NFL Draft 2022 Grades: Analysis of Every Team’s Picks
We have reached the end of a unique draft, arguably one of the strangest in recent times. Teams have doubled down on their desire to draft raw athleticism and gamble on future talent at almost every key position, but suddenly shied away from projecting raw athleticism at the quarterback position.
What gives? What does it mean?
A few months back, Sports Illustrated ran a story about the evolution of quarterback play. Aaron Rodgers and, later, Patrick Mahomes, altered the way private coaches and tutors thought about the position. Those changes creeped their way into the modern game and made the NFL accessible for quarterbacks with unique talents we’ve never seen before. A few months later, I talked to some pass-rush coaches who noticed a similar trend with edge rushers. Big and stiff? Small and speedy? It really doesn’t matter, as long as you get to the quarterback.
Imagine our surprise, then, when someone like Travon Walker goes No. 1 overall, almost completely because of the parts of his game we cannot yet see. Then, someone like Malik Willis goes No. 86, despite having a high ceiling at the position. Imagination continues to be a key factor for general managers and coaches when it comes to most positions. This year, it failed to become part of the equation for players under center. Is it the Rams-Buccaneers effect, seeing how quickly mercenary QBs can change your fortunes, leaving teams averse to the roller coaster that comes with developing unique young QBs? Was this class of passers really just awful? (We don’t think so, as you’ll see below).
All of these thoughts—and more—have factored into our grading of each team’s 2022 draft class. Who filled needs? Who took the best kinds of calculated risks? Who left good talent on the table, and who made the most of their situations? Of course, these are a joy to revisit as time goes on. (Raise your hand if you punished the Bengals for taking Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell.)
Every year, it’s about what we can see, what we want to see and what we refuse to see. Let’s jump in and discuss how we feel about the class of 2022. (Note: Teams are in rank order of grades.)
Baltimore Ravens
GRADE: A+
- Round 1, Pick 14: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
- Round 1, Pick 25 (from Buffalo): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
- Round 2, Pick 45: David Ojabo, LB, Michigan
- Round 3, Pick 76: Travis Jones, DT, UConn
- Round 4, Pick 110 (from N.Y. Giants): Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
- Round 4, Pick 119: Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama
- Round 4, Pick 128 (from Arizona): Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
- Round 4, Pick 130 (from Buffalo): Jordan Stout, P, Penn State
- Round 4, Pick 139: Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
- Round 4, Pick 141: Damarion Williams, CB, Houston
- Round 6, Pick 196 (from Philadelphia): Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
ANALYSIS: Watching this draft unfold was like falling in love with your favorite characters over the course of a long-running sitcom. Every development warmed the heart. Every pick caused us to raise our hands and wonder why it seemed certain players just sifted through the mud and into their hands. The Ravens got one of the best safeties to appear in the draft in years. They got the best center to appear in the draft in years. Ojabo is a rehab player worth waiting for—with obvious first-round upside—and Jones is a defensive tackle we liked as a first-round prospect. Watch Jones late in meaningless UConn games as he tosses people around like it’s the Super Bowl. Our radar is up on the addition of Faalele, the 6' 9" tackle who is nearly 400 pounds. Baltimore wins with size and does an excellent job of plucking large human beings and deploying them in the ultimate market inefficiency. They are also back on the tight end grind, amassing some stylistically different bodies who can work in and out of the backfield. Lamar Jackson is at his best with a complement of heady, medium-range receivers at his disposal. Hollywood Brown wanted to leave Baltimore because of the system; he didn’t say the system was faulty, it just didn’t necessarily set him up as well. If Likely is working in the pass game against a middling coverage linebacker this year, he’ll be able to make a mark in the league right away.
Raven Country: Analysis of every Baltimore selection
Philadelphia Eagles
GRADE: A+
- Round 1, Pick 13 (from Cleveland via Houston): Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick 51: Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
- Round 3, Pick 83: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick 181 (from Detroit): Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas
- Round 6, Pick 198 (from Pittsburgh via Jacksonville): Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU
We’re only giving out two A-plusses in this draft, so kudos to the Eagles for netting one of them. Obviously, the A.J. Brown trade should be factored into this haul. While teams were jockeying over unproven talent, the Eagles went out and got a player who, if he were in this year’s draft, may have gone in the top three. Jurgens, selected with the blessing of long-time center Jason Kelce, is a clone of the legendary Eagles center. Pull up some Nebraska tape from this year and watch Jurgens fly off the ball on some athletic pulling maneuver, or whip downfield on a screen pass. There is a reason Kelce has been able to thrive as a sixth-round pick for as long as he has, and Jurgens has that same athletic core in spades. Davis was one of our favorite players in this draft and, paired with Fletcher Cox for at least one season, he makes up a formidable inside-rush tandem that will haunt the quarterbacks of the NFC East. Dean is worth a flier despite the Eagles not really suited for taking risks at the moment. The Georgia linebacker dropped in the draft, reportedly because of a handful of injuries that he denies are serious. We’ve seen other players, such as Myles Jack, drop for similar reasons and go on to have successful careers. Dean is agile and, despite being on the smaller side, makes up for his lack of heft with some noticeable smarts. There were certainly some plays at Georgia that popped off the screen while having nothing to do with the all-star cast in front of him.
Eagles Today: Analysis of every Philadelphia selection
Detroit Lions
GRADE: A
- Round 1, Pick 2: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
- Round 1, Pick 12 (from Vikings): Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick 46: Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky
- Round 3, Pick 97: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
- Round 5, Pick 177: James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech
- Round 6, Pick 217: James Houston, LB, Jackson State
ANALYSIS: GM Brad Holmes had us swooning the moment he jumped back into the thick of the first round to land arguably the best wide receiver in the class. He had us blindly supporting any and every future move with the addition of Paschal. As much as we heralded Hutchinson as the consummate Dan Campbell player, Paschal may be the more ideal fit. He can line up in multiple positions and he plays every down like an oversized toddler kicking his way through a playpen full of block towers—it’s pure joy and destruction. The Lions may be the most improved team in the NFL next year by virtue of this class. With one slate of picks, both head coach and quarterback feel supported and pacified. There isn’t much more a GM can do.
