Tag: 2022 NFL draft

Who is the best quarterback from the 2022 NFL draft?

Vote and tell us who the best quarterback is from the 2022 NFL draft.

The 2022 NFL draft was an odd group when it came to quarterbacks. Most draft pundits had this class greatly overrated in comparison to where they were drafted. Some experts had three or four guys in the mix for the first round when Kenny Pickett ended up being the only guy off the board early.

Since then, things have gone sideways for many of the quarterbacks in this group who most of us thought would be good and some others have shined. But which quarterback from the 2022 class has been the best?

[crowdsignal poll=12976431]

Cast your vote and tell us which one is the best. We included all the big names in our poll but we recognize this is a three-man race. Pickett, Sam Howell and Brock Purdy are the only ones out of this class starting and playing good football. Most of them have either been benched or never got a chance to start at all.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Chiefs were reportedly stunned Patriots passed on drafting this player

This first-round move by the Patriots in the 2022 NFL draft surprised many, including the Kansas City Chiefs.

The New England Patriots have been known to take an unconventional strategy when drafting players. Sometimes, the draft selections confuse opposing teams as well as fans.

Take the Kansas City Chiefs for example. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, they believed the Patriots would draft standout cornerback Trent McDuffie with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, but instead, the Patriots traded that pick to the Chiefs and drafted offensive guard Cole Strange at No. 29 overall.

New England was able to draft a top corner this year in the first round with Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. However, the jury will have to wait on the full evaluation for Gonzalez, as he is out with a torn labrum this season.

Breer elaborated on the surprise behind New England’s selection last year:

Going into the 2022 draft, the Chiefs coveted the Washington prospect and had looked at the idea of trading up for him. They figured there was no way he would get to where they were picking, at 29. So as Kansas City watched McDuffie slide through the teens, that doubt was maintained, mostly because GM Brett Veach and his staff felt like McDuffie checked about every box for Bill Belichick’s program and, accordingly, would get past where the Patriots were picking, at 21.

So imagine their surprise when McDuffie fell out of the teens, Kansas City started calling around, McDuffie dropped into the Patriots’ laps at 21 and the Chiefs found a willing trade partner in New England.

The selection of Cole Strange was certainly a surprise to many, including this writer. In the meantime, McDuffie leads all defensive backs with four forced fumbles on the year.

One has to wonder what could have been and how the New England secondary would’ve looked with McDuffie in the fold. As for now, the Patriots are at the bottom of the AFC East, with several holes to fill on the roster.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

49ers 2022 NFL draft class mostly struggling halfway through 2nd season

An update on the #49ers’ 2022 draft class, which isn’t trending the right direction 1.5 seasons in:

The 49ers are in a good place from a roster perspective and they don’t necessarily need young players to contribute right away. However, if they’re going to extend their Super Bowl window beyond the current core of stars they’ll need contributions from their draft classes.

Through 1.5 seasons the 2022 draft class doesn’t appear to be on track to contribute much down the road.

Quarterback Brock Purdy, the final pick last year, is the obvious headliner, but beyond that the 49ers’ contributions from second-year players have been minimal with not many signs that any of them are trending upward.

Let’s run through San Francisco’s nine-player class for a quick update:

Second-Year Review: Analyzing the Cleveland Browns’ 2022 NFL draft class

Martin Emerson Jr. headlined the 2022 NFL draft for the Browns. But how is the class as a whole doing just over a year in?

The bye week offers teams a chance for introspection, free from the looming presence of impending opponents. Self-scouting is pivotal to teams as they assess their weaknesses and tendencies, especially during the bye week. The Cleveland Browns desperately needed to do it, especially with injuries to their offensive stars Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson. It’s also a good time for fans and media members to look at the bigger picture. I thought I’d spend this time looking at the Browns’ 2022 NFL draft class, headlined by cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. 

The Browns are becoming a real football team. In years past, we as fans, would be assessing a rookie class where half of the players would be forced into starting roles. The Browns are still performing a baptism by fire with 4th-round rookie Dawand Jones, who is playing fantastic. However, most rookies are sitting on the bench and learning how to be professionals. Successful teams always boast of developing four-year plans for their drafted players.

The Browns are finally establishing themselves as a real organization with a slow and deliberate onboarding of their young players. Only three players in the Browns’ 2022 draft class are playing significant snaps currently.

