2022 RCF NFL Mock Draft: ON THE CLOCK...

[kriegs]

With the 135th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select...

Pierre Strong Jr. - RB - South Dakota State​

PFF Big Board Rank: 140
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 207
Class: Jr.
Age: 23.3

Prospect Profile (via The Draft Network)​

Pierre Strong is a good athlete with good straight-line speed while showing good body control as a runner. In the passing game, he’s shown sufficient hands out of the backfield. He is a definite threat in space when he gets the ball on a check-down. He is physical and willing in pass protection but should be better in this regard with pro coaching. In the run game, he is a slasher-type runner that has been extremely productive at the FCS level. He is a good decision-maker who has a good feel for weak-arm cutbacks on a defender. He runs with good vision and instinctive feel in traffic. He will not be a back who breaks many tackles or a back who consistently creates when nothing’s there. He also has a lot of clear air production in their system. However, he has redeeming attributes in his vision, footwork, and home-run potential. In the NFL, he would be an optimal fit in a zone run scheme, ideally as a complementary piece who could also remain on the field on passing downs.

Ideal Role: Change of pace, complementary back.

Scheme Fit: Heavy zone-blocking run scheme.

​

​

Career Stats (via PFF)​

	2021	2020	2019
OVERALL GRADE	85.5	79.7	82.1
GAMES PLAYED	15	9	11
ATT	239	130	141
YARDS	1694	708	1007
YPA	7.1	5.4	7.1
TD	18	3	8
REC	22	20	14
TARG	34	25	18
REC YARDS	150	177	156

Rationale​

Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been underwhelming as a pro, and even if he becomes a post-hype breakout, should not be considered an explosive runner. Ronald Jones is an over-rated bust on a one-year prove-it deal and has no versatility in the passing game. Jerick McKinnon and Darrel Williams remain unsigned as of now. It's time for the Chiefs to address the position correctly, instead of spending first-round draft capital on a back, taking a swing on an explosive player in the mid-rounds.

Although other runners such as Kevin Harris and Tyler Allgier were considerations at this point, Pierre Strong offers a more explosive skill-set that could thrive in the Chiefs' open offense. He's a small school back but has shown some ability in the passing game that gives him a chance to claim McKinnon's role in year one. Strong will likely never be a 3-down workhorse in the league, but he comps favorably to a prime Tevin Coleman type runner, with more passing game chops. He will be a useful part of a committee in year one.

Chiefs Draft Class​

1 (29): Kaair Elam - CB - Florida
1 (30): George Pickens - WR - Georgia
2 (50): Nik Bonitto - EDGE - Oklahoma
2 (62): Skyy Moore - WR - Western Michigan
3 (94): Martin Emerson - CB - Mississippi State
3 (103): Darrian Beavers - LB - Cincinnati
4 (121): Tyreke Smith - EDGE - Ohio State
4 (135): Pierre Strong Jr. - RB - South Dakota State
7 (233):
7 (243):
7 (251):
7 (259):

@pthompson09 and the Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock!​

 

[pthompson09]

With the 136th pick in the 2022 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...

Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA



Rationale: While the Bengals have one of the top starting WR corps in the league at Joe Burrow’s disposal, they severely lack quality depth. The Bengals could use a high-quality WR4 should one of the big three of Chase, Higgins, or Boyd get hurt and someone who can help make the 5 wideout sets all the more dangerous. Enter Kyle Philips, an NFL-ready slot receiver, who can learn from Boyd and ultimately allow the Bengals to seamlessly keep their offense chugging along when Boyd’s contract ends. Boyd is unlikely to be re-signed as they Bengals will surely prioritize Burrow, Chase, and maybe Higgins in their long-term plans. So this pick helps both in the short-term providing depth in the WR room and flexibility as some big cap bills are going to be due in the future.

-scouting report per tdn.com

UCLA’s Kyle Philips is an ultra-productive receiver from the Bruins who predominantly lines up in the slot. Philips came to the Bruins as a 4-star receiver and made an immediate impact early in his career before developing into one of the most consistent pass-catchers in the country. Philips has good overall size for a receiver being listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds. While his size likely would be an issue if he was projected as an outside receiver, he is actually above average for the slot. Philips displays good speed and excellent quickness. He is an outstanding route-runner who is sudden and decisive at the top of his routes. He is a savvy route-runner who understands leverage and how to set up defenders with hand and body fakes. He has shown an ability to win at all three levels of the field but does his best work over the middle on intermediate routes and underneath concepts. Philips is as reliable as they come and offers outstanding hands and ball skills. He did his best work on third down and in the red zone, illustrating his competitive spirit on got-to-have-it downs. He is slippery after the catch and also is an outstanding punt returner. He is a good blocker in the run game as well. Overall, while Philips may lack true game-breaking speed, size, and strength, he does everything you would want your slot receiver to do at a high level and his consistency is off the charts. He is the type of player every offense can use and projects as an instant contributor in the slot and on special teams at the next level.