Orr: Hutchinson can lift Lions to NFL legitimacy
All Lions: Analysis of every Detroit selection
Green Bay Packers
GRADE: A
- Round 1, Pick 22 (from Las Vegas): Quay Walker, ILB, Georgia
- Round 1, Pick 28: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick 34 (from Detroit via Minnesota): Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
- Round 3, Pick 92: Sean Rhyan, OG, UCLA
- Round 4, Pick 132: Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
- Round 4, Pick 140: Zach Tom, OL, Wake Forest
- Round 5, Pick 179 (from Indianapolis via Denver): Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina
- Round 7, Pick 228 (from Chicago via Houston): Tariq Carpenter, LB, Georgia Tech
- Round 7, Pick 234 (from Cleveland via Detroit and Denver): Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami
- Round 7, Pick 249: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
- Round 7, Pick 258: Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska
ANALYSIS: I’ll use this space to continue my rant from Thursday. It befuddles me that we depict Aaron Rodgers as this Wizard of Oz-ian character sitting behind the curtain bellowing about the team’s lack of wide receiver talent. Rodgers has been incredibly blessed throughout his career to work with a bevy of talented wideouts supplied to him by the Packers’ front office. Their process has expertly identified high-upside players in the second round and beyond. So when Green Bay took their Davante Adams haul and used it toward patching up the defense, why would he be upset? Wyatt is going to add a fascinating upfield interior pressure component to the Packers defense. A true run disruptor, he’ll help Green Bay become less reliant on their exceptional linebacker play. And, lo and behold, they still end up with Watson, who, in the FCS, looked a little like the 6' 5" kid on the 9-year-old AAU team, completely dominant in an effortless sort of way. The Packers have succeeded with this big-bodied receiver profile before.
Packer Central: Analysis of every Green Bay selection
Indianapolis Colts
GRADE: A
- Round 2, Pick 53 (from Las Vegas via Green Bay and Minnesota): Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
- Round 3, Pick 73 (from Washington): Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
- Round 3, Pick 77 (from Minnesota): Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
- Round 3, Pick 96 (from L.A. Rams via Denver): Nick Cross, S, Maryland
- Round 5, Pick 159: Eric Johnson, DT, Missouri State
- Round 6, Pick 192 (from Minnesota): Andrew Ogletree, TE, Youngstown State
- Round 6, Pick 216: Curtis Brooks, DT, Cincinnati
- Round 7, Pick 239: Rodney Thomas, S, Yale
ANALYSIS: I’m going to crib some advanced statistics from Pro Football Focus on Brooks: He had the best pass-rush win rate in the class, the best run defense stop rate in the class and the best pass-rush grade in the class. Chris Ballard makes his money finding valuable contributors in the later rounds. Despite being a GM fighting one-handed, having to consistently sacrifice draft capital to find a long-term answer at quarterback, Ballard may have come out of this year’s draft with a handful of starters. Raimann was discussed as a first-round pick. The athletic project out of Austria started his football career as a tight end, with his transition to tackle yielding a fascinating strand of tape. Raimann can get beat from time to time but still has the holdover recovery speed from his pass-catching days.
Horseshoe Huddle: Analysis of every Indianapolis selection
Kansas City Chiefs
GRADE: A
- Round 1, Pick No. 21 (from New England): Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
- Round 1, Pick No. 30: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
- Round 2, Pick No. 54 (from New England): Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
- Round 2, Pick No. 62: Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
- Round 3, Pick No. 94: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
- Round 4, Pick No. 135: Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
- Round 5, Pick No. 145 (from Detroit via Denver and Seattle): Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
- Round 7, Pick 243 (from Las Vegas via New England): Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
- Round 7, Pick 251: Isiah Pacheco, RB, Rutgers
- Round 7, Pick 259: Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshall
ANALYSIS: We may be over-grading the Chiefs, falling victim to a trap typical of draft time: Loving the team who took the players we heard the most about during the pre-draft process. However, I had a chance to watch one of Karlaftis’s pre-draft workouts for a magazine story we did on this year’s pass-rusher class and came away impressed with his sheer size and motor. At Purdue, he was often keyed on but gained valuable reps forcing his way through double teams. He looks like the kind of chugging, effort player who can develop into a Trey Hendrickson of sorts if the Chiefs can support him on the back end. Which brings us to Cook. The Chiefs have done a really nice job identifying support players at the safety position throughout the Tyrann Mathieu era and Cook is another multifaceted defender who could turn out to be an every-down player under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. McDuffie, a little shorter than typical Spagnuolo corners, is incredibly smooth and is the kind of guy who wouldn’t get turned around by Russell Wilson if Wilson sends a receiver out for a route with multiple components while he extends plays.
Arrowhead Report: Analysis of every Kansas City selection
New York Jets
GRADE: A
- Round 1, Pick 4: Ahmad “Sauce” Garner, CB, Cincinnati
- Round 1, Pick 10 (from Seattle): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
- Round 1, Pick 26 (from Tennessee): Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
- Round 2, Pick 36 (from N.Y. Giants): Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
- Round 3, Pick 101 (from New Orleans via Philadelphia and Tennessee): Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
- Round 4, Pick 111: Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
- Round 4, Pick 117: Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M
ANALYSIS: The Jets have been in a vicious cycle of late. The end of the Mike Tannenbaum era carried a chips-all-in mentality balanced by the John Idzik era of savings and pragmatism (though most of the draft picks they acquired failed to produce). This was followed by a disastrous Mike Maccagnan regime that buried the franchise … until now? As we mentioned in our draft night recap, I’m not sure people understand how difficult a job Joe Douglas had and how far the roster has come. With this class, the team should be able to start seeing some results. Ruckert was an interesting pickup. On film at Ohio State, he carried some of the exact same responsibilities as Kyle Jusczcyk and George Kittle do in the 49ers’ offense, down to some of the minute, arc-motion-style blocking. This should be a real plug-and-play scenario for the Jets, who needed more players intimately familiar with the way offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur wants to run his offense. Hall is exactly what Zach Wilson and the offense needs: a running back who can turn a play dead in the backfield into something. At Iowa State, he rescued the Cyclones from time to time when their offensive line was plowed over.
