NFL Draft

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze admitted he has "no clue on what's really gonna happen tonight" in regard to which team selects QB Malik Willis.

The tide of these evaluations and debates will play a pivotal role in the Cowboys' moves tonight. - One route that could see the Panthers selecting a quarterback involves acquiring a Day 2 pick. The 2022 crop of quarterbacks, as well as the position at which teams are willing to bite, looms over the draft as one of the big question marks. Cornerback and wide receiver stand out as positions of need, but Palmer went as far as to identify Philadelphia's primary target: Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux. "He is a freak on film," Palmer said. "In the right place, he can come in and play," Freeze said. Freeze told NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano that the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks have maintained the most contact.

NFL fans frantically Googling the reason behind the longtime NFL draft analyst's change of scenery needn't look any further than Kiper's Twitter account for the ...

Color commentator Kirk Herbstreit revealed Monday he will not be able to work the event due to a recently discovered blood clot. NFL fans frantically Googling the reason behind the longtime NFL draft analyst’s change of scenery needn’t look any further than Kiper’s Twitter account for the answer. “I completely support everyone determining what’s best for their individual circumstances and recognize the value of vaccines,” Kiper tweeted April 18.

Dates/Time: Thur, April 28: (5 p.m. PT): Round 1 – ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes,. Round 1: 10 minutes per selection.

Round 7, including compensatory picks: Four minutes per selection. Rounds 4 through 6, including compensatory picks: Five minutes per selection. Round 3, including compensatory picks: Five minutes per selection

Our writers take a look at the best prospects coming out of college, and which teams need to get it right in the coming days.

Christian Barmore, the team’s second-round pick, is as exciting and explosive a young interior rusher as anywhere in the league. First round cornerback Pat Surtain II is a star in the making, who ended his rookie year with four interceptions and 14 passes deflected. Since the Bengals may have discovered a generational kicker in the draft last year, it feels like a punter is now due. The Kansas City Chiefs are tied for the most draft picks this year with 12 and need to make a few of them count. Since the Bengals may have discovered a generational kicker in the draft last year, it feels like a punter is now due. Marcus Jones, cornerback, Houston. The cornerback out of Houston has all the athleticism and instincts to make an impact as a slot defender. He plays in a style that fits with where the NFL is at and where it’s heading. If the Panthers take a QB at No 6, Pickett is the most pro-ready of the options. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh. Pickett is far from a sure thing but has a lot in common with Joe Burrow. He’s dynamic in the pocket, athletic, and mobile. Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan. There’s a reason the Jags have the No 1 overall selection and are perennially picking in the top 10: they need a boatload of help. It’s an unsexy draft class that’s for sure: the most talented players are edge rushers and offensive line types, not guys likely to transform the course of a franchise. And a reminder that 2017 was also supposed to be a “weak quarterback class.” That’s the year Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were drafted.

The NFL draft is upon us. Here are the latest rumors on potential picks and trades from our reporters.

Now a non-QB to the Jags at 1.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2022 Carry on.— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) https://t.co/qCLHUtQcWI April 27, 2022 Look at teams with multiple picks with options.— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) https://t.co/aQ1pyDrnrY April 28, 2022 Need is Buff nickel NOT just a S. (I like LB Troy Anderson; smart; athletic; has played multiple spots).— John Keim (@john_keim) April 28, 2022 This will be the fifth time in the past 16 drafts that a QB doesn't go No. 1 overall. — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN)— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) #Saintshave been working the phones this week, with possibility to move up or down in the first round, per multiple teams. He also doesn't want to fall out of the teens. On— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) @SportsCenter, we discussed whether GM Brian Gutekunst might be willing to trade up. What if there's a run on receivers in the middle of the first round tonight? * At 10 (assuming they keep it), hearing WR or edge. Talked to a few scouts who say Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt has Warren Tapp-like tendencies in style of play and explosiveness. By the end of the weekend, every team will love its draft and think it's special.

The 2022 NFL draft is finally on the clock, and USA TODAY Sports will provide instant insight into all 32 of Thursday night's selections.

