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10 Winners and losers from the 2022 NFL Draft

By Michael Johnson

2022 NFL Draft: Malik Willis #7 of the Liberty Flames celebrates after winning the LendingTree Bowl against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Hancock Whitney Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
2022 NFL Draft: Malik Willis #7 of the Liberty Flames celebrates after winning the LendingTree Bowl against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Hancock Whitney Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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2022 NFL Draft
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 28: Jameson Williams poses onstage after being selected 12th by the Detroit Lions during round one of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

2022 NFL Draft Loser: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

Let’s go ahead and rip the band-aid off with a little bit of negativity. I love what the Detroit Lions did in the 2022 NFL Draft, especially with their first-round pick, Aidan Hutchinson. Unfortunately for Jameson Williams, he’s the loser in this situation.

The Lions wanted him badly enough to trade up for him. In fact, the Vikings were their trading partners, which says a lot about the franchise. There is some not-so-flattering history with the Lions in terms of how they treat elite players.

Ask Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson about how the franchise mistreated him.

Of course, time has passed, and head coach Dan Campbell is trying to right the wrongs of a historically bad franchise. Despite the fire head coach’s approach, the Lions finished with one of the worst records in the league.

They fought hard, but that wasn’t enough. With Williams still recovering from an injury, he could’ve been a great addition to a playoff team looking for someone of his caliber. That’s likely not happening with the Lions.

2022 NFL Draft Winners: The 2022 offensive line class

Offensive linemen need love too, and this was the year they got it. The 2022 NFL Draft was one for the ages for the big men up front. Seven offensive linemen went in the first round.

Three of them went inside the Top 10, with Ickey Ekwonu leading the way at No. 6. The Giants would not let Alabama’s stud tackle Evan Neal slip passed them at No. 7. Given their need at offensive line, the Cowboys made Tulsa’s Tyler Smith the final big man taken on Day 1 with the No. 24 pick.

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