2022 NFL Draft Day Two Recap: Offense
Day 2 of the NFL Draft saw a ton of movement and a star LB that fell tremendously. Plenty of teams landed really great fits, others a bit head scratching. Overall, Day 2 was a good day with plenty of IDP relevant prospects being drafted. Let’s not waste any time getting into those picks!
Round 2
33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Logan Hall, DT, Houston
My Take: Coming off his most productive season where he had13 TFLs and six sacks, Logan Hall brings youth to an aging front line, and one that is currently without Ndamukong Suh. Hall is an explosive player with good size. He’s show the ability to be disruptive against the run and the athleticism to shed blocks and get hands on the QB when the pocket breaks down. I believe he was the 2nd best DT available, but overall a very promising prospect.
35. Tennessee Titans: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
My Take: McCreary plays the game as fast as any DB in this class. While he does lack size, he is a good athlete with good change of direction, fluid hips, and plays aggressive to the ball. There are some concerns with his aggressive style of play, which opens him up to being out of position, over pursuing the tackle, and getting beat on the double moves. McCreary will need some development early on, and I believe there were better CBs available for the Titans to select.
37. Houston Texans: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
My Take: The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Jalen Pitre brings a presence to the defense that is impactful in a variety of ways. He plays with intelligence and speed and has shown excellent tackling ability. Pitre finished the 2021 season with 75 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He’s a very underrated defensive back in this class who could find himself lined up all over the defense, given his broad set of skills. Given the lack of quality depth in Houston, Pitre should push for a starting role on Day 1 and could quickly become a legitimate IDP asset.
38. Atlanta Falcons: Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
My Take: Ebiketie might not be the most athletic Edge rusher in this class, but he’s got some qualities to his game that should translate well to the next level. For the Falcons, who finished dead last in team sacks, drafting an Edge rusher was urgent. Ebiketie will need to work on his ability to show up in the run game more often, but he should be able to create enough disruption of the edge to force opposing QBs off their spot or come up with the sack. Overall, this is a solid pick for the Falcons.
39. Chicago Bears: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
My Take: Gordon is a defensive back who excels in short area quickness and reacts quickly to plays using his athleticism and change of direction. His speed is a bit concerning (4.52 40-yard dash) and I don’t believe he was the best DB available. Despite this, I do believe Gordon was deserving of a 2nd round grade and should offer the Bears nice depth if they can scheme him into favorable situations.
40. Seattle Seahawks: Boye Mafe, DT, Minnesota
My Take: The Senior Bowl National Team MVP was a rising stock leading up to the draft. Mafe showcased his athleticism at the combine with a 4.53 40-yard dash and his explosiveness by posting a 38” vertical and 10’5” broad jump. Mafe is a disruptive presence on the interior and could be one of the top 3 IDL taken in this class. This feels like a great fit and a solid selection for the Seahawks.
42. Minnesota Vikings: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
My Take: The Vikings have a glaring need at the CB position and Booth was the best available at this point in the draft. He is an incredible athlete that isn’t going to be dependent on scheme to be impactful. Booth boasts tremendous ball skills and projected as a borderline 1st rounder during my pre-draft grading process. Despite the injury he sustained, he should be ready to roll by camp and will be a welcomed addition to this Vikings defense.
45. Baltimore Ravens: David Ojabo, LB, Michigan
My Take: There’s a lot to love about Ojabo and this pick made a lot of sense for the Ravens. He finished last season with 11 sacks and was very effective as a standup edge rusher. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles which will likely delay his NFL debut, but he could have been a mid-high first-round pick if not for the injury. Ojabo comes at a discount as the Ravens continue to build one of the league’s scariest defenses.
