2022 Draft Big Boards, Position Rankings & Mocks

[Simpleton]

He reminds me a lot of how the Raiders overdrafted Clelin Ferrell.

Ferrell was nowhere near the athlete but had better production. Walker actually flashed the ability, but most of it was coming from rushing on the interior.

Georgia is an interesting situation though because they rotated so heavily and so much of their pressure came from schemed up blitzes from guys standing up/moving around, the guys with their hands down were kind of just meant to free the LB's up with stunts/twists.

Jalen Carter is probably a top 5ish pick next year and only had 8.5 TFL and 3 sacks.

Walker actually was 2nd on the team in sacks, and most amongst the DL. His production wasn't quite as bad as people make it out to be, especially if he was going in the 15ish range like I think he would in most drafts.

But in this very strange draft he's being talked about as the possible first pick so he's getting extra scrutiny.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

His production wasn't quite as bad as people make it out to be, especially if he was going in the 15ish range like I think he would in most drafts.

But watch his production. These aren't plays where he is beating the man straight up across from him. He isn't turning the corner. He is usually stunting and sort of catching guys confused on blocking assignments and getting the pressure that way. And yet he still didn't put up that many numbers.

If you watch the two, Karlaftis looks like a way better pass rusher. Now he is a guy who you could say didn't put up huge sack numbers but he is just beating people. You don't see much of Walker really just beating his guy.

Maybe someone can teach him though. But I don't take that risk with a top 5-10 pick. I take that risk much later in the draft. You know who else is an amazing athlete but doesn't really beat guys? Barno. But he isn't going in the first.

 

[Simpleton]

But watch his production. These aren't plays where he is beating the man straight up across from him. He isn't turning the corner. He is usually stunting and sort of catching guys confused on blocking assignments and getting the pressure that way. And yet he still didn't put up that many numbers.

If you watch the two, Karlaftis looks like a way better pass rusher. Now he is a guy who you could say didn't put up huge sack numbers but he is just beating people. You don't see much of Walker really just beating his guy.

Maybe someone can teach him though. But I don't take that risk with a top 5-10 pick. I take that risk much later in the draft. You know who else is an amazing athlete but doesn't really beat guys? Barno. But he isn't going in the first.

I watched plenty of him, that's why I said that most of what he flashed is what you'd project to be successful as an interior pass rusher.

He struggles bending at the top of the arc and isn't especially flexible as a rusher in space on the edge. He wins more with his pure power/length and relative quickness against interior OL.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I watched plenty of him, that's why I said that most of what he flashed is what you'd project to be successful as an interior pass rusher.

He struggles bending at the top of the arc and isn't especially flexible as a rusher in space on the edge. He wins more with his pure power/length and relative quickness against interior OL.

Oh I know you've watched him and it's why I point it out to you. I like having draft discussions with you because I think you pay a lot of attention to the players. I just think not all splash plays are created equal. And what I see from Walker is not impressive pass rushing plays. He is a terrific run defender though. And unlike some of the DEs in this draft you know you'll get a really good run defending DE. He just may never sniff the QB rushing from the outside.

 

[boozeman]

 

[Simpleton]

Oh I know you've watched him and it's why I point it out to you. I like having draft discussions with you because I think you pay a lot of attention to the players. I just think not all splash plays are created equal. And what I see from Walker is not impressive pass rushing plays. He is a terrific run defender though. And unlike some of the DEs in this draft you know you'll get a really good run defending DE. He just may never sniff the QB rushing from the outside.

Thanks, and yea there's way too much projection involved to take this guy top 5. I'd love to see him in a more normal class, the topsy turvy nature of this class just throws everything out of whack.

 

[boozeman]

 

[Cotton]

 

[Simpleton]

Yea Hunter was a 3rd and Oweh a late 1, big difference from spending a top 3 pick.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

This is really where you see positional value impacted. A top guard maybe costs you 10-15 mil. A top WR is now costing you 30 mil. So yeah, if you're getting a similar talent between the two positions WR is going to rank higher for a lot of teams because you're getting more bang for your buck essentially. For those 5 years you're saving a ton of money. Just like drafting a QB does. Now if you're talking an elite guard vs. a good but not great WR it's a totally different conversation. But this absolutely impacts the way a team thinks. Same reason why pass rushers are always so in demand. It's a very expensive position to sign.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Yea Hunter was a 3rd and Oweh a late 1, big difference from spending a top 3 pick.

Yep and it's why I won't say for sure that Walker is a bust. I do think there is a good chance that 3 years from now the team that drafts him won't be happy with their pick. But certainly there is a chance that he taps into all that potential, figures it out and becomes a stud. I just wouldn't take that risk high in the first round of the draft.

 

[shoop]

I don't feel very strongly about guys in the 20-32 range. This is similar to what I would do. The mock is not tolerant of trading future picks otherwise I would be looking for future 1's and 2's.



More like what I think will happen.
I didn't love the Deese pick for this one. I just didn't see another option I liked.

 

[boozeman]

24. Dallas Cowboys: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

I’ll be surprised if this pick is anything other than an offensive lineman or wide receiver. Treylon Burks will be an enticing option for Dallas, but I’m giving the edge to the plug-and-play left guard who will help bring stability to an inconsistent unit.

56

DAL

Sam Williams, Edge, Ole Miss

88

DAL

Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia

At some point in rounds 2-4, the Cowboys are expected to draft a tight end. Over the last calendar year, Jelani Woods has gone from borderline draft pick to surefire draft pick to an expected day two draft pick. At 6-7 and 253 pounds, he ran a 4.61 40-yard dash and 6.95 three-cone, and the tape shows a productive pass catcher.

