Matt Corral. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Todd McShay released his first 2022 NFL Mock Draft of the year and we’re breaking down the big takeaways and surprises.
It’s that time of the year again where mock drafts begin to pick up steam and multiple experts release their projections.
One of the most well-respected experts, ESPN’s Todd McShay, released his first 2022 NFL mock draft (subscription required) on Tuesday morning. And naturally, NFL fans put a lot of stock into what he has to say given his presence in the draft community.
So as we look at it, we’re breaking down the biggest surprises and major takeaways from McShay’s mock draft.
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Takeaways, surprises from Todd McShay’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
3. No quarterbacks selected in the top 10
The last time a quarterback was not taken in the top 10 was in 2013 when Eric Fisher was the first overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs. EJ Manuel was the only quarterback selected in the first round, going 16th overall to the Buffalo Bills.
While there are a number of teams that need a quarterback heading into 2020, with players like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Deshaun Watson potentially on the trade block this offseason, many teams may look to trade top draft picks. Moreover, they could also continue with their current signal-caller and not reach for a quarterback in what is considered a weak class at the position.
When looking at the first 10 picks in McShay’s 2022 NFL mock draft, seven are defensive players. If teams are looking for star defensive players, this draft offers an abundance of options. Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, but the fact that none are taken in the top 10 of this mock draft shows that the 2022 quarterback draft class is subpar compared to recent years.
