Welcome back to the Lach Draft 2022! This year will be a bit different, no mock draft, BUT I’ll run down the best draft storylines, my favorite player in the draft, AND 5 sleepers and 5 potential busts. Throughout this article, you’ll still get my opinion on many first round picks. Any player not listed you want my opinion on? Hit me up on Twitter @therealmikelach. So let’s get started!
Who’s #1?
In many drafts like last year, we know very early on who will be picked 1st overall. This is not that year. It’s down to Aidan Hutchinson, the edge rusher from Michigan vs. Travon Walker, the edge rusher from Georgia. Jacksonville is already split on who to draft. Shad Kahn, who is one of the worst owners in the game wants Hutchinson. Trent Baalke, who is one of the worst G.M’s in the game wants Walker. Walker has a higher ceiling in my opinion. He’s more athletic, and wins more on his first move off the line-of-scrimmage. Hutchinson is more versatile, he can move around the line and play different techniques. Bottom line, Jacksonville is already in a better spot now with Urban Meyer gone. But this is really a toss up, knowing the Jaguars they’ll screw it up.
New York State of Mind.
Both the Giants and the Jets have 2 top ten picks. Both teams need basically the same things. They both need offensive line help, as well as receiver, and corner. I think the Jets will get Sauce Gardner, the talented corner from Cincinnati. His length and ball skills are unmatched at the corner position. I also think they’ll take a receiver with their other pick, I’m predicting Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State. For the G-men I predict they’ll take the 2nd tackle off the board, which will be Evan Neal from Alabama. I think they’ll trade pick 7 for more draft capital.
Carolina picks a QB?
Carolina has pick 6 and Matt Rhule’s hourglass is almost out of sand. This is the same situation the Bears and Matt Nagy were in just a year ago, and what did they do? They drafted a Q.B. in hopes he’d be a stud and they could all keep their jobs. Well Justin Fields was mediocre and Nagy & Co. all left with pink slips. The issue for Carolina is no Q.B. is worthy of the 6th overall pick. Malik Willis from Liberty maybe the pick, but at 6 it’s a mistake. There are much better, and more consistent players out there. It’s not a situation where Rhule can win. Pick a Q.B. and he struggles you get fired. Don’t pick a Q.B. and you struggle because your offense is awful again, you also get fired. Ouch.
Speaking of QBs.
This is one of the worst QB drafts in years. We knew it even in last years draft, which is why so many Q.B’s were picked in the 1st round last year. Willis is inconsistent, and struggles to make easy throws. He can wow you with his arm and running ability, but sometimes all you need is a 8 yard throw, and he doesn’t find or hit that check down enough in order to be a star. Matt Corral has a ton of off the field issues that giving him millions of dollars won’t solve. Kenny Pickett was consistently great last year. But he’s to confident in his arm, he’ll force balls into tight window’s but I’m not sure he has the arm strength to pull it off in the N.F.L.
No Running Backs on Day 1?
The last time no running backs were taken in the 1st round was 2014. This might be the year that happens again. Iowas State’s Breece Hall might slip in at the end of round 1. He’s solid and really has no glaring weakness to his game. He has good speed but not elite speed and that might cause him to be the first running back picked in the draft…on Day 2.
Offensive Tackles, it’s top 3 or sit and wait.
The top 3 Tackles are undisputed, after that there’s a huge drop-off. Ikem Ekwonu looks great, with controlled aggressiveness and great feet. Evan Neal from Bama looks like solid pro, but I do worry about him identifying stunts. Charles Cross is third on the list he’ll go early in the first round, and I like his skill set. He could improve on his anchor when going against a bull rush. Those 3 could all go in the top 10. Which makes teams picking in the middle of the 1st round out of luck. Teams like Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami, and Dallas could be waiting until day 2 to find their tackle of the future. Other than the 3 players listed above, I have no other tackle with a first round grade.
What will Green Bay do late in the 1st?
Green Bay owns pick 22 and 28 in the first round. With needs at wideout, offensive line, defensive line and even safety the Packers could use both picks. They could also trade up to get the receiver they want to make Aaron Rodgers happy. Or what I think is most likely they pick at 22, and trade back into the early 2nd round to a team that wants to draft a QB. Ultimately, if a receiver is picked it’ll be the first receiver the Packers have picked in the 1st round since Javon Walker in 2002. Though that tidbit loses its luster when you see the stud receivers the Packers have gotten in the 2nd round, like Jennings, Nelson and Cobb.
Wide Recievers rule the 1st round.
There could be up to 7 recievers picked in the first round. This marks the third straight year recievers have been in demand in the first round. The position is being coached better in college, and with the proliferation of 7 on 7 and passing camps in high school and even middle school, youg athletes are learning their craft earlier and earlier. In fact, in my past two mocks I have identified my favorite players in the draft. They were both wide Recievers. In 2020 it was Justin Jefferson. In 2021 it was Ja’Marr Chase.
