The 2022 NFL Draft is officially in the books. Which teams were the biggest winners and losers after seven rounds of picking players?
It may seem silly to try grading an NFL Draft just hours after it was completed, but what fun would it be to wait four years to see who ended up picking the best players out of the 2022 draft class? There were plenty of early contenders for bad picks in the first round of the draft, which made headlines for its plentiful trades and lack of star power at the quarterback position.
Let’s take a quick look around the NFL and go division by division to sort out who had the best NFL Draft hauls in the league. We’ll start in the AFC East.
NFL Draft Grades – AFC East
Buffalo Bills
The Bills made an early trade to grab Kaiir Elam in the first round, shoring up a weakness in the secondary opposite rehabbing Tre’Davious White at corner. Snagging running back James Cook in the second round offered good value for Buffalo, which hasn’t gotten enough production out of its Devin Singletary/Zack Moss platoon. The class wasn’t anything flashy but the Bills did address some key needs, although failing to add help to the interior of the offensive line was a disappointment.
Grade: B
Miami Dolphins
It is important to factor in the Tyreek Hill trade into the Dolphins’ draft class, which sapped first and second-round picks to secure the star wide receiver’s services. That did make it surprising when Miami used its fourth-round choice on another receiver, Texas Tech’s Erik Enzukama, since he is going to be a depth piece and that pick could have gone towards help in the trenches. Having Hill will be extremely important at the end of the day but the Dolphins didn’t do enough to maximize the picks they had left.
Grade: C-
New England Patriots
The Patriots did a lot of trading, which is not surprising given their history at the draft, but Bill Belichick reached with both of his first two picks. Guard Cole Strange is a nice player that New England likely could have gotten in the second round while wide receiver Tyquan Thornton is a limited burner that had Day 3 grades on most draft charts. The picks New England did make were very targeted but the overall value of this class appears lacking for the number of picks they ended up with.
Grade: D
New York Jets
Joe Douglas entered the draft with two Top 10 picks and managed to leave with three of the top eight players on his board, using some of the extra assets he acquired to take advantage of the sudden fall of Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson. The trio of first-rounders, which also included wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, was a strong start to a draft that also saw the Jets add another weapon for Zach Wilson in running back Breece Hall. Those four players could all become quality starters, making this a home run for New York.
Grade: A
NFL Draft Grades – AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Few teams in the league draft better than Baltimore, which took advantage of a slide from Kyle Hamilton to land a potentially generational talent at safety. The trade of Hollywood Brown to Arizona created another first-round pick which produced center Tyler Linderbaum, who could be a 10-year starter along the Ravens’ offensive line. Stashing Michigan’s David Ojabo, who was likely a first-round pick before tearing his Achilles tendon, was tremendous value while Travis Jones should fill a big hole along Baltimore’s defensive line as well.
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals
It was weird to watch Cincinnati spend three of its six picks on safeties, including Michigan’s Daxton Hill in the first round, which could speak to a lack of confidence in the ability to reach a long-term deal with Jessie Bates. Needs at cornerback and linebacker were ignored in the process while only one offensive lineman was picked in the fourth round. The reigning AFC champions certainly didn’t help their chances of maintaining the high ground in the conference here.
Grade: D
Cleveland Browns
The Browns dealt their top two picks away to help land Deshaun Watson but they still landed a nine-man draft class thanks to five picks in the third and fourth rounds. Those picks helped add depth at need areas, with Alex Wright and Perrion Winfrey bolstering the defensive line while David Bell should be a contributor at wide receiver as a rookie. Given the limitations that Cleveland put on itself with the Watson deal, this class is extremely solid.
Grade: B-
Pittsburgh Steelers
Much like New England a year ago, Pittsburgh didn’t panic to get the quarterback it wanted, sitting at No. 20 to snag Kenny Pickett as the likely heir to Ben Roethlisberger. Following that up with two receivers in their next three picks, headlined by George Pickens in Round 2, is smart to help prop up Pickett and give him a good chance of future success. DeMarvin Leal is a good value play for the defensive line in the third round but the Steelers could have used some secondary depth as well.
Grade: B
NFL Draft Grades – AFC South
Houston Texans
The Texans addressed a lot of needs in the draft but didn’t appear to maximize the value of their picks. Derek Stingley was a good idea in the first round as a home-run swing at cornerback but they likely could have traded back to land him while Kenyon Green was a reach at 15. The Day 2 picks provided better value with John Metchie, Jalen Pitre and Christian Harris all likely to play significant roles this season. It was disappointing to see Houston’s need at edge rusher go unaddressed since Lovie Smith was vocal pre-draft about how important it was to implement his defensive schemes to their highest potential.
Grade: C
Indianapolis Colts
The heavy lifting for the Colts came on Day 2, where they landed a couple of intriguing weapons for Matt Ryan in wide receiver Alec Pierce and tight end Jelani Woods. Snagging offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann in the third was also a savvy play since Raimann’s skill set offers potential development of a franchise left tackle. Not having a first-round pick hurt but Indianapolis still did pretty well for themselves.
