2022 PlayerProfiler Rookie Mock Draft Recap #1 – Single QB

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The RotoUnderworld community will be partaking in a series of 12-team, five-round rookie mock drafts, running through the spring and summer. The mock drafters will be comprised of PlayerProfiler writers/analysts, our friends in the Patreon community, and our good friends over at The Breakout Finder. While these pieces will include quick-hitting notes from the drafters about why they made their selection, our writers will take turns recapping the festivities and adding their own unique perspectives.

Rookie Mock Draft Recap #1 – Single QB

The first edition in the second season of the fabled PlayerProfiler Rookie Mock Drafting Series Extravaganza is upon us.

Slight caveat: this mock took place and was completed before the Reese’s Senior Bowl

Kicking off the second season of Rookie Mock Draft Recaps with a five-round, 12-team, Single QB draft finished on February 5th by the following talents.

  1. 1. Matt Desrosiers –  2. Stephen Murphy –  3. Ray Ray Marz 
  2. 4. Andy Mlyniec  –  5. Robert Rowlinson –  6. Andrew Quinn
  3. 7. Cody Carpentier –  8. Greg Vacek – 9. Jaylan Glenn
  4. 10. Aaron Stewart – 11. Ryan Cummings  – 12. Britt Sanders

1.01 – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Analyst: Matt Desrosiers
Rationale: Three-Down skill set. Massive production at Iowa State.

1.02 – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

1.03 – Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan State

Analyst: Ray Ray Marz
Rationale: Feel free to check out some of Noah Hills‘ awesome work over at Breakout Finder to see the case for Walker over Spiller in rookie drafts. Particulary this, this, and maybe this.

1.04 – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Analyst: Andy Mlyniec
Rationale: Wilson broke out as a junior with a 1,000-yard season with fellow 1st-round talent Chris Olave on the field.

1.05 – Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M

1.06 – Drake London, WR, USC

Analyst: Andrew Quinn
Rationale: Broke out at 18 years young, one of the youngest and most talented guys in the loaded 2022 Draft Class.

1.07 – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Analyst: Cody Carpentier
Rationale: Pick No. 7 is a little high here for Olave, but he is as good as it gets in this class from a route running perspective. Olave will run 4.35 and people will push him into Round 1 in all drafts.

1.08 – David Bell, WR, Purdue

Analyst: Greg Vacek
Rationale: David Bell broke out as a Freshman with over 1,000 yards opposite of 2021 Rookie Rondale Moore. Bell continued to produce the next two years, with and without Moore.

1.09 – George Pickens, WR, Georgia

George Pickens Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

1.10 – Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame

Analyst: Aaron Stewart
Rationale: The receiving upside of Kyren Williams is alluring. Back-to-back seasons with 200+ carries AND at least a 10% Target Share.

1.11 – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

1.12 – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Analyst: Britt Sanders
Rationale: A torn ACL in the National Championship sucks but there is no way he should be available at this spot in the draft.

Round 1 Takeaways

This time last year, we were only discussing Rookie Mock’s and just beginning the first mock draft for player profiler, below I will give a short review on what that Mock looked like.

1.01 Najee Harris, 1.02 Travis Etienne, 1.03 Ja’Marr Chase, 1.04 Javonte Williams, 1.05 Rashod Bateman, 1.06 Devonta Smith, 1.07 Rondale Moore, 1.08 Jermar Jefferson, 1.09 Kyle Pitts, 1.10 Chuba Hubbard, 1.11 ElijNewah Moore, 1.12 Jaylen Waddle.

In this first edition in 2022, the biggest takeaways in round 1 come from a bevy of Wide Receivers with much turmoil entering the Pre-Draft phase.

The Injured: Drake London (ankle), George Pickens (knee), Jameson Williams (ACL) – London broke his ankle towards the end of a dominant junior season at USC, and continues to garner Top 10 energy in NFL Mock Draft circles. Pickens tore his ACL in the spring of 2021, but made a full recovery to return for the College Football Playoffs and win the National Championship. Whereas Williams tore his ACL on a non-contact reception in that same National Championship game. Seeing all three of these guys in Round 1 is exciting, yet frightening because we believe in the talents, but if they don’t make full recoveries it could hinder the depth.

