CHASE PETERSEN MOCK DRAFT 2.0 - COMBINE OVERREACTION
By Chase Petersen
With the combine concluded, I thought it would be a good time to drop another mock draft. However, I didn’t want to use the regular format, so instead I bring to you the 2022 Combine Mock Draft. The rules: No positional value, team needs considered to some extent, and strictly based on individual performances in Indy. If you’re all about height-weight-speed, this is the mock draft for you!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 Record: 3-14
Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia
Wow. Just, wow. Jordan Davis was sent here from another planet. 6’6”, 341 pounds, 34” arms, and he ran a 4.78!!! He also had a 32” vertical and a 123” broad jump. There are LBs in this class with worse numbers than that, and Davis did it at THREE HUNDRED FORTY ONE POUNDS!!
2. Detroit Lions
2021 Record: 3-13-1
Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Walker is another one of those guys that makes you sit back and ask “How is it possible he can move like that?” 6’5”, 272 pounds, 35 ½” arms, and a 4.51 40 time. Not to mention the 35 ½” vertical, 123” broad jump, and sub-7 second 3 cone. Walker is just an absolute freak of an athlete, and probably solidified himself as a top 15 pick.
3. Houston Texans
2021 Record: 4-13
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Penning was fantastic this week. He came in at 6’7”, 325 pounds, with over 34” arms. He then ran a 4.89 40, had a 28” vertical, a 111” broad, and had a 7.25 3 cone, the best out of all offensive linemen.
4. New York Jets
2021 Record: 4-13
Amare Barno, EDGE, Virginia Tech
Holy crap, did you see what Amare Barno did in Indy? 6’5” 246 pounds, 34” arms, and he ran 4.36. Add on a 37” vertical, and a 136” broad jump, and one could say Barno would be a top 5 most athletic WIDE RECEIVER in the class.
5. New York Giants
2021 Record: 4-13
Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
If you didn’t know this name before the combine, you surely know it now. Woolen measured in at 6’4”, 205 pound, with 33 ⅝” arms. He then dashed his way to a 4.26 40 and skied for a 42” vertical.
6. Carolina Panthers
2021 Record: 5-12
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Ridder was electric during his workout. 6’3”, 211 pounds, with 10” hands, he ran a 4.52 40. With that added a 36” vertical, 127” broad jump, and effortlessly throwing 50+ yard bombs on the field, he moved himself up in the QB conversation for sure.
7. New York Giants (via Chicago)
2021 Record: 4-13 (Bears 6-11)
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
No single player has won the off-season more than this kid. Watson came in at 6’4”, 208 pounds, and he raced to a 4.36 40 time. He also had over 10” hands, a nearly 39” vertical, and a 136” broad. He might have moved himself into the top 32 come April.
8. Atlanta Falcons
2021 Record: 7-10
Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Ahmad Gardner answered every question thrown his way this week. Standing at 6’3”, 190 pounds, with 33 ½” arms, the question for Gardner was his speed. He shut those down with an impressive 4.41 40 time. Sauce may have earned the CB1 spot outright.
9. Denver Broncos
2021 Record: 7-10
Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Thibodeaux didn’t do much at the combine, but what he did, he knocked out of the park. 4.58 40 yard dash and 27 reps on the bench (leading all EDGEs) was enough to earn him a spot in the top 10.
10. New York Jets (via Seattle)
2021 Record: 4-13 (Seahawks 7-10)
Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
Raimann was another one of the standout offensive linemen this week in Indy. Coming in at 6’6”, 303 pounds, with 33” arms, he proved to have the perfect size. Match that with his 5.05 40, 30.5” vertical, and 117” broad jump, he showed the explosiveness required to win in the NFL. Oh, and he also did the 4th most reps on the bench of all combine participants.
11. Washington Commanders
2021 Record: 7-10
Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
Zion Johnson dominated the combine in a multitude of ways. For starters he had 32 bench reps, most of all players. Then he paired that with 34” arms, a 32” vertical, and a 5.18 40 yard time.
12. Minnesota Vikings
2021 Record: 8-9
Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
Mafe had himself a week in Indy. Standing at 6’4”, weighing in at 264 pounds, with 32 ⅝” arms, he proved to be a specimen. Then he blazed a 4.53 40, had a 38” vertical, and a 125” broad jump.
13. Cleveland Browns
2021 Record: 8-9
Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
Jelani Woods had the best combine of all the TE’s. 6’7”, 259 pounds, with 34 ⅛” arms, he was even bigger than I originally believed him to be. Then Woods ran 4.61 and threw up the most reps of any TE on the bench.
14. Baltimore Ravens
2021 Record: 8-9
Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Most people’s #1 player in the draft had himself a day at the combine. Coming in at 6’7”, 260 pounds, with 32 ⅛” arms. He followed that up with a 4.74 40, a 36” vertical, a 6.73 3 cone. He did nothing to prove people wrong about being the possible #1 overall pick.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami)
2021 Record: 9-8 (Dolphins 9-8)
Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
Chenal had the best combine of all the linebackers. 6’3”, 250 pounds, 4.53 40, 40.5” vertical, and a 128” broad showed he has the size, speed, and explosiveness to be a good NFL LB.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis)
2021 Record: 9-8 (Colts 9-8)
Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
McCollum was a name I wasn’t familiar with coming into the combine, but shoot am I now. 6’2”, 199 pounds, with 30 ¾” arms, he has the perfect size to play CB in the NFL. Pair that with a 4.33 40, a 39.5” vertical, 132” broad, and a sub-6.5 3 cone, he proved to have the explosiveness and change of direction to succeed at the next level.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Record: 9-8
Kevin Austin, WR, Notre Dame
Kevin Austin’s combine performance forced me to turn his tape back on. Measuring in at 6’2”, 200 pounds, with nearly 33” arms, his size is amazing. He then ran a 4.43, jumped a 39” vertical and a 132” broad jump. He also posted the second best 3 cone time amongst WRs( 6.71).
