The Cowboys added South Alabama WR Jalen Tolbert in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Tolbert was just a 2-star recruit out of high school and didn’t win a starting job until his 3rd year at South Alabama. He led that 2019 squad with 6 receiving TDs and ranked 2nd with 521 receiving yards. 2020 brought a true breakout: 64 catches for 1,085 yards and 8 TDs. Tolbert accounted for 40% of South Alabama’s receiving yards and 44% of the TDs that year. He was even more productive as a redshirt senior this past season, posting an 82-1,474-8 line. Only 5 WRs in the country tallied more receiving yards. Tolbert ranked 18th among 251 qualifying WRs in Pro Football Focus’ 2021 receiving grades. The 6’1, 194-pounder is at his best working deep. He has good-not-great speed (4.49-second 40 time) and is an excellent ball tracker with sticky hands. Tolbert is already 23 years old and faced lower-level college competition, though, so the ceiling feels capped. He likely maxes out as a field-stretching #2 or #3 WR as a pro. He’ll compete for the #3 WR job with James Washington in Dallas.
The Titans stopped Liberty QB Malik Willis’ slide, taking him with the 86th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Willis began his college career at Auburn before transferring to Liberty and starting the past 2 years. Willis threw for 47 TDs vs. just 18 INTs over that span, but it’s the rushing that drives his fantasy outlook. Willis racked up 1,822 rushing yards over his 2 starting campaigns and profiles similar to Jalen Hurts. Willis will sit behind QB Ryan Tannehill this year, but Tannehill turns 34 in July and has a $36.6 million cap hit in 2023. Willis has a good chance to be Tennessee’s 2023 starter.
Former Georgia LB Nakobe Dean came off the board in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. Dean totaled just 71 and 72 total tackles over the past 2 seasons. He exploded in the big-play categories on last season’s national-champion defense, though, tallying 10.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 INTs and 5 passes defensed. Dean checks in small for a LB, at 5’11, 229. But he brings the movement skills and coverage upside that most defenses are looking for these days. Dean might have slipped for injury issues. He lands in a Philadelphia defense with immediate opportunity available, and Dean has been lauded for how quickly he can learn the playbook.
The Broncos selected TE Greg Dulcich in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. An athletic, catch-first TE, Dulcich showed good post-catch ability while running routes at all levels of the field. The former walk-on combined for 68-1,242-10 over the past 2 seasons while playing under HC Chip Kelly. While a plus athlete, Dulcich is a bit undersized at 6’4, 243 pounds. In Denver, he'll immediately compete for snaps behind Albert Okwuegbunam.
The Falcons selected QB Desmond Ridder in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. At 6’3, 211 pounds, Ridder’s on the thin side for the QB position. But his lack of special arm talent and inconsistent accuracy likely led to his slide. Still, he enters the pros with 49 career starts and the 3rd most QB wins in FBS history (43). The 22-year-old adds plus mobility, pocket poise and high character. He has a chance to make some 2022 starts, but Marcus Mariota will enter the summer as the clear favorite. Longer term, you have to like Atlanta's current 1-2 punch of Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
The Colts selected TE Jelani Woods in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. A 1-year producer at Virginia (44-598-8), Woods goes a towering 6’7, 259 pounds. Athletically, he tested off the charts with a Relative Athletic Score of 10.0 (out of 10.0). Converting to TE just a few years ago, Woods is a raw product, but he landed in a spot where he can work into Indy’s rotation slowly. The Colts used a mid-round pick on Kylen Granson last year, while they signed Mo-Alie-Cox to a 3-year, $18 million deal in March.
The Jaguars selected Chad Muma in Round 3 of the NFL Draft, the 2nd LB they have chosen thus far. Muma sported above-average speed in pre-draft testing, at 6'3, 237 pounds. He also delivered strong production last season: 142 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 INTs and 2 defensive TDs. He hits a Jacksonville defense that threw money at LB Foye Oluokun in free agency and then added LB Devin Lloyd in Round 1. So early playing time figures to be scant.
