The Giants selected Kentucky WR Wan’Dale Robinson with the 43rd overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Robinson is a fun watch. He’s quick, elusive and explosive with the ball in his hands. And he has the acceleration and speed to win deep. Robinson is a raw route runner, though, at least in part because he’s relatively inexperienced at WR. He played RB in high school and spent about 50% of his snaps in the backfield as a freshman at Nebraska. Robinson played more WR than RB for the Huskers in 2020. But it wasn’t until he transferred to Kentucky this past year that he really broke out. Under OC Liam Coen, who worked under Sean McVay in Los Angeles from 2018 to 2020, Robinson finished 3rd in the country in receptions (104) and 11th in receiving yards (1,334). He ranked top 5 among 251 qualifying WRs in both yards per route run and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. Robinson played about two-thirds of his snaps in the slot but was actually slightly more effective in terms of yards per route run on the outside (3.82 vs. 3.45). The concern with Robinson is size. He’s just 5’8, 178 pounds and has the shortest arm length and wingspan of all WRs in the MockDraftable.com database. Robinson’s skill set overlaps a bit with WR Kadarius Toney, who might still be on thin ice with the new Giants regime. We’ll see how the situation shakes out.
The Seahawks selected RB Kenneth Walker in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Compactly built at 5’9, 211 pounds, Walker displayed exceptional power and burst across a 3-year college career. He transferred from Wake Forest to Michigan State after the 2020 season, citing a poor offensive fit. The move set the stage for a massive breakout last fall (263-1,636-18). He caught only 19 balls across 3 seasons, though. Receiving upside is the only potential negative attached to Walker’s skill set. The 21-year-old landed with an offense that’s run-focused, especially with Drew Lock in line to start. In the backfield, Chris Carson isn’t guaranteed to stick around following neck surgery. Rashaad Penny was re-signed to just a 1-year deal in March and brings durability questions of his own. Walker could quickly turn into an early-down workhorse, but it’s tough to get excited about his short-term TD outlook in Seattle.
The Bears spent their 1st pick of the 2022 NFL Draft on CB Kyler Gordon in Round 2. The former Washington Husky tested just average speed wise but sports decent size at 6'0, 194 pounds and brings intriguing athleticism. Gordon didn't deliver much on the numbers front, with just 2 career INTs and 12 passes defensed.
Seattle grabbed EDGE Boye Mafe with the 40th overall pick, in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Mafe finished his 4-year Minnesota career with 7 sacks among 10 tackles for loss as a senior. He tested as a higher-upside athlete at the Combine, delivering a 97th-percentile speed score at 6'4 and 261 pounds. Landing in Seattle gives him a good shot at immediate playing time.
EDGE Arnold Ebiketie landed with the Falcons in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. After 3 quiet years at Temple, Ebiketie broke out for 62 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks across 12 contests in 2021. He posted a slightly above-average 101.6 speed score at 6’2, 250 pounds at the Combine. Ebiketie’s 91st-percentile vertical and 96th-percentile broad jump point to well above-average explosiveness, though. We'll see about Ebiketie's position designation, but there's solid-to-good IDP upside here.
The Texans selected DB Jalen Pitre in the 2nd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pitre opened his Baylor career as a LB and continued to make his greatest contributions near the line of scrimmage. He racked up a ridiculous 29.5 tackles for loss (including 6 sacks) over the past 2 seasons while playing safety and slot corner, adding 4 INTs and 9 passes defensed. At just 5’11 and with near-average speed for the position, Pitre projects as primarily a box safety in the pros. Going to Houston in Round 2 should give him a good shot at starting right away.
The Jets selected RB Breece Hall with the 36th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hall spent nearly all of his 3 seasons starting at Iowa State. He opened his sophomore year with 8 straight 100-yard games and finished it as the FBS leader in rushing yards. He earned All-America honors each of the past 2 seasons. Hall followed a stellar career – including 82 receptions at 9.0 yards per catch – by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 217 pounds (a 97th-percentile speed score). Hall joins a Jets backfield alongside 2021 4th-rounder Michael Carter. Hall is the favorite to lead the way in touches, but this isn’t a great landing spot for his fantasy value.
The Packers traded up to select North Dakota State WR Christian Watson with the 34th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Watson is a truly freaky athlete. The 6’4, 208-pounder registered a 4.36-second 40-time and a 38.5-inch vertical at the Combine to earn a 100th percentile Relative Athletic Score. That obviously gives Watson a lofty fantasy ceiling. But the floor is low. Watson is more athlete than WR right now. He easily won with his size and speed against FCS defenses. But he’s a raw and inexperienced route runner, isn’t as dominant in contested situations as you’d expect and dropped 13% of his catchable targets over the past 3 seasons. Watson is also an older rookie, turning 23 in May. He has plenty of opportunity to earn playing time amid a Green Bay WR corps of Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers. We’ll see if Watson is ready.
