Hindsight is a brutal, hilarious thing in football.
Back in April 2022, everyone was convinced Malik Willis was a first-round lock. People were using every 2022 NFL draft simulator they could find to see if their team could "steal" him at pick 20. Fast forward to 2026, and we know how that story ended.
Willis slid to the third round.
Brock Purdy, the literal last pick of the draft, just led his team to deep playoff runs.
Kenny Pickett is on his third team.
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So, why are people still obsessed with running a 2022 NFL draft simulator today? It’s not just for the nostalgia. Honestly, it’s about the "what if" factor. We use these tools now to see if we could have outsmarted the GMs who passed on Sauce Gardner or let Tariq Woolen fall to the fifth round.
The Weird Reality of the 2022 Class
The 2022 draft was weird.
No, seriously. It was a draft without a consensus elite quarterback, which is basically unheard of in the modern NFL. Because of that, the simulators from that year were chaos. You’d run a sim on PFF or Pro Football Network and see five different players go number one overall depending on the day.
One day it was Aidan Hutchinson.
The next it was Ikem Ekwonu.
Then suddenly, Travon Walker's "traits" took over the internet.
When you fire up a 2022 NFL draft simulator now, you’re looking at a time capsule. You see the "Big Boards" from experts like Mel Kiper or Dane Brugler before the games were actually played. It’s a way to measure how much our collective "expert" opinion sucked back then.
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Why the Simulators Got It So Wrong
Simulators are only as good as the data they’re fed. In 2022, the data was screaming that this was a defensive-heavy draft. It got that right. Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. were the blue-chip prospects, and they’ve largely lived up to it.
But simulators struggled with the depth.
Most 2022 NFL draft simulator engines didn't have guys like Isiah Pacheco or Brock Purdy anywhere near the middle rounds. They were "priority free agents" in the code. Now, when you play those sims, you’re basically trying to fix history. You’re the guy in the draft room screaming, "Don't take Skyy Moore! George Pickens is right there!"
Top Tools for Re-Running History
If you’re looking to dive back into that specific year, a few platforms still allow you to toggle back to the 2022 season. It’s kinda fascinating to see the old team needs.
- PFF Mock Draft Simulator: Still the gold standard for depth. You can actually see the "grades" they gave players at the time, which is comedy gold now that we know who actually panned out.
- NFL Mock Draft Database: This one is great because it aggregates everyone's boards. It gives you a "consensus" feel of how the 2022 NFL draft simulator thought the world looked.
- Pro Football Network (PFN): Their trade logic was always a bit... optimistic. But if you want to see if the Giants could have traded back and still landed Kayvon Thibodeaux, this is your spot.
The Brock Purdy Anomaly
You can’t talk about 2022 without talking about Mr. Irrelevant.
Every time I run a 2022 NFL draft simulator, I look at the 7th round. I see Purdy sitting there with a "D-" grade or a "UDFA" projection. It’s a reminder that even the most advanced algorithms can't account for "it." Simulators track 40-times and arm strength. They don't track the ability to read a disguised zone coverage in 1.2 seconds.
Using Simulators to Learn for the Future
The real value of playing with a 2022 NFL draft simulator in 2026 is learning about "prospect fatigue."
Remember Kyle Hamilton?
He was the "perfect" safety prospect. Then he ran a slow 40-time, and everyone panicked. He dropped in every simulator. He dropped in the real draft to the Ravens at 14.
What happened?
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He became an All-Pro.
Running these old sims teaches us that we—and the machines—usually overthink the wrong things. We value a tenth of a second on a track over three years of dominant tape.
How to Get the Most Out of an Old Sim
If you’re going to spend an hour re-drafting the 2022 class, do it with a purpose. Don't just pick the best players we know now. That’s too easy.
Try to draft based only on the information available then.
Can you build a better roster for the Jaguars than Trent Baalke did? Knowing what we know about Travon Walker’s development versus Aidan Hutchinson’s immediate impact, the choice at number one is the ultimate simulator debate.
Most people get the 2022 NFL draft simulator experience wrong by trying to be "perfect." The fun is actually in the mess. It’s in seeing the "Projected 1st Rounder" label on a guy who is currently selling insurance.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Simulation
- Toggle the "Randomness" setting: Most simulators have a slider for how "chaotic" the AI teams act. Turn it up. The 2022 draft was defined by trades and reaches (looking at you, Cole Strange).
- Focus on the "Bust" rate: Look at the players the simulator rated as "Safe." It’s a great exercise in humility to see a "Can't Miss" tackle like Evan Neal and realize how hard the transition to the pros actually is.
- Cross-reference with 2026 rosters: If you're using a 2022 NFL draft simulator to build a "Dynasty" team, look at which teams actually had the holes they thought they had. The Seahawks used that draft to completely rebuild their secondary—see if you can do it better with the same picks.
The 2022 draft wasn't the "weak" year everyone claimed. It was just a different kind of strong. It was a year for grinders, defensive anchors, and one very special quarterback who waited until the very last pick to change the league.
Go back. Run the sim. See if you've got what it takes to be a GM, or if you're just another guy with a spreadsheet and a dream.