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2022 DRAFT
Rob Rang at FOXSports.com has his draft grades, by division. They are somewhat edited, as we work through them over the next four days.
Today, two divisions from the AFC –
The South –
Houston Texans
Grade: A
While there is a boom-or-bust element to the Texans’ draft, it ranks as one of my favorite classes this year. The top picks are potential Pro Bowlers, and perhaps no other team acquired as many potential day one starters as the Texans did.
Critics of Houston’s draft will likely focus on what the club did not add, rather than the bevy of stars general manager Nick Caserio and head coach Lovie Smith brought in, but I believe that is faulty logic. Sure, from an outside perspective, it might appear that Houston needed help at quarterback and edge rusher, but QB Davis Mills flashed as a rookie a year ago, and the early selections of versatile and battle-tested offensive lineman Kenyon Green (Texas A&M) and wideout John Metchie (Alabama) should allow Mills to grow in year two.
What’s more, few know better than Smith that boosting a pass rush can be accomplished in multiple ways. That includes adding an exceptional cover-corner such as Derek Stingley at No. 3 overall and a safety with legitimate cover skills of his own in former Baylor star Jalen Pitre, whose knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage has earned plenty of comparisons to Pro Bowlers Jamal Adams and Tyrann Mathieu.
Given Stingley’s struggles with durability since his dominant freshman season at LSU two years ago, his selection is not without risk. But in much the same way that I believed the sheer talent of Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell and Micah Parsons would ultimately shine through in the NFL, despite their sitting out the 2020 college football season, I am convinced that Stingley is going to be a superstar in the league.
I was also higher than most on Green, whose stock might have fluctuated on some draft boards because the Aggies moved him up and down the line in his career. But I see a day one standout at guard who is athletic enough to slide over to tackle, if required. Wherever Green lines up, I believe his presence will take a lot of pressure off of Houston’s talented but inconsistent tackles, Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.
Perhaps the selection I am most intrigued by is former Alabama linebacker Christian Harris, whose athleticism warranted a much higher selection than No. 75 overall.
Tennessee Titans
Grade: A
While the trade of star wideout A.J. Brown during the first round was a shot to the chin for Titans fans, general manager Jon Robinson counter-punched so well in the seven rounds of the draft that I think this team is actually better off now. That’s quite a statement, given Brown’s undeniable ability and the fact that Tennessee earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season.
They don’t hand out rings for playoff seedings, however, and by swapping Brown for a similarly built and talented fellow All-SEC pick in Treylon Burks (at a fraction of the cost), the Titans recovered nicely at receiver — at least on paper. It’s the rest of this class that really resonates, however, with the Titans adding a scrappy, instinctive cornerback in Roger McCreary at No. 35 overall and a future starter on the offensive line in Nicholas Petit-Frere a round later.
Of course, the selection that those in Tennessee — including Ryan Tannehill — are talking about most is the club’s fourth pick, which was used on Liberty quarterback Malik Willis.
I love the fit of Willis and Tennessee for all sorts of reasons. First, with an established passer such as Tannehill in place ahead of him, Willis will get the time needed to acclimate to the speed of the NFL. Tannehill, in fact, entered the NFL as quite a raw passer after spending the early portion of his college career at Texas A&M playing wide receiver.
The Titans would have earned one of my top grades if their draft had ended right there, but I love the talent they added the rest of the way as well.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: B+
The decision to go against conventional wisdom and select Travon Walker instead of the more polished Aidan Hutchinson at No. 1 overall will forever dictate how this Jaguars draft class is viewed. That is not to suggest that Walker was a bad pick, though my choice would have been Hutchinson. Walker was one of eight “blue chip” prospects in this class, and his combination of size, power, athleticism and motor could help Jacksonville reverse the losing culture seemingly ingrained in the organization.
There is no question that Walker, Hutchinson and fellow top-five selection Kayvon Thibodeaux were ideal schematic matches for a club already boasting a star edge rusher in Josh Allen. Walker and Allen should instantly give the Jaguars’ defense teeth. Walker is among the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and might possess greater upside than Hutchinson, warranting in some eyes the bold decision by general manager Trent Baalke and new coach Doug Pederson.
While the decision at No. 1 overall reportedly caused plenty of debate inside the Jaguars’ facility, the club had a relatively easy decision with Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd inexplicably available at No. 27, prompting a second bold move by Baalke. Jacksonville shipped three picks to Tampa Bay to move up six spots to land the plug-and-play linebacker. Given the Jaguars’ turnover at this position and Lloyd’s undeniable production and dependability, I love the decision. Don’t be surprised if Lloyd becomes the most impactful rookie from this Jaguars class.