My favorite player in the 2022 draft.
Shocker it’s an SEC receiver. My favorite player of this draft is Treylon Burks WR from Arkansas. Standing 6-3 230 he’s a monster of a receiver. I didn’t think I’d watch a ton of Arkansas games this year, but every week I got excited to watch him play. He plays faster than he’s timed. He’s physical. Can be moved around in the slot to outside and maybe even in the backfield. Reminds me a little of Deebo Samuel. But my favorite part of his game, was he’s the one receiver in this class that can turn a 4 yard gain into a 10 yard gain. Those hidden yards wins football games. His yards after catch is so damn impressive.
Top 5 sleepers
1. Chad Muma ILB Wyoming 2nd to 3rd round grade. Muma drives through his tackles and lays the boom on everybody . A former safety Muma can flip his hips and run with almost all tight ends. Can over pursue at times but he’s a 3 down line backer on almost any team.
2. Joshua Williams CB Fayetteville St. 5th-6th round grade. Standing at 6-3 193lbs the former receiver has great ball skills. Fluid in his movements and long. He could be a really good press-man or cover 3 corner. Tackles well. The jump in competition is large but his size and speed will make him an interesting day 3 pick.
3. Reed Blankenship Safety Middle Tennessee St. 3-4 round grade. Blankenship is a ball hawk at safety. Able to diagnose and attack runs and routes quickly. An incredible athlete was a former corner and returned punts for the Blue Raiders. A broken leg in 2019, and a smaller frame, are the two biggest concerns for him. I think his sheer athleticism at the safety position is too good to pass up.
4. Carson Strong QB Nevada. 4-5 Round grade. Strong was considered a 2 to 3rd round pick before undergoing multiple leg procedures stemming from an old high school injury this off-season. Strong reminds me of Drew Bledsoe. He stands tall in the pocket, and delivers passes with touch and precision. His arm is one of the strongest in the draft. If the medicals come back clear, Strong could end up being one of the better QB’s in an underwhelming class.
5. Pierre Strong Jr. RB South Dakota State 3-4 round grade. Strong Jr. ran much better in his 40 yard dash than expected. (in the low 4.4s) Which adds to the intrigue. A one cut runner, he finds the hole and bursts into the second level. Runs North-South not East-West. Strong Jr is a solid pass protector. Needs to improve his hands to be a 3 down back, but don’t be surprised if he is getting playing time in his rookie year.
Top 5 Busts
1 Malik Willis QB Liberty I have a 2nd round grade on him, projected to go earlier. I’ve already listed some of Willis faults earlier in the article. But to reiterate, he really struggles with just taking the easy completion. His 12 interceptions last year are a major concern. I just don’t get the hype. I know he’s got a cannon, but if the cannon misfires more than it hits who cares. He may end up being an ok starter, but if he’s picked in the top 10 the expectations would be and should be much greater.
2. Matt Corral QB Ole Miss. I have a 3rd to 4th round grade on him, projected to go late 1st or early 2nd round. Corral wasn’t asked to make more than two reads in college, if it wasn’t there he’d scramble until something came open. That may work in college but in the NFL it’s not the way to make a living. Struggles with accuracy especially when under pressure. Off-the-field issues including a reported brawl with Wayne Gretzky’s son in high school (which forced him to transfer) and excessive partying are a major red flag.
3 Andrew Booth Jr. CB Clemson 2nd round grade, projected the same. Booth Jr. can impress, played in a lot of big games. He’s very good in zone coverage, especially cover 2. My concern is when he’s in man-to-man. Gives up far to many easy completions. Bites heavy on double moves and play actions. Is aggressive but misses some tackles. If drafted into the wrong system, Booth Jr. could very well be a major disappointment.
4. Jermaine Johnson II Edge Florida St. I have a 2nd round grade, projected 1st round. Johnson stock has skyrocketed throughout the process. A J.C transfer to Georgia couldn’t find the field, then transfered to Florida State. Had 11.5 sacks. Motor runs hot and cold, only one year of solid production. Struggles setting the edge and slow off the ball. Had a great Senior Bowl, but I wonder if he’s consistent enough to warrant where he’ll be drafted.
5 George Pickens WR Georgia. I have him going in the first round. This isn’t about talent, Pickens has that. If Pickens is a bust, it’s either his maturity issue got the better of him, or because of his medical issues. When not the first or second read he looked uninterested in playing football. A torn ACL in early 2021 limited him to 4 games in the fall. Looked noticeably less explosive. If his knee is healthy and his maturity improves, Pickens can be a difference maker. If not woe to the team, and the G.M that picked him.
Well that’s it! As always thanks for reading! Enjoy the 2022 NFL Draft!
View From The Bench 