Monday Mocks: NFL Draft Landing Spots

Welcome to Monday Mocks, where I’ll bring you…you guessed it, a new mock draft every Monday during the off-season. In my opinion, drafting is the best part of fantasy football, so I do as much of that as I can. This series will be filled with all types of mocks. We’ll draft startups, rookies, devys and more. 

The countdown continues as we are now just over two weeks away from the 2022 NFL Draft. Much of the analysis throughout the past several months has been focused on individual players. As most would admit though, two of the most crucial data points in studying and projecting the outlook for these players comes on draft weekend – draft capital and landing spot.

Landing spot is a difficult piece to consider as there are so many factors to consider. Opportunity is obviously important, so a crowded depth chart would be imposing. The quality of the overall team and offense matters as well. Of course, landing spots will ultimately be revealed in 17 days, but we should all be prepared for what happens that weekend. One way to do that is to identify the ideal landing spots for the players we are hoping to acquire in rookie drafts.

In this mock, I “drafted” the landing spots that could be most beneficial for the players we care about. Whether your NFL Draft weekend is focused on Malik Willis, Breece Hall or Garrett Wilson, these are the landing spots that could give incoming rookies a value boost come superflex dynasty rookie drafts.

ROUND ONE

1.01 Pittsburgh Steelers QB

The Steelers are all about longevity. This is a team with three total head coaches since the original moon landing. The quarterback of the past 18 seasons just called it a career and I expect the team to be on the hunt for another long-term option. Despite the addition of Mitchell Trubisky, a quarterback drafted in Round One by the Steelers would see a value gain and could be the top overall pick in superflex rookie drafts.

1.02 Green Bay Packers WR

This team and positional need are what led me to put this mock draft together. The Packers have inexplicably been unwilling to add real receiver help to their roster for the past few years and now face the loss of their former superstar Davante Adams. Green Bay doesn’t just need wide receiver help, they need multiple additions and someone who can serve as Rodgers’ go-to option. If any of the top-five rookie receiver land in Green Bay, they instantly become the rookie WR1 and could challenge for a top-three spot in rookie drafts.

1.03 Kansas City Chiefs WR

Everything I just said about the Packers is essentially true about Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes as well, though the Chiefs are not quite as wideout needy. This team already signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and added former Packer Marquez Valdes-Scantling after they dealt Tyreek Hill. With that said, neither of the new additions are likely to fill the WR1 role left behind by Hill. A Chiefs’ first-round rookie wideout would be a top target in dynasty rookie drafts.

1.04 New Orleans Saints QB

The Saints are now entering year two of the post-Drew Brees era and things have not been easy. Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill both suffered serious injuries in 2021 and head coach Sean Payton stepped away following the season. After making a push to acquire Deshaun Watson, the Saints instead settled for re-signing Winston. While there are reasons to expect a step back for the team, they have clearly made consistency a priority during the coaching change. A rookie quarterback would be expected to sit behind Winston but that likely wouldn’t even last a full season.

1.05 Buffalo Bills RB

There have been growing rumors the Bills could make Hall their luxury pick late in the first round. Even if that does not play out, this looks like a primo landing spot for a top rookie back. While Devin Singletary ended the 2021 season playing the best ball of his career, he remains a player with limitations. With a superstar quarterback and wide receiver combo, the Bills could look at running back as an area of need, especially with Zack Moss’ struggles last season.

1.06 Seattle Seahawks QB

Following the trade of superstar Russell Wilson, the Seahawks obviously have a huge need at the quarterback spot. While they claim they like former Bronco Drew Lock, no one views him as the long-term answer. Normally, a rookie quarterback with the opportunity to throw passes to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett would be an obvious target. This team is just starting a rebuild and one or both of those talented wideouts could be gone. As such, this is a situation I am avoiding when possible.

1.07 Detroit Lions QB

The Lions have a pair of first-round picks and have done a good job of adding talent over the past year. Projecting a quarterback, specifically Willis, to Detroit with the second overall pick has become trendy in recent weeks. The team is just playing out the contract with veteran Jared Goff, so he would not offer any real competition once the young guy was ready.

1.08 Cleveland Browns WR

What once was a spot to avoid has quickly become a very attractive landing spot for rookie receivers. The Browns have been busy this off-season and two moves that make this an ideal option for fantasy purposes came when the team went all-in to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson, which came soon after the release of veteran receiver Jarvis Landry. The Browns also traded for veteran Amari Cooper, who is currently slated to serve as the team’s top receiver. A rookie drafted in the first two days could see immediate playing time and have a similar role as CeeDee Lamb had alongside Cooper in Dallas.

