Mel Kiper Jr., Football analyst 3y

2022 NFL draft surprises: Kiper picks rising prospects, sleepers and early-season takeaways

NFL, NFL Draft, College Football, Liberty Flames, Michigan State Spartans, Ole Miss Rebels, Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners

With most college football teams playing three games so far, we've gotten a decent look at what's real and what's a mirage after an offseason of evaluating the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft. We know that Alabama is the best team in the country -- again -- and that its roster is loaded with NFL talent. Clemson and Ohio State, on the other hand, are off to rocky starts after seeing their first-round quarterbacks get drafted.

So I was asked this week: "Mel, which prospects have surprised you most this season?"And well, it's a long answer. I still don't quite know what to make of the 2022 quarterback class. There have been some inconsistent performances in the first month. I still have some questions about how the edge rusher and wide receiver classes will shake out, and the running back class is deep and always shuffling.

I picked a few of my early-season surprises, starting with a quarterback who was on my preseason Big Board and looks like the real deal. I also picked a prospect who is rising after Saturday's games, along with an under-the-radar prospect to keep an eye on throughout the rest of the season:

Jump to:
Draft riser | Under-the-radar prospect

Biggest surprises of the season so far

QB Malik Willis is no one-year wonder

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