18. New Orleans Saints
2021 Record: 9-8
Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
This EDGE class is full of elite athletes, and Johnson is no different. Coming in at 6’5”, 254 pounds, with 34” arms, Johnson is built in a lab. He then ran a 4.58, and added a 32” vertical and a 125” broad.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Record: 9-8
Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia
Wyatt is just another one of the Georgia Bulldogs that killed the combine. His performance is 1000% going to get overshadowed by Jordan Davis’, but Wyatt’s was still special. 6’3”, 304 pounds, with just under 33” arms, he has the perfect 3T build. He then blazed the fastest 40 time by an interior defensive linemen with a 4.77 and had a 29” vertical.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 Record: 9-7-1
Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
Andersen came in at 6’3 ½”, 242 pounds, and ran the fastest 40 of all LBs in attendance. (4.42) He added a 36” vertical and a 128” broad. He moved himself up everybody’s board with his performance.
21. New England Patriots
2021 Record: 10-7
Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
Brandon Smith rocked his combine workout this week. Measuring in at 6’3 ½”, 250 pounds, with nearly 35” arms, he is a freak. On top of that he ran a 4.52, had a 37.5” vertical, and a 128” broad.
22. Las Vegas Raiders
2021 Record: 10-7
Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
Baylor brought a track team to Indy, and Thorton was the first on display. 6’2”, 188 pounds, Thorton raced to a 4.21u, breaking the combine record for a few moments. It ended up being a 4.28 officially, which speaks for itself.
23. Arizona Cardinals
2021 Record: 11-6
Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State
Diesch came in at 6’7”, 301 pounds, with 32 ¼” arms. He then showed off his athleticism with a 4.89 40, a 32.5” vertical, and a 110” broad jump.
24. Dallas Cowboys
2021 Record: 12-5
Travis Jones, IDL, Connecticut
Jones showed out this week. 6’4”, 325 pounds, with over 34” arms, he is gigantic! He then ran a 4.92 40, had a 28.5” vertical, and a 110” broad. Jones moved himself up into top 40 conversations.
25. Buffalo Bills
2021 Record: 11-6
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Easily the biggest winner of all the RBs, Hall raced a 4.39 40, had a 40” vertical, and a 126” broad. All of this while being 5’11” and 217 pounds. Perfect combo of size and speed for the RB position.
26. Tennessee Titans
2021 Record: 12-5
Matt Waletzko, IOL, North Dakota
Standing at a massive 6’8”, 312 pounds, with tree trunks for arms (36+ inches), Waletzko ran an impressive 5.03 40, and matched it with a 30” vertical. Definitely a guy that a lot of people are turning the tape on for.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Record: 13-4
Sam Williams, EDGE, Ole Miss
Remember what I said about the EDGE class? Just full of athletes. Williams came in at 6’4”, 261 pounds, and over 33” arms. He then clocked a 4.46 40, 32.5” vertical, and a 123” broad.
28. Green Bay Packers
2021 Record: 13-4
Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis
Calvin Austin did no more than what was expected of him, but he’s that elite an athlete he still wowed. He’s still tiny, 5’8” 170 pounds, with 30” arms, but his explosiveness is off the charts. 4.32 40, 39.5” vertical, and a 135” broad, and a 6.65 3 cone proves it.
29. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco)
2021 Record: 9-8 (49ers 10-7)
Zamir White, RB, Georgia
White had a great week. Coming in at 6’, 214 pounds, speed was everyone’s question. He then ran a 4.4 flat to put those to bed. Prepare for Nick Chubb comps.
30. Kansas City Chiefs
2021 Record: 12-5
Nick Cross, S, Maryland
Cross was known to be a great athlete, and proved it in Indianapolis. Standing 6’, 212 pounds, and clocked a 4.34 40, he added a 37” vertical, and a 130” broad jump.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Record: 10-7
Dawson Deaton, IOL, Texas Tech
Deaton definitely helped make his name known this week. 6’5”, 306 pounds, with nearly 33” arms, he has great size to play on the offensive interior. Follow that up with a 5.12 40, a 29” vertical, 24 reps on the bench, and a 108” broad, he lit it up.
32. Detroit Lions (via LA Rams)
2021 Record: 3-13-1 (Rams 12-5)
Isaiah Weston, WR, Northern Iowa
To round out the first round is Isaiah Weston. Coming in at 6’3 ½”, 214 pounds, with 32 ½” arms, he has great size. He then ran a 4.42 40, a 40” vertical, a 135” broad jump, and added 20 reps on the bench.
CHASE PETERSEN
NFL DRaft ANALYST
From just outside Kansas City Missouri, Chase has been obsessed with the NFL Draft for as long as he can remember. An avid Minnesota Vikings and Texas Longhorns fan, connect with Chase on Twitter @SportsTalkCenter