The Questioned: David Bell (draft capital), and Jahan Dotson (senior bowl opt-out) – David Bell dominated since day 1 at Purdue while playing with Rondale Moore, but *rumors* from NFL scouts consider David Bell in the same echelon as Tyler Johnson. But other sources are still claiming he will be a late 1st, early 2nd round pick. Dotson, a speedster from Penn State is projected to run in the mid 4.3’s in the 40-yard dash, But he skipped out on the Reese’s Senior Bowl and scouts that were around him prior to arrival claimed that he was in the 5’8/5’9 area

By our rookie rankings, only a few guys were left out. Both Running backs, Jerome Ford out of Cincinnati, and Brian Robinson out of Alabama will see time in Round 1 in the upcoming Rookie Mocks, I just have a feeling!

2.01 – Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU

Analyst: Matt Desrosiers
Rationale: Allgeier dominated with 1,500+ total yards from scrimmage each of the last 2 seasons. Claims to run a 4.40 40-yard dash. If he does, he will shoot up draft boards…quick!

2.02 – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky

2.03 – Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati

2.04 – Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama

Analyst: Andy Mlyniec
Rationale: The Alabama RB is capable of catching passes and is decently sized. Should be an average Josh Jacobs-like back.

2.05 – John Metchie, WR, Alabama

2.06 – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan

Analyst: Andrew Quinn
Rationale: Moore exploded with a 36+% target share this season, and will be just 21 when he gets drafted this Spring.

2.07 – Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State

Analyst: Cody Carpentier
Rationale: White is the most underrated running back in the class, and has the upside to be the Le’Veon Bell of this class.

2.08 – Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina

Analyst: Greg Vacek
Rationale: Down Junior year which was impacted by an Ankle injury and bad South Carolina offensive but a big back with a 20+ reception season.

2.09 – Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson

2.10 – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

Analyst: Aaron Stewart
Rationale: The late 2nd round feels like it’s about the right to take the first QB in this Rookie Draft.

2.11 – James Cook, RB, Georgia

2.12 – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Round 2 Takeaways

Heading into Combine and Pro-Day Season, a number of the above players can jump into Round 1, with a few leaving the door open to continue a free-fall into the 3rd round after 1st round rumors in 2021..(Kevin Harris, Justyn Ross, John Metchie, Brian Robinson). Though the RBs in front of them are much more established than the ones in the latter of Round 2/3.

PlayerProfiler Rookie Mock Draft ADP Database via Dynasty Deluxe

The ever evolving quarterback class of 2022, continues to move. Over the last 6 months, The favorites have been Matt Corral, and Malik Willis. Over the last month, Kenny Pickett jumped into the Corral tier.. and Now just prior to the Senior Bowl we see Sam Howell, and Kenny Pickett as the first QB’s off the board – click the Mock Draft ADP graphic above or here. to follow along over the next few months to see if Malik Willis continues the meteoric rise.

3.01 – Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

3.02 – Zamir White, RB, Georgia

3.03 – Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

Analyst: Ray Ray Marz
Rationale: Any QBs that project to be first round NFL Draft selections fall into auto-pick territory for me once we hit the third round.

3.04 – Carson Strong, QB, Nevada

3.05 – Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA

Analyst: Robert Rowlinson
Rationale: Not an immediate starter in NFL but has the measurable,=s and dominated at UTSA. Excited to see his NFL Combine stats.

3.06 – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Malik Willis Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

3.07 – Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida

Analyst: Cody Carpentier
Rationale: A Destroyer of Lives in Mobile this year, Pierce ran possessed with every opportunity. Pierce will test out decently, but this guy is all heart, and grind.

