2022 NFL Draft: A few thoughts on each pick in the first round

The first 10 picks of the NFL Draft are the Oscars in reverse. The biggest honorees are rewarded first. Fans show up and shout insults at the host and bone-rattling contact with Roger Goodell is encouraged. On that note, Goodell clearly spent the three years since the last NFL Draft that included live fans to concoct a draft hack for the deafening fan boos he used to receive. By walking to the stage behind current, former greats and kids, he was able to deftly bask in their adulation. It was almost as conniving as Greg Stillson using a baby as a shield. The 2022 Draft featured no quarterbacks in the top 10 picks for the first time since 1997, but the talent at receiver and on the defense was plentiful. 1. Travon Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars source: Getty Images The first overall pick was a wager on their ability to transform Travon Walker’s combine magic and versatility into a winning hand. Will he ever have a deep enough bag of pass rush moves to stalk and pressure quarterbacks like Jason Voorhees? That’s the key to this pick. As I explained after the underwear Olympics, Walker is an etch and sketch defensive end. He’s raw, but the Jaguars clearly believe they can flesh him out into the dominant edge-rusher. His physical profile compares to Jadeveon Clowney or Brian Burns. His production says he’s a raw, Lorenzo Carter-caliber pass rusher. Walker is young enough to develop a menu of moves or wind up stinking up the fridge in four year at the end of his rookie deal’s expiration date. 2. Aidan Hutchinson – Detroit Lions source: Getty Images Detroit kept it local for their second overall pick by picking up Michigan’s Aiden Hutchinson in an Uber 45 minutes away from Ford Field. The Lions have finished in the bottom five in pressure percentage each of the past six seasons. We talk about Kenny Pickett’s small hands, but Hutchinson’s 32 ⅛-inch arms are just as concerning for scouts. He’s a stocky, white defensive end with short arms, so naturally, he’s perceived as the underdog “who’s just happy to be here.” 3. Derek Stingley Jr. – Houston Texans source: Getty Images Stingley, the grandson of tragic NFL figure Daryl Stingley, has been considered a top-3 pick since his freshman season. However, injuries have caused scouts to cool on his long-term potential. In Houston, he will be the big kahuna in a secondary that was led by Desmond King, who was playing on a one-year deal. You can never go wrong with the pick from DB U and LSU corners have an impeccable track record. 4. Sauce Gardner – New York Jets source: Getty Images Gardner is the perfect personality for New York. He’s got Eli Apple’s confidence. Jets fans just have to hope he doesn’t liquify as Apple sauce did under the Giants limelight. The first touchdown he surrenders in coverage will be the first one he’s had scored on him since high school. 5./7. Kayvon Thibodeaux/Evan Neal – New York Giants   source: Getty Images The New York Giants used their first two picks to flesh out their pass rush and pass protection. Last season, the Giants ranked 30th in pass rush win rate. His 17.8% pressure percentage was third-best in the FBS although his sack total fell to seven in his junior season, while he played through an ankle injury. Thibodeaux was the third-best pass rusher in the 2022 draft, but a year ago he’d be the first one taken. Meanwhile, Evan Neal bulks up their shoddy offensive line. There are no more excuses left for Daniel Jones to underwhelm. 6. Ikem Ekwonu – Carolina Panthers source: Getty Images Ekonu is a tank of an offensive lineman. The question is who he’ll be blocking for. Christian McCaffrey was on the trading block earlier in the offseason and Sam Darnold might be pushed out for Jimmy G or Baker Mayfield. 8. Drake London – Atlanta Falcons source: Getty Images Are the Falcons building the Burj Khalifa of receiving corps? They’ve signed 6-foot-5 Auden Tate, they selected 6-foot-6 tight end Kyle Pitts with their fourth overall pick in 2021 and 6-foot-4 Drake London. Even Marcus Mariota is going to struggle to overthrow that group. 9. Charles Cross – Seattle Seahawks source: Getty Images This has to be a brutal troll of Russell Wilson. Wilson was on the run, making pass rushers look Wile E. Coyote haplessly chasing the Roadrunner for almost his entire career. Now that the best quarterback in franchise history is gone, they realize protecting Drew Lock is of the utmost importance. Ain’t that some shit. In the past 10 years, Germain Ifedi was the only offensive lineman Seattle drafted in the top 10. He led the NFL in penalties in his second season and the Seahawks declined to pick up his fifth-year option. 