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.
15. Texas (from Eagles): Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
Rating: B +
They get a player who can play right-handed or inside as a guard. This is a team that needs a lot of help, and Green is a player who can intervene and play right away. He is a good, physical player who meets what they want to do if he plays the right grip or guard.
16. Commanders (from Saints): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn St.
Rating: B
They trade back and land a receiver that will give them more juice in the game of passes. They had to help Carson Wentz and Dotson would give them another player at speed. Landing the extra spades and getting a good receiver makes this a good move.
17. Chargers: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
Rating: B +
They have to defend their quarterback. This is a player who can play guard, cope, center for the Chargers. This was to improve their line for Justin Herbert. I love Johnson. position flexibility is important. He wears it.
18. Titans (by Eagles) Traylan Burks, WR, Arkansas
Rating: C +
They essentially exchanged a large, physical receiver to replace the AJ Brown. Burks will come out much cheaper. However, I’m not sure it’s AJ Brown. But philosophy makes sense. Design and get a cheaper player. Burks needs to lose some weight.
19. Saints: Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa, OT
Rating: B-
This fills the need for the saints. They had to get a left beat and Penning answered the bill. He is an aggressive player who will give them a good combination of shots to go with Ryan Ramczyk. Both are Bulgarians.
20. Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Rating: A
I love this choice. They take the local kid to play quarterback and he will be the best quarterback in this class. Give him a few games and he will have the job. Pickett has the tools to become a quality starter. This works in many ways.
21. Leaders (Patriots): Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Rating: B-
The Chiefs have moved on to take on McDuffy, but I think they could have waited to take on his team-mate, Kyler Gordon, who I think will be a better player. This fills the need for a corner and he is a good player, but they could stay in place.
22. Packers: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
Rating: A
This is a hell of a choice. He is a playmaker, a speed midfielder who will give his defense a nice addition to De’Vondre Campbell. I know they could go here, but they can wait. Walker will be a great time.
23. Accounts (from Ravens to Cardinals): Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Rating: B +
He is a good cover player who meets a great need. The Beals had a hole in their team and that was a corner. Now they add a long cover player who can give them a nice angle with Tre’Davious White. He needs to do better. Love the aggression to go get it.
24. Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Rating: A
This is one of my favorite choices in this draft. This kid is a striker who will help them cope immediately. He needs a little help to protect his pass, but the Cowboys will find out. The teams loved him more than the analysts, and his tape showed you why. This is a really good choice.
25. Garani (by Bills): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Rating: B
They had to get a center and they got the best. I like the idea of him taking power in the middle of their line. He will play for Lamar Jackson for a long time. His athletic abilities are exceptional.
26. Jets (by Titans): Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida
Rating: A
This is a great value at this late stage of the draft. He fell on the board much farther than most people thought. It fits what Robert Saleh wants at its edges. It blooms late, but will continue to improve.
27. Jaguars (by Buccaneers): Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Rating: B +
They made a bold move to take it. I love this. He is a playmaker midfielder who can do many things. Think of Devin White in the Tampa Bay scheme. It works. Mike Caldwell will use it in many different ways.
28. Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
Rating: B +
This has a chance to be a special player. He had some character concerns, but he was productive with good defense. I know the Packers fans wanted a receiver here, but this is a player who can really help the defense from the inside. I like.
29. Patriots (by Chiefs) Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
Rating: C
They project Shaq Mason’s deputy on the right guard. This may be a little high for him, but it certainly satisfies the need. They are getting younger and cheaper.
30. Leaders: George Carlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Rating: A
I love this choice from the Chiefs. They needed an ambulance and this child can help. He is a player who plays hard all the time. If they want to beat Bills and the great pitchers at AFC West, they have to get more pressure. This is a good choice.
31. Bengali: Duxton Hill, South, Michigan
Rating: B-
They have problems with contracts with their safety, so this is a good choice. It also has …
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