2022 NFL Draft First Round Tracker: Travon Walker goes No. 1 to Jaguars; Giants finally get it right with two sumptuous picks

LAS VEGAS – The biggest question hovering over the 2022 NFL Draft is uncertainly. For the first time in many years, the central theme is “your guess is as good as mine.”

For the last two months, the mock drafts have rolled out. Several per week and all with different outcomes for the top-10 selections. Heading into Thursday’s draft, both New York, Jets (4^th and 10^th) and Giant (5^th and 7^th) teams own a pair of picks within the top-10. However, it’s also been rumored either team could trade down to gain a first rounder in 2023.

The 49ers, Bears, Broncos, Browns, Colts, Dolphins, Raiders and Rams do not own first round picks but that doesn’t mean a trade can’t occur.

Mystery ruled and after the first two selections, the draft unfolded with a series of twists and turns. That will continue with the remainder of the draft on Friday and Saturday.

The first round selections follow along with commentary from Blue Star Media’s Senior Writer Christopher Lawlor on each player.

FIRST ROUND, 2022 NFL Draft

1. Jaguars: Defensive end, Travon Walker, Georgia. The Jaguars blew up at the Combines. Walker is an edge rusher extraordinaire. For the second straight year the Jags have the No. 1 overall pick. Last year, they took franchise QB Trevor Lawrence but this time they selected a defensive cornerstone.
2. Lions: Defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan. The Lions get their and keep a Michigan native son home. At 6-6, 260 pounds, Hutchinson is the defender needed in a rebuild in the same division with the likes of the Packers, Bears and Vikings. It’s a great start to retool the defense.
3. Texans: Cornerback, Derek Stingley, Jr., LSU. Houston selects a one of the top defensive backs, who helped the LSU Tigers to the 2019 National Championship. He’s exceptional in man coverage.

4. Jets: Cornerback, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati: Gardner (6-3, 190) is a long, athletic lock-down cornerback mostly in press coverage who never allowed a touchdown reception his entire collegiate career. Sauce is truly a the one who will provide the cover for any receiver.

5. Giants: Defensive End, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon: A year ago, Thibodeaux was the projected first overall pick. The Giant are elated the elite edge rusher slipped to them as the four picks ahead of him were defenders. He has the fire and desire to succeed and when the Giants win Super Bowls, they do it with defense. He had 7 sacks for the Ducks last season.

6. Panthers: Tackle, Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State: The Panthers are rebuilding from within and grab a hog mollie here. This guy is a pancake king, essentially flattening the defenders. At 6-4, 310 pounds Ekwonu is the first O-lineman off the board.

7. Giants: Tackle, Evan Neal, Alabama: He can play three positions on the O-line. He’s 6-7 ½ and 337 pounds but he moves like he’s much lighter. Great feet. Tremendous blocker. Road grader. This selection is complements of the Bears, who swung a draft-day trade in 2021.

8. Falcons: Wide receiver, Drake London, USC: The Pac-12 offensive player of the year despite missing the final five games with an injury. The Falcons needed a playmaker with London they have a player who is stretch the field vertically. 

9. Seahawks (from Broncos): Tackle, Charles Cross, Mississippi State: He’s a mountain of a man at 6-5, 307 pounds and the best pure pass blocker in the draft. He’ll be the starting left tackle from Day One. He is the third tackle taken in the top-9. This selection came about this spring when the Hawks shipped QB Russell Wilson to the Mile High City. 

10. Jets (from Seahawks): Wide receiver, Garrett Wilson, Ohio State: This is a strong selection for the Jets and they are over the moon that Wilson was available here. A natural athlete. Great route runner. Long arms for a great catch radius. Complete package. Had 12 TDs and caught passes for more than 1,000 yards in 2021. QB Zach Wilson is turning handstands.

11. Saints: Wide receiver, Chris Olave, Ohio State: The Saints missed WR Michael Thomas last year due to injury. Olave can create space for Thomas. Imagine him on a slant over the middle. 4.39 40-speed at the combines. New Orleans wanted a pass catcher. Great route tempo. The first trade of the night had the Commanders and New Orleans hooking up. 

12. Lions (from Vikings): Wide receiver, Jameson Williams, Alabama: The Lions must have loved this All-American wideout. They wanted a big receiver for QB Jared Goff. At 6-2, 180 pounds, he combines size and breakaway speed. The Lions moved up 20 slots for this selection and did it with a division rival no less; he better be worth it.

13. Eagles (via Texans via Browns): Defensive tackle Jordan Davis, Georgia: For the second consecutive draft, the Eagles move up via trade to get their man. Davis can play three positions on the D-line. A menacing defender who can push the pile. He’s 6-7, 341 pounds and fulfills a pass rusher need and will beat the double teams with his quickness and lateral range.

14. Ravens: Safety, Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame: This is the second coming of Ed Reed. He’s coming off a knee injury last season in South Bend. He’ a difference maker at 6-4, 220. Has range and the high football IQ. He can match up with big tight ends too. Sideline to sideline player. Can fit in on special teams.

