2022 Draft Board: Pass Catchers

Go check out my 2022 Quarterback Draft Board article if you want to get more background information on how this all works.

I combined Receivers and Tight Ends because there aren't that many Tight Ends so that article would've been short. I'll put all of the Receiver parts (top 5, board, etc.) first, and then the Tight End parts will be below that.

TOP FIVE RECEIVERS

1) Calvin Austin III (Memphis)

Analysis: He reminds me of Tyler Lockett. He's not a big guy and he has plenty of speed, but he isn't a one trick pony (i.e. he doesn't only run streak routes). Receivers his size don't usually land in the first round (Marquise Brown, Tavon Austin and Jaylen Waddle are the only 1st round Receivers under 5'10 in the last 12 years), but teams that pass on him because of his size will regret it later.

2) Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)

Analysis: Everyone's number one (except mine obviously) and it's easy to see why. He's got it all. Size? Check(ish) (6', 183). Speed? Check (4.38). Production? Check (over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in final season). Route Running ability? Just watch his tape.

3) Bo Melton (Rutgers)

Analysis: His production wasn't great, but he also played for Rutgers. Put him on a team with a decent passer and he would've lit it up. Bonus, he not only ran a 4.34 forty, but also posted a 4.10 short shuttle. I love his potential, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a team in the back end of the first round shocks us all by drafting him (though I will admit he's more likely to end up in the third or fourth round).

4) Romeo Doubs (Nevada)

Analysis: Not seeing any athletic tests does concern me, enough to move him down two spots despite receiving a first-second round grade. His college production was fantastic though, and watching him play he seems plenty fast. This year's class was supposed to be loaded, but many of the "top" Receivers were removed from my board. A guy like Doubs is definitely worth the risk in the late first, or second round.

5) Jaquarii Roberson (Wake Forest)

Analysis: I was shocked when I didn't see Roberson or Jaivon Heiligh's names on the Combine invite list. After seeing Heiligh's pro day results I realized he would've just been removed from my board anyway, but that is not the case with Roberson. He ran a 4.50 forty, but it was his jumps (40" vert, 129" broad) that were the best showing of his athleticism! He was stellar at Wake Forest and played a key role in their rise over the last two seasons. Perhaps he was forgotten by the Combine decision maker's because of A.T. Perry's year this past season, but he shouldn't have been.

Sleeper: John Metchie (Alabama)

Analysis: Maybe this seems an odd choice to you, but personally I haven't noticed a whole lot of discussion surrounding Metchie. He's a solid route runner, decently athletic and he had a productive final two seasons. He also suffered the exact same injury as Jameson Williams, only his was a month before yet he's still not receiving the same amount of air time as Williams is getting. Personally, I'd take Metchie in the second round, but with the way the hype train has been dormant I think someone is going to get a steal in the third round.

SURPRISINGLY LEFT OFF

A lot of the names that immediately popped into your head you'll find in my Removed from Draft Board section. However, Chris Olave, Wan'Dale Robinson, and maybe even Christian Watson probably crossed your mind, and they do remain on my board. All three are very talented, they just didn't have the PSRs to match up with my top five guys.

DRAFT BOARD

My Draft Board

REMOVED FROM DRAFT BOARD

For each position there are players who either had a red flag in their college production or athletic testing (or both) that led to them being removed from my draft board. These are referred to as negative factors and can lead to one of two labels: Depleted or Empty. In order for a player to receive a Depleted label, they had to have a negative factor that significantly decreased the chances of success in players who had that same factor from 2010-2019. In order for a player to receive an Empty label, they had to have a negative factor that led to zero successful players who had that same factor from 2010-2019. There were 24 Receivers removed from my board, but it is worth noting that I would consider Velus Jones on day three for Special Teams purposes.

