The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft is now history. So which five organizations will sleep well after succeeding in Las Vegas tonight?
Entering Thursday night’s proceedings, eight NFL teams had multiple selections in the first round of the 2022 draft. The Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles all entered the evening with a pair of picks.
There was the usual wheeling and dealing. But five clubs stood above the rest when it came to nailing the first night of the draft – in more ways than one.
These 5 teams walked away winners on Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft
5. Detroit Lions
It’s been more than a long few years for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991, not captured a division title since 1993 and is the only team in the NFC on Super Sunday.
Dan Campbell will begin his second season at the helm of the Detroit Lions. The team played hard but the end result was a 3-13-1 record. And the club’s defensive unit continues to be an issue.
With the second pick on Thursday night, the Lions secured the services of University of Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. He should aid the cause of a unit that totaled a mere 30 sacks in 17 games in 2021.
Then the club moved up to the No. 12 spot in a trade with the rival Vikings when the run on wide receivers began. They opted for University of Alabama standout Jameson Williams, who is on the mend after suffering a knee injury a few months ago. When healthy, he gives Jared Goff a game-breaker to throw to.
4. New York Giants
There’s a new regime when it comes to Big Blue. Joe Schoen is the New York Giants’ general manager and former Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator Brian Daboll takes over for head coach Joe Judge. The duo hopes to resurrect a franchise that has missed the playoffs five consecutive years and hasn’t won a postseason game since Super Bowl XLVI.
Only the Houston Texans gained fewer yards than the Giants a year ago. And only the Saints amassed fewer yards passing in 2021. The team came away with only 15 scores through the air while Daniel Jones and company were sacked 38 times. Defensively, New York managed only 34 sacks in 17 contests and Big Blue gave up 27 scores through the air.
The selections of defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) and tackle Evan Neal (Alabama) hopefully solve what ails this team in the trenches. The Giants’ offensive line has been an area of concern for too many years and former general manager Dave Gettleman was never able to fix it.
Meanwhile, the Giants’ secondary will have a new look as defensive backs Jabrill Peppers (Patriots) and Logan Ryan (Buccaneers) are now elsewhere. It’s safe to say both of these players are being counted on to make an immediate impact.
3. Baltimore Ravens
It was a very un-Raven like year in Baltimore this past season. John Harbaugh’s club had reached the playoffs three consecutive years entering 2021. And after the club jumped out to an 8-3 start, the Ravens looked like they would make it four straight appearances in the postseason.
But injuries were a major factor throughout the year and even during the summer. That’s when the team lost a slew of running backs and cornerback Marcus Peters. During the season, star cornerback Marlon Humphrey went down. And who would have ever guessed that Don Martindale’s defensive unit would allow the most passing yards in the league and give up 31 scores through the air.
Down the stretch, the team lost its share of nail-biters. All told, Harbaugh’s squad lost its last six games and finished last in the AFC North. On Thursday night, the team dealt wide receiver Marquise Brown. And when the dust cleared in Las Vegas, the Ravens walked away with a pair of first-round picks that could wind up in the starting lineup come September.
With the additions of safety Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame) and imposing center Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa), the Ravens shore up a pair of problem areas. The latter should bolster an offensive front that will have some new faces in 2022.
2. New York Jets
The NFL franchise with the longest current playoff drought picked two players in the first round a year ago. That would be quarterback Zach Wilson (BYU) and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (Southern Cal).
Once again, New York Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas had a pair of first-round selections entering the evening that turned into three picks. The first and third addressed the league’s 30th-ranked pass defense from a season ago. The latter hopes to provide some help for Wilson.
University of Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was the fourth overall selection and should make an immediate impression on a team that gave up an NFL-high 504 points as well as 28 scores through the air. In three seasons with the Bearcats, Gardner finished with a combined nine interceptions (3 each year) and 16 passes defensed. Later, the Jets swung a deal with the Tennessee Titans and were able to add pass-rushing threat Jermaine Johnson II from Florida State.
As for that aforementioned help for Wilson, the Jets used the 10th overall pick to snare Ohio State University wide receiver Garrett Wilson. He comes off a year in which he totaled 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 scores, plus ran for another TD, for the Buckeyes.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Not long ago, Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager Howie Roseman was sitting with three first-round picks in 2022. Then came a trade with the New Orleans Saints that reduced that number to two this year.
On Thursday night at Las Vegas, the Birds traded up with the Houston Texans to secure the services of University of Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
Then when it looked like the Eagles would make their second selection of the evening, the aggressive Roseman orchestrated a huge trade with the Tennessee Titans. And Philadelphia didn’t give up much too get talented wide receiver A.J. Brown. It cost the team the 18th overall selection and a third-round pick in 2023.
Brown’s three-year resume in Tennessee includes 185 receptions for 2,995 yards and 24 scores in 43 regular-season contests. The 2020 Pro Bowler has played in five postseason contests and has 16 grabs for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
This was an Eagles’ team that overcame a miserable start to reach the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Sirianni’s club was humbled by the then-defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers at Tampa in the wild card round. Brown was a huge acquisition while Davis could be a force up the middle for the Philadelphia defense.