The DFF Army banded together once again for the 2022 DFF Superflex Rookie Mock 4.0. We are again post-Combine and Pro Day, but now just a few days out from the NFL Draft. Check out every second-round selection below and each writer’s reasoning behind their pick.
2.01- David Bell, WR Purdue
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
There’s an old saying when it comes to making your draft picks, especially in the first two rounds, “don’t overthink it”. Rewind to this time last year when Bell was considered a front runner for being the WR1 in this class. Fast forward to today, and he is dropping in consensus rookie draft rankings faster than gas prices are rising. The Combine certainly did him no favors, nor did his RAS score (a less than paltry 3.96/10), and to make matters worse, his Pro Day, which could have quelled some concern, only solidified for many draftniks why they are moving him down their rankings.
So, why the heck did I take him at the 2.01 you ask? Production baby! Metrics be damned, the fella can play football and play it very well. He may have “tested” his way out of the first round, but that only means someone is going to get a great player at a discount.
Bell still has hands of steel combined with a fluid physicality while displaying maximum body control. Oh, and his route running is unquestionably solid. At 6’1″ 212lbs. Bell already has an NFL-ready frame, and since speed isn’t his focus, I’d favor him even adding 5-8 more pounds of muscle furthering his beast mode potential.
At the end of the day, if you told me I’d get the RB1, and a guy who could still arguably wind up the WR1 out of this class in my first two picks, I’d say you were crazy, but here we are. If Bell slides to the early to mid-portion of your second round I got three words for ya… “DON’T OVERTHINK IT” and ring that BELL!
2.02 – Skyy Moore, WR Western Michigan
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
After the first round, I normally preach RBs all the way in rookie drafts but WRs can still be viable options, especially in the early second round. Skyy Moore is that option for me. With my top four RBs already selected I opted for my favorite tier two rookie WR. Moore checks almost every box from a data perspective and destroys important metrics like Target Share and Yards per Team Pass Attempt (Y/TPA). He is also an early declare and will likely be drafted on day two of the NFL draft. These are all of the things I look for in a rookie WR prospect and they are what makes Skyy Moore my WR6 of this class.
2.03 – George Pickens, WR Georgia
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
I prepared a queue of four players when pick 1.12 was on the clock. Desmond Ridder, George Pickens, Matt Corral, and Trey McBride were the four. To my surprise, three of the four were still available at my pick.
Pickens has as high a ceiling as any player in this draft. He had an untimely ACL tear that ruined his sophomore and junior years, so we need to look at his freshman year to best project him.
Achieving a 1.75 receiving yard per team pass attempt and a 27.0% dominator as a freshman is truly elite. In the second round, I want to chase ceiling and Pickens is that guy for me.
2.04 – Christan Watson, WR North Dakota State
Conan Grune – @1stat1day
The allure of selecting a QB such as Matt Corral or Sam Howell was there, but I decided to go with another WR with this selection at 2.04. Christian Watson is a redshirt senior who has recently crept up draft boards with a combination of elite speed and effective separation. Adding two inches and 35 pounds during college, his 6’4” 211-pound build has garnered lots of attention. Just check out some of his contested catch-ability and use of his length.
What I really like about Watson is his ability to contribute everywhere on the field. Glossed over sometimes, he had 49 rushing attempts and 24 kickoff returns in his last three seasons at NDSU. Like Tyreek Hill’s first few seasons in the league (though with very different body types), Watson should receive additional work besides his receiving duties. Without enough draft capital or a cushy landing spot, he may not earn enough targets in year one to warrant fantasy consideration beyond a WR4. But knowing Watson, he will be utilized all over the field and should quickly push for a stronger target share.
2.05 – Matt Corral, QB Mississippi
Scott Osterloh – @FF_EvilEmpire
After selecting Walker at 1.05, I was certain I was going to take a wide receiver here at 2.05. However, when a run of WRs went from 2.01 to 2.04, I had to pivot, and QB is where I went.
Leaving this Superflex draft with arguably the top pure quarterback of the class could be a real steal at 2.05. Corral is a decisive player, with a quick-trigger release. The Ole Miss star can fire it into tight windows and still use touch to make bucket throws. In addition to his arm, Corral is mobile, as he proved by running for 1120 combined yards in his final two seasons at Mississippi.
Finally, the former four-star recruit out of Long Beach, California is a fiercely competitive player, which will earn him locker room credit early in his career. Expected to be selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft, Corral could be an instant impact QB2 on my SF Dynasty roster.
2.06 – Sam Howell, QB North Carolina
Paul Patterson – @fantasyfreezer
Sam Howell is probably a bad QB, yet he was an easy selection for me at the 2.06. Although this may sound like a contradiction, it’s actually very straightforward. Evaluating QBs is not an exact science, and the upside of hitting on a good one with a mid-2nd round rookie pick outweighs the risk. Sure, a player like Jahan Dotson might have a higher floor, but the potential return is also significantly lower. I am also making this selection under the assumption that Sam Howell goes in the second round of the NFL Draft. If he slips to the third or into Day 3, his chances of becoming a starter in the NFL will evaporate almost entirely.
