DFF Army SF TEP Rookie Mock Draft 2.0: Round 1

The DFF Army banded together for a pre-combine, early 12-team full PPR Superflex, TE Premium rookie mock draft!

Check out every first-round selection below and each writer’s reasoning behind their pick. Stay tuned for rounds two, three, and four dropping over the next few days. 

1.01 – Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas

Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy

Treylon Burks is among the rarest of physical specimens. His size (6’3”, 225 lbs) and speed (projected sub 4.40 40 yard dash) are rivaled only by pass-catchers such as Darren Waller, DK Metcalf, Chase Claypool, and Kyle Pitts. From this group, only Pitts backed up those elite physical traits with the first three-year college production in Burks stratosphere. Burks 42.5% weighted dominator* rating and 3.59 receiving yards per team pass attempt (RYPTPA)* are first and second respectively of the power five receiving prospects.

It’s not hard to find film of him outrunning smaller cornerbacks like the clip below.

Burks has massive hands that have translated into being a sure-handed receiver. He will be a YAC machine in the NFL. He is a versatile receiver who can win outside or in the slot. Burks has all the tools to be a top alpha wide receiver for a decade.

*Jerrick Backous Devy Database

1.02 – Breece Hall, RB Iowa State

Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017

At the second spot of the draft, with Treylon Burks gone, Breece Hall becomes the obvious pick. His analytical profile is great and his film is even better. He has good size, runs well, can pass block, and is a threat in the receiving game. Everything you could want in a fantasy running back. He will be an every-down player for whatever team drafts him, with top-five upside in fantasy during his rookie contract. I would have even taken Hall 1.01 over Burks.

1.03 – Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M

Paul Patterson – @fantasyfreezer

At this point in the process, Isaiah Spiller looks like the clearcut third-best player in the class behind Breece Hall and Treylon Burks. Spiller is an early-declare RB who recorded 1,000+ scrimmage yards in each of his three seasons at Texas A&M. Spiller is also one of the best receiving backs in the class. He earned target shares of 8.4%, 8.9%, and 9.8% across his three seasons. For context, Javonte Williams and D’Andre Swift, who are both quality pass-catching RBs, had just one college season above 8%.

Isaiah Spiller will not turn 21 until August, making him one of the youngest players in this draft class. And at 6’ 1” and roughly 225 lbs., Spiller possesses the size and skill set to be a three-down back in the NFL.

1.04- Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State

Devin Maney – @DevinManey

Heading into the draft, I knew I would be selecting Treylon Burks or one of the big three Runningbacks. With Burks, Hall, and Spiller off the board, KW3 became an easy selection for a mock draft. Indeed, a team with a need for a Wide Receiver or Quarterback could easily take their top selection at that position, but typically when I am selecting in the first round of a draft, I’m taking the best player available. Garrett Wilson or Malik Willis likely would have been my pick if I had not taken Walker III, though I lean toward Wilson. I can see myself trading out of the 1.5-1.8 picks in most Superflex leagues as I project most drafts to shakeout similarly to the DFF draft. Adding additional assets to those players who will be available will be very enticing.

1.05 – Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State

Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF

Garrett Wilson has long been my WR1(a) in the 2022 class, alongside Treylon Burks. Many may criticize my refusal to draft a quarterback in the top-five draft slots. However, a talent like Wilson was too good to pass up on. A deceptive route-runner, Wilson cuts effortlessly in motion with meticulous artistry. Wilson maintained a 20.85% target share in a crowded Ohio State offense. He posted 1058 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season as a member of the Buckeyes. Personally, I would rather take a shot on Wilson here than reach for a quarterback that has yet to stand out as a worthwhile investment.

1.06 – Kenny Pickett, QB Pitt

Derek Hulsey – @DAH_Fantasy

With the 1.06 position, you normally have your pick at some of the top-skill position players in the draft. This year could be a little different with a weaker QB class. I was able to take my QB1 of the class and the first QB off the board at 1.06. Pickett had an extraordinary senior season at Pittsburg and shined at the Senior Bowl this past week. I jumped at the opportunity to take my QB1 with the 6th pick. Depending on landing spots we could see Pickett jump up the boards. Pickett is a high-floor prospect with his frame, skill-set, and natural feel for the game. 