10. Garrett Wilson – New York Jets source: Getty Images Wilson joins a solid receiving corps that wasn’t very productive last season. Wilson was projected as the top receiver in the draft. Zach Wilson has to get them the ball first. He’ll welcome the help. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson had 12.7% of his catchable passes dropped, which was the highest rate in the NFL among 35 qualified quarterbacks. 11. Chris Olave – New Orleans Saints source: Getty Images The Commanders at No. 11 must’ve been a deer in the headlights with two fantastic fits at possibly their two biggest positions of need available. They traded back with New Orleans, who took wide receiver Chris Olave, the second of three straight Ohio State signees out of high school to go in the draft alongside Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams. 12. Jameson Williams – Detroit Lions source: Getty Images Williams went No. 12 to the Lions after transferring to Alabama before last season. He’s recovering from ACL surgery. As someone who saw Williams play in high school at my previous gig in Missouri, dude can flat out ball. Once he’s healthy, he’ll be a massive help to Jared Goff. I’m surprised the Commanders didn’t want another Crimson Tide standout as a complement to Terry McLaurin in their receiving corps. Washington took the best receiver left on its board by trading back, but more on that in a minute. 13. Jordan Davis – Philadephia Eagles source: Getty Images Davis won a national championship, the Bednarik and Outland awards last season at Georgia, given annually to the best defensive player and best interior lineman, respectively. It still felt like a reach for the Eagles to take him here at No. 13 because of his inconsistencies on film. The Eagles probably wanted Williams and traded away multiple picks to get another guy. No problem, let’s just go all out and get former Titan A.J. Brown. Problem solved. 14. Kyle Hamilton – Baltimore Ravens source: Getty Images Although the Ravens are incredibly deep in the secondary, they took the best player left available by most standards in Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. I have a hard time seeing Hamilton not panning out in the league. Baltimore always seems to land stud defensive players through the draft since the franchise has been based in Charm City. 15. Kenyon Green – Houston Texans source: Getty Images Green is from Humble, Texas, not too far from Houston and was a two-time consensus All-American at Texas A&M. The fit here is good solely because of Green’s talent, although I’m not sure any offensive lineman has a great chance to look impressive with the current state of the Texans offense. Green is likely to pan out well if Houston is patient and waits for him to develop into a consistent cloak for whoever is behind center. 16. Jahan Dotson – Washington Commanders source: Getty Images Alright, back to the Commanders. The thought of trading back for a second time should’ve tempted them in a deep receiver class. Instead, they chose based on need alone and took Penn State WR Jahan Dotson, who could help Washington in the kick return game as well. I don’t hate the pick but I don’t love it either. Carson Wentz needs better receivers to throw to but is the dip in quality from Williams to Dotson worth the third- and fourth-round picks the Commanders got in return worth it? Nope. Unless Washington strikes gold in a later round. 17. Zion Johnson – Los Angeles Chargers source: Getty Images Johnson played on one of the ACC’s best offensive lines in 2021 and was a first-team All-American. After transferring to BC from FCS-level Davidson, he adjusted well to a step up in competition. Expect no different in L.A. 18. Treylon Burks – Tennessee Titans source: Getty Images Saw Burks play live at Arkansas last year and his play was so consistent. It’s clear he’d be a great fit in the NFL based on how he could easily beat SEC DB’s on almost every route. He’s no A.J. Brown, but can help fill that void from day No. 1. 19. Trevor Penning – New Orleans Saints source: Getty Images Not much is known about Penning to most of the country, coming from an FCS school. You can’t get drafted this high as a non-FBS kid without dominating the FCS. He’s 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, which is great size for the NFL. He’s got a big job from the jump with the Saints in protecting a mobile quarterback like Taysom Hill. 20. Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh Steelers source: Getty Images The only quarterback chosen in the first round came at No. 20. It was long discussed what the Steelers would do, looking for their next long-term signal caller. Passing on Mailk Willis, Pittsburgh found its next quarterback from Pittsburgh. Kenny Pickett just has to walk down the Heinz Field halls to a different locker room. Pickett’s selection was the latest the first quarterback was chosen in an NFL Draft in 25 years, when Jim Druckenmiller went No. 26 overall to the 49ers. As valued as finding an elite quarterback is in the NFL, it was only the second time in the last 20 years only one quarterback was chosen in the first round. Pickett’s hands are smaller than any current NFL quarterback, but who cares about that? The Steelers went with maturity over possible upside here. Pickett is 24, a year younger than Joe Burrow. Choosing Pickett over Willis feels like more than just picking the kid familiar with his new city. In replacing Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise clearly prioritized what he’s already shown, finishing third in this season’s Heisman voting, as opposed to what could be. Willis has drawn comparisons to Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. But I don’t see that. He could be great, but Pickett is the safer pick. Going with a sure thing for a franchise quarterback isn’t confusing. He’s more ready to start in the NFL right now. No. 21 T ren t McDuffie – Kansas City Chiefs source: Getty Images It is weird to call Kansas City desperate? With the trough of picks the Chiefs had coming into the draft, packaging them to move up in the first round to get a dynamic player was a smart solution. Behind Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr., McDuffie was the next best cornerback in the draft and was the only other ready-to-play-now athlete at the position. McDuffie’s size and athleticism should bode well in the quarterback-driven AFC West, helping out an inconsistent Chiefs defense. McDuffie went to prep powerhouse St. John Bosco and is used to having more eyes on him, despite playing in the Pac-12 over the last three years. He didn’t allow more than 39 yards in coverage in any game last year. He could be a great asset for a defense trying to win another Super Bowl next season. No. 22 Quay Walker – Green Bay Packers source: Getty Images I have a hard time seeing any of these Georgia defenders not panning out as solid NFL players. They played in an NFL system around professional-level players for at least the last 12 months, if not longer. One of the best defenses college football has ever seen will lead Walker to being a big part of Green Bay’s defense from day No. 1. He’ll have some familiarity from Athens in Green Bay, and we’ll come back to that, but Walker’s speed made it look like the Bulldogs had 12 players on the field at all times. That should translate well to the NFL. No. 23 Kaiir Elam – Buffalo Bills source: Getty Images The Bills traded up two spots to take Elam, who was a player they likely would have gotten had they stayed put. Buffalo is another team in a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality, so being aggressive makes sense, even if there’s collateral damage. Elam is a step down from the three cornerbacks chosen before him in the draft. I have a hard time seeing him as a massive contributor in Buffalo from the jump. I believe that’s in part to the talent on a team that was a coin flip away from the AFC Championship game. Elam is coming from Florida and went head-to-head, and won more battles than he lost, against quality receivers like Devonta Smith. He may need a few years to replicate that production in the NFL. No. 24 Tyler Smith – Dallas Cowboys source: Getty Images The Cowboys may have won the first round last year, trading back and still landing Micah Parsons. This year, Dallas definitely didn’t win the first round. Tyler Smith was a beast on Tulsa’s offensive line. Dominating the American Athletic Conference should get him NFL looks. He’s no doubt still a work in progress to be an NFL starter. At 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, Smith has the necessary size to be effective. More important than size in the NFL is technique, which is where he falls short. He’ll need a redshirt year of sorts to not get schooled by NFL defensive ends. No. 25 Tyler Linderbaum – Baltimore Ravens source: Getty Images Did you know in high school Linderbaum pinned Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs in high school wrestling? It was only mentioned 500 times on the ESPN broadcast last night. Linderbaum was the top-rated center in the draft and is the perfect synergy of value at a selection and meeting a team’s needs. The Ravens were one of the winners of the first round and that’s in large part because of Linderbaum. Since 2000, there’s been a 100% success rate of center’s earning a second professional contract with the team that drafted them. I have no doubt Linderbaum doesn’t break that streak. No. 26 Jermaine Johnson II – New York Jets source: Getty Images If the Ravens didn’t win the first round, the Jets did. Getting three of the top 12 players in the draft is quite the haul. Trading back into the first round to get Johnson was a major win for New