The number of seasons for each punter includes every season where at least half of a season was played. Araiza is averaging 54.0 yards per punt, which would crush the NCAA and NFL records51.0 in college (set in 2018 by Braden Mann) / 51.4 in the NFL (set in 1940 by Slingin' Sammy Baugh). Teams worried about Davis role on third down should instead be focused on how he can tip the scales in their favor on the most important down of all. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Like clockwork. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. More than just power, Araiza has a punting style that causes the ball to roll forward if it is not caught. Punters are NFL Draft prospects, too always have been, always will be. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Track the most effective teams on first down in the league, and youll notice they just so happen to be the most effective defenses. There have only been two draft classes since the turn of the century where a punter hasnt been selected in the NFL Draft. Achieving a historic 12-win season and earning a spot in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings brought many advantages for the San Diego State Aztecs. The roster has been set for awhile in the defensive trenches. . 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. When it comes to punters, the bigger surprise is that the Buccaneers took Camarda over Araiza. Chicago Bears 2023 Free Agency Roundtable: Signing we expect. He is exceptional on fourth down, averaging 51.2 yards per punt in his most recent season. Matt Araiza: Wikipedia| Tackles| NFL draft projection| Stats The San Diego State punter was better than Camarda in almost every metric last season. One of the most dangerous weapons in college football is San Diego State punter Matt Araiza. And no, thats not the type of gimmicky love youll see bestowed on some other athletes in minor roles. Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. As soon as the ball left Matt Araiza's foot, the competition between the rookie and Matt Haack was over. Matt Araiza, Buffalo Bills, P - News, Stats, Bio - CBSSports.com With his power and quick punting style, gunners often have minimal time to cover Araizas punts. However, he set a new single-season program record for field goals with 22. 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. They both feature within draftable range on my recently released 2022 NFL Draft Top 300 Big Board. 16.0. Before you scoff at this notion and dismiss it based on the allegation that Reeder is a "terrible" NFL player who wasn't even drafted, let's look at how the 2 players measure up. Former Eagles President and Browns CEO Joe Banner gave his take on how he would approach this unique prospect. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . 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. Field Pos. 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. LA Rams 2022 NFL Draft Big Board for punters? Yes, punters - Ramblin' Fan SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! https://t.co/mIr2tYt8LT. My names David Ojabo. Punter. The San Diego, California native has a career kicking percentage of over 73% as the Aztecs kicker. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. Although the 40-yard-dash may not be a direct indicator of a players game speed, the fact that Araiza ran a 4.68 is notable in its own right. Araiza also succeeds as a kickoff specialist, recording 62 touchbacks on 73 attempts. 2023 NFL Combine Hand Size Results: Notable Quarterback Measurements and More, 2023 NFL Combine Risers: Christian Gonzalez, Deonte Banks, and Brian Branch Perform Well, Anthony Richardson Combine Results: Florida Star Makes Case for QB1, Jahmyr Gibbs Landing Spots: Eagles, Saints, and Cardinals Most Popular in Mock Drafts. 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. 901 . Araiza was selected by the Bills in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. This versatility only adds to his value heading into the NFL Draft since he can be the kickoff specialist as well as fill in as an emergency kicker should the starter suffer an injury during a game. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Troy . Multiple punters selected in the draft are also not as rare as youd think. Eric D. Williams goes to practice with Matt Araiza, who could be the first punter selected on Day 2 of a draft since 2012. . The San Diego, California native has a. as the Aztecs kicker. Round 5 - Philadelphia Eagles (No. Consistency. Consistent ball striking, hang time, and placement are key factors in punter evaluation. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. 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. Meanwhile, Texas specialist Cameron Dicker has punting and kicking versatility. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. Before the 2022 NFL Draft, NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Araiza to go in the third round. That is an incredibly high projection for a special teams player, as punters and kicker often . Check this out. We have an 86 yard punt EIGHTY SIX (CC @RKalland) pic.twitter.com/KIi5d3VTTO. Hawaii had to employ an insane punt coverage against him. Matt Araiza is San Diego State's record-setting punter. Personally, I would not draft a punter, regardless of how good he is, until the 7th-round the 6th-round at the earliest. 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 . Matt Araiza Overview. Forces a lot of fair catches. At Michigan, he excelled as partner in crime for Aidan Hutchinson, the projected first-overall pick in the upcoming draft. This begs the question: how well will Matt Araiza transition to the NFL? Araiza knocked it out of the park, posting numbers comparable to some highly ranked prospects. I didnt know the positions or what roles they played. What Would a Zero-RB Fantasy Football Draft Look Like in 2022? If a team is uncomfortable with your holding skills, that could absolutely lead you to dropping in the draft. Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. The Buffalo Bills released rookie punter Matt Araiza on Saturday night. As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. If I can get my punter as an UDFA instead of using a draft selection on him, that would be preferable.. But I know there are other players in the league who are told to just bang the ball as far as they can down the field, and the team is going to cover. Based on Over The Cap's projections, . 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 . 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 season Araiza hasnt had a single kick punt or field goal blocked. 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. San Diego State. Araiza can be quite a weapon for NFL teams adding a punter in the 2022 draft. Former Bills punter Matt Araiza could be in big trouble in gang-rape 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. He is a big-armed, big-bodied quarterback who plays in the classic, dropback, Carson Palmer style. In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. Stout will likely end up replacing the longtime Ravens punter, who turns 40 in August. As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, its time to put our money where our mouth is and start making some predictions about the class. Drawing attention across the media landscape driven by the king of punters himself, Pat McAfee Araiza has broken records with his ridiculously powerful left leg. I would rather draft depth at other positions, such as defensive back and linebacker, where the players can develop while contributing on special teams..