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Matt MillerESPN
Officially, there is the largest draft class in NFL history with 262 new players joining the ranks. 2022 NFL draft.
What are the main takeaways from this draft? What lessons can we learn from the 2022 class, and how can we apply them?
The record-breaking number of trades in this draft involved first-round picks. It was also a tie for most wide receivers drafted within the first three rounds. There was also a quarterback class that wasn’t valued at all by decision-makers and evaluators despite predictions that teams would panic about the sport’s top position.
These are trends, or one-off cases?
Two trends are certain to continue: the dominance by the SEC, particularly Georgia and Alabama, in producing talent for NFL drafts; and the Baltimore RavensThe ability to control the draft board.
These are the top five things to remember as you pack up your 2022 draft and get ready for 2023.
NFL teams place great value on quarterbacks.
The NFL draft has been a topic of conversation for months. It was about the difference between the quarterback grades and the expectation that teams would panic to reach for them earlier than they were valued.
But it never happened.
Only Pitt has a quarterback Kenny PickettAt No. 20, he was drafted in the first round. 20 to Steelers — The Steelers’ latest QB draft since 1997. According to ESPN Stats and Information, It was selection No. It took until selection No. 74 — well into round three — before the second quarterback was selected (Desmond Ridder) came off the board to the Atlanta Falcons. This was the third selection in the draft for the second quarterback.
Instead of panicking about this year’s quarterback class and overdrafting it, NFL teams looked for other avenues to acquire new starters. Deshaun Watson, Russell WilsonAnd Carson WentzThey were traded to other teams to become starters. Marcus MariotaSigned in Free Agency
You should also consider the fact that the 2021 NFL draft saw five quarterbacks selected in their first round, while the 2020 class had only three. This is one-fourth league, with eight teams. It’s tied to a young quarterback who was drafted in the last two years.
The 2022 class of quarterbacks was largely successful outside of Liberty’s projections. Malik WillisIt is easy to slip into the Tennessee TitansIn the third round.
According to one source from the NFL, “None” of these are true. [quarterbacks]They were considered to be must-have starters. In this league right now you can’t miss a starter.
Wide receiver is considered a premium position
Evaluators agree that the most important positions for roster-building are quarterback, left tackle, pass rusher, and cornerback. You can also add wide receiver to this list.
Round 3 saw 17 wide receivers selected, which tied 1994 and 2007 for most in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. Take into account marquee trades Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, A.J. BrownAnd Marquise BrownThe receiver group has seen the most movement in this year’s past year, and there have been no other positions that saw more.
Talent is coming out of college at the receiver position, with players who are professional-ready. No more rookie receivers not making an impact on teams. Just look at the examples. Justin JeffersonAnd Ja’Marr ChaseThey have done it in back-toback seasons. The rise of college football’s passing game, and the exposure of more advanced passing concepts such as 7-on-7 camps in youth soccer has resulted in a boom in wide receiver talent. 17 receivers were drafted into the first round of the draft in the last three seasons alone.
This trend can also be linked to rising salaries, as teams seek to become younger and more affordable than paying superstars upwards of $25,000,000 per year. The NFL is not the only copycat league. The Cincinnati BengalsChase (2021), one of the three wide receivers chosen in the first two rounds, was responsible for the “worst to-first” transformation. Tee Higgins(2020) Tyler Boyd (2016). It is a winning philosophy, and teams are dumping young receivers to help rebuild the Bengals.
Is it possible to duplicate the Bengals’ success? Chris OlavePartnering with Michael ThomasThe following are the New Orleans SaintsThis is a great place for you to begin. Jameson Williams joining Amon-Ra St. BrownHe will return from his ACL Injury and is poised to be another star in Year 1.
They now have to make their own decisions Joe Burrow.
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Chris Olave’s top moments from college are what make him a top NFL draft prospect in 2022.
Trading has never been simpler
The record for the most teams not making a selection in round one was broken by 10. The Miami DolphinsAnd Los Angeles RamsThey did not make their first selections before the end of Round 3. Trading among clubs was never so simple after the 2022 draft.
Once considered an unwritten rule. Minnesota VikingsThey traded twice within their division — this allowed the Detroit LionsAnd Green Bay PackersTo move up and choose wide receivers Jameson WilliamsAnd Christian Watson, respectively.
