The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft was a night to remember. When the night came to an end, which franchise went home with bragging rights for having the best first round?
Anticipation filled the air in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 28th. Fans who traveled to support their favorite team gathered close to the Caesar Forum to engage in the festivities.
When 8 PM struck, Commissioner Rodger Goodell addressed a sea of jerseys awaiting the first pick.
On a night full of emotion and entertainment, several collegiate athletes saw their dreams of becoming a professional come true. The addition of fresh talent caused the values of a few teams to rise. After a busy night of drafting, who won round one?
1. New York Jets draft with Zach Wilson in mind
Protecting the endzone was a problem for Robert Saleh and the Jets coaching staff in 2021. While the team worked on developing their air attack with their rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, their secondary struggled to defend the pass.
New York finished the season ranked as one of the worst defenses against opposing quarterbacks.
Jeff Ulbrich and his squad allowed 4,409 passing yards in 2021. Their solution to their problem presented itself in the first round. With the fourth pick in the draft, the New York Jets selected one of college’s best cornerbacks.
Ahmad Gardner’s career at the University of Cincinnati spoke volumes for the newest Jet. Performances on the field earned Gardner the ACC Defensive Player of the year award.
Locking up opponents has helped the consensus All-American develop a name for himself, but his aggressiveness does not go unnoticed. Gardner’s 99 career tackles will help New York against the run.
Pressuring the quarterback could also help the New York Jets have a more productive year on defense. A Trade with the Tenessee Titans put New York in a prime position to grab a defensive stud.
Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson’s athletic ability, high motor, and size made him the right man for the job. Many analysts projected Johnson to fly off the draft board. His 11.5 sacks his senior year showed how disruptive the former Seminole could be.
Saleh and the Jets drafted a weapon for Zach Wilson’s development as well.
With the 10th overall pick, New York acquired Garrett Wilson from the Ohio State University. While at Ohio Wilson made name for himself by making big plays in the air. His 23 career touchdowns will give New York’s second-year starter help on offense.
2. New York Giants draft two top-tier lineman
Drafting for the future in the past made it easy for Giants to maneuver in the first round. While Saqoun Barkley and Daniel Jones prepare for the season, Brian Daboll and his staff have worked on bringing in complimenting talent.
New York’s struggle to put together the final package together caused the franchise to use the most of their picks this year.
Improving the interior positions was the focus for the G-Men early in the draft. Their 5th overall selection was spent on improving their edge rush. Kayvon Thibodeaux’s power and speed made him the perfect fit for Don Martindale’s new campaign.
His 19 career sacks as an Oregon Duck won over the members of the Giants organization. Keeping Mac Jones, Tua Tagloavalia, and Josh Allen under pressure will help the Giants return to glory.
The Giants did an okay job protecting their quarterback last season. The Giants allowed 38 sacks in 2021. Adding a hungry offensive lineman could help keep New York’s quarterback clean. Two picks after the Giants selected Thibodeaux, Evan Neal’s phone rang.
Neal’s outstanding career at Alabama added value to his draft stock. With two interior upgrades, the Giants plan to continue to upgrade their preseason roster.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers draft their next franchise quarterback
Finding a replacement for Ben Roethlisberger rented room in the minds of coaches and owners. Leadership on and off the field helped the Steelers become a dynasty.
The franchise’s decision to acquire Mitch Trubisky in the off-season was not enough for analysts to count Pittsburgh out of the quarterback bidding.
With hopes of landing Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett with the 20th pick, the Steelers approached the draft calmly.
When it came time for the Steelers to make their selection, both Pickett and Willis were still on the draft board. The final decision to draft Kenny Pickett excited the city of Pittsburgh.
Pickett’s collegiate career makes gave his NFL home more meaning. His five-year run as a Pittsburgh Panther has given fans a chance to see who could be taking over the reins.
Friday night’s draft helped a handful of teams prepare for the 2022 season. The Giants, Jets, and Steelers finished the evening in a better position than some of their opponents. Although other teams landed high draft prospects, these three teams landed exactly what they needed with ease.
As analysts and owners prepare themselves for rounds two and three, fans at home will remain dialed in.