Rookies from the 2022 NFL Draft had major impacts on this year’s NFL season. But what if they were drafted to different teams? The NFL season may have looked a whole lot different.
Fans look forward to the draft season all year round. While mock drafts retain the spotlight, it’s fun to go back and see which team could’ve upgraded at their pick.
This draft re-do is done with all trades made before and during the 2022 NFL Draft.
With the 2023 NFL Draft quickly approaching, let’s go back and re-do the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sauce Gardner, CB
Previous Pick: Travon Walker, EDGE
Gardner was the best player from this draft class; there is no doubt about that. Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year with a league-best 20 passes deflected. Had Gardner been drafted to Jacksonville, the Jaguars may have gone a little further in the playoffs.
2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE
Previous Pick: Aidan Hutchinson
This pick stays the same for the Lions. The Michigan native amassed 9.5 sacks and finished second behind Gardner for DROY.
3. Houston Texans: Tariq Woolen, CB
Previous Pick: Derek Stingley Jr, CB
Houston went corner the first time around in Stingley. However, they took a corner that stood out even more. This may be high, but Woolen, taken by the Seahawks in the fifth round, is a 6’4 corner that ran a 4.26 40-yard dash. Attributes alone should have helped him stand out, except he slipped through the cracks and landed in Seattle. Woolen finished third in DROY voting and tied for a league-leading six interceptions.
4. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr, CB
Previous Pick: Sauce Gardner, CB
Have three cornerbacks been taken in the first four picks? Unlikely, yes, but that shows you how good this cornerback class was. Moreover, Stingley would not have had the same success as Sauce in New York. However, he would still produce a solid CB1.
5. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE
Previous Pick: Kayvon Thibodeaux
In a defensive-heavy draft, the Giants make the selection. Thibodeaux brought the swagger we all expected him to have. But he also brought quickness around the edge, accumulating 40 pressures and 25 hurries.
6. Carolina Panthers: Travon Walker, EDGE
Previous Pick: Ickey Ekwonu, OT
Walker, the first overall pick, falls to Carolina in this draft redo. Walker has all of the tools to be a premier edge rusher in the NFL, seemingly why he was drafted first overall to start.
7. New York Giants: Ickey Ekwonu, OT
Previous Pick: Evan Neal, OT
Ekwonu, who many thought would end up in New York, does in this draft redo. Instead of Neal, who didn’t find as much success, it’s Ekwonu, a more versatile tackle who can be rotated at tackle and guard.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Wilson, WR
Previous Pick: Drake London, WR
Falcon continues with the wide receiver thought, but instead, it’s the offensive rookie of the year they choose. Pairing London with Pitts was a great thought, but Wilson had too much success not to be taken here.
9. Seattle Seahawks: Evan Neal, OT
Previous Pick: Charles Cross, OT
Cross did well for Seattle, but had Neal been here, he would have been the obvious choice. Seattle would happily select Neal to be the blindside blocker for Geno Smith.
10. New York Jets: Chris Olave, WR
Previous Pick: Garrett Wilson, WR
With Wilson off the board, New York goes for a similar player. Olave dazzled all year with his ability to get open. And even with Andy Dalton throwing him the ball, Olave stood out, eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards for a total of 1,042.
11. New Orleans Saints: Drake London, WR
Previous Pick: Chris Olave, WR
New Orleans traded up for Olave, so it’s questionable if they would have done the same if he was taken it. However, the Saints settled for the wide receiver that was the first taken. London would be an excellent replacement for Michael Thomas, who is seemingly close to being on his way out.
12. Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams, WR
Previous Pick: Jameson Williams, WR
We didn’t see much of Williams this season, as he was mostly recovering from a torn ACL. Nonetheless, the glimpses of Williams showed us why he was still taken so high. Detroit makes the exact pick.
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT
Previous Pick: Jordan Davis, DT
No change for Philadelphia as well. Davis succeeded in his first year as a run-stuffer. However, Philadelphia hopes to see an improvement along the pass rush. With the right coaching, Davis has the size and ability to become a terror in the league.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S
Previous Pick: Kyle Hamilton, S
I was very tempted to give the Ravens a wide receiver here, but Hamilton earned his spot. A 6’4 safety that flies around the field is a rarity, and Hamilton did more than just that. With 62 combined tackles, two sacks, five passes defended, and a forced fumble, Hamilton will be a star for Baltimore.
15. Houston Texans: Jahan Dotson, WR
Previous Pick: Kenyon Green, OL
Who could have guessed that Brandin Cooks would want out of Houston? Anybody. Houston needs playmakers on offense, and while Nico Collins has shown promise, he is not a No. 1 receiver. Dotson was impressed, although his numbers won’t tell the same tale.
