It was an eventful Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft: The first five picks were defensive players, followed by several trades for wide receivers, including two dramatic ones — the Cardinals trading for Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and the Eagles trading for A.J. Brown. Only one quarterback was selected — Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, fittingly by the Pittsburgh Steelers — and it wasn’t until pick No. 20.
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So what do we make of the action? What should we be on the lookout for during Round 2? Our national NFL writers weigh in:
Round 1 pick/team fit that you’re intrigued by?
Stephen Holder, NFL national writer: I certainly can’t promise that it’ll work out — because what do we really know on draft night? — but it’s hard not to love the potential story of Pitt QB Kenny Pickett staying in town and joining the Steelers. Pickett is pro-ready, even though there are justifiable questions about his ceiling. When it comes to quarterbacks, so much of their potential success hinges on where they wind up. And Pickett is going to be as solid of a franchise as you’ll find in the NFL, one that will consistently surround him with talent. The rest will be up to him.
Ted Nguyen, NFL national writer: I like the Treylon Burks fit with the Titans because he compares favorably to the player they just traded to the Eagles, A.J. Brown. Burks is 6-foot-2 225, physical and can accelerate and win deep. Unlike Brown, he’ll need a lot of refinement, as his route tree was very small. The Titans will have to manufacture touches for him early, but he’ll be an instant deep threat and YAC monster.
Dan Pompei, NFL national writer: Safety Kyle Hamilton was a prototypical Ravens pick. He represented great value at 14. Some teams dinged him because he ran a 4.59 40-yard dash, but his tape is outstanding. It will not be surprising if the Ravens coach him well and he becomes a perennial All-Pro who makes the teams that passed on him wonder what they were thinking. They followed up the Hamilton pick by selecting center Tyler Linderbaum at No. 25. Like Hamilton, Linderbaum plays an undervalued position, and like Hamilton, he has the potential to develop into a long-term leader and franchise pillar.
Mike Sando, NFL national writer: Baltimore is intriguing for trading Hollywood Brown, drafting a center and then having quarterback Lamar Jackson tweet his consternation in response (“WTF”). The team’s relationship with Jackson was already interesting given the obvious contract dynamics. What if the Ravens use a subsequent pick for a quarterback as insurance against Jackson delaying extension talks?
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Biggest surprise?
Nguyen: The biggest surprise was the Ravens being able to recoup a first-round pick for Marquise Brown. Brown is a good player but has been inconsistent catching the ball. Brown is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract. He has an expensive fifth-year option ($13m). And he’ll be expensive to keep with the way receiver contracts have been trending. The Cardinals must believe reuniting him with Kyler Murray will finally unlock him because the Cardinals could have drafted a younger, much cheaper option.
Pompei: The biggest surprise was the Titans trading A.J. Brown. With Derrick Henry injured, Brown was the Titans’ most valuable offensive player last season, and he was central to the team identity. From all indications, they loved him and were committed to keeping him. To get where they want to go, the Titans need to improve offensively. It’s difficult to see them doing that without Brown. In terms of picks, the biggest surprise was the Packers ignoring their offense to use the 22nd pick on linebacker Quay Walker, a player my front office sources thought would be a high second-round pick.
Sando: Green Bay selecting two defensive players in the first round was surprising even though it followed a well-established pattern. It’s hard to imagine GM Brian Gutekunst saying to Aaron Rodgers, “Hey, Aaron, the plan is to trade Davante Adams, then select an inside linebacker and interior defensive lineman in the first round.” That is what the Packers did. There’s still plenty of time to get a receiver, and there’s no use in reaching to win a news conference. But the lack of urgency was notable.
