start that some college punters use. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically . Bills claim that they knew nothing of Matt Araiza allegations seems The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. But there are tantalising stories further down the board. The 22-year-old was expected to be the Bills' starting punter after playing well during the preseason. 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. 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. We have an 86 yard punt EIGHTY SIX (CC @RKalland) pic.twitter.com/KIi5d3VTTO. With his power and quick punting style, gunners often have minimal time to cover Araizas punts. With only two defenders shooting downfield, returning teams dont have to worry as much about initial pressure up the middle and have more of an opportunity to rush the punter. Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. He also has the FBS record for 60+ yard punts. Dicker The Kicker has a 46.3-yard career punting average and 75.9% career field-goal completion. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. 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 . He also set the FBS mark for 50-yard punts with his 33rd of the season. Forces a lot of fair catches. While college kickers take their share of criticism, the level of scrutiny and the ability to quickly lose your job in the NFL requires an exceptional level of equilibrium. This wasnt just a one-off occurrence either. He has a repeatable and pro-ready approach with consistently polished footwork. Daniel Faalele after Minnesotas win over Colorado in September. What Matt Araiza did in college football was revolutionary from a position where it's tough to disrupt how the game is played. Former San Diego State Punter Matt Araiza Discusses NFL Future - NBC 7 His broad jump of 10 1 was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including Aidan Hutchinson, David Bell, Isaiah Spiller, Brian Robinson Jr., and Trey McBride. NFL Draft: 6 Former Aztecs Among Hopefuls Vying for a Place in the Pros Could Matt Araiza be the next one? The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the best punter in college football. Matt Araiza is one of the only players in the 2022 NFL Draft who can make an immediate impact. 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. Field Pos. Shakir, a fifth-round rookie in 2022, got off to a slow start in his career. 2022 NFL Draft: Many position groups boosted by early entrants As a San Diego native, there was naturally just one choice. DB/Specialist Pre-Draft Notes (2022 NFL Draft) by Shane Hallam April 21, 2022 0 520. Let them know that we sent you! The biggest thing to note from the preseason is Epenesa. Other Draft Prospects: TE Daniel Bellinger (UFA), LB Caden McDonald (UFA) 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. Before we get into the sexier traits of punter scouting if such a thing exists I want to get into San Diego States punt formation being a benefit for Araiza. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | 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 Overview. Araiza is set to be one of the highest-selected punters in recent NFL Draft history. The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. The NFL Draft doesn't usually give us very many surprises when it comes to punting, but it came through with two big surprises on Saturday. We look into all the details of Bills P Matt Araiza's Gang Rape Case By. MattAraiza. The following is a complete Matt Araiza NFL Draft profile, including stats, highlights and a mock projection. We're not controlling field position.' I hope he is back in the NFL soon., Asked about the decision not to contact Gilleon, Bills GM Brandon Beane said in a press conference that Kathryn DAngelo, the teams attorney, heard what he had to say and thats when we began our process., Were not perfect. 3 things to know about Bills 6th-round pick P Matt Araiza However, that doesnt mean that his scouting report doesnt reveal some areas for improvement. Together, they were unblockable. I recognize that my train of thought may be different from the rest of the league. Now, he is one of the rarest prospects in football: a punter with buzz. Khalil Shakir is going down the well of a former Buffalo Bills great to hopefully improve in Year 2: Eric Moulds. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? Punter prospects in the NFL Draft are more commonplace than youd presume. But, thats not all Araiza can do. (Interestingly, I found out while researching this that Cleveland used second round picks in both 1977 and 1978 to draft a punter. Use our promo code VENDETTA or use the link below to get a 100% instant matchon any deposit. During his first two seasons with the Aztecs, he hit long field goals of 48 yards (Wyoming 19, Colorado 20). This reinforces the significance of gross versus net punting averages. 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. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. Matt Araiza's rape accuser speaks out: "I had no idea who Matt Araiza Matt Araiza College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits | College Pro football is a game of land acquisition, played four downs at a time. 2022 NFL Draft Team Mock Drafts. 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? Hawaii had to employ an insane punt coverage against him. San Diego State wasnt prepared for this 10-man rush of the punter, but that didnt matter to Araiza. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams.. Corey Bojorquez has also shown inconsistency. The rest of the league has moved to embrace the off-script creators, players who can go and get a bucket all by themselves with their arms or legs when the offensive structure breaks down. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Inconsistent accuracy on his field goals. Tracker; Grades; Spending; Tenders; Draft. Although Araiza saw plenty of action at San Diego State, he might not see the field much in Buffalo. They call him Punt God. NFL GMs have got to love that. Such a talented punter can serve as a valuable asset for a defense, as burying the opposing offense deep into their own territory makes their lives a lot easier. Matt Araiza boots 90-yard punt (!!), wins college football weekend Lets start with the obvious. San Diego State's Matt Araiza, meanwhile, might have the strongest leg in the draft. Araiza has a pure fourth-round grade on my board, and he is one point away in my grading scale from what would be considered the greatest punting prospect of all time. One theory on why he fell is because he's never held for extra point or field goals. Matt Araiza. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. Even then, the potential power lingering in his left leg remained lowkey. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. Currently, Matt Araiza is projected to go around the 5th or 6th round, but that could easily change as we get closer . He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. # . Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we dont want to see. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. Continue with Recommended Cookies, (Derrick Tuskan/San Diego State Athletics). Born in Nigeria, Ojabo moved to Scotland in 2007 before heading to the US to attend high school. 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. The previous year, he punted five times for 249 yards, averaging 49.8 yards per punt. Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. With his all-around contributions, Stout truly puts the special in special teams. Moreover, his lack of blocked kicks demonstrates that Araiza consistently gets good elevation. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. 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. Punts in between the 30s (2021 only):Jordan Stout, Penn State (36 Punts)Inside 20 83%Inside 10 53%Touchback 6%Average Field Pos. Although he didnt participate in any all-star games, Araizas ascension has continued through the pre-draft process. The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. The list of accomplishments is unreal. This provides for a quicker delivery and is the standard in the NFL. Updated. Brewer. A versatile punter who can flip field position and force the opposition to account for him while nailing game-winning field goals with regularity is hard to find. No charges filed against Matt Araiza, ex-teammates in SDSU gang rape case NFL Draft 2022: Why 'Punt God' Matt Araiza was third off the board Araiza was widely viewed as the top punting prospect after a 2021 college season that ended with him winning the Ray Guy award. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Matt Araiza Despite his relatively low recruiting profile, there was a level of expectation around the program when the versatile kicking weapon was finally handed the opportunity to play for the Aztecs in 2019. Matt Araiza Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Matt Araiza draft projection. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. The 21-year-old is a special teams star who won the. and that Bill Belichick is already salivating over using a second-round pick on him in the 2022 NFL Draft. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. At 6ft 9in (!) This next punt traveled 88 yards through the air, landing from his own 12-yard line to the literal goal line. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. Used as a field-goal kicker for San Diego State and shows the ability to hit them from long distance. All the more impressive, the 2021 season was Araiza's first taking on full-time punting duties for the Aztecs. https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. Does a terrific job selling fake punts. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. Araiza served as SDSU's placekicker while he was in college, so he's never had to hold. I was 17 years old and I had no idea who Matt Araiza was," she said. Araiza, who was released by the Bills on Saturday, was accused of being involved in the gang rape of a 17-year-old, with details coming to light after a lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court accusing Araiza and two of his teammates at San Diego State. Heading into the pre-draft process, Ojabo was projected to be a top-15 pick. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. A three-time CIF San Diego State section Kicker of the Year and a sophomore first-team All-American, Araizas athletic accolades werent restricted to the football field. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. "He was like, 'You're outkicking your coverage. Araiza's controversial stay in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills is well noted. This power was proved in the 2021 season, as he had 18 punts of 60+ yards and two of 80+ yards. 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Araiza | Prime Time Sports Talk 17 for the first round of the draft. He maintained composure in a penetrated backfield, and he was able to send the ball 65 yards through the air with ease. His ceiling could be much higher. Report: Some NFL teams knew of Matt Araiza allegations before 2022 draft He is a big-armed, big-bodied quarterback who plays in the classic, dropback, Carson Palmer style. Login. The LA Chargers have 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft and there is a chance that the team could draft San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. Some collegiate punters especially Australian punters with Aussie rule backgrounds work out of a rugby-style delivery, which includes wider splits between blockers and a running approach from the punter before kicking it low with the intention of having it bounce and be difficult for returners to field. Matt Araiza NFL Draft projections. For more 2022 NFL Draft coverage and player profiles, check out our NFL Draft page. NFL punter Matt Araiza and two San Diego State football players accused in gang-rape lawsuit. The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . Matt Araiza #19 of the Buffalo Bills takes the field during practice on Aug. 5, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York. Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. It is officially mock draft season! Some NFL teams knew about Matt Araiza incident before the draft Despite that, things haven't really changed from out first look at it. As Araiza prepares to break positional norms in the 2022 NFL Draft class, his prolific performances as a punter can be traced back to his roots at Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego. Of the 27 punters drafted in the past 15 seasons, just six of these players have made a Pro Bowl these six punters only made one Pro Bowl each. DBs and Specialists. Indeed, it wouldnt be jaw-dropping to see Araiza a punter! San Diego State. 201. That, combined with the more condensed splits in the NFL, makes a rugby-style delivery tough to impossible to pull off consistently.