The Eagles traded a 4th-round pick and two 5th-rounders to move up and select DT Jordan Davis in the 1st round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Davis is an athletic freak, running a 4.78-second 40-yard dash at 6'6 and 341 pounds. There's some question about his conditioning. Davis played less than 30% of the defensive snaps for the national-champion Georgia Bulldogs in 2021. His college numbers don't suggest much IDP impact in his future. Davis had just 11.5 tackles and 7 sacks across 4 seasons.
The Lions traded up 20 spots to select Alabama WR Jameson Williams with the 12th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Detroit sent the 32nd, 34th, and 66th picks to Minnesota to make the big move. A torn left ACL suffered in January’s National Championship prevented Williams from working out in the pre-draft process. But the tape is clear: Williams has unnatural speed. He blows by defenders in his routes and destroys angles after the catch. He averaged a huge 19.9 yards per catch at Alabama last year, including 9.3 yards after the catch, and scored 4 TDs of 70+ yards. Williams led the Tide and ranked top 5 in the nation with 1,572 yards and 15 TDs. He also averaged 35.2 yards per kick return with 2 TDs, earning SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year honors. That, curiously, followed 2 mostly invisible seasons at Ohio State, where Williams totaled just 15 catches. It’s worth factoring into his NFL projection – but it’s tough to look at his 2021 production and tape and not come away excited. We’ll, of course, need to keep an eye on that left knee. Williams underwent surgery on January 13. University of Alabama team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain, who did the procedure, said in March that he expects Williams to be ready by training camp. When healthy, he’ll join D.J. Chark and Amon-Ra St. Brown as Detroit’s top 3 WRs.
The Saints traded up to grab Ohio State WR Chris Olave with the 11th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Olave broke out as a sophomore, leading that 2019 Buckeyes squad with 840 yards and 12 TDs – ahead of redshirt senior K.J. Hill and freshman Garrett Wilson. Olave was even better in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, averaging 7.1 catches, 104.1 yards and 1 TD across 7 games (all team highs). He ranked top 12 in the nation in both Pro Football Focus receiving grade and yards per route run. Olave made a somewhat surprising decision to return for his senior season last year and saw his production take a step back. He averaged 5.4 catches, 78 yards and 1.1 TDs per game, finishing 2nd on the team in TDs per game behind Wilson and 3rd in catches and yards per game behind Wilson and sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who’s widely expected to be a 1st-round pick next year. Olave set 3-year lows in PFF receiving grade and yards per route run. The 2021 campaign is slightly concerning, but his overall production profile remains strong. Olave’s tape shows a dangerous downfield weapon with 4.39-second speed and excellent ball-tracking skills. He’s also a refined route runner, making Olave arguably the most NFL-ready WR in this class. On the downside, Olave is just 187 pounds and offers nearly nothing after the catch. He looks to us like a #2 WR in the NFL. That’s what he figures to be at least in the short term in New Orleans behind Michael Thomas.
The Jets selected Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson with the 10th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson is a dynamic mover both in his routes and after the catch. He’s been compared to Odell Beckham in that regard, and we saw shades of Kadarius Toney watching Wilson’s tape. Wilson tested as a 78th percentile athlete at the Combine, with a 4.38-second 40 time. He didn’t put up huge numbers at Ohio State but battled for targets with WRs Chris Olave (who will go later in the 1st round this year) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who figures to be a 1st-rounder next year). Wilson ranked top 24 in Pro Football Focus’ receiving grades in each of the last 2 seasons. He played primarily in the slot in 2020 before kicking outside this past year. Wilson was more effective on the inside both years, though. He’s 6’0, 183 pounds and struggled at times vs. physical coverage in college, so he projects best in the slot as a pro. We’ll see exactly how he fits alongside WR Elijah Moore, who played 26.3% of his snaps in the slot last year. Check out the initial projections and ranking for Wilson.
The Falcons selected USC WR Drake London with the 8th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. London is a former basketball player and plays like it. He’s a jump-ball dominator, with his 6’4 frame, springy hops and strong hands. London led this WR class with 19 contested catches last year, per Pro Football Focus. He isn’t as dominant on short and intermediate routes, but we saw enough separation ability on tape. He also has some surprising shake for a big man. London broke out as a sophomore in 2020, leading a Trojans WR corps that included Amon-Ra St. Brown with 83.7 yards per game. Then came a massive 2021 that saw London lead the country with 11 catches per game and rank 2nd with 135.5 yards per game. He ranked 1st among draft-eligible WRs in Pro Football Focus’ receiving grades. An October 30 broken right ankle ended London’s season and prevented him from doing any athletic testing in the pre-draft process. But London did some on-field drills at his April 15 Pro Day and should be at 100% for training camp. He should immediately take over as the top dog in a barren Falcons WR corps. QB play is a concern, but volume and talent should carry London to a productive rookie season. Check out the initial projections and ranking for London.
The Giants selected EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux with the 5th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Thibodeaux averaged a class-leading 1.18 tackles for loss per game over 3 seasons at Oregon, averaging more than 1 per game each year. He never cracked 10 sacks in a season but certainly sports that kind of upside. A 90th-percentile speed score in pre-draft testing supports that. We'll see whether Thibodeaux carries a LB or DE designation. There's an especially nice ceiling if your format combines all edge players into a single category.