Of note, it hardly mirrors your typical mock draft, with Walker – who could be Jacksonville's selection at No. 1 – listed 18th, and Pitt QB Kenny Pickett not making the top 50 cut at all (only two QBs did). Here is our friendly advice for all 32 NFL teams, pertinent both to the draft and beyond, as they continue shaping their rosters ahead of the 2022 season. Quite the indicator of how trades have pervaded the roster-building process when it seemed it wasn't that long ago that teams were highly reluctant top part with prime draft capital, especially first-rounders. USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis and Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz both released their final mock drafts this week ... Davis good-naturedly complaining about the quality of Middlehurst-Schwartz's Thursday mock as compared to his Wednesday version. USA TODAY Sports' Josh Peter did a deep dive on the suit game that occurs before the draft. But you never know in the NFL. The Jets and Lions could be receiver-needy teams to monitor. But Lisfranc surgery limited him to three games in 2021 – a year after he was slowed by ankle issues. 19. Saints (from Eagles) – 18. Eagles (from Saints) – Hutchinson, who has a non-stop motor, was also a two-time team captain in Ann Arbor – and should help establish the kind of culture coach Dan Campbell and the Lions are seeking. He’s the No. 1 overall player on many draft boards even if he might not have the ceiling of Walker. But Hutchinson is closer to a finished product, the All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist setting a Wolverines single-season record with 14 sacks in 2021 while also posting 51 hurries. However the Sin City backdrop should make the visuals uniquely spectacular this year.

No matter what the Patriots will do, Pats Pulpit has you covered! We will have plenty of coverage over the next three days (and beyond), so make sure to ...

Last year, the 21st overall pick was officially on the clock two hours and 26 minutes into the draft (10:26 p.m. ET). Giardi also shared that Jahan Dotson will be selected before Treylon Burks, while offensive tackle Charles Cross has been linked to the New Orleans Saints. 11:55 am: NFL Network’s Mike Giardi shared some draft day buzz regarding two Georgia defenders, believing defensive tackle Jordan Davis goes top-10 while safety Lewis Cine does not make it out of the first round. Round 6: No. 183 (via Houston), No. 200, No. 210 (via Los Angeles) Check out our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook for odds on this year’s draft. No matter what the Patriots will do, Pats Pulpit has you covered!

Will it be Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker, a pillar on the Bulldogs' national championship team who wowed scouts with his combination of size, speed ...

Due to a number of trades, eight teams have two first-round picks, including the New York Giants at picks No. 5 and No. 7 and the New York Jets at picks No. 4 and No. 10. , and NFL officials said to expect glitzy Vegas touches throughout the event. The answer will come shortly after 8 p.m. ET when the draft makes its hotly anticipated Vegas debut.

LAS VEGAS — After months of anticipation and countless mock drafts, 32 players found out which NFL teams they'll be playing for this season. Thursday's NFL ...

“A lot of teams need dynamic wide receivers, and I think you’re going to see six — and maybe seven — go in the first round.” They know the tendencies and needs of their respective teams, and have been writing about them for months. You saw it at the Super Bowl, but I think this is going to be bigger as far as the total number of people over the three days.” Hutchinson could really help opposite Josh Allen, and this team needs a better pass rush.” — John Reid, Florida Times-Union The price has moved to -250. “Whether I climb up and go in the third round or fall to the fifth round, I still have an opportunity to play,” he said. “Don’t really have to blow by guys to catch a ball,” he said. That’s just the minimum amount of sacrifice required by anyone taken on NFL draft day. Durability is a question, and he played in a combined 10 games the past two years. When he decided earlier this month to skip the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, Drake London understood there would be questions. He plans to be working on three canvases at the same time. LAS VEGAS — After months of anticipation and countless mock drafts, 32 players found out which NFL teams they’ll be playing for this season.

It's that time of the year again—the NFL draft. While headlines will be dominated by which of football's finest prospects head to which teams, and front ...

Who had the best fit? But he was not the only one flashing new jewelry. Some outfits, though, have been more sentimental over the years.

The Eagles enter the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft with two picks and a number of holes to fill.

It may become the new normal, but this is another deep receiver class with a handful of guys in the mix to go early in the first round. Consider this a dream scenario for both the Eagles and Wilson, who grew up as a diehard fan of the team. While offense is certainly represented with five different national pundits predicting the Eagles will take a wideout in the first round, there was a definite lean to the defensive side. That leaves Howie Roseman and Co. with more than a few options for how they want to utilize those picks, whether that’s by actually taking a player or by trading the picks to move up or down the draft board. They also both agree that the Eagles’ second pick in the first round could be Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie. We’ve looked at the specifics of which players the Eagles might draft with their two first-round picks. He controls five of the first 101 picks in the draft, which begins Thursday night and concludes Saturday. That includes first-round picks Nos. 15 and 18. Interestingly enough, our own Jeff McLane has the Eagles doing just that — trading up from 15 and back from 18. “I could see the Eagles going up to nine or 10 to go get Thibodeaux,” Jeremiah said Wednesday. “Stingley would be another one, I would keep an eye on those two guys as potential trade-up guys. And so you try to figure what would the Eagles need, who would they come up for? Earlier, James Palmer also mentioned that Roseman had been making calls and trying to move the Eagles up into the top 10. They have 10 picks total, including five in the first three rounds.