Ideal Role: Starting slot receiver with special teams value.

Scheme Fit: Spread.

FILM EVALUATION
Written by Brentley Weissman
Games watched: Oregon 2020, Fresno State (2021), USC (2021) Oregon (2021)
Best Game Studied: USC (2021)

Route Running: Philips is an excellent route-runner who is sudden and quick at the stem to create easy separation. He is a nuanced route-runner who understands how to play off leverage and also use hand and body fakes to separate down the field. He has good spatial awareness to sit in zones and is a cerebral route-runner who knows how to uncover when his QB is in trouble.

Hands: Very rarely if ever does Philips drop the ball. He showcases excellent hands and catches the ball naturally. He is able to high-point the ball and play above the rim and also can sink and scoop up underthrown balls with strong and firm hands. His hands translate as a punt returner as well, easily securing punts and never putting the ball on the turf.

Separation: Philips is quick and explosive out of cuts and creates easy separation underneath. He is extremely tough to cover man to man because of his quickness as a route-runner and his technical playstyle makes it even tougher to defend. He understands how to play off leverage, use hand and body fakes, and is excellent at uncovering down the field.

Release Package: Playing in the slot, Philips is often afforded clean releases off the line. He is rarely challenged by press coverage, so evaluating his release package is a bit of a projection. That being said, his quickness, suddenness, and technical route-running lead me to believe that he will be able to get off the line at the next level cleanly.

Run After the Catch: Philips is a slippery runner after the catch. He is able to make defenders miss with the ball in his hands using quickness and instincts. He lacks power as a ball-carrier and doesn’t break tackles at a high clip, but he always consistently makes the first guy miss.

Ball Skills: Philips has very good ball skills and plays the game like a center fielder in baseball. He easily tracks the ball over his shoulder down the field. He locates the football over the middle in traffic, and he can make plays when defenders are draped above him. Again, his ability as a punt returner and being able to track the ball is evident.

Football IQ: A smart and instinctual football player, Philips understands the nuances of playing the game. He finds the green grass in zone coverage and knows when to sit down. He understands situational football and when to get out of bounds or to fight for more yards. He shows very good instincts with the ball in his hands and has very good overall awareness.

Versatility: An inside-only receiver, Philips lacks true position versatility. He projects as a slot-only receiver at the next level, but one who will be very productive. His inability to play outside will certainly hurt his draft stock, but those who value his ability to win consistently inside will appreciate his game. He does have versatility in that he is an outstanding special teams player.

Competitive Toughness: A tough and competitive player, Philips plays with very good effort. He plays with a passion and a fiery attitude which rubs off on the rest of the offense. A true football player, Philips does all the little things right in terms of blocking and special teams. He is a gritty football player who fights for every yard and plays to the whistle.

Big Play Ability: Philips lacks true big-play ability as he isn’t the biggest receiver nor does he have true game-breaking speed. That being said, his ability to make the first defender miss does lead to big plays and he can separate down the field while making terrific catches over his shoulder.

Prospect Comparison: Braxton Berrios (2019 NFL Draft, New England Patriots)

SCOUT GRADES
TDN Consensus: 75.08/100 (Third Round Value)

Round 1: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
Round 2: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
Round 3: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
Round 4: Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA

Needs remaining: TE, EDGE, IDL, OT, LB

Carolina Panthers (from Los Angeles Rams through Houston Texans) @Stark are on the clock!

 

[Stark]

I just got to work and won’t be off until 10. I can pick right at 10 or the powers that be can celeb pick for me, I’m fine with either.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

With the 137th pick, The Carolina Panthers select:

Zachary Carter DT - Florida

@raiders91sc and the Steelers are up.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Steelers have been timed out on this selection. Since they never resigned Terrell Edmunds, they are awarded...



