NFL Draft 2022: Recap and analysis after the weekend of picks
By Khari Demos
The 2022 NFL Draft is behind us now, so it’s time to evaluate the weekend of picks. Who had the best class? Which picks really stood out?
The hype around the 2022 NFL Draft was not where it generally is in most years, but it was still an exciting event that saw a ton of trades and several teams upgrading their rosters.
Let’s take a look back at the draft and review some of the best overall draft classes, picks with scheme fits, my favorite picks, and some sleepers to watch for.
Best overall 2022 NFL Draft class: Baltimore Ravens
It would have been one thing to add Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum in the first round. But the Ravens kept it going throughout, first adding Michigan’s David Ojabo — a first-round talent at edge who tore his Achilles at his pro day — then nose tackle Travis Jones from UConn, who shot up the boards after a stellar Senior Bowl week.
From there, Baltimore selected massive offensive tackle Daniel Faalele, who measures in at 6-foot-8 and 384-pounds. He also was in Mobile, Ala. at the Senior Bowl and he got better and better with his play throughout the week after notably struggling in his first few practices.
Faalele was the first pick in an active fourth round for the Ravens, as they took former Alabama cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, another CB in Houston’s Damarion Williams, Penn State punter Jordan Stout, and a pair of TEs in Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar and Coastal Carolina’s Isaiah Likely.
Armour-Davis and Williams could both help with a secondary that gave up a league-worst 278.9 passing yards per game last season. The former ‘Bama DB allowed just 290 yards on 44 targets in 2021, while the former Houston Cougar could compete right away for the Ravens as a slot corner.
Kolar and Likely will be an intriguing pairing as well. While Kolar will most likely play a more in-line receiver role, Likely could make an immediate impact as a move TE and overall weapon. Regardless, both will be viable understudies to All-Pro Mark Andrews.
Stout may not be “Punt God” Matt Araiza, the Penn State product was regarded by many outlets as the next-best punter available in the class. Known for having elite leg strength, Stout should be able to work through the elements in Baltimore.
Tyler Badie was the team’s final selection in the sixth round, as the undersized back could find a role as a receiving threat having totaled 126 career catches, including 54 last season. The former Mizzou back also finished with 1,934 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in 2021.
All in all, Baltimore got an unbelievable haul of players who could contribute right away to a team that’s three years removed from having the best record in the NFL. The Ravens should make an already difficult AFC conference that much tougher with this strong draft class.
My runner-up class was the New York Jets. After a massive first-round haul with Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Garrett Wilson, and Jermaine Johnson, the Jets got top back Breece Hall and complete TE prospect Jeremy Ruckert in the second and third rounds, respectively.
New York also got more depth with OT Max Mitchell and DE Michael Clemons.