The Jets spent the 4th pick of the NFL Draft on CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. The 6'3 cover man ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine (88th percentile among corners). Gardner grabbed 9 INTs across 3 seasons at Cincinnati but totaled just 99 tackles over 33 games. Don't bet on Gardner being a huge fantasy contributor.
The Texans took CB Derek Stingley with the 3rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Stingley arguably enjoyed his best season as a freshman, when he snared 6 INTs and defensed 15 passes for the national-champion Tigers. Stingley seemed the regress the past 2 years. That span included losing 10 games to a torn ligament in his left foot last season. Stingley should be an immediate starter in Houston but doesn't project as a high-level IDP contributor.
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson landed with the Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hutchinson topped 60 tackles in each of his 2 full seasons starting at Michigan (among 4 total). He finished with a school-record 14 sacks in his final season. But Hutchinson’s career 0.76 tackles for loss per game ranks just 16th in this edge class. He’s an above-average athlete and hard worker but doesn’t profile as quite a top-shelf pass rusher.
The Jaguars chose EDGE Travon Walker with the 1st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Walker posted limited production in college, averaging just 0.33 sacks and 0.45 tackles for loss per game across 29 contests at Georgia. He does play the run well, but Jacksonville is clearly buying on the athleticism. Walker delivered a phenomenal 4.51-second 40-yard dash at 272 pounds, a 98th-percentile speed score for the position. We’ll see whether he can turn that promise into NFL production, but we’re a little wary about overpaying for him in dynasty rookie drafts.
Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed Thursday that the league is still looking into the allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson. "We’re taking it very seriously," Goodell said. "Our investigators are working on that. There’s no timetable on it. The investigation is still ongoing.” It's confirmation that Watson is nowhere near out of the woods when it comes to a suspension from the NFL. We're currently projecting a 6-game suspension.
Per multiple sources, the Giants are declining the 5th year option on QB Daniel Jones. Such a move would have paid him over $22 million for the 2023 season. Jones carries some upside as a QB2 for this year, especially if the Giants invest in WR early in tonight's draft. New York picks 5th and 7th in Round 1.
The Cardinals exercised the 5th-year option on QB Kyler Murray's rookie contract. It'll pay him about $30 million in 2023 if the 2 sides don't work out a long-term deal before then. This was a no-brainer move for Arizona, despite the drama with Murray this offseason.
The Broncos have agreed to a 1-year deal with RB Melvin Gordon worth up to $5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That's obviously well short of what Denver paid Gordon the past 2 years, and the Broncos now sport a new coaching staff. But his return lowers the fantasy ceiling for 2nd-year RB Javonte Williams. We'll continue betting on the 22-year-old to lead Denver's backfield in fantasy points, but the decision by both the team and Gordon to make the agreement now clearly indicates a continued significant role for the veteran. We'll see how far Gordon's return pushes down the ADP for Williams, who has been occupying late Round 1 territory in early best-ball drafts. Gordon has slipped well into the double-digit rounds and could very well remain in that range over at least the next few days, while drafters figure out where he belongs. If he does, pounce.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara had been due for a hearing Monday in the battery case against him, but that has been pushed to Aug. 1. The decision came after lawyers for Kamara and other defendants said they needed more time to review evidence, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The delayed timeline for the case likely helps Kamara's chances of opening the regular season on time. The NFL is notoriously slow to react with discipline in criminal cases, and even this scheduled date is just for a hearing. The uncertainty with Kamara has pushed him at least well into Round 2 of early best-ball drafting, and often even into Round 3. He's a high-upside target in that range.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor doesn't expect WR Tee Higgins (shoulder) to participate in any of the team's offseason program. Higgins had surgery on his left shoulder after the Super Bowl and is expected to be out for a couple of months, Taylor said. It sounds like Higgins should at least be ready for training camp, but we'll keep an eye on his recovery.
49ers RB Elijah Mitchell had what he called a "clean-up" procedure on his knee this offseason. He added that he expects to be ready for the start of training camp. Mitchell missed 3 games in December with what was described as knee swelling -- although it's unclear if this surgery was related. We'll keep an eye on Mitchell this summer. He escaped free agency without the 'Niners adding backfield competition. We'll see what the draft brings.
Giants WR Kadarius Toney has been in town and at the team's facility for the past few days, according to insider Bobby Skinner. ESPN's Jordan Raanan, meanwhile, hears that the Giants still view Toney as a "valuable asset" and "would want a significant return" in a trade. "Makes it seem right now the likelihood is he does not get moved," Raanan adds.
Broncos WR K.J. Hamler is “well ahead of schedule" in his recovery from last September's torn left ACL, GM George Paton said. Hamler was able to get on the field and run some routes with new QB Russell Wilson in March. "The fact that I saw him running routes last month at Russell’s, I mean, I know he’s doing well, I know his surgery went well, but when I saw him out there (running routes), very impressive," Paton added. It sounds like Hamler is on track to be ready for the start of training camp. His challenge at that point will be climbing a depth chart that's topped by Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick.
Bears WR Byron Pringle was arrested in Florida on Saturday. He's facing charges of reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports that Pringle was pulled over for "doing donuts on a public road" and arrested after ignoring officer commands and becoming "verbally confrontational." We'll see if anything more comes from this, but Pringle's situation doesn't seem like enough to produce a league suspension. We're not adjusting our fantasy outlook for Pringle at this point.
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