2022 NFL Draft: First Round

After months of prospect talk and thought, the 2022 NFL Draft finally kicked off last night in Las Vegas.

The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft:

1.   Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia

2.   Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

3.   Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

4.   New York Jets: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

5.   New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

6.   Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekonwu, OT, North Carolina State

7.   New York Giants: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

8.   Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR, USC

9.   Seattle Seahawks: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

10. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

11. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

12. Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

15. Houston Texans: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

16. Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

18. Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas 

19. New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

22. Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia

23. Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa

25. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

26. New York Jets: Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

28. Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

29. New England Patriots: Cole Strange, OG, Tennessee-Chattanooga 

30. Kansas City Chiefs: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

32. Minnesota Vikings: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

***

The Minnesota Vikings had a long night. They were scheduled to make the 12th pick. They ended up closing the round. It’s probably safe to say that the Vikings were praying for cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad Gardner to get a little closer to their #12 pick in the first round. Both were off the board by pick #4. When the draft finally did get to #12, Notre Dame safety was probably the top player available. He was my top player available. The Vikings clearly weren’t sold enough on him, or any available player, to stay where they started. They traded the 12th pick and their 46th pick to the Lions for the 32nd, 34th, and 66th pick. At a glance, the trade didn’t feel great. 20 first round spots is quite a drop. I hated that the 46th pick was included but you don’t have a draft day deal unless it’s a “balanced” draft day deal. Upon further thought, new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah got decent value in the trade. He got a 12-pick bump in the second round and the second pick in the third round. It cost those 20 spots in the first round. The strength of this draft wasn’t the first round. The Vikings saw few “elite” players at the top of this draft. If they couldn’t get one of those players, they wanted more opportunities to select players from the strength of this draft. Day 2. This trade gave them more opportunities. Now, they have to make the most of those opportunities. Another struggle for some fans was the player that the Vikings selected with the 32nd pick. Georgia safety Lewis Cine. A safety. They passed on the opportunity to select the best safety in the draft, Hamilton, for arguably the next best safety, Cine. They might play the same position but they play it differently. Hamilton is a great, instinctive football player. A weakness in his game is coverage and short-area quickness. Cine is a fast, explosive, violent football player. No one’s seen the Vikings defense. New coaches, new scheme, new players. It’s a work in progress. Right now, there’s just a plan for the defense. Perhaps Lewis Cine is the right fit for that plan. I’m really forward to seeing that plan. 

I’m also looking forward to the three picks that the Vikings are scheduled to make tonight. My hopes for that first pick (#34) begin with cornerbacks.

Andrew Booth, Clemson

Kyler Gordon, Washington

Roger McCreary, Auburn

I’m fine with any of the three but I think that I like McCreary the best. There’s something about his feisty coverage. 

I like Houston defensive tackle Logan Hall as well. Or injured Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo. Or un-injured Minnesota edge rusher Boye Mafe. Or a tight end. Or an interior offensive lineman. 

As for the rest of the NFL. 

Trades. A record nine teams had multiple picks in the first round. The Jets had three first-round picks. The Jaguars, Lions, Texans, Giants, Saints, Ravens, Chiefs, and Packers had two each. Only 14 teams used their first-round picks. 18 picks were traded. Seven picks were traded twice. Two picks were traded three times. Trades.

The first round of the 2022 NFL started and ended with a Georgia defensive player. In between, three more Georgia defensive players were selected.

1.   Travon Walker-Jaguars

13. Jordan Davis-Eagles

22. Quay Walker-Packers

28. Devonte Wyatt-Packers

32. Lewis Cine-Vikings

That’s a record number of defensive players selected in the first round for Georgia. 

After trading away Davante Adams it was expected that the Packers would select a receiver in the first round of a top-heavy receiver draft. They didn’t. The Packers were smitten with defensive players from Georgia. 

Speaking of receivers. Six were selected in the first round. 

8.   Drake London-Falcons

10. Garrett Wilson-Jets

11. Chris Olave-Saints

12. Jameson Williams-Lions

16. Jahan Dotson-Commanders

18. Treylon Burks-Titans

In addition to the six first round rookies, two veteran receivers were traded during the draft in deals that included a first round pick. 

-the Ravens sent Marquise Brown to the Cardinals for the 23rd pick

-the Titans sent A.J. Brown to the Eagles for the 18th pick

Throw in the earlier deals involving Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill and more than a third of the first round involved receivers. 

The overall winner of first round had to be the Jets. They entered the night with two top-10 picks (#4 and #10). They ended the night with three first round selections. 

4.   Ahmad Gardner, CB

10. Garrett Wilson, WR

26. Jermaine Johnson II, Edge

Gardner was regarded as the draft’s top corner, Wilson was regarded as the top receiver, and Johnson was regarded as one of the best edge rushers. The drop of Johnson from possible top-10 pick was one of the biggest surprises of the first round. It’s safe to say that the Jets did some fine work with their bountiful draft resources. 

It’s on to Day 2.