Welcome to our elective classes of the second and third rounds of the NFL 2022 Draft.
For those of you who think we have to wait a few years before evaluating the chosen ones, we do not agree. NFL teams have to make decisions in case of uncertainty. So we need to evaluate them based on what we know at the time of selection. The evaluations below will reflect not only the quality of the prospects, but also the process – in other words, whether this is a prudent use of resources given the state of the franchise.
Having said that, don’t hesitate to report me to Old Takes Exposed after a few years when they look stupid.
Statistics provided by The Beast or Pro Football Focus, unless otherwise stated.
2nd round
33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Logan Hall, Edge / DL, Houston
Hall (6 feet 6, 283) can be lined up in the defensive end when lowering the base, but its value will probably come as a roster for internal passes. This is something that every team is looking for and it is hard to find. Hall had 6.5 sacks and 13.5 wrestling losses last season as he lined up at various locations in front of Houston. His athleticism must come against the NFL strikers. Adding a quick switch makes full sense for Bucs.
Rating: B +
34. Green Bay Packers: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota
The Packers sent the Vikings the 53rd and 59th picks to rise to 34. Watson (6 feet-4, 208) has an impressive size / speed profile (4.36 miles). He caught 43 balls for 801 yards and seven touchdowns last year and an average of 20.4 yards per reception in his career. It is tested as the best athlete among this class of wide receivers.
But there are some blows against Watson. He underwent numerous knee surgeries during the 2019 off-season and missed three games last year due to a knee injury. All of Watson’s games were against FCS. And at PFF, he had a high dropout rate of 13.3% in his career.
There are obvious tools to work with, but Watson will be a 23-year-old rookie and will probably need some time to become a quality vertical threat in the NFL. Packers may be better off holding on to both kicks and throwing a few arrows at the wide receiver. Watson is far from certain.
Rating: C +
35. Tennessee Titans: Roger McCreary, CC, Auburn
McCreery (5 feet 11, 190) has had an impressive career in college with 37 saves and 6 interceptions in the last three seasons (35 games). It is sticky in the coating and competitive. But McCreary ran 4.5 and tested below average. His 28 7/8-inch arms would be among the shortest for turns in the NFL.
McCreary is a classic case of a film versus measurable. I think this is a reasonable choice.
Rating: B
36. New York Jets: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa
The Jets gave up a choice in the fifth round to advance by two places. Hall (5 feet 11, 217) is a full back who did everything for the state of Iowa. He made 718 times for 3941 yards (5.5 YPC) and 50 touchdowns in three seasons. Hall also caught 82 balls for 734 yards and six touchdowns.
According to the Dane Brugler from The Athletic, he mixes only once every 200 touches, and Hall is forcing the highest percentage of missed fights in the country, according to Sports Info Solutions (SIS).
Hall is a great prospect, but given the state of the Jets list, I’m not sure they had to spend that much on running.
Rating: C
37. Texas in Houston: Jalen Peter, S, Baylor
Pitre (5 ft-11, 198) is another fun safety prospect from this year’s class. He started 32 games in Baylor and completed the statistics last year – 76 fights (18 for loss), three jacks, three forced raffles, nine saves and two interceptions. Pitre committed zero penalties in 431 photos of coverage. According to the SIS, he lined up in the slot or box of 96% of his photos.
Pitre is a hybrid defensive back who plays with a furious personality. I like this move for Houston.
Rating: B +
38. Atlanta Falcons: Arnold Ebiquette, Edge, Penn
The Falcons gave up a choice in the fourth round to climb five places. Ebiketie (6 feet-2, 250) moved from Temple to Penn State last year and produced 9.5 sacks and 17 rebounds in 12 starts. He has 34 1/8-inch hands and has been tested as a top five athlete among edge defenders in this draft class.
Ebiketie ranks in the top 10 both in terms of fast pressure speed (how often the player applies pressure in 2.5 seconds or less) and in terms of true pressure rate (how often the player puts pressure in straight drops) according to the SIS. He designed as a man who could start his career as a rocher with rotating passes before becoming a starter. The Falcons desperately need a pass. I don’t mind them getting a little aggressive here.
Rating: B
39. Chicago Bears: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Gordon (6 feet, 194) started 17 games for Washington and ended his career with 14 saves and two interceptions. He played both outside and in the slot. Gordon ranks fifth in yards of allowable coverage, according to the SIS. But he played only 69 photos with reports for real men, for PFF. Gordon looked explosive on the field, but he ran only 4.52 and tried out as a mediocre corner athlete.
