5 players from the 2022 NFL Draft who may fail to live up to expectations
The 2022 NFL Draft offered plenty of excitement as franchises welcomed the next generation of stars into the professional circuit. Analysts spent months deliberating over the top picks based on their college careers, production, and, most importantly, their personalities.
Quite often, scouts and fans alike expect a lot from players due to things such as being a hometown hero or having athletic skills, but not the production you need in the pros. Plenty of players selected in this year's draft may not meet expectations, and it would be a surprise to many if their skills translate well to the next level.
#5 - Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints selected Trevor Penning with the 19th pick in the 2022 draft, but it could be argued he was selected way too high. Penning plays left tackle, a premium position as a quarterback protector. But much was expected from him due to his NFL Combine performance, where he ran a 4.89 40-yard dash, elite short shuttle, and three-cone drills.
This made him the sixth-most athletic offensive lineman of the last 35 years, which shot his stock up. Despite this, Penning isn’t a polished blocker, as his size and hands were both questioned by scouts.
"Penning tends to turn his hips early towards widely aligned speed-rushers who attack the corner with high pads, leaving his inside shoulder vulnerable to getting lifted and pried open,” said Bleacher Report scout Brandon Thorn.
#4 - Christian Watson, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers were desperate to get quarterback Aaron Rodgers some help after the departure of Davante Adams in early 2022, and they did that when they selected wide receiver Christian Watson with the 34th overall selection.
Fans and analysts alike were mesmerized by Watson’s athletic ability, with the 6-foot-4 receiver running a 4.36 40-yard dash and a 38.5 vertical.
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However, Watson’s production at NDSU left a lot to be desired despite the athleticism. He never topped over 801 yards in a season and had a career drop rate of 12.1 percent, enough for many teams to pass on him.
Watson will look to improve this as he’s arguably the Packers’ top receiver as a rookie.