It’s been less than a week since the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Combine and the internet has been flooded with mock drafts. In recent days, there have been two distinct waves of reaction from the draft impersonator community: first, their reaction to training in Indianapolis, and second, the reaction to quarterbacks staying put and/or being traded.
For this week’s roundup of dummy drafts, we’ve selected some of the more notable dummy drafts from the drafting community, 35 in all. The obvious shifts created by the Combine appear to be at the top of the draft.
Let’s take a closer look at who was bullied by the Detroit Lions with the No. 2 pick last week.
Choose No. 2
Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
He is currently being bullied by Dane Brugler (The Athletic), Kyle Meinke (MLive), Ben Raven (MLive), Lance Zierlein (NFL.com, #6), Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network), Staff (Bleacher Report), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Josh Edwards (CBS Sports), Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports), Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports), Nate Davis (USA Today), Shane Hallam (Countdown Project), Scott Bair (AtlantaFalcons.com) , Scott Smith (Buccaneers.com), Staff (ClevelandBrowns.com), Eddie Brown (San Diego Union-Tribune), James Dator (SB Nation), Brian Fisher (Anthon Sports), Brian Johannes (The Huddle Report)
Caivon Thibodeau, EDGE, Oregon
He is currently being bullied by Dave Birkett (Free Pre$$), Jason McIntyre (Fox Sports), Cam Mellor (Pro Football Network).
Kyle Hamilton C, Notre Dame
He is currently being bullied by Todd McShay (ESPN), Doug Farrar (Touchdown Wire), Mark Schofield (Touchdown Wire), Luke Easterling (Draft Wire), Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports), Nate Davis Trades (USA Today, #4) . ), Vinnie Ayer (Sporting News), David Howman (Blogging the Boys), Andrew Wilbar (Behind the Steel Curtain)
Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
He is currently being bullied by Luke Easterling’s 2nd layout (Draft Wire), Ryan Matthews (Pride of Detroit at number 9)
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
He is currently being bullied by Brad Spielberger (PFF), Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network).
Eric’s thoughts
As expected, after the all-star Combine, Hutchinson remains the most popular option for the Lions as he gradually becomes the universally recognized player with the best value and the safest pick in the draft.
On the back of the Alliance medal is Thibodeau. After he decided not to train, it added fuel to the rumors surrounding his work ethic. Personally, I think these rumors are exaggerated and too reactionary, but this is a growing trend that is gaining momentum.
As Thibodeau began to look differently, this opened the door for another new EDGE player to enter the conversation at number 2.
Walker is also on the wave of the Combine and he made it to the Lions this week after playing in Indianapolis. If the trend of mocking Hutchinson in favor of Jacksonville at No. 1 continues, and no positive news comes from the Thibodeau camp, Walker’s name could become a more popular option over the next two months.
The biggest beneficiary of the Combine seems to be Hamilton, who despite an average 40-yard run (an event that usually gets overreacted), still showed himself to be an elite athlete and was one of my top performers at the event in safety. After usually being ridiculed several times a week by the Lions, this week he was ridiculed nine times in Detroit (roughly 25 percent of bullying) — by far the most in the offseason.
Finally, Willis is also getting some love at the top of the draft. He’s not always predicted to be the first quarterback off the board, but one pattern has emerged: Most analysts believe that if the Lions want him, they can’t get him at No. 32 pick because he probably won’t be the No. 20 last past pick. .
Let’s take a closer look at Willis and other signalers in our quarterbacks section.
quarterback focus
Note: The numbers after the player/school name are slots selected by the player in tryout drafts where the quarterback was paired with the Lions. Paired with Lions number of choice fatty.
Malik Willis, Freedom (2, 26, 7, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 11, 18, 18, 18, 20)
Spielberger and Cummings, as mentioned above
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 18, 18, 18, 20, 27, 32, 32)
Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports), David Homen (Blogging the Boys)
Matt Corral, Mississippi (9, 16, 18, 19, 19, 20, 20, 32, 32, 32, 32, 32)
Shane Hallam (Draft Countdown), Nate Davis Trades (USA Today), Vinnie Ayer (Sporting News), Luke Easterling 2nd Layout (Draft Wire), Eddie Brown (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (9, 20, 20, 20, 2627, 32, 32, 32)
Dane Brugler (The Athletic), Scott Smith (Buccaneers.com), Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports), Andrew Wilbar (Behind the Steel Curtain, traded to No. 26, waived Nos. 32 and 97)
Sam Howell, North Carolina (11, 18, 32, 32, 32, 34)
Nate Davis (USA Today), Jason McIntyre (Fox Sports), Cam Mellor (Pro Football Network), Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network, #34)
Carson Strong, Nevada (20, 27, 27)
by No
Eric’s thoughts
At first glance, little has changed. Willis is QB1 in most of the taunts, and when he isn’t, it’s usually Pickett, sometimes with a touch of Corral, Ridder, or Howell.