The Bears selected Tennessee WR Velus Jones in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Jones spent 6 years in college -- 4 at USC, 2 at Tennessee -- never topping 807 receiving yards. He turns 25 next month. Jones blazed a 4.31-second 40 time at 6'0, 204 pounds at the Combine, but there's not much else to like about his profile. He at least finds opportunity in a Chicago WR corps with little behind Darnell Mooney.
The Vikings grabbed LB Brian Asamoah early in Round 3 of the NFL Draft. Asamoah is smallish at 6'0, 226 pounds, though that's closer to the norm by current NFL standards. He tested well leading up to the draft (74th percentile speed score) after solid college production. Asamoah is likely at least a year away from the opportunity for real playing time in Minnesota, though, with Eric Kendricks and free-agent addition Jordan Hicks in the way.
The 49ers selected EDGE Drake Jackson late in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Jackson brings decent size, at 6'3 and 273 pounds. He didn't run during pre-draft testing after a late-season injury, but Jackson doesn't look particularly speedy on tape. He enjoyed his best statistical season as a freshman, tallying 46 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 3 pass deflections. He didn't reach 10 TFLs either of the ensuring 2 campaigns, though. Jackson doesn't look like a high-upside IDP prospect from here.
The Bills selected RB James Cook in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Cook brings incredible raw speed and burst, and he showed it at the Combine with a 4.42 forty-time. He’s not a pure tackle-breaker at only 200 pounds, but Cook effectively plays a slashing style similar to Alvin Kamara. Sharing touches with fellow rookie RB Zamir White, Cook tallied 113-728-7 (6.4 yards per carry) and 27-284-4 (10.5 yards per catch) as a 2021 senior. He’ll factor into Buffalo’s 2022 backfield with clear pass-catching upside. Note that Devin Singletary is entering a contract season.
The Broncos grabbed EDGE Nik Bonitto in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. He racked up 26.5 tackles for loss over the past 2 seasons at Oklahoma, including 16 sacks. Bonitto checks in a little small for the position – 6’3, 248 pounds – but ran fast at the Combine. His 4.54-second 40-yard dash registered a 92nd-percentile speed score. He figures to draw an LB designation at least early in Denver, where he might also be blocked early from big playing time.
LB Troy Andersen landed with the Falcons in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Andersen is a highly intriguing prospect who spent just 1 year at LB after converting from both RB and QB. Andersen racked up 147 total tackles, including 14 for losses, and 7 pass breakups in his final season at Montana State. He followed that with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at 6’4, 243 pounds – good for a 100th-percentile speed score. He lands in an Atlanta defense that just let Foye Oluokun walk in free agency. We'll see whether Andersen is ready to compete for a starting gig right away. There's plenty of long-term upside for IDP dynasty rookie drafts, though.
The Cardinals grabbed Colorado State TE Trey McBride in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. After a solid sophomore campaign, McBride got only a 4-game junior year, thanks to COVID. He won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top TE last season, though, racking up 90 receptions for 1,121 yards. McBride totaled just 10 TD catches for his career and arrives somewhat limited in size and athleticism, but there’s upside as a short-to-midrange receiver. He’ll head to training camp behind TE Zach Ertz but could push the veteran for playing time throughout the season.
The Cowboys selected DE Sam Williams in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. Williams sports plenty of on-field potential. After 2 solid years at Ole Miss, he delivered 57 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in his final campaign. Williams then delivered a 99th-percentile speed score at 6'4, 261 pounds. He may have fallen in the draft for off-field issues. Williams lands in a Dallas defense with immediate opportunity on the edge and looks like a high-upside pick for IDP dynasty rookie drafts.
