The reigning Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter, Araiza set an FBS record with a 51.19-yard . 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. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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. The term generational talent is incredibly cliche and should be avoided more often than not, as hyperbolic analysts can throw it around to simply describe prospects who are very good, regardless of whether theyre far and away better than other players at their position over the last few decades. SOMEONE GET ME A TABLE!! 16.0. In 35 games across three years at San Diego State, he punted 84 times for 4,293 yards a 51.1 yards-per-punt rate. Araiza can take up one spot on a roster, rather than a team having to carry a player at both punter and placekicker. 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. Among the players expected to hear his name is punter Matt Araiza out of San Diego State. And yet, the prediction of a multiple-punter class in the 2022 NFL Draft might surprise a few people. The [] 1. player. It is not a good look for a franchise that prides itself on culture and character. Should the LA Chargers draft punter Matt Araiza in the 2022 NFL Draft? Meanwhile, Araiza saw some sophomore struggles, completing only 71% of his field goals and missing an extra point for the first time in his career. Could Matt Araiza be the next one? During his three-year stint as the starter for Rancho Bernardo, Araiza boomed a 71-yard long punt. In a sign of things to come at the collegiate level, his 37 career field goals set a San Diego Section record. Punter prospects are rare, multiple in the same class are even more so. Matt Araiza expecting NFL return after Mexican team confusion Four punters were chosen in the 2016 NFL Draft. He gets the ball off quickly and generates an insane amount of force from his left leg. But, thats not all Araiza can do. Get the latest on Buffalo Bills P Matt Araiza including news, stats, videos, and more on CBSSports.com . Throughout his time as an Aztec, Araiza also successfully . The prolific punter also showcased his versatility as a powerful placekicker, hitting 77% of his 48 attempts with a career long of 53 yards. Yet, in San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, the 2022 NFL Draft class might possess the most high-profile and highly skilled punter prospect in recent history. Consistency. Consistent ball striking, hang time, and placement are key factors in punter evaluation. 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. Punt God and a 387lb Aussie: the 2022 NFL draft's most intriguing prospects Araiza joined the NFL in April as a sixth-round draft pick. Matt Araiza was selected in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. From his own end zone here, he manages to kick the ball roughly 70 yards through the air, and it bounces enough to make it an 86-yard punt in the stat book. Matt (@matt_araiza) / Twitter Matt Araiza is sued for gang rape - ProFootballTalk 17 for the first round of the draft. No punter has been selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since 1995. "The coach I had for my first eight years in New Orleans, if I hit a punt over 55 yards, he was mad," Morstead said. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. In 1976 and 1978, a whopping eight punters were drafted. He also has the ability to make tackles, with speed and athleticism. With Araiza now in Buffalo, that puts veteran punter Matt Haack on the hot seat. Surely theres some NFL team that takes him earlier than you would expect. 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. NFL Draft: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God His booming kicks made fourth-and-long must-watch TV at San Diego State. And no, thats not the type of gimmicky love youll see bestowed on some other athletes in minor roles. His season average of 51.19 yards set a new single-season record. Not only has he shown his prowess as a punter, but Coach Maalouf adds he kicked off as well and was good at it. The big-footed San Diego native is considered one of the best prospects in his position over the years and many are eager to see . 2022 NFL Draft: Matt "Punt God" Araiza Scouting Report We look into all the details of Bills P Matt Araiza's Gang Rape Case Stout was slightly ahead of him at 44.5 while Camarda was well below both guys at 41.6. Matt Araiza: Bills rookie crushes 82-yard punt in NFL preseason debut 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at August 28, 2022 2:44pm. , given to the best punter in college football. No charges filed against Matt Araiza, ex-teammates in SDSU gang rape case Youll see here part of what makes Araiza so special. Login. Getting off the field on third downs is a staple of shouty-man-on-TV analysis, but success on first downs is more predictive of long-term success. Or are they? 17 for the first round of the draft. These traits make for an incredibly impressive athlete, but how would he test at the NFL Combine? His, was better than many who are projected to be high draft selections, including. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. An all-around special teams contributor, the 2021 unanimous All-American had kickoff duties for San Diego State. Araiza can be quite a weapon for NFL teams adding a punter in the 2022 draft. 