Sterling Weatherford, SS, Miami of Ohio
Height: 6’3 5/8″
Weight: 230
Wingspan: 76 1/2″
Arm: 31 3/8″
Hand: 8 5/8″
40 time: 4.6

He’s a redshirt senior defender who has played a LOT of football and it shows. He’s been given a lot of roles as someone playing high post, someone manning a traditional WILL alignment on the second level, and even someone with opportunities to be walked up on the end of the line of scrimmage. He’s a vocal leader and clearly helps run point on defensive calls, too. There are some technical lapses in his game that lead to missed opportunities, but part of me feels those are him trying to anticipate and lean into the play development and make plays that may challenge his range as both a tackler and deep-coverage defender.

@AZ_ and the Ratbirds are on the clock!

 

[AZ_]

With the 139th pick, Ravens select:

Daniel Bellinger - TE - San Diego State

Quick take:

One of the youngest players in the class, Bellinger has top level traits and can slot in behind Mark Andrews and fight for reps as a receiving threat.

Daniel Bellinger aligns in-line as a Y and flexed out as an F. He is a sufficient-level athlete with regards to overall speed, quickness, and agility. In the run game, he has moments of being a dominant in-line blocker. He is physically tough, has good length, and does a good job blocking in the run game. He is athletic enough to get to cut-off on the backside and can engage at the second level. In the passing game, he isn't a dynamic threat but has redeeming value in his size, catch radius, and blocking ability. He isn't a great separator as a route-runner but shows good natural hands as a pass-catcher. He has a good catch radius, is a big target when catching seam routes, and will absorb contact. In the NFL, he would be best served in an offense that runs sets with multiple TEs.

Ideal Role: Y in-line TE

Scheme Fit: Any offensive scheme that uses a lot of 12-personnel

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Drae Harris

Games watched: Arizona (2021), Nevada (2021), Fresno State (2021)

Best Game Studied: Arizona (2021)

Worst Game Studied: Fresno State (2021)

Hands: He is a good natural hands-catcher. He catches the ball without allowing it into his frame. He also has good catch radius and length for the position.

Route Running: He's not a great route-runner. Creating separation at the top of the route isn't his strength. However, he has a very good catch radius and strong hands in contested-catch situations.

Versatility: He has some versatility for the position. He has aligned both in-line as a blocker and flexed out as an F. Aligning at F isn't his strongest suit, but he has experience.

Competitive Toughness: He is a nasty run blocker who shows some competitive toughness as a finisher. He is a physical in-line blocker and shows competitiveness in contested-catch situations.

Ball Skills: He demonstrates adequate ball skills for the position. He displays the ability to track the ball in the air, especially on seam routes. He has good hand-eye coordination to secure the catch.

Blocking Skills: He displays good blocking skills, particularly in the run game when he is in-line. He has some nastiness to him and is physical at the point of attack. He also does a good job engaging in space.

Football IQ: As a pass-catcher, he displays good football IQ. He rarely runs into zone coverage underneath and understands when to sit his route down. He can also identify blitzers off the edge when he is in pass pro.

RAC Ability: His RAC ability will not be an area of strength. He doesn't have elite agility nor is he elusive in space. He has some straight-line speed, but escaping tacklers will not be a strength of his.

Pass Protection: He demonstrates the competitiveness and toughness to be good in pass protection. He also has the length to lock-out on defenders. This is a player who can stay in and max protect with ease.

Big Play: He is not a big-play threat with the ball in his hands. He doesn't have elite speed to be a long-ball threat in the passing game, either. He is more of a possession receiver when he is a pass-catcher.

 

[AZ_]

With the 140th pick, the Green Bay Packers select:

Mike Rose - LB - Iowa State

Quick Take:
Just a kid from Brecksville. Former Big 12 DPOY, with strong athletic profile.

Mike Rose was a 3-star recruit out of Brecksville-Broadview Heights. He was a three-year starter in high school and was named first-team all-conference and an all-district selection. He was a two-sport athlete, playing basketball and football. Rose ranked as the No. 55 outside linebacker by 247 Sports and a top-40 player in Ohio. He has been used as an outside linebacker aligned in the overhang position. He’s a competitive defender that leads by example. Projects better as a MIKE due to lack of athleticism to consistently play outside of the tackle box. He has a high football IQ to diagnose run or pass designs. He’s a reliable spot dropper in zone coverages, keeping his head on a swivel.

