NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
Draft season has officially come and gone. As usual, some teams showed why they constantly win double-digit games every season and why others are continually drafting in the top 10. It was a strange draft for the quarterbacks, as only one went in the first round. This allowed for much more spotlight to be shinned on the non-quarterbacks, for the first time in a while.
Here are the winners and losers of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Winners
Ravens
The Ravens 2022 draft should be the blueprint on how to draft for every NFL team. Having ten picks in the first four rounds is insane. Their first four picks were prospects whom all could have ended up in the first round. Travis Jones was taken at 76 and was PFF’s 27th ranked player on their big board.
It has been nearly a week, and I still don’t understand how the Ravens traded Hollywood Brown for the 23rd overall pick. Brown has managed 1,000 yards only once in three years on a team where he was the team’s #1 WR. Trading him for essentially a center who has the potential to be the best at his position is pretty good compensation.
Chiefs
Many viewed CB Trent McDuffie as a top 10 talent that Kansas City snagged at 21. George Karlaftis ranked as PFF’s third-best edge rusher and 10th on their big board. The Chiefs were able to get him at 30. I was a big Skyy Moore fan and thought Green Bay might draft him with one of their first-round picks. He won’t have the impact Tyreek hill had, but the addition of him, Juju, Valdes-Scantling, and Justyn Ross (signed after he went undrafted) helps ease the loss.
Leo Chanel was PFF’s 36th ranked prospect and will immediately come in and play the mike position for KC’s defense. Drafting three defensive starters and one of the best route runners in his class will help keep Kansas City in the mix for the AFC West.
Steelers
Pittsburgh did what the good teams do: draft the best player available. It was clear they were drafting a quarterback in the first round. Not only did they sit tight at 20, but they had the pick of the litter. Pickett will come in and immediately compete for the starting role.
Drafting Pickens and Austin were not just great value, but will help Pickett. Maybe someone should tell Chicago that helping your young quarterback is a smart thing to do. Leal was PFF’s 5th-ranked edge rusher that Pittsburgh took at 84. He will provide depth on that already dominant defensive line.
Honorable Mention: Jets
Most will have the Jets as the biggest winners in the draft. However, they ended up with three first-round picks with two inside the top 10, they should have landed some great players. Outside of the first, their draft was mediocre. Taking a running back early in the 2nd when they have plenty of holes elsewhere and no need for a running back is not smart.
Losers
Patriots
I mentioned the Ravens had the perfect blueprint on how to draft, well so does New England… If it were the 1980s. The draft from top to bottom was very confusing and full of reaches. Belichick shipped one of the best guards in the league away for a 5th rounder just to draft his replacement in the first round. Cole Strange was projected to be a third-rounder taken at 29. Tyquan Thornton was the fastest receiver in the draft (4.28 40 time). However, he was projected to go in round 4 and was taken at 50.
Marcus Jones was their best pick by a mile. He will come in and get significant playing time and is a huge threat in the return game. After that, Belichick opted to draft two running backs and a backup quarterback. After getting humiliated by Buffalo in the playoffs, it is hard to think they can compete with them in 2022. In reality, their offensive line and defensive have all got worse.
Bears
This draft told me the Bears’ new regime does not have much faith in Justin Fields. Their first two picks were not bad by any means, but when you have a quarterback going into his second year, ideally you would give him more pieces to work with. Chicago selected Velus Jones Jr. with the 71st pick. He was PFF’s 192nd ranked prospect and was viewed more as a special teams player.
Braxton Jones was a good selection in the 5th, but is a developmental tackle. As of now, the Bears’ wide receiving room is Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Jones Jr, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Dazz Newsome.
Cowboys
There were mixed views on Dallas’ first-round selection of Tyler Smith. He is a very raw lineman that committed 16 penalties last season. There were players still on the board that could have come in and helped their defense (Llyod & Johnson).
Sam Williams and Jake Ferguson were both reaches. Williams landed at 91 on PFF’s big board while Lance Zerlien had Ferguson as a 6th-7th round projection. Tolbert was their best pick, and I believe he has the potential to be a great receiver for them. Dallas’ draft seemed underwhelming and I am not sure how much of an impact their picks will have in 2022.
Honorable Mention: Commanders
If not for day three of the draft, Washington would be on this list. Dotson, Mathis, and Robinson were all reaches on days 1 and 2. Grabbing Howell in the 5th might have been the best value pick in the entire draft. I had Howell as QB1 and believe he has a chance to start in 2023.