46. Detroit Lions: Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky
My Take: Paschal will be a great fit for Dan Campbell ands will serve as a great compliment to Aiden Hutchinson, whom the Lions drafted in the 1st round. While he isn’t the most effective at getting to the QB, he does a fine job of playing with discipline and is good against the run. This pick may have been a bit of a stretch given Paschal still needs some polish, but I love the fit for a player like him. At worst, he is a solid depth piece that can be rotated in during favorable situations.
47. Washington Commanders: Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
My Take: The Commanders bring in yet another Alabama IDL to help bolster their disruptive rushing attack. Mathis feels a bit over drafted here, as I have Travis Jones ranked well above him in this class. However, Mathis is a relentless and physical specimen. He is most affective against the run, but his motor and tenacity could serve him well at the next level. He is coming into the league hot, finishing 2021 with 9 sacks.
48. Chicago Bears: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
My Take: The Bears continue to commit draft capital to their secondary, this time bringing in versatile Safety Jaquan Brisker. Brisker is a hard-hitting safety with excellent ball skills and football IQ. He uses his athleticism, length and instincts to make plays in both the pass and run games. Brisker should be able to push for a starting role on Day 1 and was drafted very accordingly, based on where I had him ranked pre-draft. This is a nice addition for the Bears.
49. New Orleans Saints: Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee
My Take: Taylor is a prospect with great size and speed who played primarily outside. He’s flashed at times, but he is likely to be more of a project than a player who will make an immediate impact for the Saints. He has above average ball skills and athleticism. There were more than a few CBs available that I would have preferred over Taylor. At this stage in the draft, I think the Saints left some meat on the bone with this selection.
56. Dallas Cowboys: Sam Williams, LB, Ole Miss
My Take: Williams is a solid pick for the Cowboys, although not the best DE available. He struggles defending the run but has shown to be an effective pass rusher with stellar athleticism. Williams ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine with a 1.52 10-yard split. He finished 2021 with 12.5 sacks for Ole Miss and looks to be a good fit for the Cowboys who are hoping to replace the production of Randy Gregory.
58. Atlanta Falcons: Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
My Take: Anderson is a former first-team Big Sky QB who rushed for 1,412 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2018. He was the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 with 147 tackles and 14 TFLs. He was the speediest linebacker at the combine with a 4.42 40-yard dash and has shown to be the most athletic and versatile LB in this draft class. The Falcons are accepting some risk with this selection but are gambling on a player who could pay off big with his upside.
60. Cincinatti Bengals: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
My Take: After drafting Daxton Hill on Thursday, the Bengals select another very versatile DB in Cam Taylor-Britt. He played both corner and safety in college and was very capable in run support. He was impressive at the combine, posting a 4.38 40-yard dash. Taylor-Britt is a nuisance at the catch point and uses his length to play through receivers well. He finished his college career with six interceptions and possesses impressive ball skills.
61. San Fransisco 49ers: Drake Jackson, DE, USC
My Take: I really thought Drake Jackson would be one of the most underrated Edge rushers in this class and I think this is a great pick for the 49ers. Jackson is explosive and has great length. He showed his athletic ability on film and at the combine. He’s got a good first step, great bend, and explosive hands. Jackson will be a good fit for this defense and should be someone to keep an eye on this offseason.
62. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
My Take: The Chiefs bring in a hard-hitting Safety with Bryan Cook. He’s a willing tackler with a good combination of size and speed. His athletic profile makes him a nice prospect for the NFL and he’s going to have an opportunity to compete for a starting role as soon as he lands in KC.
64. Denver Broncos: Nik Bonitto, DE, Oklahoma
My Take: This pick feels like a BPA situation for the Broncos. With Chubb and Gregory on the roster, Bonitto could find himself on the outside looking in his first season, but if the Broncos can get him on the field in the right situations, he’s got enough skill to be a productive asset. Bonitto plays with excellent speed but struggles to win when his athleticism is matched. He has time to develop the deficiencies he has but overall, this is an excellent pick for the Broncos.
