Category: 2022 NFL draft

Who are the Saints picking in way-too-early 2022 mock drafts?

The New Orleans Saints have been linked to wide receiver prospects in the 2022 NFL draft, with next year’s mock drafts trending quickly.

The 2021 NFL draft is finally behind us, so of course draft experts and college football enthusiasts are already turning their attentions towards 2022. Mock drafts are flying around fast and furious, and there’s little consensus on what the New Orleans Saints will do. But that’s often the case given their aggressive approach to the draft and unconventional preferences.

In surveying the ten most recent 2022 NFL mock drafts, I found that the Saints have been connected to a pair of college quarterbacks and a crowd of receivers, but few draft analysts are expecting the Saints to go get a cornerback — which Sean Payton identified as the team’s most important need going into the 2021 draft.

Of course there are many different opinions this early in the process. We don’t know which underclassmen will declare and leave early, we don’t know where the Saints will be picking or what they’ll need; it’s all over the place.  Our colleague at Draft Wire, Luke Easterling, has the Saints choosing Ohio State receiver Chris Olave, who was also tabbed for New Orleans by other analysts (more on him shortly) and linked to the Saints in these way-too-soon mock drafts last offseason. Here are the prospects to keep in mind once college football returns in the fall. Let’s dig in:

Who are the Saints picking in way-too-early 2022 mock drafts?

The New Orleans Saints have been linked to wide receiver prospects in the 2022 NFL draft, with next year’s mock drafts trending quickly.

The 2021 NFL draft is finally behind us, so of course draft experts and college football enthusiasts are already turning their attentions towards 2022. Mock drafts are flying around fast and furious, and there’s little consensus on what the New Orleans Saints will do. But that’s often the case given their aggressive approach to the draft and unconventional preferences.

In surveying the ten most recent 2022 NFL mock drafts, I found that the Saints have been connected to a pair of college quarterbacks and a crowd of receivers, but few draft analysts are expecting the Saints to go get a cornerback — which Sean Payton identified as the team’s most important need going into the 2021 draft.

Of course there are many different opinions this early in the process. We don’t know which underclassmen will declare and leave early, we don’t know where the Saints will be picking or what they’ll need; it’s all over the place.  Our colleague at Draft Wire, Luke Easterling, has the Saints choosing Ohio State receiver Chris Olave, who was also tabbed for New Orleans by other analysts (more on him shortly) and linked to the Saints in these way-too-soon mock drafts last offseason. Here are the prospects to keep in mind once college football returns in the fall. Let’s dig in:

The ridiculously early 2022 NFL mock draft

I know. I know. For many of you, the last thing you want to read right now, in May of 2021, is a mock draft for the 2022 cycle. But at the same time, the “early mock drafts” are a great way to start building out watch lists for your own summer …

I know.

I know.

For many of you, the last thing you want to read right now, in May of 2021, is a mock draft for the 2022 cycle. But at the same time, the “early mock drafts” are a great way to start building out watch lists for your own summer scouting. Let’s face it: Log onto Twitter right now and you will already see debates over who QB1 might be, who might be the next “QB riser,” and what players could emerge as first-rounders next fall.

Of course, the accuracy in these early mock drafts is almost comical. For example, I waited until August last season to put out my first “early mock draft,” and that version was anything but accurate. I was able to place 13 players in the first round correctly, which means there were 19 names listed in the first round that fell out of that slot, including some — Dylan Moses, Marvin Wilson — that were not even drafted.

So, there is a lot of football to be played. A lot of things can change between now and next April. Some of these players might live up to the expectations, and some might not. Some players might even return to school. There is a lot of projection and development at work here, and development is not linear. Some of these players might not take the step forward that is anticipated.

And that is okay too.

For now, here is one chucklehead’s attempt at an early mock draft. Draft order was determined by the latest Super Bowl odds at BetMGM. If you disagree with a team’s draft slot, take it up with Vegas…

Giants add to OL, DL in Mel Kiper’s 2022 mock draft

In a way-too-early 2022 NFL mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., the New York Giants address both their OL and their DL.

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ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had rolled out numerous mock drafts in recent months and despite the 2021 NFL draft officially coming and going, he wasn’t quite ready to put a cap on that.

Instead, Kiper looked way ahead to the 2022 NFL draft and decided he’d take an early stab at that. And for the New York Giants, that means two first-round picks thanks to “Trader” Dave Gettleman’s wheeling and dealing.

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In fact, in Kiper’s 2022 mock the Giants select back-to-back at No. 8 and No. 9 overall.

First up? Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

The Giants get back-to-back picks here, and we’ll start them off with a pass-rusher. I loved the value of getting edge rusher Azeez Ojulari in the second round last week, but I’d like to see more on that defensive front. Enter Hutchinson, who was creeping up my 2021 board before suffering a fractured leg in November and returning to school for another season. He’s 6-foot-6 and 269 pounds, and he had 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2019.