Ideal Role: 4-3 MIKE

Scheme Fit: Multiple 4-3 fronts, odd front

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Damian Parson

Games watched: Texas Tech (2021), Oklahoma (2021), TCU (2021) OK State (2021)

Best Game Studied: Oklahoma (2021)

Worst Game Studied: Texas Tech (2021)

Tackling: Rose is a fundamental wrap-up tackler. In moments where he overruns the play, his long arms keep him within striking distance. Rose is plagued by missed tackles as a result of poor leverage. He is a high and upright striker, allowing the ball-carrier to make contact underneath his pads. Lowering his pad level and rolling through his hips can shore up his tackling deficiencies. His lack of short-area quickness causes him to miss tackles by a shoestring.

Football IQ/Instincts: Reads and diagnoses offensive blocking patterns/combinations. He diagnoses plays before they unfold. This allows him to play one step ahead. Remains cognizant of down and distances to defend the right area of the field.

Competitive Toughness: Rose is a physical and fierce competitor. He does not mind putting his body on the line and playing a physical brand of football. He does not stop working to the football even when the leverage battle is lost. Relentless motor to continue fighting through an OL’s latch.

Pass Coverage Ability: High football IQ to read and pass off routes in zone. His head remains on a swivel to remain aware of the routes that threaten his area. He will face-guard slot receivers before zone turning to stay in phase. In 2020, he came down with five interceptions on the season. Lack of twitch and explosiveness may limit him to zone responsibilities. Gains proper depth as a spot dropper.

Run Defending: Functional strength at the POA. Attacks gaps with a bull mindset, drops his head, and shoulders to force his way through. Continues to fight through contact to remain in striking distance of the ball-carrier. Sets outside leverage from the overhang position. Identifies the read-option and QB-keep plays before triggering downhill.

Block Deconstruction: Attacks blocks with physicality. Trying to slice through blocks by driving his shoulder into the OL. Uses his hands as a two-handed press to maintain separation to track the ball-carrier. When pressing quickly on the OL’s chest plate, his long arms create space to keep him clean.

Lateral Mobility: Rose is an above average athlete and mover. He uses short lateral strides to cover ground in the box. He applies quickness to stay ahead or on path with the ball-carrier. If the ball-carrier’s perimeter leverage is ahead of Rose, he will turn and commit to that direction.

Flexibility: Rose lacks true bend to run the arc as an edge rusher. His game is more run-through and step-around. He’s not a natural mover, instead, he’s mechanical with stiff hips. With his contact strength, Rose can twist his upper body without compromising his lower-body balance.

Leadership: Fiery competitor that exudes high energy in his play. Communicates assignments with his teammates. Team leader in career starts. His relentless effort and versatility are infectious.

Versatility: Rose split time as an in-the-box backer and overhang/nickel. He was trustworthy detached from the tackle box, but in the NFL, he will face a tougher task. NFL offenses will target him with quick-twitch receivers and dual-threat running backs. Playing more off-ball MIKE and edge in an odd front is the best usage for Rose.

Packers Draft:
22. Green Bay Packers (from LVR) @AZ_ Jahan Dotson - WR - Penn State
28. Green Bay Packers - Daxton Hill - DB - Michigan
53. Green Bay Packers (from LVR) - Alec Pierce - WR - Cincinnati
59. Green Bay Packers - Jelani Woods - TE - Virginia
92. Green Bay Packers - Otito Ogbonnia - DL - UCLA
132. Green Bay Packers - Chris Paul - G - Tulsa

 

[AZ_]

With the 141st pick, Ravens select:

Kaleb Eleby - QB - Western Michigan

Quick take:
One of the most exciting players in the MAC, Eleby shows strong skills off play action and I think he can develop more arm strength over time. Tyler Huntley is a candidate to be moved and is nearing the end of his deal, and Lamar Jackson has no contract beyond his rookie deal as of now.

Western Michigan quarterback Kaleb Eleby projects as a developmental quarterback in the NFL. Eleby doesn’t check a lot of the traditional boxes for a quarterback prospect; he’s relatively undersized, doesn’t have the strongest of arms, and his level of competition will raise some skepticism as well. But this is a player who operates an offense that we’re seeing more and more of at the NFL level—mesh-point reads, RPOs, and moving pockets all featured as pieces of the puzzle in the WMU offensive infrastructure and it appears as though Eleby at the very least has a skill set worth investing in on a developmental basis. Eleby leaves Western Michigan with eligibility left on the table but I can understand why he, after an explosive 2020 COVID-19-shortened MAC season and his follow-up performance in 2021, felt this was the right time to make the jump. He’s played efficient, productive offense in these past two seasons.

