Tyler Badie, Baltimore Ravens
Position: RB
College: Missouri
Drafted No. 196
The Ravens took a flier on one of the most dynamic backs from the SEC last year. The shifty running back broke Mizzou’s all-time single-season rushing record with 1,604 rushing yards— a record that had not been broken since Devin West rushed for 1,578 yards in 1998 for the Tigers.
Badie can run like crazy and can catch passes out of the backfield or from the slot. He could be a perfect weapon to complement star QB Lamar Jackson in select play packages. He’s not an every-down back, but he’s a dynamic athlete who could be a real difference-maker for the Ravens.
Kaiir Elam, Buffalo Bills
Position: CB
College: Florida
Drafted: No. 23
With their first pick, the Bills took Kaiser Elam, a player that can be a starter from the get-go in Buffalo.
The Bills had a huge need for a starter-level cornerback after last year’s starter Levi Wallace left as a free agent to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Four cornerbacks were taken between picks No. 23 and No. 63, which is the length of time between Buffalo’s draft selections. Buffalo was wise to scoop him up when they did.
Buffalo had a need for running back and wide receiver as well but were smart to wait until later to take care of those positions. The wide receiver class was one of the deepest in memory and the first running back wasn’t selected until the top-third of the second round.
Matt Corral, Carolina Panthers
Position: QB
College: Ole Miss
Drafted No. 94
Entering the college football bowl season, Matt Corral was seen as the quarterback most likely to be drafted first this year. However, a gut-wrenching injury he sustained during the Sugar Bowl left him on crutches along with an image of a damaged quarterback seared into the minds of NFL GMs.
Having not seen him play since the injury, it wasn’t worth the risk for Carolina to take him with their only pick until pick No. 94— they took ESPN’s highest-rated offensive tackle, Ikem Ekwonu, with their No. 6 overall pick, giving whoever wins the QB job some outstanding protection for a decade-plus.
Kyler Gordon, Chicago Bears
Position: CB
College: Washington
Drafted: No. 37
The Bears gave up 31 passing touchdowns last season, which is absurd. They had to find a starting-level corner that will reduce the number of times Chicago’s secondary gets torched by opposing quarterbacks.
It would have been nice to take one of the talented wide receivers still on the board (John Metchie III, Wan’Dale Robinson), but needed to take the best available corner. And that’s what they did.
Smart move for the Bears in going and getting a corner that will make an immediate impact.
Daxton Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
Position: S
College: Michigan
Drafted No. 31
The Super Bowl runner-up Cincinnati Bengals went out and got the second-best safety in the entire class in Dayton Hill.
Hill has elite size and speed that will only make this Cincinnati defense even scarier. His 4.38 40-yard dash was 14th fastest of any participant during the 2022 NFL Combine.
Cade York, Cleveland Browns
Position: K
College: LSU
Drafted No. 124
Cleveland ranked dead last in the NFL last season in field goal percentage, making just 72.7% of their attempts.
This was a position that was in desperate need of improvement and the Browns went out and got the No. 1 rated kicker in the entire 2022 NFL Draft, according to ESPN in Cade York.
The former LSU Tiger set a school record for most 50-yard field goals made in a career with 15 (on 19 attempts).
Gone are the days of Cleveland leaving points on the board during games.