66. Minnesota Vikings: Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
My Take: Asamoah isn’t going to run through anyone, but he’s athletic and fast enough to keep himself in the play no matter where the ball is on the field. His coverage skills are above average and he should find himself lining up mostly at OLB. At this stage in the draft, the Vikings could have done much better for their LB room. Asamoah will be a very raw prospect with a limited skillset. This could force him to be used purely as a depth piece and as a regular contributor on special teams early on.
68. Cleveland Browns: Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
My Take: Emerson is a guy with size that is a rarity but lacks the technical skills that would land himself on the field. He gets himself in trouble with his hands and his physical style of play. Despite these later picks starting to feel like a gamble, there were much better prospects at this position at this point in the draft that I would have preferred over Emerson. The Browns may be betting a losing line with this pick.
70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
My Take: Muma was an absolute monster at Wyoming. He finished his 2021 season with 142 tackles and consistently showed off some of the better coverage skills in this class. The Jaguars got tremendous value by selecting Muma at #70 overall and the Jags have done a fantastic job of rebuilding their LB room after the departure of Myles Jack. My feeling was that Muma could have been a legitimate mid-early 2nd round pick, so this pick feels like a home run.
75. Houston Texans: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
My Take: Harris has the speed and physicality to earn himself a legitimate role on this talent deprived defense. His best attribute is his athleticism is his biggest draw, though I think he carries the most “bust” potential from this class. He should be thrust into a situation where there’s no shortage of opportunity, which is always encouraging from an IDP fantasy standpoint. Statistically, Harris had an impressive 2021 season finishing with 79 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. His production at Alabama was a positive sign and this is great value for the Texans.
76. Baltimore Ravens: Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut
My Take: The Ravens are a dream landing spot for Travis Jones who was my 2nd ranked DT in this class. Jones is an impressive run defender with the strength and athleticism to wreak havoc in the middle at the next level. He was dominant during Senior Bowl week, and should have been an early 2nd round selection. The Ravens are going to love the player they drafted this late in the draft. His impact should be felt immediately and he’s likely going to be a fan favorite very early in his career.
78. Cleveland Browns: Alex Wright, DE, UAB
My Take: The Browns are searching for production opposite Myles Garrett, and this selection is sneakily good. Wright is most effective as a pass rusher but has shown the ability to be effective in finding the football. He will need to improve on his tackling and positional discipline. Despite the Browns taking a gamble, I don’t think this pick is too terribly over drafted.
79. Los Angeles Chargers: J.T. Woods, S, Baylor
My Take: Woods is a tremendous athlete with excellent ball skills. He has the upside to be the better of the two Baylor Safeties drafted on day 2. Woods has impressive change of direction and plays with an aggressive style. He should be able to provide quality depth for the Chargers, with the potential to step into a starting role nicely if given the opportunity.
81. New York Giants: Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
My Take: Flott is a prospect that has the size and athletic profile to be a great developmental piece. He’s a young player that will need to put in some work before he can be a true contributor at the next level. I would have much preferred the Giants to take a crack at Marcus Jones at this stage in the draft, although Flott probably carries less risk with some of the injury concerns for the former.
82. Atlanta Falcons: DeAngelo Malone, DE, Western Kentucky
My Take: The Falcons desperately need help on the edge and DeAngelo Malone could provide some added relief for the team. He is a speed rusher with a knack for creating pressure, something the Falcons have desperately needed. At times, he can be a bit consistent and that’s something that he will need to work on if he plans to find himself a starting role. My first reaction to this selection was disappointment, as I thought Cameron Thomas was the more intriguing prospect here. Still yet, worse picks have been made in this 3rd round.
83. Phildaelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
My Take: Dean had a remarkable draft tumble due to medical concerns, but the Eagles are getting an incredible discount on this class’ LB2. Dean has the quickness and athleticism to make him a solid player in coverage. He’s got a nose for the ball and is a strong tackler. Dean was in the conversation of being a 1st round pick in my pre-draft process, and the Eagles hit an absolute bomb in drafting Dean this late in the draft. There’s no question, this will go down as one of the best value Day 2 picks.