York. The former Last Chance U star was the best junior-college prospect in the country in the 2019 recruiting class and parlayed that to a successful run with Georgia and then Florida State in 2021. There is always one player projected to go possibly in the top 10 that slips deep into the first round and this year it was Johnson. Why was that? I’m not sure other than playing at a position where most teams are solid lower down in the draft. Could be the steal of 2022 right here. No. 27 Devin Lloyd – Jacksonville Jaguars source: Getty Images Jacksonville stayed on the defensive side of the ball for its second pick of the draft, picking Lloyd, who is coming off a phenomenal year with Utah. Lloyd might look with combine stats that he’s slower than the average NFL player. But with the pads on, he jumps off the page as explosive and fast. Lloyd was a first-team All-American last season and he’ll be another solid piece to an improving Jaguars defense. Then again, there’s really only one way to go for most things in Jacksonville. Yet, Lloyd was a great value pick for late in the first round. No. 28 Devonte Wyatt – Green Bay Packers source: Getty Images Another Georgia defender off the board and Wyatt will join Walker in playing at Lambeau Field. Like his former Bulldog teammate in Johnson, Wyatt took the junior-college route to the big time with two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.). That JUCO stay came after he was academically ineligible to play for Kirby Smart out of high school. The long route paid off with his development as a key cog in Georgia’s national championship aspirations. He’s only 6-foot-2 but doesn’t lack anywhere else. His technique and physicality will fit in well in Green Bay. A lot of people, including me, were surprised the Packers didn’t go offense to help out Aaron Rodgers. That’s a massive need for Day 2 of the draft. No. 29 Cole Strange – New England Patriots source: AP Strange’s last name perfectly describes this selection from the Patriots, who’ve built a reputation of using the draft to keep their legacy alive. But this selection is a reach of epic proportions. How bad was this pick? Rams head coach Sean McVay said Los Angeles scouted to take Strange at pick No. 104. He’s a third-round talent taken 70 picks too early. Strange could be successful in the NFL after a good run at Chattanooga. He’s likely to not even be the most successful Strange of this week, behind Stephen on the big screen. No. 30 George Karlaftis – Kansas City Chiefs source: Getty Images The Chiefs needed to add some depth on the exterior of the defensive line and Karlaftis fits what Andy Reid’s teams have usually done since his hiring in Kansas City. He’s a fast and physical defensive end, sometimes doing better than Aidan Hutchinson did against similar opponents while both played in the Big Ten Conference. Karlaftis didn’t officially live in the United States until he was 13 and was an accomplished water polo athlete in his native Greece. His overall athleticism is what jumps out about Karlaftis, who should help an inconsistent Chiefs defense down the line. No. 31 Daxton Hill – Cincinnati Bengals source: Getty Images Speaking of relations to Hutchinson, Hill was the second Michigan defender chosen in the first round, the penultimate pick of Thursday night. The former five-star prospect was a first-team all-Big Ten selection in 2021. He was only the second safety off the board on Thursday night, but Hill should fit nicely with the AFC Champions last season because of his speed. Like a few other teams in the AFC, the Bengals are looking to capitalize on recent success. And without trading picks, the Bengals did a good job finding a solid player that fell in their laps. Hill could play pretty soon and be successful in the NFL. No. 32 Lewis Cine – Minnesota Vikings source: Getty Images The only member of Georgia’s secondary taken in the first round (and fifth overall) goes in the final pick of the first round in Cine, leaving Nakobe Dean to fall to Friday. Cine’s hard-hitting style endeared him to Georgia fans and made him a tough out for SEC receivers because of his physicality. That’ll be tougher to continue in the NFL because of his own durability concerns and how the league is inconsistent in calling unnecessary roughness penalties. That’s not a line he’s comfortable with yet. If he can master that, Cine will be a solid cornerback in the NFL for several years. This was an overall good selection for Minnesota.  Relatedunderdog fantasyparlayplay online sports bettingsleeper fantasy app reviewdabble app reviewowners box ratingfantasy draftkingsfantasy football fan duelunderdog sign up offersparlayplay football welcome bonussleeper welcome bonusesdabble welcome bonusowners box welcome offerdraftkings fantasy welcome bonusesfanduel fantasy sign up promos