Quarterbacks get no love early on Day 2 of the NFL Draft
The 2022 quarterback class has wildly been recognized for being a weak group throughout much of the draft process. That came to fruition in the second round of the draft as no quarterbacks were selected. Desmond Ridder stopped the bleeding after he was selected by the Falcons in the third round. 12 picks later, Malik Willis’ unbelievable fall ended when he was selected by the Titans. Matt Corral became the fourth quarterback off the board after the Panthers traded back into the third round to select the Ole’ Miss quarterback. Third-round quarterbacks are usually not year-one starters and often get at least a year to learn and develop, but both Ridder and Corral are heading to teams with questions at quarterback. They had to sweat it out, but they’ve got to be feeling good now that the wait is over.
Running Backs find their homes in the second and third rounds, as expected
It was no shock to see the first-round end without any running backs being drafted. That changed drastically on Day 2 when the Jets selected Breece Hall early in the second round. This selection will likely put a massive dent in Michael Carter’s workload. It’s easy to imagine Carter still having some sort of role in the offense, however with Hall being drafted so high, coupled with his size and skillset, he’ll be “the guy” in the Jets backfield rather quickly. A couple of picks later, the Seahawks drafted Kenneth Walker because Pete Carroll will die on the “run the damn ball” hill. With the Seahawks bringing back Rashaad Penny on a one-year deal, an RBBC could be in our sights. Not to be outdone, the Bills decided further complicate their running back room for fantasy managers by selecting James Cook. The Bills now boast three young running backs who could all be involved in the offense. Although Devin Singletary showed promise down the stretch, they felt the need to add the dynamic scat-back in Cook.
Rachaad White became the first back off the board in the third round after he was selected by the Buccaneers. Many felt like White is the best pass-catching back in this year’s class, and he should compliment Leonard Fournette well. Out of the gate he will compete with Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who showed promise, for touches and time on the field. Being known as a back who catches the ball means you’re already on Tom Brady’s good side. The 49ers, also known as NFL RB University, selected the punishing runner out of LSU, Tyrion Davis-Price. He will add depth to the Niners’ running back room that we know Kyle Shanahan likes to keep stocked. I do not feel like this is a big blow to Elijah Mitchell’s fantasy value...yet. Remember Trey Sermon and his draft pedigree? Another bruising runner, Brian Robinson, finds himself on the Commanders and will look to add quality depth.
Moving forward, keep an eye out for Isaiah Spiller, who could find himself in the best situation (playing time-wise) if the Texans decide he’s worth a pick.
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Teams snag more wideouts on Day 2
Wide receivers absolutely flew off of the board in the second round of the draft. Let’s start with Christian Watson. He was drafted by a team with a need and an elite quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. The quicker he can learn, the quicker Rodgers can trust him, the better because he will be in the starting lineup in Week 1. Watson is in position to have the best year of any rookie receiver (with Drake London as a close second for me). Because of either injury or their projected spots on the depth chart, other receivers drafted in the second round like Wan’Dale Robinson, John Metchie, Tyquan Thornton, George Pickens, and Alec Pierce may not get out of the blocks as fast. It is the exact opposite for Skyy Moore, who was selected by the Chiefs. The Chiefs filled a spot of great need and Moore will have a chance to make an impact early.
Jalen Tolbert is an interesting selection (in a good way) for the Cowboys in the third round. With Amari Cooper on the Browns and Michael Gallup battling back from a torn ACL, Tolbert could earn himself a nice setup in the offense. One thing he certainly brings to the table is good production evidenced by his 146 catches, 2559 yards, and 16 TD over the past two seasons. The other receivers drafted in this round will likely be in reserve roles coming out of the gate.