84. Pittsburgh Steelers: DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
My Take: The Steelers got a fantastic discount on Leal, who was a top 5 IDL in my pre-draft rankings. His explosiveness and speed, combined with his size makes him a very impressive prospect. Leal will need to play with more consistency and work on creating pressure more consistently. He does a fine job as a run stopper and should be a good value pick for the Steelers.
85. New England Patriots: Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
My Take: Marcus Jones isn’t a physical specimen, but he’s extremely quick and sticky in coverage. His return abilities should earn him a special teams role right away. As for the impact he could make on defense, Jones could be in line for more situational usage than every down starter. With the ball in his hands, Jones is electric. He’s got good ball skills and could be an unsuspecting difference maker despite seeing limited opportunities. His shoulder injuries were a bit concerning for many teams, but it appears he is healthy and on track to play when given the chance.
87. Cardinals Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State
My Take: Cameron Thomas was a productive defender that lined up all over the defensive front. Most effective as an edge rusher, Thomas plays with speed and tenacity. At times, Thomas forgets there are 4 quarters to a football game and becomes less effective as the game wears on. He will need to work on his conditioning so that he’s able to stay on the field more often. Thomas finished his 2021 season with 35 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 44 QB Hurries. The Cardinals will be very pleased with their 3rd round selection.
89. Buffalo Bills: Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
My Take: Bernard wasn’t the best LB available here. While he did finish 2021 with 103 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, his game will need some refinement to be a legitimate starter at the next level. The Bills could have got better positional value had they looked elsewhere.
95. Cincinnati Bengals: Zachary Carter, DE, Florida
My Take: Carter feels like quite a reach at this stage of the draft. While he did generate 8 sacks in 2021, he consistently struggled to make the tackle. He didn’t have a ton of production at Florida outside of his sack totals in 2021. The Bengals had better options if they thought DE was an area of need.
96. Indianapolis Colts: Nick Cross, S, Maryland
My Take: Cross is an speedy safety who ran a 4.34 40-yard dash. He displays outstanding range, but his play is erratic. It’s doubtful he makes a push for a starting role and will likely see his best opportunity for playing time come via special teams.
97. Detroit Lions: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
My Take: Kerby Joseph had a tremendous 2021 season and was a very good pick here in the 3rd. The Detroit Lions have some deficiencies in their secondary and Joseph could really help them out right away. At worst, he’s a solid depth piece and a good value pick here at #97.
100. Arizona Cardinals: Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
My Take: Sanders could have gone much earlier in the draft and is a solid pick for the Cardinals. It will be interesting to see how he works his way into the mix in Arizona. It’s very likely that he is more of a rotational piece than a true every down starter. He lacks speed, but he does have impressive athletic ability. He is able to consistently generate pressure, although he will need to be more creative with his moves once he reaches the NFL.
102. Miami Dolphins: Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
My Take: Tindall was essentially the “6th man” of the Bulldogs defense, but he is one of the more underrated players drafted from that defense. Tindall is an explosive athlete who ran a 4.47 40-yard dash and had a 42” vertical. He’s a ferocious tackler and loves to play physical. His athletic profile compared to his size really jumped out to me more than just about any prospect drafted on Day 2. The Dolphins add a fantastic defender to their defense who could push for immediate playing time.
103. Kansas City Chiefs: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
My Take: Chenal is an absolute freak of nature. He bench pressed 34 reps and ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the combine. His 40.5” vertical and 10’8” broad jump were jaw dropping measurables considering his size (6’ 3” 250 lbs). Chenal finished his 2021 season with 115 tackles, 18.5 TFL and eight sacks in 2021. The Chiefs earn tremendous value, as Chenal could find himself working along side Nick Bolton as soon as the 2022 season kicks off.
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