3.08 – Tyrion Davis-Pierce, RB, LSU

Analyst: Greg Vacek
Rationale: Bigger back coming out of LSU with projected speed score to put him around the 90th-percentile. Draft capital is the big question with him and he could go undrafted.

3.09 – Zonovan Knight, RB, North Carolina State

3.10 – Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri

Analyst: Aaron Stewart
Rationale: He’s that Baddddddddie guy, duh! What he did in the SEC this past season was unreal. Nearly 2K yards from scrimmage and caught over 50 passes.

3.11 – Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada

3.12 – Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC

4.01 – Christian Watson, WR, NDSU

4.02 – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama

4.03 – Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina

Analyst: Ray Ray Marz
Rationale: This range of rookie drafts feels like the right time to throw at least one dart on an athletic TE prospect. Especially so for Likely if he can break into Day 2.

4.04 – Jerrion Ealy, RB, Ole Miss

Analyst: Andy Mlyniec
Rationale: Ladies and gentlemen, your true Austin Ekeler of the 2022 RB class.

4.05 – Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis

Analyst: Robert Rowlinson
Rationale: Good weigh in at the senior bowl (plus 11-pounds), but came in 2 inches shorter.

4.06 – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

Desmond Ridder Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

4.07 – Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

Analyst: Cody Carpentier
Rationale: Give me Martellus Bennett Jr. in Round 4 every single damn day.

4.08 – Jaylen Warren, RB, Oklahoma State

Analyst: Greg Vacek
Rationale: Transfer up from Utah state and in final season put up over 1200 yards rushing and caught 25 passes.

4.09 – Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State

4.10 – Max Borghi, RB, Washington State

Analyst: Aaron Stewart
Rationale: This late in the draft, give me a RB with a 86-catch season on his resume.

4.11 – Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky

4.12 – Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA

5.01 – Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma

5.02 – Abram Smith, RB, Baylor

5.03 – Tyler Goodson, RB, Iowa

Analyst: Ray Ray Marz
Rationale: Goodson has become my auto-pick player for the fifth round of these things. Observe:

5.04 – Cole Turner, TE, Nevada

Analyst: Andy Mlyniec
Rationale: Move tight end specialist. excited to see him catch passes left and right.

5.05 – Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State

5.06 – ZaQuandre White, RB, South Carolina

5.07 – Braylon Sanders, WR, Ole Miss

Analyst: Cody Carpentier
Rationale: Never broke out at Ole Miss, but the scouting industrial complex LOVES Braylon Sanders. From the NFLPA Bowl to the Senior Bowl, he has impressed.

5.08 – Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati

Analyst: Greg Vacek
Rationale: Plus Athlete but never broke out at Cinci – boom or bust type player worth taking a flyer at end of a rookie draft.

5.09 – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin

5.10 – Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers

5.11 – Jerreth Sterns, WR, Western Kentucky

5.12 – Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State

Full Draft Conclusion

Watching the rise of Rachaad White, and/or Dameon Pierce is going to be an enjoyable one. White shows Le’Veon Bell and Alvin Kamara tendencies, white Pierce is your classic “undersized tank”.. think Ray Rice!

Following along these Quarterbacks will be an ever-evolving thing, as mentioned before. Carson Strong took a big hit at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, but he is all but guaranteed to have a great Pro-Day in March in a more relaxed setting and teammates Romeo Doubs, and Cole Turner catching passes. From Kenny Pickett to Desmond Ridder, I think this class has a lot of room to grow. Malik Willis feels like the only prospect that all of the NFL wouldn’t mind drafting.

The fifth round this year looks to compete with the beasts of 2021, Chris Evans, Khalil Herbert, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Noah Gray to name a few. Can Kennedy Brooks, Abram Smith, Jeremy Ruckert, and Cole Turner take that leap – it remands to be seen. But one thing is for certain… We will continue to bring you actionable content daily at PlayerProfiler.com and BreakoutFinder.com through the NFL Combine, Pro-Days and the NFL Draft. Follow along on Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and everywhere else as we break down every 40-yard dash, every pro-day, and every draft pick in 2022.

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