The Buccaneers grabbed DL Logan Hall with the 1st pick of Round 2 in the NFL Draft. Hall enjoyed a breakthrough final season at Houston, tallying 47 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. At 6'6 and 285 pounds, Hall can play the edge and inside positions. He figures to play DE in Tampa Bay's 3-4 base defense and will likely be more of a tackle collector than big-play source for IDP leagues.
The Raiders declined the 5th-year option on RB Josh Jacobs. Such a move would have cost the team $8 million in 2023. Jacobs, 24, heads into his 4th season fresh off an RB11 finish.
The Vikings spent the final pick of Round 1 on Georgia S Lewis Cine. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah lauded Cine's physicality but called him inconsistent in coverage. Cine did get his hands on 9 passes in his final Bulldogs season but totaled just 2 INTs across his 3 campaigns. He could be in for immediate starting duty with Harrison Smith the only incumbent safety starter in Minnesota.
The Bengals chose S Daxton Hill with the penultimate pick of Round 1 in the NFL Draft. A versatile 3-year starter at Michigan, Hill finished his college career with 4.7 tackles per game, 4 total INTs and 15 passes defensed. He joins a Cincinnati defense that already has Jesse Bates and Vonn Bell in place. Hill could compete for early snaps at slot corner, and Bates is no lock beyond this season after getting the franchise tag this offseason. We'll see about Cincinnati's plans.
The Chiefs added EDGE George Karlaftis with the 30th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Karlaftis tallied 12 sacks and 27 total tackles for loss in his 2 full seasons with Purdue. (Injury and COVID limited him to just 2 games in 2020.) Karlaftis ran slow in pre-draft testing which could point to a limited IDP ceiling. But he lands in a situation with opportunity as soon as he proves ready.
The Packers chose DT Devonte Wyatt with the 28th pick in the NFL Draft. Wyatt should enhance the Green Bay run defense and help create space for other Green Bay front-7 defenders. He doesn't carry much IDP upside, though.
Jacksonville traded up to Tampa Bay's 27th pick to select LB Devin Lloyd. The former Utah stud delivered big numbers over the past 3 years, including reps both from the edge and off the ball. Lloyd racked up 43 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, 5 INTs and 8 passes defensed over 3 seasons as a Utes starter. The 6'3, 237-pounder should quickly join free-agent addition Foye Oluokun in the starting lineup. He's a bit old for an incoming rookie -- already 23.5 -- but there's plenty of immediate IDP upside.
The Steelers grabbed QB Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett spent 5 years at Pittsburgh, starting most of the past 4. It wasn’t until 2021 that he broke out, though, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 TDs. That more than doubled his career total for TD tosses. Pickett brings above-average mobility (72nd-percentile speed score for the position), but he has drawn comparisons with Andy Dalton and Teddy Bridgewater. We see limited fantasy football upside here, but Pickett stands a good chance to beat out QB Mitchell Trubisky this summer. That’s a situation to avoid in early fantasy drafts.
The Jets traded up with Tennessee to take EDGE Jermaine Johnson II with the 26th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Johnson played sparingly across 2 seasons at Georgia before transferring to Florida State. He racked up 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks over 12 games in his lone season with the Seminoles. Throw in an 89th-percentile speed score at 6'5 and 254 pounds, and Johnson carries attractive IDP upside.
The Bills moved up 2 spots in the 1st round of the NFL Draft to select CB Kaiir Elam from Florida. Elam stands 6'2 and ran a 4.39-second 40 at the Combine. He defensed 20 passes across 3 seasons with the Gators -- just 2 of those as a full-time starter. He should fight for a starting job right away in Buffalo.
The Packers spent the 1st of their 2 first-round NFL Draft picks on Georgia LB Quay Walker. The 1st LB off the board, Walker arrives just shy of his 22nd birthday and posted a 95th-percentile speed score at the Combine. His numbers were limited in a loaded Bulldogs defense, and Walker might be hard-pressed for full-time duty as a rookie. Green Bay re-signed De'Vondre Campbell for big money in free agency, including $15 million in guaranteed money, after he served as their only full-time off-ball LB last season. Walker looks intriguing long term for IDP use, though.
The Chiefs moved up to the 21st pick of the NFL Draft to select CB Trent McDuffie. The 3-year Washington corner offered little from a numbers standpoint in college, totaling just 2 INTs and 8 passes defensed -- with 6 of those coming last year. We're not betting on big IDP value from McDuffie, though he should enter the lineup quickly.
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