Jets Country: Analysis of every New York selection
New York Giants
GRADE: A–
- Round 1, Pick 5: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
- Round 1, Pick 7 (from Chicago): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
- Round 2, Pick 43 (from Atlanta): Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
- Round 3, Pick 67: Joshua Ezeudu, OG, North Carolina
- Round 3, Pick 81 (from Miami): Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
- Round 4, Pick 112 (from Chicago): Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
- Round 4, Pick 114 (from Atlanta): Dane Belton, S, Iowa
- Round 5, Pick 146 (from Jets): Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
- Round 5, Pick 147: D.J. Davidson, DT, Arizona State
- Round 5, Pick 173 (from Kansas City via Baltimore): Marcus McKethan, OL, UNC
- Round 6, Pick 182: Darrian Beavers, LB, Oregon State
ANALYSIS: Thibodeaux is the Giants’ most athletic pass rusher since Jason Pierre-Paul. At some point, the franchise started whiffing on athletic players and, in a desperate attempt to save the end of the Eli Manning era, began hoarding “safer” prospects with more production on their résumé. The result was a punchless defensive line that offered little outside some feisty, situational run defense. Neal will be the steal of the draft. The Alabama tackle has the most natural kick back for an offensive lineman I’ve ever seen. His ability, at that size, to drop into standard protection, rebalance and find a center of power is something to behold. From the later rounds, Ezeudu was almost as critical. The Giants were still weak through the interior of their offensive line, which is especially troubling considering the Eagles and Commanders have two of the best interior pass rushes in the NFL. Ezeudu has positional flexibility and is a strong, athletic body who will bring the pain on pulls.
Bishop: Thibodeaux has a plan to take back control of his story
Giants Country: Analysis of every New York selection
Pittsburgh Steelers
GRADE: A–
- Round 1, Pick 20: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
- Round 2, Pick 52: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
- Round 3, Pick 84: DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
- Round 4, Pick 138: Calvin Austin, WR, Memphis
- Round 6, Pick 208 (from Kansas City): Connor Heyward, FB, Michigan State
- Round 7, Pick 225 (from N.Y. Jets): Mark Robinson, LB Ole Miss
- Round 7, Pick 241: Chris Oladokun, QB, South Dakota State
ANALYSIS: How much must it freak out the rest of the NFL when the Steelers wait out the run of wide receivers in the first round, then take two in the following three rounds? Austin looks like a Steelers receiver was created in a lab and dropped into the middle of a Group of Five conference; all twitch, he is a wonderful complement to what Pittsburgh already features and is more in line with Matt Canada’s offensive philosophies. While we are becoming desensitized as a society to the astonishing feats of athletic big men, Leal moves way better than his nearly 300-pound frame suggests. The Steelers are aging out on their defensive line and need to start replenishing a key component of Mike Tomlin’s defense. As for Pickett, the Steelers are taking somewhat of a big swing, which is less risky considering the stability of the franchise. Pickett can manage a game, pick up critical first downs with his legs and pass the success or failure of the given week off to the defense, which is what Tomlin would prefer anyway.
Orr: Kenny Pickett, once a Pitt Panther, now a great fit for Steelers
All Steelers: Analysis of every Pittsburgh selection
Cleveland Browns
GRADE: B+
- Round 3, Pick 68 (from Houston): Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
- Round 3, Pick 78: Alex Wright, DE, UAB
- Round 3, Pick 99: David Bell, WR, Purdue
- Round 4, Pick 108 (from Houston): Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
- Round 4, Pick 124 (from Philadelphia via Houston): Cade York, K, LSU
- Round 5, Pick 156 (from Baltimore): Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati
- Round 6, Pick 202 (from Dallas): Michael Woods II, WR, Oklahoma
- Round 7, Pick 223 (from Detroit): Isaiah Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
- Round 7, Pick 246 (from Buffalo): Dawson Deaton, C, Texas Tech
ANALYSIS: This year will be a significant test of the Browns’ process as a front office. Paul DePodesta and the scouting department have gotten roughly six years of data and experience to try and ferret out what makes a good football player and what is necessary to win. The results so far have yielded a single playoff win, far more than the Browns have enjoyed in the past but probably less than the average general manager from a non-analytical background dart throwing at Mel Kiper’s Big Board. That said, this draft is full of some players who can come in and play quickly. Winfrey is a favorite here and a player we discussed a bit on the podcast. The violent defensive tackle has some really impressive anticipatory skills against the run and a knack for pushing his way into the backfield. This is a year for hybrid run-stuffing/pass-rushing tackles and Winfrey is one of the best. A lingering question: Did Cleveland do enough at wide receiver?
