I wouldn’t call the 2022 NFL Draft a bad draft.
There are plenty of first-round-caliber players, and the depth at certain positions will stretch well into Day 3 on draft weekend. However, something that has been echoed by evaluators around the NFL is the lack of elite-level talent at the top. Most drafts don’t have 10 prospects considered no-brainers for the top-10 picks, but this year’s class doesn’t have more than one or two, according to feedback from some NFL scouts.
Maybe hindsight will prove that opinion to be silly. Maybe there is a T.J. Watt or Aaron Donald or Patrick Mahomes in this class — players who weren’t considered slam-dunk top-10 picks pre-draft but obviously proved that assessment wrong in retrospect.
Despite the perceived lack of top-tier talent, 10 players must go in the top 10, starting with an interesting decision for the Detroit Lions, who currently own the No. 1 overall pick. The volatility at the top of draft boards from team to team will be the story of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The next five months will be a fun, fascinating process.
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(Notes: The draft order is based on current standings. An asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen who haven’t officially declared for the draft.)
1. Detroit Lions — Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
The winless Lions need a long-term answer at quarterback, weapons at wide receiver and help at every level of the defense.