Of course, we will not be positive on who the top steals of the 2022 NFL Draft were for at least 1 season but here are a few names that are in a position to be regarded as a steal.
John Metchie: 44th
Metchie was taken with the 44th pick in the NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. I don’t think that he was necessarily a steal in terms of the draft but I do believe that the Texans stole him from the New England Patriots. The Patriots were most certainly going to select him with their second-round pick. After Metchie was selected the Pats quickly traded up to take Tyquan Thorton. I think Metchie will have some fun down in Houston and help them win some games but it’s hard to believe he will come close to the successes he will inevitably miss out on with the Patriots unless trade is in the future.
James Cook: 63rd
If James Cook turns out to be half as good a running back as his brother, Dalvin, then the Bills will get their value out of this pick. Cook runs just like Dalvin and has a similar build. Dalvin might have about 20 pounds on him but there is no reason James can’t beef up. The Bills may have lucked out on a game-breaker. At pick number 63 and with their past issues with running backs, I think this was a perfect pick.
Marcus Jones: 85th
The one player correct for my Patriots Mock Draft. I had the Patriots picking Jones with their 85th pick. I am excited to see how much he can offer and in what areas of the field he excels. He has obvious talent in various positions in all three phases of the game. 85th seems like a fair value right now but I’m sure he will be worth more than that.
Malik Willis: 86th
For a quarterback that was one of the most popular names over the off-season, I am surprised he wasn’t taken earlier. I think that there’s a good chance Willis becomes the starter someday. Ryan Tannehill is 33 years old and the upside from Willis might cause some havoc during training camp. With the loss of AJ Brown and the addition of Treylon Burks, the playing field is rather even. Not to discredit Tannehill’s success down in Tennessee, but the pressure is on.
Charlie Kolar:128th
Charlie Kolar was one of Brock Purdy’s favorite targets. He is a touchdown machine. In his four years at Iowa State, Kolar had 23 touchdowns. He is 6’6 and has length that most NFL Catch passers don’t have. I think the Ravens had one of the better drafts and that adding another tight end for Lamar Jackson was a great move. It will be tough for Kolar to earn reps over Mark Andrews but I think he will get his looks. Another plus to Kolar is that he was awarded the William V Campbell trophy, an award similar to the Walter Peyton Man of The Year award.
Damone Clark: 176th Pick
Damone Clark seems to be a great selection by the Dallas Cowboys to Pair with Micah Parsons. The Cowboys have had some success in the draft over the past few years and I think they will find some again with this year’s selections. Clark is a linebacker out of LSU that does have similarities with Parsons. They are almost identical in size and have similar play styles. I think he will be a great colleague for Parsons and I think Parsons will be a great mentor for Clark. Clark was second in the NCAA in total tackles with 135 on the season.
Brock Purdy: 262nd pick
Purdy was this year’s Mr. Irrelevant. He was selected by the 49ers. I think this was a smart pick by the 49ers. I think at the very least Purdy will be a solid backup. He should be able to bring something to the team and be a colleague to the still very young, Trey Lance. Purdy will join Lance a year older. Brock has 19 career rushing touchdowns and threw for over 12,000 passing yards during his college career so he will be able to share some expertise. I think the pick was higher valued compared to the Bailey Zappe pick by the New England Patriots. Two things I do like about drafting young quarterbacks in 2 consecutive drafts is that it drives competition and camaraderie.
I am hopeful of Scott Hanson making a Purdy throw joke.
Cameron Dicker
“Dicker the Kicker” was not actually drafted in the NFL Draft but he was indeed a steal. He was the field goal kicker, punter, and kickoff man for the Texas Longhorns. The defending Champ Rams got him as an unrestricted free agent. I think his versatility and nickname should be enough for him to have a respectable career in the NFL.
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