1.07 – Matt Corral, QB Ole Miss

Joe Memmolo – @DFFJoe_Mem

Matt Corral jumped on the scene in 2020 when head coach Lane Kiffin took over but really turned it on during the 2021 season in which he threw for 3,000+ passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He was efficient through the air and added over 600 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Corral was a dual-threat quarterback in his final year at Ole Miss and you have to imagine NFL teams think they can make something happen with this kid. Seventh overall seems appropriate for one of the more enticing quarterbacks in this draft class.

1.08 – Sam Howell, QB UNC

MR – @DFF_MR

It was a coin flip here between Sam and Malik. Honestly, if this mock was later on in the calendar I may have gone Willis, and certainly landing spot would’ve nailed the selection for me. Ultimately it came down to my feeling that Howell is the more Day 1 starting QB in this class when it comes to playing the position between the ears. His skillset would fit nicely in either Carolina or Denver, and if he gets that first-round early Draft Capital I’d be all-in. Tough decision, but right now I’ve got Sam ahead.

1.09 – Malik Willis, QB Liberty

Carl Churchill – @RookieWhisper

VALUE, that’s the one-word analysis I would give this pick. I was tempted to take my current favorite WR in this class, David Bell, but I couldn’t pass on taking the possible first QB off the board in the NFL Draft. Willis doesn’t “WOW” with his analytics, but it is hard to watch him play and not come away impressed. The 6’0” 220 lbs. transfer from Auburn oozes upside. He has the impressive rushing ability and the arm talent to make nearly any throw. That said he is still a bit raw as a passer. Willis would benefit from my consistent fundamentals, something that can improve with NFL coaching. I called Malik Willis “Lamar Jackson lite” back in September and I’m sticking with it. If you chase upside, then Malik Willis is your guy.

1.10 – Jameson Williams, WR Alabama

DocFFFN – @DocFFFN

Mock drafts change with the coming of the annual NFL offseason events. The combine will give more intel, leading to changes, as will the pro days that occur afterward. Then when the NFL Draft commences, analysts have draft capital to lean on and are willing to stake their claim on the top QBs. Consequently, as the offseason wages on, the QBs move up the fantasy draft board. Expect there to be at least two and potentially three QBs selected in the top half of the first round of most Superflex drafts. My hope was to land my rookie QB1 Malik Willis with this pick, taking advantage of others’ reluctance to be bold and take their preferred QB (this being a Superflex mock). Instead, my esteemed colleague @RookieWhisper beat me to the punch.

The ensuing decision being a difficult one, your author looked at three highly-regarded prospects: Drake London, David Bell, and Jameson Williams. Bell has long been a personal favorite, and your author already owns four devy shares. However, in this instance upside wins out. London and Bell may have safer floors when considering their styles of play, but it’s not often that you have a chance to draft a 6’3” 200 lb. early-declare who runs in the 4.3s and just dominated the SEC THIS late in the 1st round. Williams was mentioned back in September 2021 by your author as a likely NFL first-round pick. Williams’ meteoric rise forced his selection at #10 overall, while just three months ago he was obtained at #19 overall in the mid-second in version 1.0 of this way-too-early mock. Despite his recent unfortunate ACL injury, he is still the pick. When one is picking this late in the draft it is normally because he/she has built a strong roster, in which case, one would be able to wait on Williams’ return from injury. 

1.11 – Carson Strong, QB Nevada

Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF

Carson Strong may very well be a reach here but with what we’ve seen from young QB’s in recent years (i.e. Justin Herbert) I wasn’t willing to let him fall too far with limited knowledge of how the NFL feels about any of them at this point. It’s also worth noting Strong showed well at the senior bowl. 

Drake London, Skyy Moore, and possibly even David Bell probably go ahead of a few of these QB’s, including Strong, post-NFL draft in my opinion. 

Truthfully if I could do this over again I’d probably have selected Drake London, fortunately, this is a mock!

1.12 – David Bell, WR Purdue

MG – @AlwaysBBuilding

Drafting out of the 12 spot the decision was really down to two players who both share the same position, USC WR Drake London, or the aforementioned David Bell. I have no doubt this pick would have been a success regardless of which of the two were selected, however, David Bell was the choice I made. Why?

For my money, Bell is a more well-rounded player at this stage of their respective development. A more robust route tree and more fluid routing running make Bell an instant contributor from Day 1 in my humble opinion. Landing spot, at least for rookie receivers, will always play a significant factor, however, Bell is emblematic of making that transition a bit easier in year one due to his versatility. Not to fear London fans, he was snagged with the next pick. London is an absolute monster, and should he return to form from his injury he has the potential to be the WR1 from this class. It’s fair to say these two will be compared by their draft capital for years to come.

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