Grade your team's draft from 2022 (1 Viewer)

[Hooper31]

The return of my annual thread.

Did this for years and then got away from it. I still love the draft and plan to keep doing this year after year.

Journalists keep saying they're forced to give grades. They know it's a stupid activity. They routinely admit it and proceed to throw down the grades anyway. Let's choose to be better. After investing the time for only a few years it changes one's perspective. Realizing what actually constitutes a respectable draft. It doesn't take much. Most years you're looking at getting a starter or two if you're lucky. The vast majority of players drafted don't make it onto the field. If you go back and look through the Seahawks 2010, 2011, and 2012 drafts you'll see why they played in back to back Super Bowls. They crushed those years and got somewhat lucky. Pro-bowl starters outside the first two rounds? They had a bunch in Sherman, Wright, Chancellor, Baldwin, and Wilson on a rookie contract. Geesh.

If you wish to participate please include the following:

1. List of drafted players. LINK to DraftHistory.com
2. Players still with team
3. Starters
4. Potential future starters
5. Pro-bowls
6. Positives
7. Negatives
8. Grade

Year Pick# Round Pick Overall Player Position College

2022 1 1 9 9 Charles Cross T Mississippi State
2 2 8 40 Boye Mafe LB Minnesota
3 2 9 41 Kenneth Walker RB Michigan State
4 3 8 72 Abraham Lucas T Washington State
5 4 4 109 Coby Bryant DB Cincinnati
6 5 10 153 Tariq Woolen DB Texas-San Antonio
7 5 15 158 Tyreke Smith LB Ohio State
8 7 8 229 Bo Melton WR Rutgers
9 7 12 233 Dareke Young WR Lenoir-Rhyne


2. Players still with team: 7
3. Starters: 6
4. Potential future starters: 0
5. Pro-bowls: 2
6. Positives: Ummm. All of it? Who gets this many starters in one draft? Cross is a franchise LT. Mafe has turned into a reliable pass rusher. Walker has moment of stardom. Two starting OTs because when you throw in Lucas. Woolen is one of the best cover corners in the NFL. His stats are off the chart good. Geesh. Even Young in the last round has turned into a great special teams player. Seriously, string together three drafts like this and you're a solid playoff team for several years.
7. Negatives: The 4th rounder Bryant is going to lose his starting job to Nick E from South Carolina, but that's the nature of the NFL. Lucas has struggled to stay healthy because of a knee injury, but that the end of last season looked like he's on the right track to be a full time starter again.
8. Grade: A

 

[nittanylion]

!

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Steelers:

F+

Austin has been okay at times. Oladokun won a couple rings as a backup in KC. Pickett got one for taking, like, 6 snaps last year in Philly.

Rest of the crop are either dreck, off the team, or a massive headcase that quits on plays with regularity.

They did trade some picks that turned into THE Grant Calcaterra tho.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Baltimore

1.14 Kyle Hamilton, Safety A+. One of the 10-20 best non-QBs in the NFL. Already twice an All Pro.

1.25 Tyler Linderbaum, Center A+. The Ravens traded Hollywood Brown for this pick. Two-time PBer and there will be more.

2.45 David Ojabo, Edge D. The only reason I didn't give this an F is that it's mostly injury related. Ojabo may not make the roster this summer. A shame, because he had talent.

3.76 Travis Jones, DT. B+. Good player and flashed like he's gonna get off, but somehow never does. He works for what they do, though.

4.110 Daniel Faalele, OL. B-. He's started a OG for them and is, IMO, ok. The Ravens seem to think he's better than I do.

4.119 Jalyn Armour-Davis, DB D. Just could never get himself on the field due to either injury or better talent ahead of him.

4.128 Charlie Kolar, TE. C. This grade may rise significantly depending on how Baltimore's TE situation plays out over the next 12 months. He just hasn't been asked to do much yet.

4.130 Jordan Stout, P. C. This dude drives me nuts. He'll punt like Ray Guy for a couple of games, then punt like me the next.

4.139 Isaiah Likely, TE. A. This guy can play, man.

4.141 Damarion Williams, DB. D. See 4.119 above.

6.196 Tyler Badie, RB. D, I guess. I don't even know if he's still on the team.

Overall, I'd give the Ravens an A. They got a bunch of quality starters out of that draft. One of the things good organizations do is quietly flip their rosters while remaining competitive. I think Baltimore does that as well as anyone.

 

[IHEARTFF]

Chiefs - A

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Drake London | WR | Round 1 | Pick 8 - A
He was the #1 WR taken and he's turned into the #1 WR from that draft class

Arnold Ebiketie | OLB | Round 2 | Pick 38 - C-
In 3 seasons has yet to eclipse 6 sacks despite plenty of opportunities to establish himself. Falcons drafting of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. this year showsx the degree by which he did not emerge.

Troy Andersen | ILB | Round 2 | Pick 58 - D+
Injuries have been a killer for him as he's only played 9 out of a possible 34 games the past 2 years. But as a small school prospect drafted based on traits, window has likely closed on any ceiling hje was perceived to have.

