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The general consensus is that it takes three years before one can analyze an NFL Draft pick and determine whether the selection was good or not.
For many different reasons — the NFL learning curve, working one’s way up the depth chart, etc. — it can take some prospects longer than others to get used to the NFL game. Likewise, some hot starters can end up getting figured out, making their careers more of a flash in the pan.
The 2022 NFL Draft class just saw its players wrap up their third year in the big leagues. There’s still a lot that can change between now and the end of these players’ careers, but at this stage, we have a solid understanding of which picks aged well, and which ones don’t look so good in hindsight.
Factoring in the wonderful power of hindsight to determine which players and positions each teams should’ve targeted, here is our 2022 NFL Redraft.
1. Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
After a slow start, the Jaguars have ended up with nice production out of Travon Walker. However, Hutchinson has 4.5 more sacks in 10 fewer games. He’s been the top edge rusher to come out of a talented 2022 draft class of defensive linemen.
Original pick: Travon Walker
2. Lions: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
With the Lions missing out on Hutchinson here, they make up for it with the chance to bring in Gardner, who was a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons in the league.
Original pick: Aidan Hutchinson
3. Texans: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Texans didn’t make a bad pick taking Derek Stingley Jr. at No. 3, but there’s slightly better value at cornerback elsewhere. McDuffie is a two-time All-Pro and an elite level cornerback.
Original pick: Derek Stingley Jr.
4. Jets: Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
Since the Jets took Zach Wilson the year before, they were obviously never going to draft a quarterback in Round 1. Knowing what we know now, however, grabbing a steady starter in Purdy would’ve been a massive upgrade.
Original pick: Sauce Gardner
5. Giants: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
A two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro in just three seasons, one could argue that Hamilton is already the best safety in the NFL.
Original pick: Kayvon Thibodeaux
6. Panthers: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
With 10 interceptions, 31 pass deflections and a first-team All-Pro to his name within his last two seasons, Stingley has turned into one of the top defensive backs in the game.
Original pick: Ikem Okwenu, OT, NC State
7. Giants: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Giants had the right idea taking an offensive tackle at No. 7; they just took the wrong one. Cross took a massive leap in 2024, grading at 82.3 by PFF for the season.
Original pick: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
8. Falcons: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Looking back on it, Drake London was a good pick for the Falcons here. That said, in this redraft, they address their questionable pass-rush with a player who has topped double-digit sack totals each of the last two years.
Original pick: Drake London
9. Seahawks: Tyler Smith, OG, Tulsa
Though the Seahawks miss out on Cross here, they still upgrade their offensive line significantly by taking Smith, who’s already a two-time Pro Bowler.
Original pick: Charles Cross
10. Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
At 279 receptions and 3,249 receiving yards through his first three seasons, Wilson remains the most productive wide receiver to come out of the 2022 draft so far.
Original pick: Garrett Wilson
11. Commanders: Drake London, WR, USC
There were a good handful of productive wide receivers selected early in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the Commanders’ pick of Jahan Dotson didn’t end up working out. London has proven to be a reliable weapon for Atlanta, coming off a career-best 100 receptions and 1,271 yards in 2024.
Original pick: Chris Olave (Saints trade-up)
12. Vikings: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
If Hamilton isn’t the best safety in the NFL, Joseph is one of the top names that deserve to be brought up. He’s already a first-team All-Pro player who has tallied 17 interceptions in his first three seasons.
Original pick: Jameson Williams (Lions trade-up)
13. Texans: Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
Though Bonitto’s NFL career started slow, he jumped from 1.5 sacks as a rookie to eight sacks in 2023. He progressed even better in Year 3, improving to 13.5 sacks and landing Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
Original pick: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia (Eagles trade-up)
14. Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Baltimore’s one-two punch of Hamilton and Linderbaum did wonders for them in the 2022 NFL Draft. Though the former isn’t within reach in this redraft, the Ravens would be more than happy retaining the latter.
Original pick: Kyle Hamilton
15. Eagles: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Injuries slowed Olave down in 2024, but he finished with over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons in the league. Though this redraft doesn’t see the A.J. Brown go through, the Eagles would certainly settle for Olave if that doesn’t work out.
Original pick: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M (Texans trade-down)
16. Saints: Zach Tom, OT, Wake Forest
The Saints’ combination of a receiver and tackle in the first round of the 2022 draft was on the right track, but they took the wrong tackle and don’t get the chance to trade up for Olave. Tom finished as the fourth-best offensive tackle in the entire NFL by PFF grades in 2024.
