The buzz around Indianapolis, and it seems to be getting louder each day, is that, at least in terms of top end talent, the 2022 isn’t all that strong compared to most recent drafts. However, the corollary is that while the top-end talent is relatively weak, there is a ton of depth in this year’s draft class. Indeed, the buzz going about is that teams could very well be able to add good players at positions like WR, CB, DE and the offensive line late into the second day of the draft and even into the early part of the third day. As a result, there is some expectation that more than one team may look to trade away an early round pick or two in order to add extra picks in the 3rd thru the 5th rounds.
One team that apparently would like to move down is Jacksonville, which has the #1 pick overall for the second year in a row. By all accounts, the Jags would really like to provide Trevor Lawrence, the #1 pick last year, with a top target at WR; however, it doesn’t appear that there are any WRs even remotely worth the top pick this year. It also doesn’t appear that anyone is going to be interested in trading all the way up to #1 to get a QB, so the Jags may very well be stuck at #1. And if they are, there is a growing sense that they could settle on an OT – either Alabama’s Evan Neal or Ickey Ekwonu of NC State – rather than one of the DEs.
One team that appears to be at least doing their due diligence on this year’s QB class is Denver, who wasted no time interviewing Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral of Ole Miss and Liberty’s Malik Willis all on the first night of the combine. The Broncos reportedly would actually prefer to trade for a veteran. For a second year in a row, Denver has been mentioned as the most likely landing spot for Aaron Rodgers if he moves on from the Packers, but right now that possibility looks like more tease than anything else for the second year in a row, as it’s just hard to imagine Rodgers actually going anywhere else. Same for Russell Wilson. In fact, the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo is probably the most likely vet QB to actually be traded, but the asking price could be pretty steep, (although the fact that he needs surgery on his throwing shoulder this spring could mitigate that to some extent.) Hence, the Broncos, with the 9th pick this year, are at least covering their bases and looking at this year’s QB class.
And speaking of this year’s QB class, it has been kind of interesting tracking the ebb and flow of the NFL’s evaluation of the top guys at the position. Suffice it to say that there still isn’t a clear, consensus #1 QB this year, although it does appear as if Pitt’s Pickett and Liberty’s Willis are 1-2 on the majority of team’s boards. Indeed, coming out of last month’s Senior Bowl, the sense around the league appeared to be that Pickett had emerged as the favorite. He checked off all the boxes and clearly is the most pro ready. At the same time, though, it doesn’t appear if Pickett really excites many teams who see him as having the potential to be a good pro, but just doesn’t have much upside. On the other hand, teams keep looking at Willis, and while he is still very raw, he’s got tools like pure athleticism and arm strength that you just can’t teach.
Notes: The NFL is expected to announce sometime this week where the 2024 draft will be held. It is rumored that Green Bay, Detroit and Washington are the three teams still in consideration. This year’s draft, of course, will be in Las Vegas, while next year’s event has already been awarded to Kansas City… Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert, a second-day prospect for the upcoming draft, will not workout this week because of a foot injury. Instead he hopes to be able to go at the Buckeyes’ pro day on March 23rd.
