2022 NFL Mock Draft: BEASTwriter beats ESPN & NFL Network Mock Drafts for 2nd consecutive year

Apr 29, 2022

I’m all about cross-checking my real-time analysis to hindsight. Whether it’s predicting my top 3 salary cap casualties, praising/criticizing player performance based on my #DarksideofBEASTwriter grades, or predicting the NFL Draft--I’m never afraid to put my analysis on the line against anyone.

I’ve covered the NFL draft dating back to 1999.

Since then, I have developed my own grading system while comparing my mock draft to the guys, whom I consider at the top.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Matt Miller
NFLN Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Bucky Brooks, Peter Schrager, Lance Zierlein

Yes, these are the mock gurus that I value most and the ones I compare my own analysis to in terms of valuation vs evaluation in delving into that crystal ball.

If we are playing the numbers game, this is my record when compared to the best on mock drafts--dating back to 2015:

2015: 1st place
2016: T-2nd | Winner: Mike Mayock
2017: 1st place
2018: T-2nd | Winner: Mike Mayock
2019: T-2nd | Winner: Daniel Jeremiah
2020: 3rd | Winner: Charles Davis
2021: T-1st place w/Todd McShay

2015-2018

It was a three-man race between myself, Kiper, and Mike Mayock. To date, I never finished behind Kiper (2015-2021).

2019-2021

I expanded the mock draft analysis to include ESPN Todd McShay, NFLN Charles Davis, Daniel Jeremiah, Peter Schrager, Bucky Brooks, and Lance Zierlein.

2022 (this year)

I again expanded the mock draft to include recently signed ESPN Matt Miller.

So how did I fare in 2022, going up against a stacked 8-man class? Find out below as I give you the complete play-by-play along with my DOB Draft Grading System…Enjoy :)

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DOB Draft Grading System

Correct team + player = 3 points
Correct team + player position = 2 points
Correct team + correct side of football (ex. offense or defense) = 1 point

Mocking trades count

If an NFL Insider/Analyst MOCKS trades that counts
If a team trades up & that player is mocked in that exact draft position (regardless of the team selecting--that counts as 3 points based on draft position), all other scenarios will be nullified and not counted against the NFL Insider/Analyst as trades are UNPREDICTABLE.
The same rules apply if a team trades down

Vertical Board vs Horizontal Board

If a team trades up for a player you had mocked, you are rewarded 3 points
If a team trades down for a player you had mocked, you are rewarded 3 points
However, if a team has multiple R1 picks (3 points will only be rewarded if you correctly guess the order those R1 picks were made)

First two picks

All NFL Insiders including myself got this right except NFLN Lance Zierlein & Bucky Brooks
Bucky mocked Jaguars selecting OT Ikem Ekwonu (0 points)
Zierlein mocked Lions selecting EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (2 points)

First 10 picks

Matt Miller took the early lead--nailing 5 picks
Todd McShay, Peter Schrager & Lance Zierlein nailed 4 picks
BEASTwriter nailed 3 picks

Top 3 via 10 picks

Matt Miller: 19 points
Lance Zierlein: 18 points
BEASTwriter: 15 points

Saints trade up for WR Chris Olave at No. 11

The Saints trade-up helped Mel Kiper, Daniel Jeremiah, and myself as we all had Olave mocked at No. 11. (3 points)
Todd McShay & Matt Miller had Olave mocked to NO at No. 16 (3 points)
All others were given a VOID for this selection (no penalty due to trade)

Lions trade up for WR Jameson Williams at No. 12

The Lions trade-up helped Bucky Brooks and Lance Zierlein as they had Williams mocked at No. 12. (3 points)
All others were given a VOID for this selection (no penalty due to trade)

Eagles trade up for NT Jordan Davis at No. 13

Mocking trades count! Schrager & Miller both mocked trades for WR Jameson Williams, while McShay had Cowboys taking OT Trevor Penning. (0 points)
All others were given a VOID for this selection (no penalty due to trade)