NFL Draft 2022 Instant Reactions – Part 3

The 2022 NFL Draft is officially underway. Here at Faceoff Sports Network, we’re getting our team together to break it down for you as it moves along. We’ll give our thoughts on each pick as well as a grade on a scale of 1-10. Let’s dig right in.

Round One (Continued)

1.21 Trent McDuffie (Chiefs)

If you haven’t been paying attention, it’s been basically the AFC West and the rest of the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense was absolute garbage last season and gave up too many big plays and a lot of yards, especially against the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. This is a big positive for the Chiefs as their defense is one of their biggest weaknesses especially when you will be going up against Russell Wilson and the Broncos, the Raiders with Adams and Waller, and the Chargers with Allen and Williams. The Chiefs nailed this one. Grade – 8

1.22 Quay Walker (Packers)

Packers add another athletic freak from the Georgia defense in consecutive years. Walker blazed a 4.53 40-yard dash while weighing 241 pounds. There were talks of Walker being the first linebacker off of the board so in that sense it is not a shock. Will Aaron Rodgers get weapons at some point? We will see. Walker should do well in the Sam linebacker role and does surprisingly well at coverage so he should remain on the field. His value does take a hit in IDP leagues as he has lower odds of being able to be a vacuum for tackles, alongside the fact he plays for a team with a ball-control offense. Grade – 7

1.23 Kaiir Elam (Bills)

A day one starter as the number two cornerback on an already loaded defense of the Buffalo Bills and fills the hole with the now-departed Levi Wallace. This team will now be a true stopper, especially for the wide receivers in Miami in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. A lock-down corner and a perfect landing spot. Grade – 8

1.24 Tyler Smith (Cowboys)

Tyler Smith is a risky option for any team, let alone for a first-round pick. While Smith has several traits that are favorable for an offensive tackle, he needs significant work on the fundamentals and could be a significant penalty problem for a Dallas team that struggled with offensive penalties last season. Smith incurred 16 penalties in his last season, including 12 holding penalties. Smith has a high upside, but he will require more development than I think is wise for a first-round pick. Grade – 2

1.25 Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens)

Tyler Linderbaum, if not for his ankle injury, would have likely been a top-20 pick, The Ravens now walk away with two players that had no business falling that far down on draft boards. Linderbaum is undersized so the weight room is a must for the Baltimore offense. Trading away a wide receiver to draft a center shows how the Ravens’ offense will continue to operate. Grade – 9

1.26 Jermaine Johnson (Jets)

This move solidified the Jets as having the strongest draft through the first round. While the Jets could use some more offensive line help, their biggest struggle last season was on the defensive side of the ball. Jermaine Johnson was projected to be a top-ten player in several mock drafts and has the arm length and speed to be a problem for NFL quarterbacks. The Jets’ defensive unit has taken a major step forward in terms of talent. Now it will be on the coaching staff to turn that into a top defense. Lock the Jets in to be competing for a Wild Card spot this season. Grade – 10

1.27 Devin Lloyd (Jaguars)

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense is suddenly beginning to take shape. Many analysts have Devin Lloyd ranked as the number one linebacker in this class and for good reason. Lloyd has the length to defend the pass and the speed to be a lockdown run defender, with 22 tackles for loss in his senior year. And the fact they traded up for this move makes the pick that much stronger. Grade – 9

1.28 Devonte Wyatt (Packers)

Adding another defensive player while never addressing the offense is just cruel at this point. That being said, Wyatt is a monster and has better technique than his former linemate Jordan Davis. Wyatt slides in as an instant starter and a five-technique for this Green. Bay defense. Aaron Rodgers pours himself another glass. The more profound analysis is Green Bay is now locking up their run game as they have in fortifying their secondary. Green Bay should definitely move up all your boards in redraft for the Team Defense. Grade – 6

1.29 Cole Strange (Patriots)

I am honestly confounded by this move by the Patriots. This is perhaps the Bill Belicheck move to end all Bill Belicheck moves. Cole Strange is an older rookie after being a five-year starter at Chattanooga, but he didn’t start playing offensive line until college, so has demonstrated an ability to put in the work and raise his prospects. I like picking a young center to build chemistry with Mac Jones, solidifying the foundation of your offense, but the value of this pick lowers the grade for me. Grade – 6

1.30 George Karlaftis (Chiefs)

Have you checked out the AFC West recently? If not, this is your friendly reminder that the AFC West is stacked with quarterbacks and pass-rushing talent and Kansas City is doing what they can to keep up. George Karlaftis could have rightfully been picked in the top half of the first round, so getting him at pick 30 is a significant value for Kansas City. He has some remaining growth related to missed tackles, but this is a significant need for a Kansas City defense that will face the top offenses on a regular occasion.

Grade – 9

1.31 Daxton Hill (Bengals)

I am still on the train of the Bengals needing to invest in the offensive line and protect Joe Burrow and there is still first round offensive line talent on the board. Daxton Hill has the talent deserving of a first round pick, with a lightning 40-yard of 4.38 and a 6.5-second three cone. With the increase in speedy receivers, teams need to invest in their secondary units to compete. While I’m not sure this was the biggest need for Cincinnati, I think Hill’s talent makes up for the positional value consideration.

Grade – 5.3

1.32 Lewis Cine (Vikings)

I do not understand this pick at all. When Minnesota traded down to the 32nd pick I thought this was surely them going for a quarterback and beginning to pivot to the next iteration of this team. The Vikings have found themselves in pergatory, where they are consistently on the edge of competing, but never quite get there. And this move proves that they believe they are right on the edge of competing. As for Lewis Cine, he has significant speed and arm length, hitting double digits passes defended in his final year and racking up the tackles for the Georgia defense. He will certainly be a benefit for the Vikings, but the move is strange in terms of draft value.

Grade – 1

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