Ideal role: Developmental quarterback

Scheme tendencies: RPO-heavy system with moving pockets and high volume of targets in the MOF

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Kyle Crabbs

Games watched: Toledo (2020), Michigan (2021), Pittsburgh (2021), Kent State (2021)

Best Game Studied: Toledo (2020)

Worst Game Studied: Michigan (2021)

Accuracy: There are too many instances of him airmailing throws when having to step into pressure to deliver his strikes. Out-breaking patterns along the sideline have given him some trouble from time to time when he’s needed to really drive the football with force—with numerous attempts sailing over the head of targets. I think he’s at his best on touch throws in a bucket down the boundary and on spot throws in the middle of the field. He’s shown some nice anticipation to layer throws in stride in this area.

Decision Making: I didn’t see too many egregious decisions to throw into double coverage and I do think his risks are calculated ones. I have seen him throw capped routes versus zone and leave his receivers out to dry a few times, however. His ball security is quite strong, as he only has two multi-interception games in his career (Ohio, 2018 and Ball State, 2021).

Poise: His ability to navigate pressure is something that I think he does fairly well with but his tools could be a limiting factor for how he’s able to salvage plays. He handled a mesh-point miscommunication well versus Pitt when he and the back didn’t take the same side and was able to convert and duck upfield for a few yards. He’s quick-footed but his arm loses some of its appeal if he’s trying to throw off-platform.

Progressions: The Broncos ran an offense that featured plenty of zone read/mesh point and RPO concepts for Eleby. They’ve run them on multiple layers of the defense too, so field vision is something that appears to be a plus quality. He is very much someone who can nickel and dime you all day if he’s in a rhythm and seeing the quick game well.

Release: I think Eleby has a nice, sharp release in his throwing motion. He’s able to hold the ball a little if need be under duress before pulling the trigger. Release point level is something to note as his stature will leave him at risk of batted throws at the LOS.

Pocket Manipulation: The ability to get off his spot is an element that will definitely aid in his offensive infrastructure and allow teams to slow down relentless pass rushes. He’s good in short spaces and he’s done well to flush through exit channels within the internal confines of the pocket as well as getting up and outside.

Arm Strength: Eleby’s arm is one that I would consider sufficient for the pro game. I don’t think the ball explodes off his hand and I don’t think he’s going to have field access if he’s forced off his spot—the field will be cut in half and likely capped at 15-20 yards if he’s forced to roll away from pressure. But he can, when clean, zip throws across the middle and throw with timing to the outside.

Mobility: Eleby can be a bit of a headache to corral. He’s not the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest, but he’s a pretty slick mover in short spaces and does have ample mobility to get outside the pocket and stress defenders in zone with their integrity. He’s not going to blow you away in open-field foot races, but his legs are a level of his game that I think needs to be a piece of the puzzle for him in the NFL.

Leadership: Eleby has two-plus years serving as the starting quarterback of the Broncos and has handled some high-stress game situations very, very well. He led a miraculous come-from-behind victory versus Toledo in 2020 that featured two touchdowns in the final 0:45, highlighted by a fake spike touchdown to win it. He helped engineer a road win over the eventual ACC Champion Pittsburgh Panthers in 2021.

Mechanics: His play-action and RPO rhythm is very good and he transitions out of the mesh point effectively to get set up to throw MOF strikes. His ability to square up to targets when forced off his spot is an area that impacts his accuracy and I’d like to see him have a little more confidence in his ability to absorb contact; pressure creates compensation in his delivery that creates a high spray chart.

1 - Tyler Linderbaum - C - Iowa
2 - Alontae Taylor - CB - Tennessee
3 - James Cook - RB - Georgia
3 - DeAngelo Malone - EDGE - WKU
4 - Noah Ellis - NT - Idaho
4 - Damarii Mathis - DB - Pittsburgh
4 - Jack Sanborn - LB - Wisconsin
4 - Daniel Bellinger - TE - SDSU
4 - Kaleb Eleby - QB - Western Michigan




@Hurl Bruce and the Rams on the clock.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Rams select;

Tyrese Robinson, G, Oklahoma

Tennessee and @selby56 is up.

 

[Selby]

The Titans select Justin Shaffer, Guard, Georgia.

I will type up more later, I'm at the airport about to board a flight.

 

[sportscoach]

END OF ROUND 4

I believe I got this right...

@Stark is on the clock with the panthers!

@Randolphkeys on deck I believe with the Broncos! (Correct if I am wrong)

@SuperSurge in the hole!

