Sports Illustrated - USA (2022-05)

This spring, the defense strikes back. With offenses operating at

never-before-seen levels across the NFL, led by a crop of quarterbacks

seemingly plucked from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this year’s

draft offers a chance for defensive coordinators to load up on what

DRAFT

PREVIEW

PANTHERS

MALIK

WILLIS

QUARTERBACK

LIBERTY

Carolina owner

David Tepper has

been searching

for a franchise

quarterback

since he bought

the team in 2018.

Among this year’s

QBs, Willis has

the best chance

to become

just that.

DEREK

STINGLEY JR.

CORNERBACK

LSU

With their second

pick in the top

seven, the Giants

would do well

to add Stingley,

a boom-or-bust

prospect after a

shaky 2021 but a

lockdown corner

who dominated

during LSU’s ’ 19

title run.

TRAVON

WALKER

EDGE

GEORGIA

The Falcons are in

full rebuild mode,

meaning they

can draft the

best available

player. That

could be Walker,

arguably the

best prospect

from Georgia’s

national-title-

winning defense.

CHARLES

CROSS

OFFENSIVE

TACKLE

MISSISSIPPI ST.

After trading

Russell Wilson,

the Seahawks

can take the long

view this spring.

Cross, a nimble,

prototypical

blind-side

protector, has a

chance to be a

cornerstone piece.

• PICK^ ACQUIRED^ VIA^ TRADE

JETS*

AHMAD

GARDNER

CORNERBACK

CINCINNATI

“Sauce” has the

kind of rare size

( 6 ' 3 ") Jets coach

Robert Saleh

wants in his

cornerbacks

and the

athleticism to

thrive playing

in a variety of

coverages for

Gang Green.

FR

OM

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BY CONOR ORR
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