It’s fair to wonder when / how the bears plan to place supporting figures around Justin Fields. But they just need good players in first-class positions. This is a good use of resources.
Rating: B
Kyler Gordon (Jeff Holsted / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
40. Seattle Seahawks: Boy Mayf, Edge, Minnesota
Mafe (6-foot-4, 261) was strong last year with seven sacks and 10 loss fights. He only started 13 games in college, but there is some reason to believe that Mafe is a rising player. He is being tested as a top five athlete among limb defenders in this year’s class. Seahawks need quality starters in first-class positions. Making a Mafe makes perfect sense.
Rating: B
41. Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan
Walker (5 feet 9, 211) was Brugler’s top-ranked defender. He made 480 times in 2794 yards (5.8 YPC) and 35 touchdowns in 32 games (12 starts). Walker’s 46 10-yard runs were the second in the country last year. According to the SIS, he finished second in yards after contact experience (3.8) and there was only one shuffle in 2021.
Let’s be clear: Walker is a good prospect and a fun player. But the Seahawks continue to show complete disregard for position value. They pay Rashaad Penny $ 5.75 million and have huge holes up and down the list of first-class positions (including quarterbacks!). It is impossible to believe that spending a high selection in the second round for another defender is the optimal use of their resources.
Rating: D
42. Minnesota Vikings: Andrew Booth, CBC, Clemson
The Vikings rose 11 seats and traded with the Colts. In addition, they withdrew elections 77 (third round) and 192 (sixth round). Minnesota also got 122 (fourth round) back in return.
Booth (6 feet, 194) started 15 games for Clemson and performed well (14 saves, five interceptions). He was called up for just one penalty in 35 college games. Booth is a physical, racing angle that you need to be able to play in any circuit.
The question is endurance. He did not participate in preliminary athletic tests due to a stretched quadruple and double hernia surgery. And according to Brugler, he missed time with a hamstring injury and a sting last year. Booth previously had surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon and had knee tendinitis in high school.
If Booth can stay healthy, this may be the choice for a home run. But that’s obviously a big if. I don’t mind swinging his head here.
Rating: B
43. New York Giants: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
Robinson (5 feet 8, 178) began his career in Nebraska before moving to Kentucky. He was great last year, catching 104 balls at 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns. Robinson ran 4.44. It is hard, slippery and explosive.
Having said that, Brugler had Robinson as his 105th player. Taking it so high feels like reaching. My head tells me to give a bad rating to the Giants, but Robinson is just such an exciting player and has so much juice. I can’t crush them for falling in love here.
Rating: B-
44. Texas in Houston: John Mechi III, WR, Alabama
The Texans climbed 24 places here, giving 68 (third round), 108 (fourth round) and 124 (fourth round) in return.
Mechi (5 feet 11, 187) was very productive last year – 96 catches for 1142 yards and eight touchdowns – before suffering an ACL rupture in December. He has no eye-popping gauges and probably won’t contribute right away given the injury, but Mechi is an excellent runner who plays with endurance and energy. It must be possible to line up outside or in the slot.
Bears are a great prospect, but I’m not sure he has a ceiling to justify the Texans’ aggressive move, especially considering all the holes in their list.
Rating: C
John Mechi III (Mickey Welsh / Montgomery Advertiser via USA TODAY Sports)
45. Baltimore Ravens: David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan
Ojabo (6 feet-4, 250) was about to be selected in the first round, but he tore his Achilles tendon during Michigan’s professional day. He was strong last year with 11 jackets, 12 loss fights and five forced families in 14 games. He had the highest dismissal rate (3.8%) of any handrail in this year’s class.
But Ojabo had only played 26 defensive shots before last season and is now facing a difficult recovery from a serious injury. The Ravens are the right team to take on this gamble. They have an informational advantage, given that Ojabo’s Michigan defense coordinator, Mike MacDonald, is now in Baltimore. And because Ravens project volume, they can afford to take these types of swings up.
Rating: A-
46. Detroit Lions: Josh Pascal, Edge, Kentucky
Easter (6 feet 3, 268) has an amazing history. According to Brugler, Easter dealt with a deadly form of skin cancer in 2018 and removed his tumor. He returned to start 35 games over the next three seasons and was a three-time captain. Pascal had 5.5 sacks …
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