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…