Devonte Wyatt Is The Best Interior Defensive Linemen In The 2022 NFL Draft
Devonte Wyatt out of Georgia is the best interior defensive lineman in the 2022 NFL Draft, and I don’t think it’s particularly close.
No, this is not a draft season hot take trying to drum up buzz, this is quite literally how I feel about this defensive line class. All the talk has been about the edge defenders, and rightfully so because they’re absolutely awesome, and when comparing the edge prospects to the interior linemen it does not contest that the edge guys are overall much much better. However, that doesn’t mean that we should ignore this position group. Devonte Wyatt is my IDL1, and here’s why.
First off, he and Jordan Davis are comparable in the run game. There is no doubt that Davis is the better run defender, but Wyatt isn’t that far off. Both possess great play strength, and Wyatt utilizes hand moves and technique more often and to a higher level than Davis. As for who is the better pass rusher, it’s not even close, Wyatt is significantly better.
Wyatt is quick off the ball, he has great pass rush moves and can keep a good pad level. It was clear he was the best defensive lineman on this dominant Georgia defense. Davis is a pocket compressor, while Wyatt is a true pass rusher. He has a solid collection of moves, and he knows how to use them.
He’s a true every-down player, that’s why he’s a first-round player and the best interior defensive lineman in this class. The added value of being able to be an important factor in the passing game, not having to be taken off the field in these big situations, and playing a solid number of snaps are what put Devonte Wyatt as IDL1 in this draft for me.
