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Illinois Football: Illini prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft

By Rees Woodcock

Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the NFL shield logo before the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the NFL shield logo before the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph (25) intercepts the ball in the end zone during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.Cfb Purdue Vs Illinois /

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and the Illinois football team has a handful of players who are looking to stick with a franchise.

Throughout much of the 2000s and into the early 2010s, the Illini were putting players into the NFL via the draft. In a 10-year span of the NFL Draft – from 2007 through 2016 – Illinois had 22 players drafted. Over the past five drafts, things have dried up a bit, though. Only four Illini players have been drafted in the five years.

Illinois is looking pretty good to get at least one player picked for the 2022 NFL Draft. If that is the case, it would make the second year in a row the Orange and Blue have had someone picked. Last year, both Kendrick Green and Nate Hobbs were selected in the third and fifth rounds, respectively.

Here is a look at the Illinois football prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Kerby Joseph

The highest-graded player Illinois has in the draft right now is Kerby Joseph. The talented cornerback is coming into the NFL ranks as a safety.

Joseph spent four seasons with the Illini and capped his great career off in 2021 with him being named to the All-Big Ten first team by the media. He was also graded the best defensive back in the nation by Pro Football Focus. Joseph would finish his senior year with 57 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two pass deflections, and a sack.

NFL.com has Joseph graded at 6.10, which puts him as the No. 167 player in the NFL Draft. But the NFL Draft analyst, Chad Reuter, does not have Joseph getting picked in his mock draft. I did find where CBS’ Josh Edwards does have Joseph as the first pick for the Illini in the third round going to the Lions.

The Lions wouldn’t be a bad team to go with. Detroit is one of the teams that come to mind when thinking of secondary weakness. Baltimore is another team to watch. They gave up the most passes of 20 yards and 40 yards last season. Don’t count out Houston either. The Texans were sixth in the league in allowing 40+ yard pass in 2021. Lovie Smith is also the head coach in Houston, and he coached Joseph for multiple years at Illinois.

Teams to watch

  • Detroit Lions
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Houston Texans
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