Browns Digest: Analysis of every Cleveland selection
Las Vegas Raiders
GRADE: B+
- Round 3, Pick 90 (from Houston): Dylan Parham, OL, Memphis
- Round 4, Pick 122 (from Minnesota via Indianapolis): Zamir White, RB, Georgia
- Round 4, Pick 126: Neil Farrell Jr., DT, LSU
- Round 5, Pick 175 (from Los Angeles Rams): Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
- Round 7, Pick 238 (from Miami via Los Angeles Rams): Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State
- Round 7, Pick 250 (from San Francisco via Denver): Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA
ANALYSIS: This is what you’d expect out of a pick-starved class. The Raiders took some big swings at SEC players who can compete for jobs right away. Just because a team is out of early-round picks doesn’t mean they have to throw their hands up. Neil Farrell was a favorite, as it's always fun to see Patriots coaches leave New England and immediately try and find a space-eating cornerstone for their own defense (Vince Wilfork’s playing days still leave an impression on people). Parham is another sign that coach Josh McDaniels hasn’t forgotten his long-time mentor. Parham can play all over the offensive line, and figures to immediately factor in as a training camp battle to watch.
Raider Maven: Analysis of every Las Vegas selection
Tennessee Titans
GRADE: B+
- Round 1, Pick 18: (from New Orleans via Philadelphia): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
- Round 2, Pick 35 (from N.Y. Jets): Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
- Round 2, Pick 69 (from N.Y. Jets): Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
- Round 3, Pick 86 (from Las Vegas): Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
- Round 4, Pick 131: Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
- Round 4, Pick 143: Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
- Round 5, Pick 163 (from Pittsburgh via N.Y. Jets): Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick 204: Theo Jackson, S, Tennessee
- Round 6, Pick 219: Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss
ANALYSIS: It’s fun to watch consistent outside zone teams draft because they are so aware of their needs and the kinds of players who fit perfectly into their system. As co-host Gary Gramling and I discussed on the MMQB NFL Podcast, Burks represents the most significant gamble on “system over player” that we’ve seen from any coach running the offense. Kyle Shanahan held out on Deebo Samuel. Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson allowed A.J. Brown to leave for the Eagles. We identified Burks as the perfect kind of player for that system, one who could have ideally fit in Green Bay had the Titans not scooped him up in the late teens. We tend to heap too much praise on teams that attack pinpoint areas of need, but the selection of Petit-Frere could allow the Titans to shuffle their offensive line and put some other players in more natural positions where they could attain a higher ceiling. The Willis fit is an obvious favorite. He could be a threat to Ryan Tannehill by mid-season depending on how quickly he picks up the offense. His time at Liberty was exceptional, though the Flames were not a team that won consistently with scheme. Willis can play on schedule and on the move in Tennessee, which is where his strengths lie.
Orr: QBs Slid Because the NFL Has an Imagination Problem
All Titans: Analysis of every Tennessee selection
Cincinnati Bengals
GRADE: B
- Round 1, Pick 31: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
- Round 2, Pick 60 (from Tampa Bay via Buffalo): Cam Taylor-Brit, CB, Nebraska
- Round 3, Pick 95: Zachary Carter, DT, Florida
- Round 4, Pick 136: Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State
- Round 5, Pick 166 (from Arizona via Philadelphia, Houston and Chicago): Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
- Round 7, Pick 252: Jeffrey Gunter, LB, Coastal Carolina
ANALYSIS: When it comes to the Bengals, I’m done fading their personnel department (in terms of a pure on-field scouting perspective, obviously not their ability to do background). Because the scouting staff is small, a lot of players are requested specifically by the coaches, who can identify direct scheme fits. The Bengals won a year ago by empowering their front four and dotting the defensive backfield with adequate speed and coverage ability. Hill was obviously a favorite pick, a guy the Bengals might have gotten with a high second-round selection in their previous life as a non-contender. Taylor-Brit looks like a smart addition in the AFC North, where every opponent the Bengals face on a regular basis is either going to try and run the ball down their throats or check-down them to death with physical backs. At Nebraska, Taylor-Brit had a reputation for punching himself through second-level blocking and bringing down sizable backs.
All Bengals: Analysis of every Cincinnati selection
Denver Broncos
GRADE: B
- Round 2, Pick 64 (from L.A. Rams): Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma
- Round 3, Pick 80 (from New Orleans via Houston): Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
- Round 4, Pick 115: Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
- Round 4, Pick 116 (from Seattle): Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, Iowa State
- Round 5, Pick 152: Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
- Round 5, Pick 162 (from Philadelphia): Montrell Washington, WR, Samford
- Round 5, Pick 171: Luke Wattenberg, C, Washington
- Round 6, Pick 206 (from Tampa Bay via N.Y. Jets and Philadelphia): Matt Henningsen, DT, Wisconsin
- Round 7, Pick 232: Falon Hicks, DB, Wisconsin
ANALYSIS: The Broncos came into this draft knowing they had to find help at the edge. Instead of reaching for the back end of the finished-product market, they chose one of the better pure speed rushers available in Bonitto. He is going to help Denver execute some of the simulated pressures defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero spearheaded with the Rams. Dulcich seemed to sneak under the radar of the tight end class but should figure into Denver’s process quickly. Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett finds a lot of success targeting the position and using the interplay of blocking and receiving to set up long-term gains.
Mile High Huddle: Analysis of every Denver selection
Houston Texans
GRADE: B
- Round 1, Pick 3: Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
- Round 1, Pick 15 (from Miami via Philadelphia): Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
- Round 2, Pick 37: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
- Round 2, Pick 44 (from Cleveland): John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
- Round 3, Pick 75 (from Denver): Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
- Round 4, Pick 107 (from Detroit via Cleveland): Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
- Round 5, Pick 150: Thomas Booker, DT, Stanford
- Round 5, Pick 170 (from Tampa Bay via New England): Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State
- Round 6, Pick 205 (from Green Bay): Austin Deculus, OT, LSU
ANALYSIS: The Texans are turning the corner on their rebuild, from chaotic Game of Thrones-esque power struggle to not-so-subtle tank job, to, now utilizing some of those assets to formulate the basis of whatever Nick Caserio’s long-term vision might be. Stingley is incredibly talented, a cornerback who has the tools to be among the league’s best. And fast. It’s curious that the knock on him was that his play slid after the 2019 LSU championship season, and not that his coaching staff did the same, ultimately leading to Ed Orgeron’s ouster and the hiring of Brian Kelly. The Texans mined the Belichick-Alabama pipeline frequently in this draft and, despite missing out on the initial run of wide receivers, managed to find a functional pass catcher in John Metchie III, who will provide Davis Mills with the kind of playmaker who can turn horizontal throws into significant gains. For a team that was depending an awful lot on 28-year-old Brandin Cooks, the Texans have a chance to look a little less adrift offensively now, forcing defenses to respect both their deep speed and intermediate speed.
