Want to know what I think of every choice made on Thursday in the first round of the NFL 2022 draft? You can find everything below. You can also follow the rest of the draft on days 2 and 3 for more ratings and more analysis. Be sure to refresh this page over the weekend to get the latest ratings.
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Ratings: 1 round • 2 round • 3 round • 4 round • 5 round • 6 round • 7 round
1. Jaguars: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Rating: B-
This is pure projection. They need help on the edge, but he plays more like a down 5 technique. He is a good player, a tough player, a physical player, but not an explosive player. They can pair him with Josh Allen, but here I would become an offensive line player.
2. Lions: Aiden Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Rating: B +
They need a pass in the worst possible way, and they should be excited that Hutchinson fell for them here. He is a polished rocher who will immediately be an influential player. The Lions must be able to influence the quarterback better than last year. Hutchinson will do that. But he may be a man with 12 sacks for most of his career, not a guy with 16 sacks. But that’s good.
3. Texas: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
Rating: B
It doesn’t make much sense to me. They played a defense that did not give the defender an advantage in the corner, but chose one over the pass rusher. Stingley is an exceptional cornering cover, but that’s a little weird. Pass rusher or tackle was a better option.
4. Jetty: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Rating: B +
If you want to win AFC East, you have to stop Bills and Josh Allen. This means that the corners of the lid come first. Gardner is the best cover player in the draft. That should mean more people for Robert Saleh and the crew. Good choice.
5. Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Rating: A
He is the best pure pass rocher in this project. He has the explosive power that giants desperately need. The question with him now is his character. Do you like the game? But I think he will overcome all these rumors and become a dominant player. I love this choice.
6. Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Rating: B +
The Panthers played on spinning tops on a left beat last year, so getting a grip was no big deal in this draft. I liked Evan Neal more, but I got that choice. Ekwonu needs to work on defending his pass, but he is fixable.
7. Giants: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Rating: A
The Giants face off against the best team in the draft. He will get involved in the right grip and give them a nice pair of book pads with Andrew Thomas. They need to better protect the quarterback and they will. He will be a longtime starter who goes to many Pro Bowls.
8. Falcons: Drake London, WR, USC
Rating: B-
London is a great successor, but it doesn’t work so well. This is a team that needed to add more speed. I would take Gareth Wilson to this place. He would give them a more immediate impact. London is good. But there were better options.
9. Seahawks: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St.
Rating: B
They had a screaming hole in the left bar, so they had to get the left bar. By running on them, they find themselves with a player who is good at defending the pass, but needs work in the running game. If Seattle wants to manage it better, they have chosen the wrong tact. But he is good at defending the quarterback.
10. Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St.
Rating: A
I love this choice. I know there is talk of trading this choice to get Deebo Samuel, but I love staying and taking Wilson. He is a speed player who will help Zack Wilson a lot. He is fast and will be much cheaper than Samuel.
11. Saints (from the commanders): Chris Olav, WR, Ohio St.
Rating: C +
Giving up this whole arsenal to take Olav is risky if you ask me. Olav is a speed receiver that will complement Michael Thomas, but that’s a lot you have to give up to get it. James Winston will be happy, but I don’t like that. The saints must.
12. Lions (from the Vikings): Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Rating: B
This is the best receiver in the project. The lions can wait to heal him. When he is healthy, he will be a dynamic playmaker. They made a bold move to take it, but gave up a bunch to take it. Better to hope that he is what they think can happen. I think he’s a star.
13. Eagles (from Texas): Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Rating: B
This is a great choice for Eagles. They had to get a powerful player inside with age, which became a problem there. Davis will be a player with three below in the NFL, even if some don’t think he will. The Eagles will be much better against running – that’s for sure.
14. Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Rating: B-
The Ravens will get a player who will help on their back immediately. I like Hamilton, but I don’t like him like most. He will have some problems with coverage, but they have to use him in different ways to take advantage of his talents. He’s not Ed Reed. That’s for sure.
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