129

DAL

Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech

155

DAL (CLE)

Cade York, K, LSU

167

DAL

Abram Smith, RB, Baylor

176

DAL

Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State

The Cowboys have a strong track record when drafting Penn State linebackers in the last decade between Micah Parsons and Sean Lee. Smith isn’t anywhere near the level of those two players, but Dallas will be intrigued with the raw size-speed traits that he offers as a subpackage rusher or backer.

178

DAL

Ryan Van Demark, OT, Connecticut

193

DAL (CLE)

DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State

Very uneven. I am definitely not a fan of identifying Ezukanma as the missing piece to our WR room.

 

[Simpleton]

That's about a B/B- for me, I'd be thrilled with Zion at 24 but Williams is a round early and I'd rather spend a 2nd/3rd on a WR/defensive player (who isn't a full round reach like Williams) than on a boom/bust TE.

Brandon Smith would be a steal late so that bumps it up some for me.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Brandon Smith would be a steal late so that bumps it up some for me.

Yeah this might be my favorite pick in that draft. I'm a big fan of Sam Williams too but the second round feels a little rich for him. Jelani Woods is my favorite TE in this draft. The guy has really grown on me. It's his run after the catch that is really fun to watch. Guy runs angry. He is also a pretty damn good blocker for a guy who I consider a great athlete.

Basically I'm with you. The Williams pick feels early and the Ezukanma WR pick feels forced. There had to be better WR options at that point. But I don't really want to wait until the fourth for one either. And kicker sounds nice but you better be getting a special dude if it's that high in the draft.

If you look at his mock though it lines up bad for WR if you skip it in the first round. In the second the best WR left is Tolbert probably. In the third Shakir, Pierce, Metchie and Robinson all go before our pick.

So basically this is my concern as to why I don't pass one up in the first if it's the best player.

 

[Simpleton]

Yeah this might be my favorite pick in that draft. I'm a big fan of Sam Williams too but the second round feels a little rich for him. Jelani Woods is my favorite TE in this draft. The guy has really grown on me. It's his run after the catch that is really fun to watch. Guy runs angry. He is also a pretty damn good blocker for a guy who I consider a great athlete.

Basically I'm with you. The Williams pick feels early and the Ezukanma WR pick feels forced. There had to be better WR options at that point. But I don't really want to wait until the fourth for one either. And kicker sounds nice but you better be getting a special dude if it's that high in the draft.

If you look at his mock though it lines up bad for WR if you skip it in the first round. In the second the best WR left is Tolbert probably. In the third Shakir, Pierce, Metchie and Robinson all go before our pick.

So basically this is my concern as to why I don't pass one up in the first if it's the best player.

The only scenario where it makes sense is if we go extremely 2-TE heavy and focus on the run/play-action, which could conceivably make sense, but even still you need a better WR3 than James Washington.

At the very least Woods should be an explosive weapon from the TE position.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

TE in the third? No way. Too many other needs.

And a kicker that high is insanity.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The only scenario where it makes sense is if we go extremely 2-TE heavy and focus on the run/play-action, which could conceivably make sense, but even still you need a better WR3 than James Washington.

At the very least Woods should be an explosive weapon from the TE position.

Yeah and Woods is the only guy in this draft that I might think about going 2 TE heavy with. I really like him. But I think he can be a really good blocker in the running game. I think his size and athletic ability does give you a serious weapon in the passing game. Even though I'm iffy on his hands really being that great. But I don't think he is going to be ready to be more than a situational pass catcher as a rookie. We would still need a WR pretty badly like you mentioned.

I think in Bruglars draft I'd trade up in the third for at least a Metchie or Shakir. But maybe just take the WR in round two and grab Williams in round 3. And take a TE in the fourth instead of a Texas Tech WR that is meh. I'd roll the dice on Ross in the sixth in his mock too.

 

[Simpleton]

Yeah and Woods is the only guy in this draft that I might think about going 2 TE heavy with. I really like him. But I think he can be a really good blocker in the running game. I think his size and athletic ability does give you a serious weapon in the passing game. Even though I'm iffy on his hands really being that great. But I don't think he is going to be ready to be more than a situational pass catcher as a rookie. We would still need a WR pretty badly like you mentioned.

I think in Bruglars draft I'd trade up in the third for at least a Metchie or Shakir. But maybe just take the WR in round two and grab Williams in round 3. And take a TE in the fourth instead of a Texas Tech WR that is meh. I'd roll the dice on Ross in the sixth in his mock too.

The big thing with Woods is how much do you value his potential as a blocker?

Because I think someone like Dulcich is a better receiver and Kolar isn't that far off, although neither of them project as great blockers whereas Woods could be dominant at his size.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

The big thing with Woods is how much do you value his potential as a blocker?

Because I think someone like Dulcich is a better receiver and Kolar isn't that far off, although neither of them project as great blockers whereas Woods could be dominant at his size.

I mean if you're running 12 personnel instead of a 3 WR set I think you have to have a guy who blocks well. Otherwise you're just sitting a real weapon in the passing game for a lesser weapon in the passing game. I like Kolar though so I'm game for him in the fourth/fifth. It's why I wouldn't force a Woods pick. If he falls to the right spot, great. If he is snatched up by a thirsty team too high then I take Kolar later with the plans that he replaces Schultz in a year.