The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft has done justice to the hype. The Michigan End Rusher Aidan Hutchinson was the first-overall pick of the offseason. Also, Jacksonville Jaguars chose Travon Walker Georgia edge as their first overall. Detroit Lions choose Later Hutchinson as their No.2 pick on the board.
The defensive stars were on the top of the board. It had rushers or cornerbacks. One of the special things was the eight draft-day trades during the first round. It had the best trades like Marquise Brown from Baltimore to Arizona and A.J. Brown from Tennessee to Philadelphia. Overall it had thirty-two picks. Here is the quick information on the live grade, targets and mock drafts.
Edge Travon Walker, Georgia selected by Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are trying to get Walker’s elite traits. So he is the no.1 talent on the board. There are reasons why Walker did not give great numbers at Georgia. But there are a lot of risks in picking a player at No. 1 overall as he did not clear a 75.0 PFF grade or 10% pressure rate in the three seasons. Walker was playing for the Bulldogs. Still, many others preferred Aidan Hutchinson as the No.1 player on the board. Hence his pick grade is below average.
Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan selected by Detroit Lions
The Lions want their player to fall into their laps. Hutchinson has a very good pick grade. He is clearly labelled as the “high floor, lower ceiling”. The only other edge players drafted in the first round in the last five drafts with an overall grade are Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett. They are known for their high-end athleticism with their great build and frames.
CB Derek Stingley Jr. LSU selected by Houston Texans
The draft stock of Stingley has come full circle as he is the top-five pick and CB1 of Houston. He could not create a good true freshman season with LSU in 2019. He received a 51.4 passer rating. But that talent is still there. He brings great movement and athleticism to the team he plays. So he will be a great addition to Houston. So he has a good grade.
CB Ahmad “SAUCE” Gardner, Cincinnati selected by New York Jets
There were many talks about the Jets taking an edge defender or offensive tackle in this spot. But opposite to that, they chose a cornerback. Gardner was a good fit in Robert Saleh’s defence. It is hard to say anything bad about his profile. He has great size and talent. He allowed 43% of the passes thrown into his coverage in his seasons with the Bearcats. So his pick grade is also very good.
Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon selected by New York Giants
There were many concerns regarding Thibodeaux about his fit with different teams pushing him down boards. But he is a talented player. He recorded 30 pressures as a true freshman in 2019. In his last season with Oregon, he is improving in his career with 91.5 PFF pass-rushing grades. Therefore he is a great fit for the New York Giants. The team needs a good Edge.
Conclusion
The teams are rushing to bag the top players for the games. It is going to be a challenge to get the players they want. But this is what the drafts are all about.
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