Desmond Ridder | QB | Round 3 | Pick 74 - F
Was fairly overwhelmed and ultimately miscast as a starter. Was waived after the 2023 season and has been on the Cardinals and Raiders since. Woof.

DeAngelo Malone | OLB | Round 3 | Pick 82 - D
Simply hasn't emerged as a pro caliber player with 51 total tackles and 3 sacks in the 3 seasons.

Tyler Allgeier | RB | Round 5 | Pick 151 - B
Was tremendous as a rookie, but his role got downsized when they drafted Bijan the following year. Probably a guy who'll have an nice market next offseason.

 

[IHEARTFF]

Chiefs - A

I didn’t realize this said 2022 earlier but I will keep the A
2 d studs in rd 1, 2 useful guys in mid rounds and 2 starters from rd 7 is about as good as you can do.

McDuffie is a lock down cb
Karlaftis is a solid edge rusher
Skyy Moore scored a TD in a Super Bowl win
Bryan cook is fine
Leo Chanel is a good rotational player
Some other guys Josh Williams and Darian Kinnard are still on NFL rosters
Jaylen Watson and Pacheco rd 7 are as good as rd 7 picks get starting on Super Bowl teams

 

[Todem]

Look up The Dolphins 2022 Draft.

D+

The only good thing was Skylars rookie season where he was two Waddle drops away from upsetting the Bills in Buffalo.

And then he became a fart in the wind and the rest of the picks were absolutely nothing.

Just google it for a laugh.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Lions 2022 Draft Class A+

1. 1 2 2 Aidan Hutchinson ED Michigan - STUD, extension in the works which might make him the highest paid non-QB in NFL, great player and the face of the franchise.

2. 1 12 12 Jameson Williams WR Alabama - moved up 20 spots in the rare interdivisional trade, broke out last year after numerous off-field issues his first couple seasons (ACL recovery, gambling suspension, PEDs suspension, unlicensed gun found during traffic stop), dynamic playmaker who is among the fastest players in the league. Everybody loves Jamo, hopefully the immaturity is behind him, can be as good as any deep threat in the league if he keeps it together. Honestly feels like a good kid who is careless, no malice or ill intent, just maybe not the sharpest knife in the drawer. They exercised the 5th year option on both first round picks this week. Extension is TBD, they can't keep everyone and he needs to demonstrate he has turned the corner as a person. As a player, he gets better every year but still upside there IMO.

3. 2 14 46 Josh Paschal DT/ED Kentucky - 36 g, 18 gs, average replacement level rotational DL who can play a variety of roles along the front.

4. 3 33 97 Kerby Joseph S Illinois - no one has more than his 17 interceptions over the last 3 years (think Bates with 14 is next), All Pro, just signed a top of the market extension.

5. 5 34 177 James Mitchell TE Va Tech - showed flashes but just never really got better. 30 g, 1 start, 13-141-1 on 13 targets, parted ways with him after he only played 1 game last year (25 snaps in the 52-6 drubbing of the Jags.) Now with Carolina.

6. 6 9 188 Malcolm Rodriguez LB Oklahoma State - started 15 g as a rookie, 3 in Y2 and 6 last year (played 16, 17 and 10 g.) 1459 snaps in his career, has limitation but smart and instinctive. Something of a late round gem, high effort player who is also a good 5-phase special teamer - something highly valued in Motown. Recovering from an ACL but expected to be ready Week 1.

7. 6 37 217 James Houston IV OLB/ED Florida/Jackson State - played for Coach Prime in Deion's 1st year, converted from offball to pass rush specialist, recorded 24.5 sacks. Didn't make the 53-man but resigned to practice squad, by November it was apparent they needed to elevate the guy because he was beating Decker and Sewell like a drum every week in practice. First game was Thanksgiving, sacked Josh Allen twice while playing 5 snaps. Had 8 sacks in his first 5 g with a FF and FR, 12 pressures in 92 pass rush snaps. Started the last 2 g but did not have another sack. Y2 got hurt in Week 2 (broken leg on ST play IIRC), came back for the NFCCG but looked not good. Y3 was abysmal. Not fast enough to play in coverage at SAM LB, got crushed in the run game when they played him at Edge. Incredible bend, reminiscent of Von Miller, but once the league had tape on him it was all over. Had only 1 sack in his last 15 games for the Lions, Was a huge part of the 2022 turnaround though, and will always be remembered fondly by fans. Now with the Browns.

8. Chase Lucas DB Ohio State - now with the 49ers, has been mostly a fringe practice squad player. Now with the 49ers.


All 8 guys are still in the league, 6 became at least part-time starters, two All Pros and another one who might be a Pro Bowler one day. The 5 guys still with the team all have a defined and secure role for the last year of their rookie contract; both 1st round picks had their 5th year option picked up.

What's not to like?

Although the 2021 was an incredible foundation setter (Sewell, McNeill, ARSB), and 2023 yielded four starters/three pro bowlers in the first 45 picks (2024 is TBD), this is the one that got the Lions Hutch, Zooper, Jamo and The Problem. Probably my favorite draft class of the last 5 years.