Texans Daily: Analysis of every Houston selection
Los Angeles Rams
GRADE: B
- Round 3, Pick 104: Logan Bruss, OG, Wisconsin
- Round 4, Pick 142: Decobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State
- Round 5, Pick 164 (from New England via Las Vegas): Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
- Round 6, Pick 211: Quentin Lake, S, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick 212: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
- Round 7, Pick 235 (from Baltimore via Jacksonville and Tampa Bay): Daniel Hardy, LB, Montana State
- Round 7, Pick 253: Russ Yeast, S, Kansas State
- Round 7, Pick 261 (from Tampa Bay): A.J. Arcuri, OT, Michigan State
ANALYSIS: It was fun to see GM Les Snead with this many picks, including three before the sixth round. It gives us at least some sense of where the Rams see themselves pivoting in the near future. From Sean McVay’s reaction to the Patriots’ selection of Cole Strange, it was obvious the Rams were going guard right away. I got a chance to see Bruss against Aidan Hutchinson from this past year and while Hutchinson was certainly the more dominant player (and Bruss got away with one hell of a hold) there was no doubt the fearlessness in his game. Pro Football Focus has him with just one sack allowed since 2019 while playing in two different roles (guard and tackle). The Williams pick is worth noting as well. The Rams always seem to be searching for more of an answer at the running back position. Williams is a solid back who can make good decisions off lateral movement and has a decisive first move along with some notable balance.
Ram Digest: Analysis of every Los Angeles selection
San Francisco 49ers
GRADE: B
- Round 2, Pick 61: Drake Jackson, LB, USC
- Round 3, Pick 93: Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, LSU
- Round 3, Pick 105: Danny Gray, WR, SMU
- Round 4, Pick 134: Spencer Burford, OT, UTSA
- Round 5, Pick 172: Samuel Womack, CB, Toledo
- Round 6, Pick 187 (from Denver): Nick Zakelj, OT, Fordham
- Round 6, Pick 220: Kalia Davis, DT, UCF
- Round 6, Pick 221: Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State
- Round 7, Pick 262: Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
ANALYSIS: Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ scouting department must have some kind of bat signal every time an athletic wide receiver catches a ball on a drag route with a head of steam and gains an unreasonably large amount of yards after the catch. Such a signal must have blinked wildly several times last year on Danny Gray. Jackson was a worthwhile swing at the edge-rusher position, which the 49ers desperately need to start replenishing if they want to run the kind of defense that brought them into Super Bowl contention in the first place. Jackson wins in a variety of ways, and given that he didn’t lean on one particular mode of getting to the quarterback, he should arrive at the next level as a fertile mind for a set of good defensive coaches.
All 49ers: Analysis of every San Francisco selection
Atlanta Falcons
GRADE: B–
- Round 1, Pick 8: Drake London, WR, USC
- Round 2, Pick 38 (from Carolina via N.Y. Giants and N.Y. Jets): Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
- Round 2, Pick 58 (from Tennessee): Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
- Round 3, Pick 74: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
- Round 3, Pick 82 (from Indianapolis): DeAngelo Malone, LB, Western Kentucky
- Round 5, Pick 151: Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
- Round 6, Pick 190: Justin Shaffer, G, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick 213: John FitzPatrick, TE, Georgia
ANALYSIS: I think Drake London will be a really good NFL player, and maybe the Falcons have the capabilities to use him right now. Both Marcus Mariota and Ridder are on-time throwers who succeed more regularly with a defined system. But London can reward quarterbacks who can buy themselves time, re-set and throw the deep ball, which Mariota and Ridder can both do. Ridder was especially impressive in finding more time within tight spaces. The Falcons’ offensive skill position set reminds me a bit of the middle years of Cam Newton’s time with the Patriots. Most of the weapons are taller with a larger catch radius and can dominate mismatches. Ebiketie has a heavy first punch and while his own momentum can be used against him sometimes, he is an example of the depth of this edge-rushing class.
Falcon Report: Analysis of every Atlanta selection
Buffalo Bills
GRADE: B–
- Round 1, Pick 23 (from Arizona via Baltimore): Kalir Elam, CB, Florida
- Round 2, Pick 63 (from Cincinnati): James Cook, RB, Georgia
- Round 3, Pick 89: Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
- Round 5, Pick 148 (from Houston via Chicago): Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
- Round 6, Pick 180 (from Jacksonville via Tampa Bay): Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
- Round 6, Pick 185 (from Carolina): Christian Benford, CB, Villanova
- Round 6, Pick 209 (from Cincinnati): Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech
- Round 7, Pick 231 (from Atlanta): Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
ANALYSIS: This is a team doing the best they can with the reality that they’ll be consistently selecting in the back end of the first round for a long time. Cook is the real pearl of this class from a bird’s-eye view. While the Bills’ run game was maligned last year, it was better than appearances showed. Cook adds an efficient, downhill element to the offense. Next Gen Stats keeps tabs on how north and south backs get off the snap, and Cook seems like a player whose straight-line speed and short-window decisiveness could play really well in the AFC East, a division weak at the defensive tackle spot. However, we overwhelmingly applaud the selection of Shakir, one of our favorite receivers in the draft. Podcast co-host Gary Gramling first made the Cooper Kupp comparison and it feels apt when you watch the way Shakir feels out his blockers and gains sensible, efficient yardage after the catch. He is one of the few weapons drafted after the second round I’d anticipate becoming an immediate contributor.
