With the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select…well, we don’t know. Will it be Aiden Hutchison? Will it be Travon Walker? Will the Jags shock everyone and trade down? The answer is obviously unknown, but let’s take a look at what we do know about this year’s NFL draft.
MUST KNOW #1: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
All eyes seem to be on the QB needy teams, but the buzz around the league is that teams aren’t in a rush to grab a QB within the top 10. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that several general managers he’s spoken to in the past few days believe there could be a run, at the back half of the first round, for QB’s like Desmond Ridder or Sam Howell, should Liberty’s Malik Willis or Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett be off the board. Keep an eye out for teams like the Lions, Panthers, and Falcons, or even a dark horse like Seattle, to nab their franchise player.
MUST KNOW # 2: Teams Will Get Creative
There’s always one team that historically stays active in acquiring picks or moving up to get their guy and the Philadelphia Eagles are no stranger to such moves. That said, National Insider for the NFL Network and NFL.com, Ian Rapoport, noted that it is not just the Eagles, but the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants who’ve had conversations in recent days about moving back. The Panthers have no second or third round picks and the Giants, who have two picks in the first round, would like to potentially flip their second pick for others.
MUST KNOW #3: It Pays to Be a Shark
There’s a universal understanding that where there is deep water, you don’t swim. The sharks tend to lurk there and unless you’re looking to be lunch, it’s best to stay away. But what if you’re the shark? This year’s draft class is dripping with talent and if you have done your homework, you’ll find some amazing talent in the deeper rounds. Players like TE Grant Calcaterra of SMU and DL Christopher Hinton, Jr. of Michigan having been shooting up draft boards for quite some time and could help teams in need. Ready to go hunting? You can find Bleacher Report’s full list of sleepers here.