It will be no surprise when cornerback Roger McCreary becomes Auburn's first player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. The question leading up to his selection ...

There are only 262 selections in the 2022 NFL Draft. It would come as a shock if Monday were to slip on of the NFL Draft altogether The first is that McClain is ranked higher than Monday. The second is that they list McClain as an EDGE, not a box linebacker. Most mock drafts have McCreary going somewhere in the second round.

With the 2022 NFL Draft underway, here's a list of the best remaining draft prospects from NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's Top 150 prospect ...

In the run game, he doesn't roll his hips at the point of attack, but stays on his feet and flashes upper torque to turn and dump defenders. He also has the ability to grab and control the wrist of his opponent. He likes to cradle-catch balls on his frame, which leads to some drops, but he flashes the ability to high point and finish. Against the run, his burst and angles to the ball are highly impressive, but he will go low and miss a few tackles. He has the ability to layer the ball accurately in the intermediate area of the field and he throws a beautiful, lofting deep ball. The dip/rip move is his bread and butter, but he needs to add to his arsenal. He gives up separation out of the break, but he has the ability to recover and locate the ball in the air. He has a quick release and he can really power the ball outside the numbers and down the field. He is fluid and fast in everything he does on the field. He has the fluidity to match up in man coverage underneath and he’s a dynamic blitzer. He has some pop out of his plant and he can find and play the ball. Against the pass, he has the athleticism to match up with RBs and TEs underneath.

Drop-offs at certain positions could lead to trades, the speedy Alabama receiver is connected to a bunch of teams and more last-minute nuggets and rumors.

• I thought this line from an AFC exec sort of summed up how the league feels about the group going into tonight: “There just aren’t a lot of needle-movers. It’s true that many of his splash plays are in chase-down situations and that he was more consistent as a pass rusher from the inside than the outside. Walker, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to coaches and scouts the last couple of days about the difference between the two. And it feels like that’s what this is about for a lot of people—can Hutchinson be special? Which is probably why Kayvon Thibodeaux—who’s turned some teams off through the process—really hasn’t been part of the conversation, particularly in a year when ownership has been prioritizing culture and alignment with his football folks. And he could be the guy some team winds up making a move up for. It’s also true, per NFL folks, that he needs to develop moves as a pass rusher if he’s going to be a dominant edge guy. But, to be sure, there’s definitely seen to be a drop-off after the first three guys at tackle, too. And this line from a coach who knows him really well stuck with me in that regard: “Watch him at 30 yards, and how his second gear kicks in.” So I did. I could see Kansas City making a jump, too, but maybe for a corner—with a receiver like Georgia’s George Pickens being in play with the first-rounder they don’t wind up moving. If you want one of them, it’d seem getting in front of the Jets at No. 10 might be the play—presuming Walker and Hutchinson are, in some order, Nos. 1 and 2. So here’s a look at where the pressure points for those spots might be …

Fellow ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen will be there to help fill the gap.

And you guys have a great week and I just wanted to fill you in on why I will not be out there at the draft this year. Fellow NFL insider Chris Mortensen will be there to help fill the gap. This year’s draft will look a little bit different compared to years past, and not just because of the Las Vegas background.

In 2013, Keim drafted Jonathan Cooper, an offensive lineman out of North Carolina. he later traded Cooper to the New England Patriots to acquire Chandler Jones.

His draft stock hasn’t really slipped, but he no longer is considered to be a safe first overall draft choice due to some comments and choices he made at the combine." - 32. - 10. - 9. - 8. - 7. - 6. - 5. - 4. - 3. - 2. - 1.

Bucky Brooks breaks down every selection from Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft, providing analysis for predictable picks to unexpected trades.