If Hutchinson is able to return to form in 2022 and maximize that extra year, he’ll enter next April’s draft as a highly-rated prospect. But will he be a fit for the Giants at that point? That’s the real question.

Next up is a pick that makes a bit more sense — Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal.

In order to move up to draft Justin Fields in Round 1 last week, the Bears sent New York their first-rounder — and it could end up being a good one. After going defense at No. 8, the Giants can look to the offensive line at No. 9. Neal is versatile, with 13 starts at right tackle and 13 at left guard, and he’s 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds. There are plenty of spots up for grabs along that line, which should be the next area of focus on offense for the Giants.

Neal is an underclassman, so it’s entirely possible he does not declare for the 2022 NFL draft. If he does, he’s a big-time mauler capable of playing both inside and outside. That’s the sort of versatility head coach Joe Judge loves, and it would give the Giants some additional options.

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Would DeMarvin Leal, Zion Nelson make sense for Giants in 2022?

An early look at the 2022 NFL draft and two prospects — DL DeMarvin Leal and OL Zion Nelson — already connected to the New York Giants.

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Now that the 2021 NFL draft has concluded, it’s time to focus on the 2022 NFL draft. We’re not kidding. Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling has published his “way too-early” 2022 mock draft, which we briefly touched on earlier this week.

The Giants, remember, have two first round picks next year, so here’s who he sees the Giants selecting.

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In Easterling’s mock draft, the Giants have the seventh overall pick and the Chicago Bears’ pick, which is No. 11.

With the seventh pick, the Giants take Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. The 6-foot-4, 291 pound junior is expected to be a top 10 pick next April. He is considered a “hybrid” players can line up at any any position on the defensive line.

“He has an unbelievably competitive nature. When he’s on the field, I don’t ever see him loaf for one second,” Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher said of Leal last October. “I don’t care what drill it is, what we’re doing or how we do it. Those kinds of guys change cultures of an organization because they’re great players, and they’re highly recruited players who play like they have no ability … with their effort and toughness.”

With the 11th pick, the Giants select Miami offensive tackle Zion Nelson, a 6-foot-5, 315 pound underclassman. Nelson played left tackle last season as a sophomore but will need this season in college to sure up his fundamentals.

“He’s just a freak of nature. Zion’s an incredibly gifted football player,” center Corey Gaynor said. “He’s got long arms. Think he’s big and strong, and I think he’s very twitchy. He’s everything you want out of a left tackle.”

A lot can happen between now and the 2022 NFL draft, but odds are the Giants will still need a quality offensive lineman by then. They also love their versatile defensive linemen, so both Leal and Nelson are worth watching this coming college season.

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Giants not projected to receive any compensatory picks in 2022 NFL draft

The New York Giants are not currently projected to receive any compensatory picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

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The New York Giants did not receive any compensatory picks in the 2021 NFL draft and it appears that tend will carry over into 2022.

Over the Cap recently completed their compensatory projections for next year’s draft and of the 32 picks likely to be handed out, the Giants will once again receive none. In fact, they didn’t even factor into the overflow.

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However, several signings made by the Giants will impact other teams, including the Detroit Lions, who lost wide receiver Kenny Golladay to Big Blue.

As of now, only two 3rd rounders are projected to be awarded: to the Steelers for Bud Dupree going to the Titans, and to the Lions for Kenny Golladay going to the Giants.

Additionally, how much wide receiver John Ross plays in 2021 will also impact the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Giants signed John Ross to a $2.5M APY contract. However, they just used their 2021 first round pick to get Kadarius Toney, and their wide receiver depth chart is deep alongside him with Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton also on the team. If Ross can’t get on the field, that’s bad news for the Bengals, who need him to be a CFA in order to positive in the net number of CFAs lost. If Ross isn’t a CFA, that would be devastating for Cincinnati, who could lose a 4th or 3rd round comp pick for the departure of one of either William Jackson III or Carl Lawson.

Only five of the Giants’ free agents — Dalvin Tomlinson, Kyler Fackrell, Colt McCoy, Wayne Gallman and David Mayo (released) — have gone on to sign with another team. Seven remain unsigned, while three of the four players the team released also remain unsigned.

The loss of Tomlinson was canceled out by the signing of Golladay, while the additions of Ross and running back Devontae Booker count against the Giants in the compensatory pick formula.

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Saints projected to receive three comp picks in 2022 NFL draft

The New Orleans Saints are projected to receive three compensatory picks for the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas after recent free agent losses.

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The New Orleans Saints are one of ten teams projected to earn multiple compensatory draft picks in 2022’s NFL draft in Las Vegas, per Over The Cap’s Nick Korte, though his chart doesn’t include comp picks received as part of the league’s recent incentivized minority hiring program.

New Orleans has already locked in a 2022 third rounder following the loss of Terry Fontenot, their pro personnel director who left for the open Atlanta Falcons general manager position. Teams that lose minority candidates to executive roles with other teams receive two third-round picks in subsequent draft cycles.