Grade: B
Jacksonville Jaguars
The process behind Jacksonville’s selections was definitely flawed, as evidenced by taking Travon Walker at No. 1 ahead of Aidan Hutchinson despite the fact that Walker only recorded 9.5 sacks in his entire college career. Trading up to get Devin Lloyd in the first round landed a good player but was questionable resource allocation since the Jaguars didn’t really do much to help Trevor Lawrence’s development. Not taking a wide receiver in a draft that was deep in talent at the position was highly questionable and could prove to be a regret down the road.
Grade: C-
Tennessee Titans
The A.J. Brown trade hangs over this draft since the Titans opted to trade him away and draft Treylon Burks in the first round as a potential replacement. While that was a bummer, getting Malik Willis in the third round was excellent value at quarterback, giving Tennessee a risk-free look at a young quarterback that was regarded as a potential first-round pick at the beginning of this draft cycle. Willis will be the key to this whole class since his development could turn an average haul into a great one if Willis becomes a franchise quarterback.
Grade: B-
NFL Draft Grades – AFC West
Denver Broncos
The Broncos’ draft haul does include Russell Wilson, who cost Denver their first two picks in this draft plus additional future picks, but John Elway still had a good time in Las Vegas. Adding Nik Bonitto in the second round added depth to the edge-rushing group while Greg Dulcich could start as a rookie to replace Noah Fant, who went to Seattle in the Wilson deal. Cornerback Damarri Mathis was also a strong value in the fourth round for the Broncos.
Grade: B
Kansas City Chiefs
Defense was the order of the draft for Kansas City, which used seven of its 10 picks on defenders to help make up for free agent defections on that side of the ball. Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis will play significant roles on Day 1 while Bryan Cook will help fill the void left by Tyrann Mathieu’s departure in free agency. The wide receiver run did hurt the Chiefs in Round 1 but adding Skyy Moore to work in the slot does bring some more speed to help Andy Reid’s offense.
Grade: B+
Las Vegas Raiders
The draft’s home team sat out the first two rounds after trading for Davante Adams and invested heavily in the trenches, grabbing a guard, a tackle, and two defensive linemen among their six picks. The other two picks were running backs, which is an indictment on their feelings towards Josh Jacobs, whose fifth-year option was declined during the draft. That wasn’t a great use of resources for Las Vegas, which ignored a few defensive needs to double down on a position that already has Jacobs and Kenyan Drake on the depth chart.
Grade: C
Los Angeles Chargers
Grabbing Zion Johnson in the first round gave Los Angeles a key starter at guard but ignored their need at right tackle, which went completely unaddressed in the draft. Instead of addressing key needs like tackle, tight end, or linebacker, the Chargers added depth at positions that were pretty well stocked like defensive tackle and running back. This is a flawed process that could bite Los Angeles in a loaded division.
Grade: D
NFL Draft Grades – NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
This draft was going to be critical for Dallas after losing a ton of key pieces this offseason and Jerry Jones did a good job re-stocking his roster. First round pick Tyler Smith could start now at right tackle while eventually taking over for Tyron Smith on the left side while Sam Williams will add pass rush presence that was lost when Randy Gregory left in free agency. Jalen Tolbert and Jake Ferguson also add some more weapons for Dak Prescott, which should help the Cowboys remain the NFC East favorites.
Grade: B+
New York Giants
Joe Schoen’s first draft was a home run for the Giants, who filled two huge needs in the first round by adding Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal to bolster the trenches. New York then executed a few trade-backs to secure extra picks, giving them more swings at talent on a roster in desperate need of it. The one nit-pick is that Wan’Dale Robinson was a reach for where he was taken in the second round since the Giants already have a pretty crowded receiving room but Robinson’s speed will play in Brian Daboll’s offense.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were aggressive traders in the draft, moving up in the first round to snag defensive tackle Jordan Davis while shipping off their other first-round pick to get A.J. Brown from the Titans. The Brown trade solved a long-standing hole for Philadelphia at wide receiver while Davis has the potential to team with Fletcher Cox to create a terrifying interior pass rush. Howie Roseman also got tremendous value by snagging Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean in the third round after medical issues caused him to slide out of the first round.
Grade: A+
Washington Commanders
It was interesting to watch the Commanders trade back in the first round to pick Jahan Dotson when wide receivers Chris Olave and Jameson Williams went before him. Dotson is a guy who should be a Day 1 starter in Washington but that trade suggests that the Commanders felt Dotson and extra draft capital was more valuable than one of the other two pass catchers. This draft wasn’t particularly sexy as Washington addressed needs and took a flier on Sam Howell in the fifth round as a developmental quarterback behind Carson Wentz.
Grade: C+
NFL Draft Grades – NFC North
Chicago Bears
Down a first-round pick after trading it to secure Justin Fields’ services last year, the Bears surprisingly opted not to use either of their two second-round picks to help their young quarterback. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker should offer some help to the Chicago secondary but neither position was a glaring need compared to what would help Fields develop. The Bears did add receiver Velus Jones, who was a reach in the third round, and some developmental linemen on Day 3 but this overall class is underwhelming.