The defensive duo might be joined in Jacksonville’s immediate starting lineup by center Luke Fortner, who fills another key position of concern for the club and who, as a three-year starter at Kentucky, is about as pro-ready as it gets.
Jacksonville’s Day Three selections are mostly depth players.
The Jaguars also brought in several undrafted free agents who I believe are legitimate NFL talents capable of earning a roster spot. While Trevor Lawrence is obviously QB1, Brown’s E.J. Perry flashed at the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine, making him one of my favorite sleepers of the draft. I’m also intrigued by the raw talent of former Notre Dame wideout Kevin Austin Jr. and Utah offensive lineman Nick Ford, though both need to clean up the sloppy mistakes that pushed them out of the draft.
Indianapolis Colts
Grade: C
This draft class represents a seismic shift in philosophy for the Colts as they build around superstar running back Jonathan Taylor and veteran quarterback Matt Ryan.
Even with the Colts boasting a quality big receiver in Michael Pittman, general manager Chris Ballard elected to double down in the draft, making Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce the club’s top pick at No. 53, followed by a similar double dip at tight end, bringing in Virginia’s Jelani Woods after re-signing Mo Allie-Cox in free agency.
Neither Pierce nor Woods plays as fast as they timed in workouts, but each possesses the size, body control and sticky hands to serve as a quality security blanket for the still-quite-accurate Ryan. The longtime Falcons QB might have a career resurrection operating out of play-action with a talent such as Taylor forcing opposing defenses to focus on run defense.
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My favorite picks by the Colts came in the middle rounds, including toolsy safety Nick Cross out of Maryland and riser Eric Johnson, an agile defensive tackle out of Missouri State.
This is a class that offered more safety than sizzle, like the acquisition of Ryan, and there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that. The Colts added some quality players, but I don’t see the athletic upside from this bunch that I see with the rest of the draft classes in the AFC South.
The West –
Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: A-
It is a lot easier to win on draft day when a club has extra premium selections, like what the Chiefs acquired by trading Tyreek Hill. Further, it should be just as obvious that replacing a talent such as Hill is virtually impossible with a rookie. As such, general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid deserve a lot of credit for shifting to fill Kansas City’s actual biggest need — cornerback — rather than trying to nab a deep threat in the first round.
Former Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie was almost universally viewed as the No. 3 cornerback in a class that boasted two blue-chip talents in Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who, as expected, were among the first picks off the board. McDuffie lacks their length and gaudy interception totals, but his tape was crystal clear, showing not only the fluidity, acceleration and awareness required in coverage but also the instincts and physicality for run support. McDuffie is a plug-and-play cornerback for a club that needed one after losing Charvarius Ward to San Francisco in free agency.
The Chiefs then circled back to nab another stud in Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis. Like McDuffie, Karlaftis might lack the eye-popping athletic profile of players selected earlier at his position, but he possesses terrific instincts and the proven production against quality competition to project as an early contributor.
I am just as high on Kansas City’s Day 2 picks. Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore is a very different (but still highly productive) replacement for Hill, and Cincinnati’s Bryan Cook is a heady, physical safety who also projects as an early contributor. Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal could push Nick Bolton and/or Willie Gay for starting duty at inside linebacker.
On Saturday, the Chiefs followed last year’s Day 3 steal of Trey Smith with another brawler in Kentucky’s Darian Kinnard. And don’t be surprised when another late Day 3 selection, Washington State DB Jaylen Watson, outperforms his draft selection.
If Kansas City’s draft haul weren’t enough, Veach and his scouts secured one of the better classes of undrafted free agents
Denver Broncos
Grade: B-
The Broncos traded their first- and second-round selections in 2022 and 2023 for superstar Russell Wilson, which must be taken into account when assessing Denver’s picks. A Pro Bowler in nine of his 10 NFL seasons, Wilson is among the league’s true difference-makers, and frankly, Denver could have traded its entire draft class and still earned plenty of positive grades. But that said, the rookies in Denver’s 2022 draft class also are intriguing.
The Broncos used the 64th overall selection to nab speedy, slippery edge rusher Nik Bonitto, who is a better, more productive player than his below-average size would suggest. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Bonitto is lightning-quick off the edge — critical given the quarterback talent in the AFC West — but he was available this late because he lacks the mass to consistently hold up in run support. He’s still a potential star, albeit in a specialized role.
The same could be said for Denver’s second pick, former UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich, who possesses soft hands as well as silky speed and body control to attack down the seam. At least on paper, he appears to be a quality replacement for Noah Fant, who was traded to Seattle as part of the haul Denver gave up to acquire Wilson.
