NFL Draft 2022: Recap and analysis after the weekend of picks

Picks that made me pause: Special teamers over the “Punt God”

These selections just go to show how some felt about this draft class as a whole. Rather than adding pieces to their offenses or defenses, the Cleveland Browns added kicker Cade York, the Ravens selected their punter in Stout, as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who drafted Jake Camarda, all in the fourth round.

I’m not knocking the picks at all, especially with the teams addressing their respective needs with some strong special team prospects. But to think three combined kickers and punters went that early is very surprising.

Also, in particular, with those two punters, both of which went before Matt Araiza, who some believe could be the best punter prospect of all time.

Araiza did end up in a good situation in Buffalo, as the Bills were linked to the San Diego State product throughout the process.

And he should be able to compete for the starting spot right away, as Matt Haack’s 42.9 yards per punt last season were third-fewest for any NFL punter who played in 15 or more games.

Araiza should have no issues with his distance, as he set a new NCAA record for yards per punt average in 2021 (51.2). The lefty punter brings a boot that generated 70-plus yard punts on six occasions last fall.