The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Cameron Thomas 2022 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge Rusher
Size: 6-foot-5, 270 pounds
Class: Redshirt Junior
2021 stats: 71 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Thomas was a solid player for his first two years in college, but really broke out in 2021. Now, he is taking that momentum with him to the NFL.
As a three-star prospect out of California, Thomas decided to sign with San Diego State out of high school. He redshirted his first season on campus, but tallied nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2019. His play earned him Mountain West First Team recognition and he helped the Aztecs win 10 games, including the New Mexico Bowl. He repeated on the Mountain West First Team in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, registering 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. San Diego State went 4-4 and did not play in a bowl game. Thomas impressed enough to be a Second Team All-American in the 2020 season with 20.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He was the best player on an Aztecs team that won 12 games including the Frisco Bowl.
After a great season and solid career, Thomas decided to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a second to third-round pick.
Thomas has a great frame for an edge defender in the NFL. He stands at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, which means his frame is filled out well for a draft prospect. To go along with his size, he also has good length for an edge rusher, which he knows how to utilize well.
His ability to stop the run is among the best in the class for edge rushers. He has the strength to help him shed blocks. Once he does that, he has good eye discipline and fulfills his assignment. He shows good pursuit and is a good tackler. There are plenty of times were he gets to the ball carrier quickly and stops them for a loss.
He has good hands and a variety of different pass rush moves. Thomas has good hand power, timing and placement, which is primarily how he wins his matchups. He has a well-developed pass-rush repotoire, that includes swims, rips and a nice bull rush, which especially comes in handy on the outside. Both his hands and pass rush moves will need to help him overcome some of his athletic limitations.
His athleticism is not the greatest in the class. While he has a solid first step, he isn’t going to be able to win with speed at the next level. His best bet is converting it to power, but he can’t win the edge with speed. That also is because he isn’t very flexible. He will struggle to bend around the edge.
Thomas may register as a “tweener” at the next level. He lacks the explosiveness that is desired by many NFL edge rushers. On top of that, he is too small to play 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle. He will need to add plenty of weight to fill those roles, so his best bet might be to just be a big edge rusher who has to win with power and pass-rushing moves.
There are plenty of times where Thomas loses leverage in his matchup. He can stand too straight up, which makes him lose his power. If he can work on keeping his pad level low, he will retain that power and win more of his matchups.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
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