Dulcich is not particularly stout at the point of attack, and he might find that the 5-foot-10 Wilson has struggled to consistently make use of tight ends dating to his college days. If Dulcich was a somewhat curious selection for the Broncos, so too was cornerback Damarri Mathis at No. 115 overall. This isn’t to suggest that the former Pitt DB is a bad player. In fact, he is one of my favorite cornerbacks in this class, and again, the arms race in the AFC West dictates that clubs load up on defensive backs. But if there is one position at which the Broncos already felt loaded, it was at cornerback, especially with Patrick Surtain II proving worthy of his No. 9 overall selection a year ago.
Further, after evaluating fourth-rounder Eyioma Uwazurike in person against a seemingly overmatched crop of offensive linemen at the East-West Shrine Bowl, I was left wanting more
Washington offensive lineman Luke Wattenberg might wind up as Denver’s biggest surprise of its Day 3 picks. Unlike the aforementioned Uwazurike, Wattenberg turned heads with his reliability and versatility at the East-West Shrine Bowl. His ability to play up and down the line of scrimmage will serve him and the Broncos well.
The Broncos nabbed some intriguing prospects following the draft, including Alabama edge rusher Christopher Allen, Hawaii cornerback Cortez Davis and Eastern Washington dual-threat quarterback Eric Barriere, who is something of a Wilson clone.
Los Angeles Chargers
Grade: B-
Since landing a superstar in quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers have since smartly dedicated themselves to protecting him, nabbing Rashawn Slater in the first round a year ago and following that with another plug-and-play candidate in Zion Johnson (Boston College) with their top pick in 2022.
Johnson’s journey from a zero-star recruit who initially played at Davidson to banking on himself in a transfer to Boston College and emerging as a first-round pick is precisely the trajectory and mentality the Chargers prioritize on draft day. Plenty of blockers possess size and strength. Those who enjoy long-term success in the NFL, however, are just as strong in their mental abilities, which is why Johnson was so commonly labeled one of this year’s “sure things.”
Johnson’s toughness and accountability on and off the field make him an ideal building block for the unit tasked with protecting Herbert. And the Chargers didn’t stop there, adding one of this year’s most underrated linemen in Georgia’s Jamaree Salyer much later. Salyer, who played left tackle for the national champion Bulldogs, projects best inside due to his squatty frame but has plenty of experience outside, offering the sort of positional flexibility the Chargers have only flashed in the past up front.
Recognizing the quality of passing attacks throughout the division, general manager Tom Telesco also made the secondary a priority. I like the range and playmaking ability offered by free safety JT Woods, who was overshadowed at times by his teammates at Baylor
Besides Herbert, the Chargers have a star in the backfield in Austin Ekeler, but adding a bigger, burlier back to play with him was an obvious priority. Los Angeles plucked a falling star in Isaiah Spiller (Texas A&M) in the fourth round and followed that with a toolsy and versatile defensive lineman in UCLA’s Otito Ogbonnia a little later in the frame.
The Chargers added even more juice to their class in undrafted free agency, signing one of the largest crops in the league.
Las Vegas Raiders
Grade: C
The Raiders were left with just a six-man class after reuniting Derek Carr with his Fresno State teammate Davante Adams, but that didn’t keep the passionate fans in Las Vegas from celebrating throughout the draft. The splashy addition of Adams, a five-time Pro Bowler, allowed the Raiders to focus their early attention elsewhere.
While former Memphis interior offensive lineman Dylan Parham might lack a recognizable name, his pro-ready game will make new general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels look smart in the long run. Parham’s initial quickness and lateral agility jump off the tape, allowing him to project either at guard or center. Las Vegas underwent significant transitions at both spots a year ago, trading Pro Bowlers Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson.
The Raiders’ pick of Georgia RB Zamir White (and later UCLA runner Brittain Brown) might have caught some off guard, at least until news broke that the club was not going to pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round runner Josh Jacobs, along with fellow 2019 first-round picks Clelin Ferrell and Johnathan Abram.
Rather than draft potential replacements at edge rusher or safety, the Raiders instead focused on defensive tackles in the middle rounds, nabbing two imposing brawlers in LSU’s Neil Farrell and Tennessee’s Matthew Butler, with Ohio State offensive tackle Thayer Munford a late fifth-round pick. Frankly, none projects as a future starter for Las Vegas, but all possess the girth and physicality to help reset the culture.
Befitting the city in which they play, the Raiders largely rolled the dice on this draft with a gutsy bet on Adams. That made for a less-than-exciting haul on draft day, one they boosted in undrafted free agency with the signing of at least a dozen prospects. Among them are another talented defensive lineman in Notre Dame’s Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, one of my favorite small-school cornerbacks in Missouri Western’s Sam Webb and hard-hitting USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao. |