Why is there a shift in trade philosophy The general managers have a greater number of people who are all part of the same front office team and have closer-knit relationships which allow for better communication to facilitate trades.
A second aspect of the active trade market was the perception that very few top-tier players were available. General managers were more aggressive in their attempts to get the elite players by moving up on boards because of the high level of parity between player grades.
Here are my top moves in this draft:
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The Lions moved up from No. The Lions moved from No. 32 overall all the the way up to No. 12 to select Williams as we mentioned earlier. Atlanta was the first to be affected by the receivers’ run. Drake LondonNr. 8 followed by Garrett Wilson (No. (No. Chris Olave (No. 11), The Lions made an aggressive move, but it only cost them a 2022 first, second and third-round selections. They also received a second-rounder (No. 46) in return.
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The Eagles traded not only the No. 18 overall pick (plus No. 101 for wide receiver A.J. BrownThey also made a smart move to jump from the rooftop. Baltimore RavensEveryone knew what their neighbor to the southwest wanted from a player — Georgia’s Jordan Davis. It costs only No. 15 plus three Day 3 picks (Nos. To jump the Ravens, you can use 124-162, 162, or 166)
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The draft has 12 selections total. Kansas City ChiefsThey were able to be very aggressive, and did so once cornerback Trent McDuffiebegan to slide down the board. Packaging chooses Nos. To jump to No. 29, 94, and 121 21 overall was one the best draft moves.
The SEC is still the king
It won’t surprise anyone to find out that the SEC holds a record for the highest number of draft picks made in Rounds 3 through 3 by a conference. That’s 40 draft picks in 2020. This year, it came within striking distance with 34 selections in Rounds 1 through 3. That includes a record seven Georgia defense defenders in the 105 selections.
Georgia’s 15 total draft picks, which are the highest by any school over seven rounds, is tied for the third most for any school in draft history.
Alabama came in second with six players chosen in the third round. The team now has 40 players, the most ever drafted in the two-round drafts since 2016.
In 2022, 65 SEC players were chosen. This is the same number as last year (SEC), which was tied for the most selections from one conference in a single draft.
As the NFL prepares to evaluate the 2023 class draft prospects, the SEC remains the conference with the greatest potential.
In 1996, the Ravens moved from Cleveland to become the Ravens and Ozzie Newsome became the executive vice president of player personnel. Newsome was promoted to general manager in 2002 and enjoyed a string of successful drafts, making him one of the most respected league leaders.
After the 2018 season, Newsome was relieved and Eric DeCosta took over. No one had any idea if Baltimore’s long history of outstanding drafting would continue. DeCosta was able to learn a lot from his predecessor.
The draft for 2022 will be the Ravens draftedThree of my top thirty players were there, as well as four out of the top forty overall. Each of them came from a position where they were needed and each provided tremendous value.
Safety Kyle Hamilton (ranked No. The steal of the draft was undoubtedly pick No. 4 overall. 14. Brown was traded to the Cardinals and the Ravens received an additional first-rounder. The Ravens used their pick No. 25 overall to choose center Tyler Linderbaum (No. (No.
DeCosta and Co. weren’t done. Round 2 saw DeCosta and his team take the Michigan pass rusher David Ojabo (No. 28) and reunited him to former college coordinator Mike Macdonald who is now managing the defense in Baltimore. Ojabo, who injured his Achilles at the Michigan pro-day, will likely redshirt this season, but was a top-15 pick in the projected draft before the injury.
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David Ojabo, who was drafted by Ravens, gets emotional and is consoled by his family.
The Ravens sat tight, waiting for UConn to tackle their noses. Travis Jones (No. 37) to ensure an A+ start to class by drafting four players ranked in the top 40 — without trading up during Round 2 or 3.
The class that won the award continued with Day 3: Minnesota offensive tackle Daniel Faalele (No. (No. 110 overall — one the best draft values — and filling an urgent need at right tackle Alabama’s high-upside cornerback was still a possibility in Round 4. Jalyn Armour-DavisIt was a steal.
Baltimore’s first six picks were ranked as the top 100 draft players on my final rankings. That’s how you draft a class.