16. Washington Commanders: George Karlaftis, DE
Previous Pick: Jahan Dotson, WR
Dotson was a successful pick, but unfortunately, he gets snatched right before the Commanders. Chase Young, former No. 2 overall pick just years ago, has dealt with injuries these past couple of years. The team has declined to say if they will pick up his fifth-year option. Karlaftis, just behind Hutchinson, was second in pressures off the edge among rookies.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, OL
Previous Pick: Zion Johnson, OL
Justin Herbert was more protected this past season, thanks to Johnson. He came in right away and started at right guard. With Johnson and Rashawn Slater, the Chargers have a cheap, yet great core for the future.
18. Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks, WR
Previous Pick, Treylon Burks, WR
Burks was sidelined for a while as he was dealing with turf toe. In the games he did play, he showed flashes of A.J. Brown, the man who they essentially traded for Burks. Similar size with great speed, Burks should progress a ton with better quarterback play.
19. New Orleans Saints: Brock Purdy, QB
Previous Pick: Trevor Penning, OL
Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 NFL Draft jumps from the final pick to No. 19. Purdy shined when his name was called upon, ultimately helping guide the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship game. The game against the Eagles could have been much closer, having Purdy not gotten injured. The Saints decide to pair Purdy with London to create an exciting duo for the future.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB
Previous Pick: Kenny Pickett, QB
Pickett was the only quarterback selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but now has one selected just before him. The former Pitt quarterback had a rocky start to begin his career but improved as the season went along. Pickett should take a great leap heading into year two with better play-calling.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB
Previous Pick: Trent McDuffie, CB
Despite missing roughly two months, McDuffie provided lockdown defense that helped earn the Chiefs a Super Bowl victory.
22. Green Bay Packers: Christian Watson, WR
Previous Pick: Quay Walker, LB
The Packers drafted Watson in the second round. Despite training camp buzz about fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs, Watson quickly became Rodgers’ go-to red-zone target. Watson scored seven touchdowns on the season, all that came in a short four-game stretch. He dealt with drops early on, but Watson exceeded all expectations.
23. Buffalo Bills: Charles Cross, OT
Previous Pick: Kaiir Elam, CB
Cross, who succeeded in his first year with Seattle, slides to No. 23 just to get scooped up by Buffalo. Teams with a franchise quarterback can never get too much protection for their guy. In this case, Buffalo opts to do just that.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OL
Previous Pick: Tyler Smith, OL
Smith was among one the best picks of the first round. A controversial one at first, Smith proved doubters wrong quickly. As he returned from a 13-game absence to start the season, Smith took over at left tackle despite playing guard his whole career at Tulsa. Furthermore, it seems the Cowboys remain committed to Smith as the Cowboys’ future left tackle.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C
Previous Pick: Tyler Linderbaum, C
As I said before, taking a wide receiver here with a glaring need was tempting. However, the value at this spot would be reaching. You could argue George Pickens, but Linderbaum was an All-Rookie selection. He thrives as a run-blocker, something Baltimore prioritizes.
26. New York Jets: Breece Hall, RB
Previous Pick: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE
The Jets drafted Hall in the second round, though, after his first couple of games in the NFL, he looked like a top-five back in the league. Hall was continuously shredding defenses but ended up sidelined for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in Week 7. Hall averaged a whopping 5.8 yards per carry in his first season.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB
Previous Pick: Devin Lloyd, LB
In his rookie year, Lloyd played a key role on the Jags defense. He amassed 115 tackles and three interceptions while also recovering two fumbles. Jacksonville opts to retain their defensive playmaker in this draft.
28. Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker, LB
Previous Pick: Devonte Wyatt, DT
The Packers used their first selection on Walker, but I felt it more necessary for the team to secure Watson. Luckily, they still end up with Walker here. Walker ended the season with 121 tackles while forcing three fumbles.
29: New England Patriots: George Pickens, WR
Previous Pick: Cole Strange, OL
The Patriots probably have a stale taste after missing on former first-round pick N’Keal Harry. However, there is a need for pass catchers outside of Jakobi Meyers. Bill Belichick and co. settle on Pickens, who amassed 52 catches for 801 yards and four touchdowns.
30: Kansas City Chiefs: Jaquan Brisker, S
Previous Pick: George Karlaftis, EDGE
Brisker shined for the Chicago Bears after being drafted in the second round. He immediately became the most impactful player on that defense. With a slight need in the secondary, the Super Bowl champions decide to take a play-making safety.
31: Cincinnati Bengals: Jack Jones, CB
Previous Pick: Daxton Hill, S
The Bengals are not content with Eli Apple making a mockery of himself each game. Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round and did not allow a touchdown on 37 targets. Two of those targets resulted in interceptions, and one was taken back for a touchdown.
32. Minnesota Vikings: Jalen Pitre, S
Previous Pick: Lewis Cine, S
Pitre, drafted by the Texans in the second round, flew around the field in Houston. The rookie combined for 147 tackles and five interceptions. Pitre could have provided a spark on the Minnesota defense that it lacked this past year.
As you can see, the 2022 NFL Draft could have looked a lot different. Players drafted to different situations could have had major implications on this year’s past season. Fans now have the 2023 NFL Draft to look forward to. The first round starts Thursday, Apr. 27, at 8 p.m.
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