However, following the trade of Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz, and the news that the Packers had retained their quarterback, there has been a clear shift in draft draft sham schemes.
One pattern that stood out was that after Washington and Denver were eliminated from the group of teams in need of quarterbacks, quarterbacks dropped and were increasingly bullied in Detroit. Maybe it’s the result of the planners seeing value in number 32, but the quarterbacks seemed to be being coerced as the analysts tried to fit a certain number of them into the first round.
Also, note that Pickett was ridiculed nine times at No. 11, with most of those times occurring before Washington was traded for Wentz. After the trade was made, Pickett’s predictions dropped significantly, including him falling completely to pick No. 32 in two simulations.
Corral and Ridder continue to fight for QB3, but there are still a few Howell supporters who like him much more than the rest of the analytics community. All three have been ridiculed in Detroit at least four times this week. Note: I am not in favor of the exchange. At all.
Now let’s move on to the non-quarterbacks who joined the Lions at pick #32.
Pick #32 (not QB)
Trailon BurksWR, Arkansas – Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports)
Jameson WilliamsWR, Alabama – author Lance Zierlein (NFL.com), Luke Easterling (Draft Wire), Brian Fisher (Anthon Sports)
Chris OlavWR, Ohio State – Mark Schofield (Touchdown Wire)
Jahan DotsonWR, Penn State – Scott Baer (AtlantaFalcons.com), James Dator (SB Nation)
George Pickens, WR, Georgia – Ben Raven (MLive), Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)
Sky MooreWR Western Michigan – Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports)
Justin RossWR, Clemson – Personnel (Bleach Record)
Devonte Wyatt, DT, GA – Ryan Matthews (Pride of Detroit)
George KarlaftisEDGE, Purdue – Doug Farrar (Touchdown Wire)
Fight Mayf, EDGE, Minnesota – Todd McShay (ESPN)
Nakobe Dean, LB Georgia – Kyle Meinke (MLive), Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network), Brian Johannes (The Huddle Report)
Trent McDuffieCB, Washington – Brad Spielberger (PFF)
Kyler GordonCB, Washington – Josh Edwards (CBS Sports)
Duxton HillS/CB, MI – Dane Brugler (The Athletic)
Jaquan BriskerS, Penn State – Dave Birkett (Free Pre$$)
Eric’s thoughts
While 14 sham drafts merged the Lions with a quarterback, the remaining 21 gave the Lions a non-quarterback—an amazing 60/40% ratio. Diversity remains among that 60 percent, ranging from the ever-popular wide receiver option (more than half of those projections) to players of all three defensive levels.
The bottom line is that this is a good reminder of the quality of players the Lions are likely to have available if they choose not to pick a quarterback in this spot.
Choose No. 34
George Pickens, WR, GA – Shane Hallam (Countdown Project)
Boy MeifEDGE, Minnesota – Luke Easterling (Draft Wire)
Damon ClarkLB, LSU – Dave Birkett (Free Pre$$)
Lewis CinemaS, Georgia – Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)
Eric’s thoughts
As tryout drafts increasingly go beyond the first round post-union, I included this section this week. It should be noted that there are some repeats from list #32 and the playback quality remains the same since the selections are so close to each other.
Again, a good reminder that the Lions will most likely get two players from those groups.
Spotlight draft layout
In this section, I usually go into detail on one fictitious draft and return to Free Press’s Dave Birkett for a closer look at this week’s predictions.
Choice #2: Caivon Thibodeau, EDGE, Oregon
Choice #32: Jaquan Brisker, S, PA
Choice #34: Damon Clark, LB, LSU
Eric’s thoughts
If Hutchinson comes first overall, I think what Birkett presented is a very realistic and optimistic prediction of what could happen.
As I mentioned earlier, I think the rumors about Thibodeau are exaggerated and he remains one of the best players in this draft cycle. Safe and linebacker are clearly more important than freedom of action, and Brisker and Clarke are perfect for each other. If the Lions were able to make it out of the first two rounds with three (!) defensemen, that’s a big win for GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.