A lot of great players were selected in the draft last week. Hell, really great players, some even elite. A good portion of them will likely wash out of the league in a few years, hence why there is an NFL Draft every single year.
Despite the odds against them, it goes without fail that talent emerges from all rounds of the draft, even if it takes a few seasons to shake out. Here are the sneaky best picks of each of the seven rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Round 1
Jermaine Johnson II, DE...New York Jets (26th OVR)
Johnson, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, wrecked competition at the Senior Bowl and impressed coaches at the combine. 99% of expert mocks had Johnson going in the top 16 picks, with most sliding him into the top 10. The Jets traded back into the first round and added the shifty edge rusher to their pile of prospects, netting themselves possibly the steal of the draft. Honorable Mentions:
Kyle Hamilton, S (BAL) 14th OVR
Devin Lloyd, LB (JAX) 27th OVR
Round 2
Skyy Moore, WR...Kansas City (54th OVR)
Could it be a different guy here? The second round is always filled with guys who are arguably first round talent, thus there are a lot of candidates for “best pick” of the round. I’m going with my gut here and choosing the guy who has a blend of physicality and quickness not generally seen in combination. Moore would be able to impress in any offense, but the fact that Kansas City took him with the idea that he will absorb some of the targets usually allotted for Tyreek Hill…means Moore will be involved a lot more in the offense than many of his highly-drafted counterparts.
Honorable Mentions:
David Ojabo, DE (BAL) 45th OVR
George Pickens, WR (PHI) 52 OVR
Round 3
Nakobe Dean, LB...Philadelphia (83rd OVR)
Dean is the no-brainer choice here. One of the leaders of the Georgia Bulldogs National Championship defense, Dean was expected to be a first rounder (likely would have gone to the Packers at 22 instead of his teammate Quay Walker), but due to a severe pectoral strain in draft preparation workouts, he slid all the way to the third. The Eagles stopped his slide and secured a supreme talent for their future. He will miss significant time in 2022, but when he does hit the field Dean will make franchises question why they let him fall so far.
Honorable Mentions:
Abraham Lucas, T (SEA) 72nd OVR
Myjai Sanders, DE (ARI) 100th OVR
Round 4
Calvin Austin III, WR...Pittsburgh (138th OVR)
Austin was the 3rd fastest receiver at the 2022 NFL combine, posting a freaky 4.32 40-yard dash. He is a prototypical modern slot receiver at 5' 7" and 173lbs, and will add a new layer to the Steelers passing attack. Don't be surprised when Austin is top-5 in rookie receiving yardage at the end of the season.
Honorable Mentions:
Perrion Winfrey, DT (CLE) 108th OVR
Coby Bryant, CB (SEA) 109th OVR
Daniel Faalele, T (BAL) 110th OVR
Round 5
Kingsley Enagbare, LB...Green Bay (179 OVR)
Taken with the last pick in the fifth round, Enagbare was rated as highly as a second round talent by most. 6' 4" and 260lbs, he has speed to accompany that size and will plug in as a rotational pass rusher. Green Bay insulated its defense against injury with this excellent late-round pick. If something were to happen to Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, or free-agent acquisition De'Vondre Campbell, Enagbare provides much-needed depth that especially will be needed if Green Bay wants to win another Super Bowl in the Aaron Rodgers era.
Honorable Mentions:
Darian Kinnard, G (KC) 145th OVR
Zyon McCullom, CB (TB) 157th OVR
Matthew Butler, DT (LV) 175th OVR
Round 6
Jamaree Salyer, OG...LA Chargers (195 OVR)
Steal of the draft? Labeled as "stiff" and likely unable to play on the outside at a high level, the powerhouse interior lineman from the National Championship Georgia Bulldogs fell all the way to the sixth round. This is one of those head-scratchers that front offices will regret when he becomes an All-Pro at guard for LA. Remember all those highly-drafted SEC defensive tackles and edge guys? Salyer faced them all, for years, and helped his team to a Championship while doing it. Transitioning to the NFL won't be a problem for Salyer, as it will be largely the same players he faced in college.
Honorable Mentions:
Ja'Sir Taylor, CB (LAC) 214th OVR
Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (SF) 221st OVR
Round 7
Thayer Munford, OT...Las Vegas (238th OVR)
Munford is a beast of a man. Coming out of the high-powered Ohio State offense (where he was a four-year starter at both tackle and guard), he has the size and pedigree to stave off the modern NFL pass rush. His technique has received a lot of pre-draft criticism, hence why he fell all the way to the end of the draft. Technique can be taught if the prospect is willing to listen, and if Munford can clean up some sloppy foot and hand work, the Raiders just secured a swing tackle in the seventh round.
Honorable Mentions:
Bo Melton, WR (SEA) 229th OVR
Jesse Luketa, LB (ARI) 256th OVR
For full draft analysis of each pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, check out ESPN’s Draftcast!
Comentarios