Dotson is a catch-and-run specialist with outstanding speed, quickness and burst. As a middle-of-the-field defender with size, range and versatility, the Notre Dame standout is the kind of playmaking safety defensive coordinators build game plans around. Wilson is a polished playmaker with A-plus route-running ability and ball skills. London is a former hooper with outstanding size, length and leaping ability. Ekwonu is an explosive run-blocker with a nasty temperament that sets the tone for the front line. Hutchinson is a blue-chip prospect with A-plus tools and technical skills.

No player on offense went in the opening five picks for the first time in 31 years as the defensive side dominated the early first round of the NFL draft.

But Pickett fell to the Steelers, which sure seems like a comfortable fit for both player and team. “My mom cried the second I picked the phone up,” Ekwonu said. You know, Ja’Marr Chase, they change offenses, and I’m happy that receivers are starting to get that love.” Another Georgia standout, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, was taken by Philadelphia at 13 after yet another deal, getting matters back to the defensive side. When teams got around to the other side of the ball, they couldn’t stop. “Just being a hard worker.” Hutchinson, a sack-master whose consistency and relentlessness helped the Wolverines to their first College Football Playoff, is staying home as a pro. “I’m definitely prepared for it, being the No 1 pick,” Walker said. “I mean it’s just two big dudes out there on the perimeter,” London said. Gardner, of Cincinnati, was a major reason the Bearcats broke through into the College Football Playoff last season. I would take him at No 1 and not even blink.” It was the first time in 31 years that no player on offense went in the opening five picks.

The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft was full of surprises. The Jacksonville Jaguars tabbed Georgia defensive lineman Trevon Walker at No.

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Follow along as Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer hands out live grades for each pick during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

He is their ideal type of interior blocking prospect with his versatility tied to balanced strength and agility and fills a considerable need with Ted Karras and Shaq Mason no longer on the roster. Wyatt slipped a little with the Cardinals not picking, but Green Bay had a need to upgrade around Kenny Clark in its three-man front. The Cowboys took a late-rising player vs. Elam was worthy of a late first-rounder or early second-rounder, so this isn’t really too much of a reach. going for a wide receiver or pass rusher, but they liked McDuffie as their replacement for Chavarius Ward to make this move. Penning has a mean and nasty streak along with his athletic upside in a sturdy frame, making him the ideal bookend for Ryan Ramczyk in front of Winston. With the Olave pick earlier, the Saints are committed to better downfield pocket passing. Johnson does a little bit of everything well with his all-around skill set, featuring his natural agility and power. The Commanders took a circuitous route to getting their deep threat complement to Terry McLaurin, knowing Carson Wentz operates best when having that type of player outside. Davis had a late boost up the board as he got more attention for his sometimes explosive interior pass rush. Look for Moore to slide into the slot while Davis acts like more of a big possession body and Wilson becomes the primary field-stretcher for his second-year QB. The Falcons jumping on London made this a no-brainer. Gardner is the best corner in the draft and the Jets didn’t want to take a chance on him still being there at No. 10, given the crosstown Giants had heavy interest behind them. It’s a true boom-or-bust selection for Nick Caserio.

After Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson were the first off the board, several trades shook up Round 1. Who won the first day in Las Vegas?

Cine delivers some big hits in run support and is a reliable tackler in space with sideline-to-sideline range. He has a quick first step, violent and active hands and a nonstop motor with the versatility to line up inside or outside. He showed off his elite quickness and athleticism by running a 4.77 40-yard dash at 304 pounds at the combine. Johnson led the ACC in both tackles for loss (17.5) and sacks (11.5) in 2021 as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson continued to improve his stock throughout the pre-draft process, and he uses his blend of strength, length (34” arms) and burst to make plays against the run and pass. Kaiir has outstanding straight-line speed (4.39 40-yard dash), and he’s at his best in press where he can use his size and physicality at the line of scrimmage. Due to his physicality, run-after-catch prowess and how the Razorbacks varied his alignments, it’s easy to see how the Titans could use Burks similarly to how the 49ers use Deebo Samuel. Burks finished 2021 with 66 receptions for 1,104 yards, 14 carries for 112 yards and a total of 12 touchdowns. The Commanders had only one receiver (Terry McLaurin) with 400-plus yards last season and will benefit from adding a talented receiver like Dotson. Creating separation with his nuanced route-running and quickness, Dotson has outstanding hands and is elusive in the open field even though he won’t break a lot of tackles. Improved hand usage will help cut down on holding penalties, but the former five-star recruit has a powerful lower half, outstanding length and is at his best in the run game. The Ravens get a steal with my second-ranked player overall. Quick and elusive, Wilson ran a faster-than-expected 40-yard dash (4.38) in Indianapolis. He’s a complete receiver that finished 2021 with 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s a top-three prospect, so the Giants get some good value here. The Jets needed an upgrade at corner, and he has the chance to become one of the best.