Johnson: Meet Matt Araiza, Punt God
Bills Central: Analysis of every Buffalo selection
Jacksonville Jaguars
GRADE: B–
- Round 1, Pick 1: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
- Round 1, Pick 27: Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah
- Round 3, Pick 65: Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky
- Round 3, Pick 70 (from Carolina): Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
- Round 5, Pick 154 (from Commanders via Eagles): Snoop Conner, RB, Ole Miss
- Round 6, Pick 197 (from Philadelphia): Gregory Junior, CB, Ouachita Baptist
- Round 7, Pick 222: Montaric Brown, CB, Arkansas
ANALYSIS: The Jaguars’ draft performance is a lot like a school project where, instead of submitting a powerpoint or written report, you instead don a full mime costume and perform interpretive dance. It could net you resounding praise. It could also turn out to be so troubling and confusing that you get removed from the University. Trent Baalke’s 2022 draft was focused on rebuilding a defense and gambling on positional versatility. Travon Walker could be a generational pass-rushing talent. He could also be the edge-rushing equivalent of Mark Barron, a talented and versatile player who never was used correctly. My favorite pick may have been Muma, who will add a solid counterpunch next to Lloyd in the linebacking corps. Here’s the explanation for the “minus” attached to the B: The Jaguars are building a formidable defense with solid edge-rushing presence and, theoretically, two good off-ball linebackers. However, they still suffer from a lack of heft through the middle. The Buccaneers, another great off-ball linebacker and edge-driven defense, needed Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh in order to free their personnel to make plays. The Jaguars don’t have those space eaters.
Orr: Baalke stakes his reputation on Walker after picking him No. 1
Jaguar Report: Analysis of every Jacksonville selection
Los Angeles Chargers
GRADE: B–
- Round 1, Pick No. 17: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
- Round 3, Pick No. 79: J.T. Woods, S, Baylor
- Round 4, Pick No. 123: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
- Round 5, Pick No. 160: Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick 195: Jamaree Salyer, OG, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick 214: Ja’Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
- Round 7, Pick 236: Deane Leonard, LB, Ole Miss
- Round 7, Pick 260: Zander Horvath, FB, Purdue
ANALYSIS: Color me a bit surprised the Chargers did not address their run-support issues until later in the draft. Ogbonnia certainly has his moments, even though he sometimes gets vertical in conflict, which works to his disadvantage. Johnson was also interesting given the Chargers’ need at right tackle, however, there are some street free agents who still may be able to fill that spot; the post-draft veteran cutdown may also yield a workable veteran option if the Chargers want to add bodies to their competition. Woods completes an impressive secondary turnaround under Brandon Staley, who eyes a hybrid Belichick/Fangio kind of defense that wins with bodies in the secondary, something you can do when Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are flying off the edge. Spiller will soon factor into the Chargers’ workload and patched a sneaky need for a team that relies far too much on Austin Ekeler, who factors so heavily into the passing game. Perhaps Spiller is more of a dependable, early down back who can log some miles and keep Ekeler fresh.
Charger Report: Analysis of every Los Angeles selection
New England Patriots
GRADE: B–
- Round 1, Pick 29 (from San Francisco via Miami and Kansas City): Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
- Round 2, Pick 50 (from Miami via Kansas City): Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
- Round 3, Pick 85: Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
- Round 4, Pick 121 (from Miami via Kansas City): Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State
- Round 4, Pick 127: Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
- Round 4, Pick 137 (from Los Angeles Rams via Houston and Carolina): Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
- Round 6, Pick 183 (from Houston): Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina
- Round 6, Pick 200: Sam Roberts, DE, Northwest Missouri State
- Round 6, Pick 210 (from L.A. Rams): Chasen Hines, OG, LSU
- Round 7, Pick 245 (from Dallas via Houston): Andrew Stueber, G, Michigan
ANALYSIS: Bill Belichick selected the fastest receiver and running back in the class, signaling an offensive shift we’ve already seen is a year in the making. The Patriots signed the speedy Nelson Agholor in free agency last year, as well. Thornton is an exciting prospect who ran a varied route tree at Baylor and took intermediate, quick-slant routes to the house. He should add easy yards after the catch, as well as be a threat to dismantle the tops of defenses. As surgical as New England’s free agency splurge was a year ago, it needed to dip back into the skill position waters this year. Strong doesn’t play like your typical speed-first back and uses the jets more as an afterburner once he breaks through the first level of defenders. He is also a typical Belichickian player—he threw four passes in games during his senior year.
Patriots Country: Analysis of every New England selection
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
GRADE: B–
- Round 2, Pick 33 (from Jacksonville): Logan Hall, DT, Houston
- Round 2, Pick 57 (from Buffalo): Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan
- Round 3, Pick 91: Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
- Round 4, Pick 106 (from Jacksonville): Cade Otton, TE, Washington
- Round 4, Pick 133: Jake Camarda, P, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 157 (from Minnesota via Jacksonville): Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State
- Round 6, Pick 218 (from Rams): Ko Kieft, TE, Minnesota
- Round 7, Pick 248: Andre Anthony, DE, LSU
ANALYSIS: For a team whose quarterback may or may not be attempting to force his way out in the near future, there still doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of urgency on the part of the Buccaneers to replenish and stabilize for life after Tom Brady. (Remember how scary that looked for a second 40 some-odd days ago?) That said, White stands out in their class as a potential feature back for the long-term. White’s biggest problem in college, he told me, was coaches saying he should stay on the ground—his poster-esque hurdles were a regular feature during Sun Devils games. Hall was a pick we all saw coming, even if we’d projected the wrong defensive tackle. The Buccaneers thrive on free off-ball linebackers, which is easy to do when you have Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea. Hall is going to be a really fun complement to Vea, and approaches his game more like a pure pass rusher despite tending to rush inside. If the Buccaneers can isolate some guards and centers for Hall to attack—which shouldn’t be hard given their personnel—this can be an immediate high upside pick.
