Three Illinois Fighting Illini football players heard their names called in the 2022 NFL Draft: Kerby Joseph (3rd round, Detroit Lions), Vederian Lowe (6th round, Minnesota Vikings), and Doug Kramer (6th round, Chicago Bears). Kramer and Lowe were both expected to be drafted, as they had the experience and measurables necessary for the next level. But at this time last year I would’ve been stunned if someone had told me that Kerby Joseph would be a 2022 third-round draft pick.
As Joseph showed last year, you never really can know who’s going to burst onto the scene and emerge as a top draft candidate, but as it stands today, these are the top-2 most draft-ready Illini on offense and defense.