2.07 – Jahan Dotson, WR Penn State
Carl – @RookieWhisper
I am not a fan of using early picks on Senior WRs who didn’t breakout until their Junior year, but in the mid 2nd, I feel pretty good taking a WR with 4.43 40 yard dash speed, a 90th percentile dominator rating, and Expected Draft Position of 31.4 according to grindingthemocks.com.
Dotson exploded onto the scene in 2020 and then picked up speed in 2021, going for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns on 91 receptions. On film Dotson shows the ability to separate and make tough catches. The way he plays reminds me Diontae Johnson, so I would be thrilled if I got Diontae Johnson-level production at the 2.07.
2.08 – Justyn Ross, WR Clemson
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
With most of the top end wide receivers taken I selected one of the few left with true WR1 upside. Ross put together a historic freshman season at Clemson catching 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns on just 46 receptions. If it wasn’t for a devastating congenital fusion condition in his neck and spine that required surgery he would likely be in the top 3 of this class. That is the main concern though, doctors have advised he not play football ever again, so there’s always the possibility his career ends on any given play. I’m excited for the upside and towards the end of the second round it’s worth the risk.
2.09 – John Metchie III, WR Alabama
DocFFFN – @DocFFFN
At the risk of being “boring,” your author again selects the same player in round two as he did the previous two mocks. Again, the selection is an early-declare WR that just dominated the SEC and is coming off of injury. John Metchie III was good enough to start alongside fellow Alabama alumni and first-round picks Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith in 2020. This past season, Metchie was relied upon to be Bryce Young’s go-to receiver, a role he was effective in until teammate Jameson Williams began to blossom and he shared the load. Like Williams, Metchie also went down with an unfortunate ACL injury at the end of the season, just two games before Jameson did.
As a prospect, Metchie combines high football IQ with exceptional route running and releases. While he doesn’t possess exceptional hands or Williams’ athleticism, he understands the game and is a gritty competitor both with and without the ball in his hands. As such, we could see him drafted early in round two of the NFL Draft this spring, despite his injury.
Again, there is no denying that Alabama in recent years has produced the most NFL-ready receivers (Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith) to enter the league. With Jameson Williams already added to the roster in round one, Metchie becomes the next pick.
2.10 – Zamir White, RB Georgia
Jared Hines – @Ship_Chaser
5’11” 214 lbs. Birthday: 9/18/1999
40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
34” vertical 10’8” broad jump
White was quoted as saying he wanted to show off his hands during the Combine. NFL legend LaDainian Tomlinson identified White as one of the guys who jumped out to him during the workout.
“A 4.40 for a guy that size is impressive, and he caught the ball well,” Tomlinson said. “This is a guy who can develop into a three-down back. When he comes into the NFL, he can provide depth for a team right away. Another thing is he’s a great protector of the quarterback. I think these teams will go back and look at his game film and see they have this guy ranked too low.”
The big question mark for White is that he has come back from two ACL tears in his young career. How will the NFL weigh that factor when looking at his profile? I suppose we will find out but there are many of us in the community that think he is criminally undervalued right now. I did not expect him to be available this late in the 2nd. His athletic scores were some of the best ever by an RB, so there is strong evidence to suggest he has physically progressed past his prior injuries. His excellent play as a junior further strengthens this argument. The fact that he shared a backfield with James Cook should not be seen as a black mark as these kinds of rotations are more and more common in elite programs.
2.11- James Cook, RB Georgia
Charles – @Heady_Football
Did you know he is the brother of Dalvin Cook?!? Of course, you did. That’s the first thing anyone says about him, so I felt obligated to do so here.
Once you get past the middle of the second round, you start looking for potential and versatility in prospects as the talent level begins to drop off. I could have taken McBride, as this is a TEP league, but tight ends typically take a few years to become productive and I am greedy and want production now.
Enter James Cook who has the pedigree most NFL front offices desire plus the skill set today’s NFL requires of their RBs in his catching ability. This will get him on the field sooner than most later-round RBs and makes him a viable asset in PPR formats. Think of him as James White. Someone who won’t wow you with the runs but is viable due to his pass-catching.
The biggest knock on him is his physicality, as he showed at times an inability to bounce off defenders. However, I believe when he grows into his body and is taken by a zone-blocking offense he has the potential to be a Devonta Freeman type player who will be a productive player for more than the typical four years you get from most RBs. After that first tier of RBs, one should consider Cook in the second round.
2.12 – Trey McBride, TE Colorado State
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
The first tight end off the board comes at 2.12 via Colorado State in the form of a premier receiving threat. I would draft McBride as high as 2.06 in 2022 rookie drafts. In his senior year and first full season as a starter, Trey McBride obtained analytic numbers reminiscent of an elite outside receiver.
McBride is a bulldog on the line of scrimmage, sporting a top-5 combined blocking grade per PFF. He also holds the highest receiving grade of any tight end in the 2022 class, with an impressive 95.0 rating.
Rookie tight ends often need a grace period to develop at the NFL level. Early breakouts at the position are sporadic at best. However, McBride’s complete combination of blocking and receiving should earn him an immediate role and ensuing starting gig.
