As round two of the NFL Draft begins later on tonight, there is still plenty of value remaining on the board after a big night on Thursday. Some round one caliber players, like Malik Willis, Christian Watson, and David Ojabo, among others, are still right there for the taking. That of course is good news for teams like the Chicago Bears, for example, who did not have a first-round pick. With that said, here are the 10 best available players entering the second night of the draft.
Make sure to check out all of our NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
No. 1 Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty
One of the biggest shocks of last night was Kenny Pickett being the only signal-caller taken off the board. Especially taking into consideration that the team that selected Pickett, the Pittsburgh Steelers, was also heavily linked to Willis as well. He may not be day one starter material as a rookie, but the upside that the Liberty man possesses is undeniable. Any team that can afford to sit him a season or two would be getting tremendous value. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers perhaps?
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Willis.
No. 2 Andrew Booth Jr, Cornerback, Clemson
Another player who possesses first-round value and still remains on the board is Booth. He has no glaring weakness, and in turn, possesses a ton of raw athleticism to boot. Somewhat of a shock that Booth remains on the board, but that just means whoever grabs him is getting plus-value in the second round most likely. Don’t expect Booth to last long, as he is the undisputed best corner available.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Booth.
No. 3 Nakobe Dean, Linebacker, Georgia
The rep on Dean depends on who you talk to can be radically different, but he didn’t win the Butkus Award by accident. There is some concern as well with his height, standing at six feet even, but that can be looked past depending on where he ends up. Dean has elite sideline to sideline speed and has the ability to rush the passer, picking up six sacks in his final year at Georgia. He could slip a tad, but there are for sure teams out there who can utilize his skill set.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Dean.
No. 4 Christian Watson, Wide Receiver, North Dakota State
The wide receiver class in this 2022 NFL Draft may be one of the best in recent memory. Six total came off the board in round one, and around half went to teams who made trades to get said draft picks. The coveted fifth-year option is no longer available for the plenty of guys available, but that won’t dissuade teams from pursuing wideouts. Take Watson for example, a 6-foot-4 prospect whose stock rose up big time after a nice showing at the Senior Bowl. Even as tall as he is, he has the potential to become a YAC monster in the NFL with his speed.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Watson.
No. 5 David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
To be clear, there is obviously some risk with Ojabo considering his Achilles injury that will likely cost him his rookie year. On the other hand, the raw talent that he has considering how little football he has actually played is astounding. The best-case scenario for Ojabo is he ends up with a team that has veterans who can help him along and further fine-tune his craft. Keep in mind, he was only a starter in 2021, and picked up 11 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and additionally forced five fumbles. Depending on how the medicals look, The native Nigerian could end up being the steal of the entire draft.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Ojabo.
No. 6 Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan
Raimann is another foreigner who picked up football very well for himself after moving from Austria to the United States. On top of that, he initially started out as a tight end before switching to the offensive line on a full-time basis. With that said, his plus-play against the run shouldn’t come as a surprise, not even mentioning that he is 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds. He still has some areas to clean up, but Raimann is an easy player to get excited about.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Raimann.
No. 7 George Pickens, Wide Receiver, Georgia
Georgia had just shy of a half dozen players go in round one, and they aren’t done just yet and send guys to the NFL. Pickens likely would have been drafted last night had it not been for an ACL tear last spring. There have also been rumors that he did not interview well with NFL teams at all which may not help his cause. As for what Pickens brings to the table from an on-field perspective, he isn’t like Watson but has the ability to win in other ways. Mainly via his raw catching ability and body control. He certainly could fall, but the talent is there.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Pickens.
No. 8 Kenneth Walker III, Running Back, Michigan State
With how running back situations for most teams currently stand, selecting one in the opening round was clearly not an option. Round two however is a different story, with both of the top bell-cows still up for grabs, starting with Walker. After transferring over from Wake Forest, the 5-foot-10 back put up a season that had him in serious contention for the Heisman Trophy. Breece Hall, who we’ll get to shortly, is not that far off. A big plus for Walker over his Iowa State counterpart is his ball security, thus giving him the edge.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Walker.
No. 9 Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
A tremendous showing at the Senior Bowl from Mafe has done wonders for his draft stock. His numbers at Minnesota don’t blow you away but there is potential here with the 6-foot-4 pass rusher. Mafe could end up being this year’s Gregory Rousseau, where he ends up in a great situation, but starting out as a rotational/situational piece. From there he can hopefully develop into a starting pass rusher.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Mafe.
No. 10 Breece Hall, Running Back, Iowa State
Hall, while maybe a tad bit behind Walker, still brings a ton to the table, including some areas where Walker may lack. The biggest of which is as a pass-catcher, with the Iowa State bell-cow contributing 306 receiving yards and 3 receiving scores in 2021. One area where Hall could improve in is ball security, a make-or-break trait for NFL running backs. He only had two fumbles in 2021, but both were down the stretch in close games. Once he cleans that up he should be a made man.
Be sure to check out our scouting report on Hall.
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