Holder: Maybe the Titans moving on from A.J. Brown isn’t so stunning from an economic standpoint given the money flowing to top wide receivers nowadays. But the impact of the decision to trade Brown to the Eagles on Thursday night might be felt most by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Things were already at a pivotal point for the Tennessee starter after his underwhelming performance in the 2021 playoffs. Taking away his biggest threat in the passing game only puts more pressure on Tannehill and makes it easier for defenses when deciding whether to stack the box against Derrick Henry. I really wonder what this trade says about Tennessee’s view of its chances to truly compete in the AFC. This does not feel like a move by a team that thinks it can win it all.
A player you’re keeping an eye on on Day 2:
Pompei: Malik Willis has no business still being on the board. Many NFL evaluators thought he was the best quarterback prospect in the draft, and it would not have been surprising if he had been selected in the top 10. His combination of arm strength, playmaking ability and leadership can make him special. He doesn’t have ideal size or accuracy, but he might be able to overcome any deficiencies because of his intangibles. Given how many teams need quarterbacks, it’s stunning Willis was not taken in the first round. He won’t be available for long in the second.
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Sando: Willis is very interesting, and some teams picking early in the second round have unsettled longer-term QB situations. Would Tampa Bay consider Willis at 33? What about Tennessee at 35, Seattle at 40 and 41, Detroit at 46, New Orleans at 49?
Holder: All eyes are on Willis. In this day and age, when quarterback traits often trump even the most obvious concerns, it does feel surprising that Willis was not selected. But here’s a possible silver lining for the Liberty University product: There are some really interesting potential landing spots for him early in the second round. The Buccaneers, Giants, Seahawks and Colts all pick within the first 10 selections Friday night. There are scenarios on each of those teams where Willis doesn’t have to start right away, and that might be a positive in the long term.
Nguyen: Willis’ upside is obvious and some thought that it would be enough to gamble on in the first round but Pickett was the only QB to go on day 1. Day 2 is a lot more palatable for the gamble that Willis represents. It’ll be interesting to see if the Titans, who have the third pick of the second round, will pick him and develop him behind Tannehill. Part of why he might not have gotten picked in Round 1 is that he will almost certainly need a year to sit and learn an NFL playbook.
Thoughts on the QBs taken (or not taken?)
Sando: I can’t wait to see how Kenny Pickett performs. I know offensive coaches who see him as just OK — perhaps another Andy Dalton if things go well. But my Football GM Podcast partner, former 35-year NFL evaluator Randy Mueller, thought Pickett was one of the 10 best players in this draft. He would have had no trouble if Carolina had taken Pickett sixth. That’s a pretty big gap in perception for a player who basically fell into the Steelers’ lap without drama.
Holder: First off, the fact that just one quarterback was selected, despite the position being the most over-drafted in today’s game, tells you everything you need to know about this quarterback class. Teams reach at quarterback year in and year out, and yet, they weren’t willing to do that Thursday night. As for Pickett, I think the Steelers deserve some benefit of the doubt. That doesn’t guarantee they’ll be proven right about Pickett, but they’ve earned the right to some deference. Lastly, the fact that Pickett played in a pro-style offense likely mattered a lot. That has to make it a bit of an easier projection for the Steelers at a position that has proven so difficult to evaluate.
Nguyen: Pickett has some traits, but some concerning shortcomings as well. He’s very accurate in the middle of the field, which fits well with what offensive coordinator Matt Canada wants, though he was unable to do a lot of it with Ben Roethlisberger. What is concerning is that Pickett is skittish in tight pockets and had 38 fumbles in his career. His ability to make plays out of the pocket will be a major change for the Steelers, as Roethlisberger was a statue in the pocket later in his career.
Pompei: In 1983, the Steelers passed on a Pitt quarterback and regretted it for years. They didn’t pass on a Pitt quarterback Thursday, making Pickett the first passer off the board. For those who don’t know, the Steelers’ facility is literally next door to the Panthers’ facility. The Steelers have unique insight into their players and program. And Kevin Colbert has not missed much on important picks in his career. All of which means I think more of Pickett’s chances now than I did before the selection.
(Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)