Check out live updates from the NFL Draft Day 1 on Thursday, April 28, 2022. The 2022 NFL Draft is taking place in Las Vegas. The Titans pick 26th.

New York addressed their offensive line two picks later drafting Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal with seventh pick. New Orleans executed the first trade of the NFL draft trading with the Washington Commanders up to the 11th pick. Walker is the first defensive end to be taken with the first pick since Cleveland drafted Myles Garrett in 2017. After months of speculation, the Jaguars selected Georgia defensive end Travon Walker with the first pick in this year's NFL Draft. The Giants selected Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the pick. The first blockbuster trade of the draft featured the Titans. The first five picks of the draft were all defensive. After sitting and waiting patiently, the Steelers selected Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick making him the first quarterback selected in the draft. For the second time in the first round, the Titans were involved with a trade, Tennessee opted to move back instead of moving up this time trading the 26th pick to the Jets. New York received the 26th and 101st pick while the Titans received picks 35, 69 and 163. Green Bay selected Georgia linebacker Quay Walker with 22nd pick making them the first team to select a pair of college teammates in the first round. The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft was held Thursday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The versatile Georgia defensive lineman had taken over as bookies' favourite to go first off the board at the beginning of the week having seen his stock sky- ...

1 1 1 1 1 Where Hutchinson and Thibodeaux tended to operate as 5-tech perimeter-hoggers, Walker would typically align tighter as a 4i-tech over the tackle's inside shoulder.

If a prospect is considered a great pick the day of the draft, but doesn't work out in the long run, that's a completely different evaluation of his new team's ...

Analysis: San Francisco gave up its 2022 first-round pick to Miami last year when moving up for quarterback Trey Lance. With Lance making just two starts as a rookie, I'm giving the 49ers an average grade for now. Roseman turned Philly's second first-round pick ( No. 18) into former Titans receiver A.J. Brown, whom they immediately gave a four-year extension worth $100 million with $57 million guaranteed. New York used the final pick from the Jamal Adams trade to select Wilson at No. 10. Analysis: The Saints gave up No. 16 overall, a third- and fourth-round pick to grab Washington's 11th spot to select Olave. The Saints badly needed speed on the outside and the run on receivers was real, so GM Mickey Loomis pulled off another first-round trade to get his guy. Analysis: The Rams did not have a first-round pick this year because they sent it to the Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford last offseason. Getting a haul of draft picks from the Dolphins in return for Hill gives Reid another chance to prove that belief is correct. Lloyd's lack of supreme athleticism cost him draft position, but he displayed blossoming pass-rush ability when given the chance at Utah, as well as the willingness to plug gaps against the run and cover tight ends. Analysis: The Colts gave up their first-round pick in the trade with Philadelphia for Carson Wentz last year. It's too early to make a complete evaluation of the Matthew Stafford trade, which netted the Lions an extra first-round pick this year. Immediate draft grades provide a foundation for future evaluations. These 2022 NFL Draft quick-snap grades are an indication of whether I think a prospect's selection is of appropriate value given his college film and athleticism scores. Waiting three years to evaluate draft classes, without accounting for how the decision was viewed at the time, usually leads to revisionist history.

Five Georgia defensive players were taken in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, eclipsing the draft record set by the 2004 Miami defense ...

In the 2006 draft Florida State's Ernie Sims, Kamerion Wimbley, Brodrick Bunkley and Antonio Cromartie were selected in the first round. Six picks later the Packers dove in again with Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt at the No. 28 pick. Five Georgia defensive players were selected in the first round Thursday night, a record from one defense in the common draft era. By comparison Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson, taken No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions, had 16.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks this past season on his own. Defensive end/outside linebacker Travon Walker got it all rolling as he went No. 1 overall as the Jacksonville Jaguars opened the evening with the selection of the first Bulldogs player. The Bulldogs led the nation in scoring defense (10.2 points per game) this past season as they surrendered only 16 touchdowns all season.

Projecting Friday night's 73 picks, including names like Malik Willis, George Pickens, Desmond Ridder and Kenneth Walker III.