15. Texans (Eagles via Dolphins): Guard, Kenyon Green, Texas A&M: He can play multiple position on the O-line. He’s a natural guard at 6-4, 323 pounds and a great run blocker. He allowed only one sack in 2021.

16. Commanders (via Saints via Eagles): Wide receiver, Jahan Dotson, Penn State. He has 4.43 40-speed. Might have the best hands in the draft. Will adjust on his routes and is productive on yards after the catch. 

17. Chargers: Guard, Zion Johnson, Boston College: At 6-3, 312 pounds, he can play three positions on the line but he will be a right guard. He started his college career at Davidson before transferring up to the ACC. Has tremendous hands and can slide outside to set up the blocking on screen passes.

18. Titans (via Eagles via Saints): Wide receiver, Treylon Burks, Arkansas: He’s a big receiver at 6-2, 225 yards and at his best after the catch. He’ll beat the press and known for long TD receptions. Comparisons are Deebo Samuel. The Titans moved up the first round after a blockbuster trade netted wide receiver A.J. Brown after negotiating a massive, multi-million dollar, four-year deal.

19. Saints (from Eagles): Tackle, Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa: He’s big at 6-7, 325 pounds and the Saints dipped down to the FCS level for this projected starter from the get-go. Penning was the fourth-rated offensive tackle on the board and New Orleans is a very safe place for him to ply his trade.

20. Steelers: Quarterback, Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh: Pickett, the rifle-armed passer from the Jersey Shore, won’t be wander far and will go crosstown to play for the Steelers. 2021 ACC Player of the Year. He’s hop of the future for the Black and Gold. Has great anticipation, accuracy and playmaking skills. Just when the Steelers needed a signal-caller (Big Ben retired) they drafted one as the first QB of the first round.

21. Chiefs (from Patriots): Cornerback, Trent McDuffie, Washington: 4.44 40-yard speed. Can play inside and outside. Outstanding ball awareness and opens his hips to shift on the fly. Has a great feel for the game.
22. Packers (from Raiders): Linebacker, Quay Walker, Georgia: Can off the ball and on the line. Great lateral quickness. As a blitzer he blows up the coverage and hunt down the ball carrier. When the Pack sent wide receiver Davante Adams to Las Vegas this was one of the picks.

22. Bills (from Ravens): Cornerback, Kaiir Elam, Florida: He’s speed corner. Physical press corner and will seek out the ball. The Bills need secondary help. If the Bills are reach the Super Bowl, they’ll need to surpass Kansas City and gain home-field advantage this selection is another piece to their puzzle.

23. Cowboys: Tackle, Tyler Smith, Tulsa: This was a need for the Boys. Smith is 6-5, 325 pounds and a mauler. He’s big, wide, long and athletic. QB Dak Prescott is happy and he should be because Smith is young and ready to impose his will in the NFC East.

24. Ravens (via Bills via Cardinals): Center, Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa: He’s stout in the pass and running game. Has quick hand and feet from his wrestling background. Clearly, the best center in the draft. He’s listed at 6-3, 296 pounds and his 4.96 40-speed is going to be a leader for the Ravens.

25. Jets (from Titans): Linebacker, Jermain Johnson II, Florida State: The Jets get another defender who was worthy of the top-10 via trade. Johnson played for a poor college team but made all the plays. ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He’s another polished edge rusher the Jets sorely needed. Size (6-4, 254), speed and length define his abilities. The last time the Jet had three picks in the first round was 2000 when they held five.

26. Jaguars (from Buccaneers): Linebacker, Devin Lloyd, Utah: He was the best available player and is a complete linebacker and ferocious tackler. Has 4.66 40-speed. Versatile. Strongside LB. Endless motor. Head coach Doug Pederson was hired in February to help reverse the fortunes of the Jags, who have at least 10 losses in the 10 of the last 11 seasons.

28. Packers: Defensive tackle, Devonte Wyatt, Georgia: It was a pure value pick and is the second front seven player headed to Green Bay. He’s a disruptor up the middle. Defense wins championships and the Pack needed a fresh injection of it.
29. Patriots (via Chiefs via Dolphins via 49ers): Guard, Cole Strange, Chattanooga: It’s obvious the Patriots fell for the FCS player, who excelled at the Senior Bowl. He’s listed at 6-4, 307 pounds and one of the top blockers in the draft. Many felt he would go in the middle rounds.

30. Chiefs: Edge rusher, George Karlaftis, Purdue: A native of Greece who did not play football until he was 13 years old. He was a member of the Greek U16 National Water Polo team. Karlaftis simply gets off blocks and makes tackles. At 6-4, 266 pounds, he is a power rusher. When the mock drafts were out earlier this year, he was ticketed for the top-10.
31. Bengals: Safety, Daxton Hill, Michigan: Another versatile defender that slipped down. He can tackle in space with his long arms. Hits hard. Great on the edge. The AFC champions have two very good safeties, now make it three.
32. Vikings (via Lions via Rams): Safety, Lewis Cline, Georgia: The Vikes needed secondary help and claimed a winner. He’s big hitter and makes great reads. Cline becomes the fifth Georgia Bulldog defender taken in the first round and that’s a draft record. The Vikings benefit from trading down with selections in the second and third rounds, where the scouts earn their money.