So that’s in addition to the comp picks Korte projects the Saints to recoup after losing defensive linemen Trey Hendrickson and Sheldon Rankins to the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, respectively. At this early stage, the Saints are expected to receive a fourth rounder for Hendrickson and a sixth rounder for Rankins.

However, that could change. Korte adds that Hendrickson is one of six players whose comp pick could upgrade to a third rounder if he logs enough playing time in New York; that seems likely after he broke out last year, quickly surpassing his career snaps percentage of 32.8% (he played 53.4% of snaps in 2020). We’ll know for sure once the NFL announces comp picks next spring.

In the meantime, here are where the Saints are slotted in the 2022 NFL draft  (not including the sixth rounder forfeited for COVID-19 protocols violations last season):

  • Round 1
  • Round 2
  • Round 3
  • Round 3 (compensation for Fontenot)
  • Round 4
  • Round 4 (compensation for Hendrickson)
  • Round 5
  • Round 6 (compensation for Rankins)
  • Round 7

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Who is the next quarterback riser?

The 2022 NFL draft has some interesting quarterbacks, but history tells us a QB or two will rise out of nowhere. Who are the candidates?

One of my favorite exercises each year is revisiting the “Way Too Early” mock drafts that were released around this time of the calendar. For example, last August I put out my first mock draft, and in reviewing that article for a piece I’m working on a few things stood out to me:

  • I nailed the first overall selection (Trevor Lawrence to the Jacksonville Jaguars) but honestly that seems like a layup.
  • The only other team/player pairing that I got right was Kyle Trask to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although I predicted it would happen at the end of the first round, and it came about at the end of the second.

It is also a worthwhile endeavor to review those to see what players fell out of favor, as well as what players dramatically increased their draft stock. For example, two names not in that “Way Too Early” mock draft of mine? Zach Wilson and Mac Jones.

This is becoming something of a routine each year. The year before Joe Burrow’s name was not common in the early mocks, nor was Kyler Murray the year before that (although his baseball dreams were likely a big reason why). Not many people saw the rise of Mitchell Trubisky coming, in fact I’m not even sure he made a watch list I put together the summer prior to his final season.

But if history has taught us anything, we might see some QBs rise up boards this fall. So while you probably have heard of some of the names floated about in early mock drafts right now (Kedon Slovis, Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, Matt Corral, Sam Howell and D’Eriq King, among others) who are some of the contenders to rocket up boards next fall? Here are some quarterback to carve out time to study this summer.

Giants select DeMarvin Leal, Zion Nelson in early 2022 Draft Wire mock

In Draft Wire’s way-too-early 2022 mock, the New York Giants select DL DeMarvin Leal and OT Zion Nelson.

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The 2021 NFL draft has officially come and gone, so what better time than now to look ahead to the 2022 NFL draft?

That’s exactly what our friend Luke Easterling of Draft Wire did this week, offering up his “way-too-early 2022 NFL mock draft.” And for the New York Giants, who have two first-round picks thanks to a draft-day trade with the Chicago Bears, they go heavy on the hog mollies.

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With an order determined by the current Super Bowl odds, the Giants are slated to select at No. 7 overall and No. 11 overall.

With their first projected pick, Big Blue selects Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, who 247Sports has rated as a top prospect in 2022.

Leal is one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in the 2022 draft cycle thanks to his plus athletic ability, explosiveness off the ball and his versatility. Listed as a defensive end for Texas A&M’s front, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Leal can capably play both inside and outside, generating pressure wherever he lines up. Leal rated as PFF College’s ninth-best EDGE rusher nationally a season ago, excelling as both a run defender and as a pass rusher. His 32 pressures ranked within the top 50 nationally of EDGE rushers as well despite playing in a system built around stopping the run.

Leal isn’t as big, but he features some of the traits that made Christian Wilkins such a dynamic player for Clemson a few years ago: Freakish athletic ability for his size, excellent against the run and dynamic when needed as a pass rusher be it with a speed or power move. In a deep EDGE class, Leal feels like one of the safer bets to go off the board in the first round.

With their second projected pick of the first-round, Draft Wire has the Giants selecting Miami offensive tackle Zion Nelson.

247Sports does not have Nelson rated among their top 10 2022 prospects, but did list the 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman as an honorable mention.

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4 college prospects Texans need to consider as 2022 NFL draft first-round pick

The Houston Texans need to consider these four college prospects as they gear up for the 2022 NFL draft.

The 2021 NFL draft may have concluded, but given the poor outlook for the Houston Texans’ regular season, it is still draft season.

Director of college scouting James Liipfert and his team turn their attention to the 2022 NFL draft. This is the first draft in the Nick Caserio era where the Texans will have a first and second-round pick to work with as the general manager seeks to complete the rebuild.

The draft will be the most optimistic for Houston sports fans as they can finally turn the page on the Deshaun Watson era — that is, if the Texans haven’t saddled up Davis Mills as their signal caller of the future.