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2022 NFL Draft: 5 Players who were steals on Day 1

By Michael Johnson

Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson after being selected as the twenty-sixth overall pick to the New York Jets during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson after being selected as the twenty-sixth overall pick to the New York Jets during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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2022 NFL Draft
2022 NFL Draft: Offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum #65 of the Iowa Hawkeyes prepares to snap the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on November 26, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

2022 NFL Draft steal no. 4: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens

Spoiler alert, the Ravens will make this list twice. Eric DeCosta opted to rid the Ravens of Marquise Brown. He traded the fourth-year wideout to the Arizona Cardinals for a first and a third.

He didn’t spend that pick on a wide receiver replacement — he got Lamar Jackson some help.

Tyler Linderbaum is a pure center who fits zone schemes. He’s praised for his high football IQ and potential Pro Bowl potential.

Linderbaum comes from Offensive Line U under Kirk Ferentz’s tutelage. The former Iowa center plays with tenacity and grit. He has anchor hands that help him control his hand.

Thanks to his lateral mobility, he’s capable of handling three techniques. The Ravens likely got themselves a 15-year player and perennial Pro Bowler.

2022 NFL Draft steal no 3: Devin Lloyd, Utah, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Best Player Available is a moniker used a lot in NFL Draft media. The Jaguars understood that when it came to Devin Lloyd. GM Trent Baalke wasn’t going to wait for Lloyd to fall anymore. After trading with the Buccaneers, the Jags got a game-changing linebacker in Devin Lloyd.

The 6-3 nearly 240-pound linebacker is a dynamic player who can line up on or off-ball. He does his best work as a downhill ‘backer who thumps with guards. He scraps and flows well in the trash and shoots the gaps with excellent quickness.

He’ll make plays at and behind the line of scrimmage. In his final season, Lloyd ended with 22 tackles for loss in addition to having seven sacks.

He can also drop back in coverage playing hook flats. He has good ball skills, which is clear by his four interceptions.

DC Mike Caldwell has a versatile backer who was also praised for his leadership. The Jaguars got a potentially elite prospect late in the first round.

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