Alec Pierce (Cincinnati) - Depleted

Braylon Sanders (Ole Miss) - Depleted

Charleston Rambo (Miami) - Depleted

Danny Gray (SMU) - Depleted

David Bell (Purdue) - Depleted

Devon Williams (Oregon) - Depleted

Dontario Drummond (Ole Miss) - Depleted

Drake London (USC) - Depleted

Erik Ezukanma (Texas Tech) - Depleted

George Pickens (Georgia) - Depleted

Isaiah Weston (Northern Iowa) - Depleted

Jahan Dotson (Penn State) - Depleted

Jameson Williams (Alabama) - Depleted

Johnny Johnson III (Oregon) - Depleted

Kevin Austin Jr. (Notre Dame) - Depleted

Khalil Shakir (Boise State) - Depleted

Makai Polk (Mississippi State) - Depleted

Mike Woods (Oklahoma) - Depleted

Reggie Roberson (SMU) - Depleted

Tre Turner (Virginia Tech) - Depleted

Treylon Burks (Arkansas) - Depleted

Tyquan Thornton (Baylor) - Depleted

Velus Jones (Tennessee) - Depleted

Slade Bolden (Alabama) - Empty

TOP FIVE TIGHT ENDS

1) Charlie Kolar (Iowa State)

Analysis: Wanna talk about underrated? Let's talk Kolar. All he did was post over 600 yards receiving in two of his seasons, and that would've been three if it weren't for the covid season (he finished at 591). He also had 6+ touchdowns in all three of those years. Then he goes out and runs a 4.61 forty, 4.30 short shuttle and 7.00 3-cone, while jumping 35.5" in his Vert and 120" in his broad, ALL WHILE WEIGHING IN AT 252 POUNDS! Put some respect on his name and stop talking about him as a day three pick, he's a day two pick at the very least. I almost forgot to mention, he can also run block!!

2) Trey McBride (Colorado State)

Analysis: I've seen a lot of talk about McBride's height (6'4) being an issue and I have no idea where that fallacy arose from. Of the 23 Tight Ends from 2010-2019 that I have as being successful, six are 6'4. That's just over a quarter! It doesn't seem to bother George Kittle or Noah Fant. He was a beast at a mid-size college that struggles year in and year out. And then there's the 4.54 forty he ran at his pro day. Oh, he also has a factor that's led to 100% success rate at the position so far.

3) Greg Dulcich (UCLA)

Analysis: If a Tight End averages over 18 yards/reception off 68 receptions you need to take notice. He may not have ran as fast as I was hoping to see, but a 4.70 forty isn't terrible, and clearly he knows how to make it work in the pass game.

4) Chigoziem Okonkwo (Maryland)

Analysis: Now we can discuss being undersized at the position. Okonkwo is 6'2.5, which is not an impossible size to overcome at the position, but it is difficult. However, with the way coaches scheme up their offenses these days, I'm sure they can make use of a 6'3, 238 pounder running a 4.52 forty.

5) Cole Turner (Nevada)

Analysis: Good size, ok athleticism, and great college production. His PFF grades weren't as high as I expected them to be, but they were high enough. This Tight End draft has plenty of day three talent (plenty being relative here considering I only had five total that weren't removed from my board last year) and Turner is definitely one of those guys to keep an eye on.

Sleeper: Grant Calcaterra (SMU)

Analysis: His college career started out well with Oklahoma before his retirement from football due to concussions resulted in him coming back a year later and transferring to SMU. The retirement and the concussions should both be a concern on teams' radars, but his talent and athleticism is obvious and worth a late round pick.

SURPRISING LEFT OFF

For some of the other positions I put this section in to acknowledge players who are very highly touted, but didn’t make my top five. I didn’t feel the need to address any Tight Ends in this area because you'll see those names in my Removed from Draft Board section.

DRAFT BOARD
* = Player has a factor that has led to a 100% success rate (so far)

My Draft Board

REMOVED FROM DRAFT BOARD

For each position there are players who either had a red flag in their college production or athletic testing (or both) that led to them being removed from my draft board. These are referred to as negative factors and can lead to one of two labels: Depleted or Empty. In order for a player to receive a Depleted label, they had to have a negative factor that significantly decreased the chances of success in players who had that same factor from 2010-2019. In order for a player to receive an Empty label, they had to have a negative factor that led to zero successful players who had that same factor from 2010-2019. There were 12 Tight Ends removed from my board.

Austin Allen (Nebraska) - Depleted

Cade Otton (Washington) - Depleted

Chase Allen (Iowa State) - Depleted

Connor Heyward (Michigan State) - Depleted

Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin) - Depleted

Jelani Woods (Virginia) - Depleted

Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State) - Depleted

Peyton Hendershot (Indiana) - Depleted

Curtis Hodges (Arizona State) - Empty

Isaiah Likely (Coastal Carolina) - Empty

Jalen Wydermyer (Texas A&M) - Empty

Jeremiah Hall (Oklahoma) - Empty

Teagan Quitoriano (Oregon State) - Empty