Original pick: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State (Commanders trade-down)
17. Chargers: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
Do the Chargers stray away from Joe Alt in 2024 in this scenario? Do Raimann or Rashawn Slater kick inside? I’m not exactly sure, but Raimann has been one of the most consistent offensive tackles in the NFL throughout his career.
Original pick: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
18. Eagles: Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska
Jurgens was a Pro Bowler in 2024 for the Eagles, and retaining a key piece of their loaded offensive line would be a massive win coming out of this draft.
Original pick: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas (traded to Titans for A.J. Brown)
19. Saints: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Pickens has been a bit of a headache for Pittsburgh off the field, but on the field, he’s totaled 174 receptions and 2,841 yards through his first three seasons in the NFL.
Original pick: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
20. Steelers: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
If I go back and redo this redraft in a couple years, there’s a good chance Williams ends up even higher on this list eventually. His NFL career started slow, but he cracked 1,000 yards for the first time in 2024 with the Lions.
Original pick: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
21. Patriots: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
There’s a chance McBride would go higher in this instance; I just didn’t know exactly where to slide him. He was a rare 1,000-yard receiving tight end in 2024 and would be a massive addition to New England’s passing attack in this instance.
Original pick: Trent McDuffie (Chiefs trade-up)
22. Packers: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
With 24.5 sacks in three seasons for the Chiefs, Karlaftis has been a valuable edge rusher in the league and would be a welcomed pairing with Rashan Gary for the Packers in this instance.
Original pick: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
23. Cardinals: James Cook, RB, Georgia
Cook exploded for 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, but he’s also reached 1,000 rushing yards each of the last two years. James Conner worked out well for the Cardinals, but one could argue Cook is an upgrade at running back here.
Original pick: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida (Bills trade-up with Ravens)
24. Cowboys: Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Given Tony Pollard’s eventual departure and Ezekiel Elliott’s drop in production, the Cowboys would need a running back investment eventually. Williams started slow but has dominated with 2,443 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns in the last two years.
Original pick: Tyler Smith
25. Bills: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Though Hall is still chasing after that 1,000-yard season, he’s been a steady producer at running back for the Jets. Cook isn’t an option here for the Bills, but Hall is a strong complementary prize.
Original pick: Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens trade-down)
26. Titans: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
Though Johnson hasn’t lived up to the hype of being the No. 17 overall pick, he’s still been a steady starting guard for the last three years, which would be a welcomed addition on Tennessee’s offensive line.
Original pick: Jermaine Johnson (Jets trade-up)
27. Buccaneers: DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
I didn’t know where to put Bland in this redraft, given his injury-shortened 2024 season and coverage inconsistencies in the NFL. That said, the highs have been incredibly high. With 14 touchdowns and an insane five defensive touchdowns in his first two seasons, he’d be a stellar pick for the Buccaneers here.
Original pick: Devin Lloyd (Jaguars trade-up)
28. Packers: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
Shakir isn’t the type of receiver to put up video-game numbers on a consistent basis, but he’s an ascending young talent who knows how to get open and would arguably end up becoming the Packers’ best wide receiver on the roster in this scenario.
Original pick: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
29. Chiefs: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Losing out on McDuffie stings for the Chiefs, but they aren’t entirely out of luck in this redraft. Gordon has developed into one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the entire NFL over the course of his three years with the Bears.
Original pick: Cole Strange, OG, Chattanooga (Patriots pick through three separate trades)
30. Chiefs: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Thibodeaux didn’t have the stellar Year 3 the Giants had hoped for, but he’s still an extremely gifted athlete who had 11.5 sacks in 2023. That would make for a great addition to Kansas City’s defensive line with Chris Jones up the middle.
Original pick: George Karlaftis
31. Bengals: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
While 10 sacks in three seasons looks discouraging for Johnson, one has to remember he didn’t start as a rookie and only played in two games due to injury in 2024. The one year he’s had as a full-time starter, he made the Pro Bowl in 2023.
Original pick: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
32. Lions: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Lloyd would be a sturdy pick for the Lions in this instance, having tallied 355 tackles over the last three years and demonstrating the tenacity that would make him feel right at home in Detroit’s locker room.
Original pick: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia (Vikings trade-down)
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