2022 NFL Draft: 5 Players who were steals on Day 1
2022 NFL Draft steal no 2: Kyle Hamilton, S, Baltimore Ravens
Of course, the Ravens had yet another great draft. They shocked the NFL world by trading Marquise Brown, but who cares?
Before trading Brown, Eric DeCosta eased any pain ahead of time by taking arguably the best prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. Kyle Hamilton is a unicorn safety who deserved to hear his name called inside the Top 10.
Hamilton’s 4.7 40 at his Pro Day hurt his draft stock, and DeCosta laughed, turning in his ticket. The Ravens are getting a player with elite size for the position.
The former Notre Dame safety is 6-4 220-pounds with a 79-inch wingspan. He’s an excellent mover in space when the ball is in the air. He covers the field in a hurry with great range and instincts.
Against the run, he’ll drop down in the box and make plays. He’s a do-it-all safety who’ll make the Ravens’ defense better. Hamilton could become an All-Pro, and the Ravens got him at No. 14.
2022 NFL Draft steal no. 1: Jermaine Johnson, Edge, New York Jets
The New York Jets went into the 2022 NFL Draft with a plan — draft great players. They began with Sauce Gardner, who went where many expected him to go.
After adding arguably the best corner in the draft, the Jets added a top wideout in Garrett Wilson. We thought they were done. However, FSU edge rusher Jermaine Johnson tumbled down the draft board, and the Jets weren’t going to wait.
Joe Douglas traded back into the first round for a Top 15 prospect on many draft boards. No one expected the FSU edge rusher to fall outside the Top 10, let alone see him in the bottom half.
Johnson is a dominant rusher off the hand with excellent hands and technique. He’s got a plan and counterplan that allows him to beat his man.
Once he gets even, he’s a deadly closer with flexibility that allows him to get under offensive lineman. The Jets got a Top 15 prospect they can build around in Jermaine Johnson.