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 a replication of Guys first-round selection is as unlikely as Pat Bradys 99-yard punt for Nevada in 1950, Araizas scouting report reveals an NFL-worthy talent who should hear his name called as early as Day 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Matt Araiza'The Weapon' Ready to Destroy Your Perception of an NFL Punter. A fifth-round selection for Araiza would not be particularly noteworthy in the history of punters taken in the NFL draft. Draft Order & Rookie Pools; . You cant even tell that traveling more than 60 yards through the air is a difficult task for a punter by how easy Araiza makes it look. SDSU Aztecs in the 2022 NFL Draft | East Village Times That hasn't happened for a punter since 2012, when Jacksonville selected Cal's . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I am sure he is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney, Araizas lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, told the AP. Furthermore, Todd Sauerbrun, Rohn Stark, Johnny Evans, and Tom Skladany were all punters selected in the second round. 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. Both batches of decision-makers agree on one overriding idea: Field position really, really matters. Colorado States Ryan Stonehouse featured just behind Araiza this year, with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. Can he step, drop, and reset to cut off Khalil Mack trying to knife inside? But why wasnt he on the field for Georgia on third down? a general manager told NBCs Peter King at the combine. Matt Araiza came into the 2022 NFL Draft as a fan favorite. He is a threat to cover his own punts and kicks. At worst, the allegation contained in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday that Araiza, a former San Diego State star . Position: K. 6-2 , 200lb (188cm, 90kg) Draft: 6th round, 180th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. One of the most exciting prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft is San Diego State University's Matt Araiza. The 2022 NFL draft is a little over two weeks away. 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. Although he was the top punting prospect in the draft, Araiza ended up being the third punter selected. A two-star prospect, Araiza was the 20th-ranked kicker in the 2018 class. Kenny Pickett College Football Highlights 2021, Aaron Rodgers is Using Leverage to Help Davante Adams, DEBUT Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen! 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. 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. If Araiza is the Punt God and Camarda is Mr. The WCG crew ran through several free agency questions in this roundtable, and today we gave our pick for the signings we want the Bears to avoid. Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. Matt Araiza did the unthinkable for a punter during the 2021 college football season. #Bills #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EA1iEWkdyA. These primarily center around consistency. Matt Araiza: Did get drafted| NFL Draft| Parents| Highlights San Diego State's Matt Araiza headlines a potentially historic 2022 NFL Draft class with at least three punters picked in our projections. | NFL All Day Pack Opening, Jimbo Fisher Isnt Leaving Texas A&M Football, New Texas State Football Coach Wont Last Long, Best PrizePicks College Football DFS Picks and Player Props for CFP National Championship, TCU vs Georgia Prediction, Odds and College Football National Championship Betting Picks, Marcus Jones Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights and 2022 NFL Draft Projection, Cameron Dicker Draft Profile: Stats, Highlights and 2022 NFL Draft Projection, How To Watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury In Canada, Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury LIVE! Potential Chargers draft targets: Punter Matt Araiza has their As a junior, Araiza would be eligible for the NFL Draft in both 2022 and 2023. Of course, draft analysis, projections and rumors will be dominating the headlines until then. Matt Araiza is currently projected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. Can he shuffle his size-18 feet quickly enough to keep up with Von Miller off the edge? The Ray Guy Award bears his name. Bills get the Punt God in the SIXTH ROUND. Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead recently explained to the Athletic why that's a concern. Araiza sits neatly at the intersection of crusty old Football Guys and the new wave of analytically inclined general managers. 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. According to the Associated Press, executives from two different NFL teams became aware that Araiza had been involved in an incident in the lead-up to the draft, though they didnt know the extent of the allegations. The injury has continued to plague his career, forcing further surgeries in 2020 and 2021. As a result, theres an ever-growing feeling that his floor in the 2022 NFL Draft will be the fifth round. 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. 5th Year Option Projections; Free Agency. Araiza now holds the record for punts of 50+ yards. Following a flourish of free agency action, theres a clearer picture of NFL team needs. But there are questions about Davis viability at the NFL level. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, . Carson Strong has a great arm but teams will worry about his injury history. He believes it is worth taking chances on other positions earlier in the draft rather than a punter. MKFs unique style and gameplay make betting fun and easy. Matt Araiza's rape accuser speaks out: "I had no idea who Matt Araiza The relationship is not close to being statistically significant here, and the R-squared value is almost negligible. 2023 Mock Drafts 2024 Mock Drafts 2025 Mock Drafts. 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.