He has sideline-to-sideline range and ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash (4.44) among linebackers at the combine. Lining up all over the formation, the sure-handed McBride was the focal point of Colorado State’s offense and posted rare stats for a collegiate tight end (90/1,121/1) in 2021. While he isn’t as effective against the run, his length (34 ⅛" arms), bend and active hands should allow him to become a productive pass rusher early in his career. Brisker has the versatility to succeed in a variety of roles and alignments. Although he has shouldered a heavy workload (800 career touches), Hall was highly productive in college and has the frame and versatile skill set to be a featured back. Watson has an elite combination of size and speed, with a wide catch radius and is elusive for a big receiver. Improved decision making and ball placement helped Corral cut down on interceptions (five) in 2021 compared to the previous season (14), and Pete Carroll should appreciate Corral’s competitive play style. A four-year starter with 44 career wins, Ridder has the ability to process what he sees quickly and to make throws to all three levels of the field. While he missed most of the past season with a torn ACL, the lanky receiver has natural hands and excellent body control. At Georgia, he was the leader of the best defense in the country. He finished with his most productive season (13 TFLs and six sacks) in 2021. He generates plenty of zip on his throws, and his elite speed and dynamism as a runner stresses opposing defenses.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected defensive lineman Travon Walker with the first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.

They used the 10th choice on Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson. And even then, they weren't done. The Jets traded back up into the first round to get the ...

When he’s healthy and locked in, he’s one of the most elite talents at the position to enter the league in the past decade, maybe longer. The Giants. They can have their choice of their left tackles, and with the Carolina Panthers likely to take an offensive linemen, they could nab Kayvon Thibodeaux — regarded by many as they most talented player in the entire class — with the seventh overall pick. They probably could have drafted a quarterback with the 32nd overall pick they shipped to the Vikings. They also could have stood pat and drafted one of the gaggle of great wide receiving prospects — Georgia’s George Pickens, perhaps? Thibodeaux may also be the kind of player other teams may want to trade up for. He has the kind of electric athletic ability to become the defining pass rusher of his generation. They squandered draft capital to move up to 13th overall, and they used that pick to take Jordan Davis, who was a great player at Georgia. But Davis plays defensive tackle and hasn’t shown much ability to rush the passer. Jerry Brewer:If you’re looking for a complete wide receiver, Drake London is not worthy to be the top wideout off the board. During free agency, the trade season and now this draft, some teams have been borderline reckless in adding good pass-catching talent to their rosters. The Packers are still desperate for a wide receiver, but it’ll have to come in a later round (or maybe yet another blockbuster wide receiver trade). It looks to be a nice haul for General Manager Joe Douglas, who really needed to have a banner draft as he approaches his third anniversary running the franchise. But while six wideouts have been taken in this opening round of this NFL draft, the Packers have been non-participants there. It’s hard to square the primacy of the position and how disregarded it has been tonight.

It was a big night for linemen, receivers, and the state of Georgia, but a very quiet one for quarterbacks. In surprising moves, A.J. Brown was traded to ...

The New Orleans Saints traded a host of picks over the next three years in a series of deals to move up the board to select Ohio State receiver Chris Olave at No. 11, then added Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning with the 19th pick. Thibodeaux was a consensus All-America selection in 2021 and one of the top defenders in the nation for three years. Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett finally became the only quarterback selected when the Pittsburgh Steelers made him the 20th overall pick. It was a big night for linemen, receivers, and the state of Georgia, but a very quiet one for quarterbacks. Justin Herbert, now a Pro Bowl quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, faced similar vague whispers when leaving Oregon in 2020. Wilson combines pure speed with route running that is two parts Cooper Kupp and one part Bob Fosse. If Wilson needs three jukes to get open, he makes three jukes, but some evaluators worry because when Wilson needs one juke to get open, he makes three jukes. Walker recorded a mere six sacks in the 2021 season for the College Football Playoff champions, but his 35.5-inch arms and outstanding results in athletic tests like the three-cone drill impressed scouts during the pre-draft process, prompting the Jaguars to choose him over higher-rated, more-accomplished prospects. Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who is incrementally less athletic than Walker but had 14 sacks in 2021, fell to the Detroit Lions at the second pick. The Giants selected Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux fifth and Alabama guard Evan Neal eighth. Johnson recorded 11.5 sacks in 2021 after transferring from a Georgia program that produced five first-round selections on Thursday. The Jets selected Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner fourth and Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson 10th, then traded up for Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II at 26th overall. Until the team proves otherwise, if opponents protect their quarterbacks by stashing him behind cones or atop a high bookshelf, the Jaguars are set.