The Chiefs added Western Michigan WR Skyy Moore with the 54th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Moore played QB and CB in high school but transitioned to WR as a freshman at Western Michigan. He made an immediate impact, leading that 2019 squad with 802 receiving yards. Moore played in just 5 games in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, averaging 5.0 catches, 77.6 yards and .6 TDs per. Those marks ranked 2nd behind 5th-year senior D’Wayne Eskridge. With Eskridge finally off to the NFL, Moore turned in a big 2021, ranking 9th nationwide in catches (95), 14th in receiving yards (1,292) and 21st in receiving TDs (10). He finished 3rd in Pro Football Focus receiving grade behind only Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and USC’s Drake London. Moore is just 5’10 but is well-built at 195 pounds. That helped him lead all WRs with 26 missed tackles forced last year, per PFF. Moore is also an explosive route runner and has 4.4 speed to win downfield. He was effective from both outside the numbers and the slot at Western Michigan and should bring position versatility to the NFL. The only real knock on Moore is that he faced lower-end competition in the MAC. This is obviously a strong landing spot alongside HC Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes.
The Colts selected Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce with the 53rd overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pierce never reached 900 receiving yards across 4 college seasons, topping out with a 52-884-8 line this past year. But he left school with a big 17.5 yards-per-catch average and pops as a big-play threat on tape. Pierce is a contested-catch dominator (he played basketball and volleyball in high school) and a natural ball tracker. His 99.3 deep receiving grade from Pro Football Focus last year ranked 27th among 275 qualifiers. The 6’3, 211-pounder registered a 4.41-second 40 time and a big 40.5-inch vertical at the Combine to earn a 98th percentile Relative Athletic Score. We see shades of Marvin Jones in his game. Pierce lands in a nice spot, with a clear path to the #2 WR job behind Michael Pittman.
The Steelers added Georgia WR George Pickens with the 52nd overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickens was a 5-star recruit and a top-5 WR in the 2019 class. He immediately delivered on that hype, leading the Bulldogs in catches (49), yards (727) and TDs (8) as a true freshman. He ranked 17th in Pro Football Focus’ receiving grades among 290 WRs with 50+ targets – 2 spots ahead of Jerry Jeudy and 3 spots ahead of Justin Jefferson. Pickens improved his per-game numbers a tad in 2020, averaging 4.5 catches, 64.1 yards and .75 TDs across 8 games. But his PFF receiving grade took a significant step back, landing 75th among 146 qualifying WRs. Pickens’ 2021 was then basically wiped out by a torn right ACL suffered in March of that year. He made it back for the final 4 games of the season but totaled just 4 catches. That freshman year is enticing, though, and Pickens pops on tape. He has long-striding speed, a big catch radius and is physical after the catch. The 6’3, 195-pounder earned a 94th percentile Relative Athletic Score at the Combine. Pickens’ limited college resume leaves him as a risky prospect. But he has the upside to develop into a #1 WR in the NFL. Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are locked in as Pittsburgh’s top 2 WRs in the short term, but Pickens has a good shot to win the #3 WR job this summer. Longer term, Johnson is is the final year of his contract and Claypool is set to hit free agency in 2024.
The Patriots traded up to select Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton with the 50th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Thornton goes 6’2, 181 pounds and blazed a 4.28-second 40 time at the Combine. No, surprise then, that he averaged 15.7 yards per catch across 4 college seasons. Thornton also has strong hands (3.1% drop rate last year) and a nice catch radius. We’ll see if he can develop into a more complete receiver, but Thornton at least has a shot to emerge as a downfield weapon. It’s a major surprise that he landed in Round 2, but his fantasy stock is certainly on the rise.
Penn State S Jaquan Brisker went to the Bears in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. Brisker averaged 6.3 tackles per game in 2020, and 5.3 per game last season. He didn’t offer much in the big-play categories. Brisker offers nice versatility, though, and tested well athletically. Chicago returns Eddie Jackson at safety but sports an opening at the other spot, which could mean quick IDP value for this Round 2 pick.
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