All 49ers: Analysis of every San Francisco selection
Dallas Cowboys
GRADE: C+
- Round 1, Pick 24: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
- Round 2, Pick 56: Sam Williams, OLB, Ole Miss
- Round 3, Pick 88: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
- Round 4, Pick 129: Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
- Round 5, Pick 155 (from Cleveland): Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
- Round 5, Pick 167: DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
- Round 5, Pick 176: Damone Clark, LB, LSU
- Round 5, Pick 178: John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
- Round 6, Pick 193 (from Cleveland): Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State
ANALYSIS: The Cowboys’ draft was fine, but seemed to do nothing to separate them from an NFC East field quickly gaining ground. This was a two-year window in which Dallas had the opportunity to step on the throat of a fledgling division. Instead, the Cowboys exposed some of their most significant weaknesses. Dallas spent their first pick replenishing the offensive line and their off-ball linebacking corps, two units among the best in football for a short time before they aged out. Williams is an attractive chess piece for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who has generated new life for his ability to isolate and empower pass rushers. Ferguson eventually could add some pop to Dallas’s offense as a secondary playmaker. Coming from a Wisconsin program where blocking is a necessity, it seemed like a lot of his routes came as he recovered from chipping duties at the line of scrimmage.
Cowboys Country: Analysis of every Dallas selection
Seattle Seahawks
GRADE: C+
- Round 1, Pick 9 (from Denver): Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
- Round 2, Pick 40 (from Denver): Boye Mafe, LB, Minnesota
- Round 2, Pick 41: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
- Round 3, Pick 72: Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
- Round 4, Pick 109 (from N.Y. Jets): Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
- Round 5, Pick 153: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
- Round 5, Pick 158 (from Miami via New England): Tyreke Smith, DE, Ohio State
- Round 7, Pick 229: Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
- Round 7, Pick 233: Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir–Rhyne
ANALYSIS: I always dislike a team that’s bottoming out from a personnel standpoint trying to break in potential left tackles. It’s a position, like cornerback and quarterback, where players can develop bad habits quickly when overwhelmed. The Seahawks offense is going to be overwhelmed this year fairly consistently. Mafe is going to be 24 at the end of his first NFL season, which, to me, isn’t a huge issue; he brings physical maturity even if his pass-rushing toolbox needs to be developed. Walker was such a Seahawks pick. There is something about a sturdier back who can cause missed tackles with subtle movement, supplementing with a hits-bigger-than-he-looks frame that must cause Pete Carroll to flip the table over.
Seahawks Country: Analysis of every Seattle selection
Carolina Panthers
GRADE: C
- Round 1, Pick 6: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
- Round 3, Pick 94 (from Kansas City via New England): Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
- Round 4, Pick 120 (from New Orleans via Washington): Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
- Round 6, Pick 189: Amare Barno, LB, Virginia Tech
- Round 6, Pick 199 (from Las Vegas): Cade Mays, OT, Tennessee
- Round 7, Pick 242 (from New England via Miami): Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor
ANALYSIS: I think the main criticism here is a failure of GM Scott Fitterer to make more out of what they have. We’ve watched, for instance, as the Eagles rescue themselves through smart administrative work, and then watch other teams (such as the Panthers) in a perpetual shrug emoji. If the plan was not to draft the best quarterback available, the limited draft capital at their disposal should have gone toward an all-In approach to buoy Sam Darnold. If the plan was to draft a quarterback to compete with Darnold, they should have tailored the draft around Corral, who hails from an RPO heavy system that requires certain players to make it effective. Brandon Smith seems like a Phil Snow (defensive coordinator) type of player, though, with blitz capability off the edge and a mean streak. While it’s always hard to project big hitters once collegiate players reach a larger pond, Smith has quite the resume of helmet-twisters from his time in Happy Valley.
All Panthers: Analysis of every Carolina selection
Chicago Bears
GRADE: C
- Round 2, Pick 39: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
- Round 2, Pick 48 (from L.A. Chargers): Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
- Round 3, Pick 71: Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee
- Round 5, Pick 168 (from Buffalo): Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
- Round 5, Pick 174 (from Chicago): Dominique Robinson, DE, Miami (OH)
- Round 6, Pick 186: Zachary Thomas, DT, San Diego State
- Round 6, Pick 203 (from Buffalo): Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
- Round 7, Pick 207 (from San Francisco via New York Jets): Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
- Round 7, Pick 226 (from New York Giants via Cincinnati Bengals): Ja’Tyre Carter, OG, Southern
- Round 7, Pick 254 (from L.A. Chargers): Elijah Hicks, S, Cal
- Round 7, Pick 255 (from L.A. Chargers): Trenton Gill, P, NC State
ANALYSIS: I understand the Bears and their fan base are sensitive to the perception that they’re not doing enough for Justin Fields right now, but it’s hard to come out of the 2022 draft without an offensive playmaker or lineman until the third round. That said, Jones adds some juice to the return game and provides the Bears with an intermediate target who could bolster their YAC ability on short-range screens and quick-timing throws. Brisker may headline the class and is a true Matt Eberflus-type player; he is not going to miss tackles and will be the kind of player pressing the line against Green Bay, bringing AJ Dillon down late in games when everyone else prefers to hide away.