A suddenly distorted wide receiver market – thanks, Jacksonville! – turned a position once considered an NFL draft afterthought into the focal point of ...

Whenever there’s a draft class that lacks high-level quarterback prospects, the opening night of the draft tends to be a dud, one reserved for the evaluation geeks. Some have inverted the Snead mindset, pouring draft picks into packages in order to move up in the draft to focus in on Their Guy™, regardless of the perceived positional value or their starting spot when the opening round of the draft first began. As the timelines for teams – the executives, coaches, fans – fray, the notion of meticulous, long-term building is going the way of the dodo. On draft night, Titans star AJ Brown joined the growing list of Big Name Receivers On The Move – the Titans trading Brown to the Eagles for a first-round pick. The gold rush among the league’s star receivers has forced a re-assessing of the value of the position in the draft. The post-process era of draft pick fetishization birthed a market inefficiency. The Titans used the pick they received from the AJ Brown trade to select Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks, a comparative talent who will cost a fraction of the salary Brown will earn in Philly. The league has split into two worlds: You’re either trading away a star receiver or looking to acquire one, whether that’s digging into the veteran market or trying to vault up the draft order. The NFL, as the cliché goes, is a copycat league. Over the past half-decade, the idea of taking a receiver early in the draft has felt like overkill. As NFL teams have shifted away from rhythm and timing-based offences into systems based around pace-and-space, the goal has been to find receivers who can do damage with the ball in their hand after the catch, or who have the speed that makes the quarterback’s life easy. The names of players who have moved read like a who’s who of the All-Pro ballot.

Will the Jaguars' gamble of taking Travon Walker pay off?

According to Valk, Long was on the road “minutes later … after stopping at a store to buy a jacket and scarf.” Long went all the way from Los Angeles to the Yukon-Alaska border, and only one of his photos made it into the magazine: a black-and-white shot of the climbing party from a distance. The only players from the ’97 draft who went on to attempt more than 200 passes were Plummer, Koy Detmer and Danny Weurfel. The strange thing about the photo is that it was shot by two of SI’s favorite outside photographers of the late 1960s. ‘It’s Sheedy and Long.’ In Los Angeles the girl comes on and says, ‘Sheedy and Long. You want Mr. Sheedy or Mr....’ ‘Well, which one is in?’ says Bloodgood. ‘I'll put him on,’ she says. (Caveat: before 2022, when five defenders were taken to start the draft.) Conor Orr wrote more about the draft than any person should, so I’ll just link to his author page instead of one individual post. This year’s QB class was widely regarded as a weak one, so it wasn’t a surprise that we had to wait until the back half of the round for one to be taken. Still, it was a bit of a surprise that only one (Pitt’s Kenny Pickett) was chosen. While Hutchinson’s and Thibodeaux’s college production made them safe choices at the top of the draft, Jacksonville is betting on Walker to take a leap once he gets to the NFL. He’s a stout run defender but had only 9.5 sacks in three college seasons. Kevin Hanson gave Detroit an A+ for the Hutchinson pick, not just because of his talent but because he fills a need for a team that struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks last year. That’s why Hanson gave Jacksonville a B- for the pick. Georgia’s Travon Walker went first to the Jaguars, who had been rumored to be targeting him for the past week or so, allowing the Lions to take a hometown product many considered to be the best player available, Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson. After that, the moves were more unpredictable.

The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft was a record-breaking evening of chaos, beginning with the culmination of Travon Walker's surprising ascent to No.

Oh, what a first night at the 2022 NFL Draft it was, indeed. Each of them members of Georgia's national championship team, they bookended a first round in which five Bulldogs defenders were taken, which is the most for a school in the common draft era. Pickett ended up being the only quarterback to hear his name called, marking the first occasion in which only one QB was picked in the opening round since 2013. It was the latest a quarterback has gone in the draft since the 49ers picked Jim Druckenmiller 26th overall back in 1997. Entering Thursday evening in Las Vegas, the draft was poised to be one of the most unpredictable in memory. Six wide receivers were selected in the top 20 -- beginning with USC's Drake London to the Falcons at No. 8 and concluding with Arkansas' Treylon Burks at No. 18 to the Titans -- for a common draft era (since 1967) record, per NFL Research.

Plus: Scott Van Pelt's touching tribute, Charles Barkley hates bees, Jerry Seinfeld hates golf in today's Traina Thoughts. Author:.