1.09 Dallas Cowboys WR

Speaking of Lamb and Cooper, the Cowboys suddenly find themselves in need of a receiver after dealing the vet. They did re-sign Michael Gallup, though he’s not expected to be ready to start the season. The connection between Arkansas and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is well-documented, so this could be a landing spot for Treylon Burks late in Round One.

1.10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB

The Buccaneers played the waiting game early in the free agency period and ultimately were able to retain Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard. While Fournette has been impressive over the past two years in Tampa, the team was also seemingly willing to move on until Tom Brady had a change of heart and returned to the team. Like the Bills, this is another team that could view Hall or Kenneth Walker III as the final piece to continue their strong run.

1.11 Miami Dolphins RB

This one was a tough call. Since hiring former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as head coach, the Dolphins have signed Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. Along with the returning backs, include Myles Gaskin, the Dolphins could easily go into the season with this group. There’s also not a single back on the roster who can be trusted as a season-long difference maker. Whoever is the running back of this team, I want him on my fantasy rosters.

1.12 Kansas City Chiefs RB

I don’t think the Chiefs using an early pick on a back is likely. After all, they did that just two years ago and it has not worked out well. With that said, if the team does add a rookie runner, dynasty managers should take notice and it would be a clear indictment on Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

ROUND TWO

2.01 Carolina Panthers QB

Sam Darnold offers little competition and playing alongside Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore would be appealing for a rookie signal caller.

2.02 Atlanta Falcons QB

Matt Ryan is gone and Marcus Mariota is just a band-aid, but this might be the worst roster in the league so even the wide-open opportunity in Atlanta isn’t enough to push the Falcons quarterback into the first round.

2.03 Atlanta Falcons RB

Much like their quarterback position, there is little to stand in the way for any rookie running back the Falcons might draft. There is also little expectation of the team contending anytime soon and Cordarrelle Patterson should be serving as the team’s pass-catching back.

2.04 New York Giants QB

It seems unlikely that the Giants would invest even a Day Two pick at the quarterback position as the new regime, led by Brian Daboll, is expected to attempt to resurrect Daniel Jones’ career. If in fact the G-Men do spend a top-100 pick at the position, it’s seriously bad news for Jones and good news for the rookie to be named.

2.05 Atlanta Falcons WR

The Falcons have almost nothing at the wide receiver position. Unfortunately, they also don’t have much at the quarterback position either. The guaranteed target volume that would come with this landing spot for a day one or two wideout would be the main draw.

2.06 Chicago Bears WR

The Bears need some serious changes on offense. Darnell Mooney is a solid receiver but he should not be the top option for any offense. This team has their WR2 but they need a top target for Justin Fields.

2.07 New Orleans Saints WR

The Saints have put themselves in a bad spot with little salary cap space and, in past seasons, few draft picks. They have been unable to upgrade their wide receiver depth chart. It does appear that the Saints will have Michael Thomas back in the fold but his status is uncertain after missing the majority of the past two seasons.

2.08 New York Jets RB

The Jets hit on Michael Carter last year but he never profiled as an every-down back and the team has little else on the depth chart. Carter could be a dynasty asset who sees his value damaged by the events of draft weekend.

2.09 Indianapolis Colts WR

Well, there’s Michael Pittman and umm…that’s about it. Parris Campbell looks like a bust and the Colts even lost Zach Pascal via free agency. New quarterback Matt Ryan needs another top target and Indy could find that on day two of the NFL Draft.

2.10 Houston Texans QB

After finally moving on from Watson, the Texans seem content with last year’s surprise rookie Davis Mills. Other than the recently re-signed veteran wideout Brandin Cooks, this Texans team simply has no threats.

2.11 Houston Texans RB

Houston’s current backfield consists of veterans Rex Burkhead and Marlon Mack. There is obvious opportunity for any rookie but this team is a long way from competing. Even with their needs, it would be a surprise if Houston spent more than a day three pick on a ball carrier.

2.12 New York Jets WR

While free agent Corey Davis was a disappointment last season, rookie Elijah Moore hit for the Jets. Now the team needs another weapon for quarterback Zach Wilson. With multiple first-round picks, this is a likely landing spot for one of the top-five receivers.

 

Monday Mocks: NFL Draft Landing Spots