Grade: D
Detroit Lions
The Lions sprinted their card to the podium when the Jaguars passed on Aidan Hutchinson, which was a smart move since the Michigan defensive end will be a pillar of the Detroit defense for years. Trading up to snag Jameson Williams lands an exceptional talent in Detroit but the cost of giving up multiple picks for a receiver rehabbing a torn ACL seems a big excessive. This was a solid class for the Lions, who deserve credit for staying away from a weak quarterback crop and keeping their powder dry for a pick in a better class next season.
Grade: B
Green Bay Packers
The receiver run in Round 1 left Green Bay in a position to either reach for the seventh best receiver on the board or address other needs. The Packers chose Door B, landing Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt to their defense while trading up to snag North Dakota State’s Christian Watson on Day 2 as Aaron Rodgers’ newest weapon. Third-round offensive lineman Sean Rhyan could also start at right tackle as a rookie, which would add even more value to a deep class.
Grade: B-
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings traded back from 12 to add extra picks, which enabled them to address some critical holes in their secondary. Lewis Cine should be a Day 1 starter in Minnesota while Clemson’s Andrew Booth offers a chance at long-term stability at cornerback, a position that the Vikings have had trouble filling for a long time. Minnesota did reach a bit at guard for Ed Ingram in the second round, who does fill a need but could likely have been had later in the draft.
Grade: B+
NFL Draft Grades – NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
There was absolutely no one left in Atlanta’s receiver room so taking Drake London at No. 8 made a ton of sense to add another freakish athlete to the offense alongside tight end Kyle Pitts. Getting quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round is a calculated gamble from Arthur Smith, who can let Ridder learn under Marcus Mariota for a year, but the investment isn’t enough to deter the Falcons from taking a quarterback next year if they need one. Getting Arnold Ebiketie in the second round was sneaky-good value for Atlanta as well since Ebiketie should add a jolt to their pass rush.
Grade: A-
Carolina Panthers
This was a mixed bag for the Panthers, who avoided reaching for a quarterback at six and solved their left tackle problem by grabbing Ikem Ekwonu, the draft’s most talented lineman. Matt Rhule’s desperation for a quarterback surfaced, however, as the Panthers traded into the third round to get Matt Corral, which was decent value but not at the cost of other needs for Carolina. Landing Ekwonu was a big help but the Sam Darnold trade depleted a ton of draft capital from the Panthers when they really could have used it.
Grade: C
New Orleans Saints
Your belief in this draft class comes down to whether or not you buy New Orleans as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If you do, trading up to snag Chris Olave was a smart process to add a starting receiver opposite Michael Thomas while their pre-draft deal with Philadelphia to add a second first-round pick ensured their access to a starting left tackle in Trevor Penning. The problem is that the Saints are not as close as they think they are, making their quality over quantity approach one that could cost them down the road.
Grade: C-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers traded out of the first round and still managed to land a quality defensive end in Logan Hall, who should play a rotational role as a rookie before graduating into a starting job. Luke Goedeke played tackle in college but should kick inside as a pro, helping fill the hole at guard created by Ali Marpet’s retirement. This class was a bit disappointing since Tampa Bay didn’t add depth at defensive tackle although a reunion with free agent Ndamukong Suh could fix that problem.
Grade: B-
NFL Draft Grades – NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
The strangest part of this draft process was Arizona’s decision to trade a first-round pick to Baltimore for Hollywood Brown, which seems like poor planning when the Eagles landed Brown for a first-round pick minutes later. The early goals for the Cardinals were to add pass rush help after losing Chandler Jones in free agency, which they accomplished by taking a pair of defensive ends on Day 2, while Trey McBride should function well behind Zach Ertz as the No. 2 tight end. Arizona does lose a few points on the Brown trade, however, since they likely could have gotten better value by either staying put or trading back in the first.
Grade: C-
Los Angeles Rams
In typical Rams fashion, they sat out until late on Day 2 after dealing most of their top picks for impact players that helped them win the Super Bowl in Matthew Stafford and Von Miller. Los Angeles used its picks to fill a bunch of needs, with their top pick being third-rounder Logan Bruss, who figures to be in the mix as a starter sooner rather than later. This class isn’t high on star power but will be graded down the line on its ability to help the Rams fill holes on their roster.
Grade: C
San Francisco 49ers
With clear needs in the secondary and at guard, the 49ers instead opted to go for a pass rusher with their first pick in USC’s Drake Jackson, who has a ton of potential but needs time to develop in the NFL. That pick may be a luxury since the 49ers also had to take a wide receiver in the third round as insurance against a Deebo Samuel holdout, making this class short on players who could be starters from the jump. Time will tell how this group works out but it doesn’t look promising early.
Grade: D
Seattle Seahawks
The positive is Seattle used its newly acquired first-round pick in the Russell Wilson trade to land a left tackle in Charles Cross, solving a long-standing need. The bad news is that the Seahawks drafted a running back in the second round in Kenneth Walker, a good prospect, at a position that wasn’t a need with Rashaad Penny and Chris Carson already on the roster. Boye Mafe will help on the edge but Seattle probably could have found more immediate impact contributors if they didn’t take Walker.
Grade: C+