A player's agent told Schefter that his player was in demand and would go in the first round and Schefter made sure to put this "information" out there to his 9.4 million Twitter followers. The host of the very popular Ryen Russillo Podcast shared his thoughts on everything from the NBA playoffs to Kevin Durant vs. He also had Aaron Rodgers for a lengthy interview and got the scoop that Rodgers did not know Davante Adams was going to bolt for Las Vegas when the quarterback re-signed with Green Bay. And it’s not that ESPN and the NFL Network offer bad coverage. I’m talking about the coverage from ESPN and NFL Network. To be clear, I’m not talking about the draft itself.

Ranking the top 230 prospects who could still hear their names called in rounds two through seven, including Nakobe Dean, Malik Willis and David Ojabo.

Watson has an elite combination of size and speed with a wide catch radius, and is elusive for a big receiver. Hall finished with his most productive season (13 TFLs and six sacks) in 2021. His intelligence and instincts allow him to play fast and impact the game in so many different ways. He had a 95/1,292/10 line in ’21 and PFF credited Moore with 26 broken tackles after the catch, which led FBS wide receivers last season. Although he has shouldered a heavy workload (800 career touches), Hall was highly productive and has the frame and versatile skill set to be a featured back. For teams that miss out on Jordan Davis or prefer to wait (a little longer) on a run-stuffing nose tackle, there won’t be much of a drop off with Jones. While he isn’t as effective against the run, his length (34 ⅛" arms), bend and active hands should allow him to become a productive pass rusher early in his career. Pickens’s best season came as a highly-touted true freshman when he hauled in 49 receptions for 727 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019. The scheme-diverse corner is a smooth and fluid mover with excellent ball skills. Similar to Elam, Hall has an NFL pedigree as he follows in the footsteps of his stepfather (Jeff Smith) and cousin (Roger Craig). Ojabo is relatively new to football, but he finished last season with 11 sacks—second in the Big Ten behind Hutchinson—and his pass-rush moves are more developed than one would expect given his limited experience. He’s joined by Iowa State running back Breece Hall, Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean and other collegiate stars who didn’t hear their names called on Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The pick-by-pick order for Rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft on Friday night in Las Vegas:--Round 2 (33) Jacksonville Jaguars(34) Minnesota Vikings (from ...

Thursday night also saw a record number of trades as teams made moves for players they wanted to target. GO FURTHER The first two trades up of Round 1 also involved receivers. GO FURTHER Before the draft, I put together my all-fit team: one player at each defensive position group who is a perfect fit for modern NFL defenses. GO FURTHER Pitt’s Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback drafted in the first round, leaving several passing prospects searching for a home in Rounds 2 and 3. GO FURTHER GO FURTHER So we should evaluate them based on what we know at the time of the pick. GO FURTHER GO FURTHER

The first day of the 2022 NFL Draft has come to a close with some usual surprises in terms of reaches, trades and players who slipped.

He is a player who has the leadership and mental intangibles that teams covet from the quarterback and despite the lack of a top ten ceiling, Ridder in the middle of the second would be a great pick for the Seahawks. He is an unbelievably raw talent, although he has the ceiling of a player who can contend for a Defensive Player of the Year award if he can reach his ceiling. No team traded up into the first to draft him (giving them the fifth-year option), which is rather surprising and can be viewed as a message that the league might not be as high on him as many thought.

With Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, Lance Zierlein projects how Rounds 2 and 3 will play out on Friday night. And in this projection, ...

McBride can block, he can catch and he's a card-carrying tough guy. Needing to find a future starter at tackle, Green Bay takes a shot on Petit-Frere, who has experience on both the right and left side. After using first-round picks on cornerback Trent McDuffie and edge rusher George Karlaftis to address the defense, Kansas City takes a swing on the talented Georgia wideout to help restock the passing game. The addition of a quality running back makes sense on the surface -- and it makes even more sense considering the potential suspension coming for Alvin Kamara. The Seahawks might not have planned on drafting a QB this year, but is it even possible to pass on Willis at this spot? With Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, here's a look at how Rounds 2 and 3 could play out in Las Vegas on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NFL Network.

Heisman Trophy runner-up Hutchinson did not have to wait much longer for his name to be called, though, as the Detroit Lions wasted no time in snapping him up ...

The New England Patriots, meanwhile, plumped for relative-unknown guard Cole Strange, out of Tennessee-Chattanooga, with the 29th pick. 1 1 1 1 1