 

[Stark]

Panthers select LB Baylon Spector from Clemson with the first pick in the 5th round.

@Randolphkeys is on the clock.

 

[Randolphkeys]

With the 145th pick, the Denver Broncos select...



Marcus Jones,
CB and PR, Houston
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 185 pounds

Pros:

* Twitchy, explosive and versatile.
* Hits top speed almost instantly.
* Shop-wrecking special-teams talent with nine career return touchdowns.
* Makes initial tackler miss and ignites downhill.
* Scrappy as an outside corner against much bigger players.
* Smooth hips are able to open and redirect with no pause.
* Crowds into receiver's frame from early in the route.
* Quick backpedal with prompt plant-to-drive transition.
* Instinctive, aware and communicative from off coverage.
* Opts for the playmaking close-out angles on the throw.
* Gather-and-bounce athleticism to compete on jump balls.
* Races downhill to wrap legs as tackler.
* Early season 2021 reps at wideout are intriguing.

Cons:

* Fucking short

Why a good fit in Denver?

A supremely versatile prospect if there ever was one, Jones can provide exceptional value in multiple phases. His explosive, twitchy style translates perfectly on special teams.


Broncos draft so far:

LB Christian Harris, Alabama
EDGE Joshua Paschal, Kentucky
S Bryan Cook, Cincinnati
TE Cade Otton, Washington
RB Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
CB/KR/PR Marcus Jones

@SuperSurge on the clock!

 

[Surge]

The New York Jets Select:

WR Chris Pierce, Vanderbilt​

Chris Pierce put in work at Vanderbilt. He spent five seasons playing alongside quarterbacks like Kyle Shurmur (good!), Riley Neal, Deuce Wallace, Ken Seals and Mike Wright (… less good). The Commodores won five total games in his last three years in Nashville.
But Pierce kept showing up and, more importantly, kept improving. The 6-foot-4, 231-pound target isn’t a burner, but he was able to create separation against the best defensive backs the SEC had to offer and find ways to make a statement in a lineup of lost seasons:


Pierce has great hands and strong body control, and he’s more than willing to destroy someone on special teams coverage:

@Jack Brickman and NYG are on the clock

 

[Jack Brickman]

The pick is in!

With the 147th pick in the 2022 RCF NFL Mock Draft, the New York Football Giants select...​

Grant Calcaterra, TE SMU​

After medically retiring from football in 2019 due to concussion issues, Calcaterra spent two years away from the game before unretiring and returning for the 2021 season. A former four-star recruit, Calcaterra originally declared for Oregon before transferring to SMU. The medical issues will be a definite red flag for him, and may cause him to fall off some teams' boards entirely, but he represents an intriguing size/speed specimen at the TE position and will help shore up the TE position along with fellow rookie Greg Dulcich, who was drafted earlier this month in the third round.

Here's the NFL.com write-up...

Overview
An athletic tight end with quality ball skills and receiving acumen, Calcaterra has a concussion history that will be flagged by some teams. He retired from football in 2019 and spent 2020 preparing to become a firefighter before transferring to SMU, where he showed he still had it as a two-level pass-catcher. He plays with good football IQ versus zone coverage but might benefit from more pattern breaks to help him uncover against tight man coverage. He won't make a difference as a blocker so he needs to shine as a pass-catching threat. The medical evaluations will be the biggest determining factor in where he might be drafted.


Strengths

• Team captain.
• Impressive return to football in 2021 after retiring in November 2019 because of multiple concussions.
• Moves feet and centers up his block attempts.
• Adequate positional blocker on the flanks.
• Snaps his routes off at the top.
• Composed and athletic tracking the ball.
• Uses off hand as a weapon in creating wider catch windows.
• Elevates with excellent body control to haul it in.
• Accelerates quickly after the catch.

Weaknesses

• Defenders shake off his block attempts along the line of scrimmage.
• Taps brakes headed into contact on cross-blocks across formation.
• Knocked off his route timing by physical coverage.
• Very average uncovering against tight man.
• Body catching lowers contested-catch win rate.

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Giants draft:

• 1.05 - Evan Neal, OT Alabama
• 1.07 - Travon Walker, EDGE Georgia
• 2.04 - David Ojabo, EDGE Michigan
• 3.03 - Kenneth Walker III, RB Michigan State
• 3.17 - Greg Dulcich, TE UCLA
• 3.19 - Carson Strong, QB Nevada
• 5.04 - Grant Calcaterra, TE SMU

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@JDailey23 and the Bears are on the clock!