Bear Digest: Analysis of every Chicago selection
Miami Dolphins
GRADE: C
- Round 3, Pick 102 (from San Francisco): Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
- Round 4, Pick 125 (from Pittsburgh): Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
- Round 7, Pick 224 (from Houston via New England and Baltimore): Cameron Goode, LB, Cal
- Round 7, Pick 247 (from Tennessee): Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
ANALYSIS: This is a small class thanks to the Tyreek Hill trade, but it still managed to surprise me. While the Dolphins gobbled up another YAC wide receiver, they didn’t select a true Mike McDaniel running back or help the offensive line. The Thompson pick was interesting if it has any meaning beyond just a backup. Thompson is really athletic and has a kind of faster Carson Wentz-ian vibe to him. Could the pick be inferring that the Dolphins are going to run a good deal of zone read and want a QB versed in the system? Could Thompson be a special package guy? Should we just go to bed?
All Dolphins: Analysis of every Miami selection
New Orleans Saints
GRADE: C
- Round 1, Pick 11 (from Washington): Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
- Round 1, Pick 19 (from Philadelphia): Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
- Round 2, Pick 49: Alontae Taylor, S, Tennessee
- Round 5, Pick 161: D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State
- Round 6, Pick 194 (from Indianapolis via Philadelphia): Jordan Jackson, DT, Air Force
ANALYSIS: It’s always strange when a team is so locked in on a player. It’s hard to give them a bad grade because, organizationally, whatever happened to move up for and acquire Olave is a resounding success. The fact that a team was so infatuated with someone that they could move into the first round again and then move up in the first round represents some kind of alignment between scouting and coaching. This is never bad. That said, it’s just hard to see the Saints the way the Saints see themselves. Sans Sean Payton, with a still-very-good defense, New Orleans is behaving like a team one inch from deep playoff contention. Penning is big and nasty, and may be ideal in the NFC South. Outside of Carolina, most of the division rushes more successfully from the interior with larger players; Penning can close down on those blocks with force. Taylor is going to be a contributor right away in the running game and is fearless moving up toward the ball.
Saints News Network: Analysis of every New Orleans selection
Arizona Cardinals
GRADE: D
- Round 2, Pick 55: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
- Round 3, Pick 87: Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State
- Round 3, Pick 100: Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
- Round 6, Pick 201: Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC
- Round 6, Pick 215: Lecitus Smith, OG, Virginia Tech
- Round 7, Pick 244: Christian Matthew, CB, Valdosta State
- Round 7, Pick 256: Jesse Luketa, LB, Penn State
- Round 7, Pick 257: Marquis Hayes, OG, Oklahoma
ANALYSIS: This is the draft I’m prepared to be the most wrong about. We’ve been advocating for years that the Cardinals simply sell out and pour all available resources into their offense, so this should be a satisfying moment for us. However, their aging roster composition needs to be supplemented by long-term talent on affordable contracts. The Cardinals will have to extend both Kyler Murray and Hollywood Brown soon, both at the blistering heights of both positional markets. To sacrifice a first-round pick in this draft and pay nearly as much as the Eagles offered for A.J. Brown is difficult to stomach. Of course, this is assuming Brown doesn’t explode in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, one he is far more comfortable in compared to the Ravens’. If used correctly, Sanders has the most star potential in this class.
All Cardinals: Analysis of every Arizona selection
Washington Commanders
GRADE: D
- Round 1, Pick 16 (from Indianapolis via Philadelphia and New Orleans): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
- Round 2, Pick 47 (from Indianapolis): Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
- Round 3, Pick 98 (from New Orleans): Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
- Round 4, Pick 113: Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
- Round 5, Pick 144 (from Jacksonville): Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
- Round 5, Pick 149: Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
- Round 7, Pick 230: Chris Paul, OG, Tulsa
- Round 7, Pick 240: Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State
ANALYSIS: While the Commanders needed a wide receiver, it’s hard to understand their philosophy in the 2022 draft. Unless Dotson was by far the No. 1 pass catcher on the board, trading back and missing the thick of the wide receiver run and only netting a third- and fourth-round pick for compensation doesn’t seem like enough. You could look at their draft and ask: Would you rather have Dotson and two extra mid-round picks or Jameson Williams? Dotson hasn’t had an issue escaping coverage in the Big Ten, but does that change in the pros? Mathis should have been more in the conversation with the Georgia defensive tackles and certainly improves a talented Washington front, but did the Commanders follow their board too tightly? There are certainly some positions of need that didn’t get addressed.
Washington Football: Analysis of every Commanders selection
Minnesota Vikings
GRADE: D–
- Round 1, Pick 32 (from L.A. Rams via Detroit): Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick 42 (from Washington via Indianapolis): Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
- Round 2, Pick 59 (from Green Bay): Ed Ingram, G, LSU
- Round 3, Pick 66 (from Detroit): Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
- Round 4, Pick 118 (from Cleveland): Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
- Round 5, Pick 165 (from Las Vegas): Esezi Otomewo, DE, Minnesota
- Round 5, Pick 169 (from Tennessee via Las Vegas): Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
- Round 6, Pick 184 (from N.Y. Jets): Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois
- Round 6, Pick 191 (from Baltimore via Kansas City): Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
- Round 7, Pick 227 (from Carolina): Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina
ANALYSIS: I usually make it a point not to give F’s because I feel like this reflects negatively on collegiate players who have no control over their destination and less on the executives who are making the picks. We spent a lot of time rightfully hearing about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who comes to Minnesota with great promise as the kind of executive who can finally bridge the gap between analytics and personnel. But for a team with a few pronounced needs, it’s hard to stomach dropping from pick No. 12 to pick No. 32 and not netting more of a return. There were a handful of premium players remaining in the first round at the time of Minnesota’s first selection, and instead they dropped back and replenished the secondary with a handful of players who may be slightly less talented than the ones they could have gotten if they remained at 12. Booth is a gem in this class and feels a little underrated. While the physicality he flashed in college was against ACC wide receivers, he has the hand-fighting skills that should translate quickly in the NFC North against some physical pass catchers.