Let’s take a look at how that draft class is doing one year in at the bye week.

Aidan Hutchinson film review from the Lions win over the Kansas City Chiefs

Hutchinson had a great game in Week 1 and Lions Wire’s Russell Brown breaks down the game tape

When the Detroit Lions held the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, there was very little belief that the Lions were going to draft Aidan Hutchinson. Many thought he should have been the first overall pick. Meanwhile, as went into the opening night of the draft, there was a lot of speculation that Kayvon Thibodeaux was going to be the Lions selection.

That all changed when the Lions were chomping at the bit to get a player that felt would be an immediate impact player for their defense. When you watch Hutchinson at Michigan or throughout his 18-game career, all signs point to him being a Dan Campbell type of player. He fit exactly what the Lions were looking for in a defender and overall player.

While Hutchinson had a terrific rookie season with three interceptions and 9.5 sacks, there are many analysts who believe he will take a massive step forward in 2023. In the Detroit Lions win over the Kansas City Chiefs to start the 2023 season, it felt like he did just that.

Even though he didn’t load the stat sheet with tackles for loss, sacks or interceptions, he ensured that his presence would be felt whenever Patrick Mahomes dropped back to pass. Against the Chiefs on Thursday night, Hutchinson had four total tackles, three quarterback hits and four hurries. In total, he had 7 quarterback pressures. Let’s jump into the tape and look at some of the top pass-rushes from Hutchinson in the Lions win over the Chiefs!

Starting with the play above, the Lions defense shows 8 players in the box for the Chiefs condensed set out of 11 personnel (one tight end and one running back). For Hutchinson, he’s aligned in a 4-technique while being head up on the right tackle. Once the ball is snapped, Hutchinson attacks the outside shoulder of the right guard and then quickly swipes the arms of the guard while trying to rip through.

While Hutchinson continues to drive his feet to the quarterback, the guard has no choice but let Mahomes get sacked or get called for holding. Obviously, holding gets called and it forces the Chiefs offense to move back 10 yards.

Moving onto the next play, we’ll see Hutchinson aligned as a 7-technique. Using nothing but pure speed, he’s able to get deep into the backfield and it forces Patrick Mahomes to throw off his back foot. With how Hutchinson sets the edge with his size and speed, Mahomes has to make a decision quickly and isn’t able to roll out and extend plays like he normally does. All of this forces an incompletion.

Finishing up with the last play, we’ll see Hutchinson aligned as a 5-technique off the right tackle. While the Chiefs run a variation of split-zone off play-action, the tight end (Chiefs TE 83) is forced to try and get down the line and block Hutchinson. While that’s a tough task, he does slow Hutch down enough to not get the sack. However, Hutchinson does a great job hitting the tight end with a push-pull and rip move to force Mahomes back into the pocket to quickly get rid of the ball.

All together, the Lions have seen nothing but great things from their former second overall pick. There’s potential for Hutchinson to find himself in the elite category of edge rushers this season. With strong performances like the one he had against the Chiefs, Hutchinson should easily find himself in that category. Most importantly, the Lions should find themselves with a much improved defense for this season and the future.

The Patriots just embarrassed the Panthers for their 2022 draft-day trade to take Matt Corral

How does Bill Belichick keep doing this?!

People always wonder why the New England Patriots always seem to get the upper hand on any NFL trade. Thursday’s news is a great reason as to why.

The Patriots claimed quarterback Matt Corral on waivers on Thursday to back up Mac Jones after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers just a year after he was drafted.

That might not seem like a big deal past Carolina whiffing on Corral as a long-term option, but you have to consider how the Panthers got the pick they used on the former Ole Miss quarterback.

Back in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Panthers traded with the Patriots to snag Corral in the third round and sent the team’s original third in 2023 and a 2022 fourth-round pick back to New England in exchange.

With those picks, the Patriots drafted quarterback Bailey Zappe in 2022 and linebacker Marte Mapu in 2023. Now, New England has Corral, too, which basically means the Panthers just gave away picks to the Patriots for no return in retrospect.

They say the NFL is a tough business, and they’re certainly not wrong. The Panthers traded to get a player in the draft that they waived just a year or so later, and the Patriots now have that player, as well as two other players.

If you’re ever curious about how Bill Belichick does it, don’t overthink it. Sometimes, he just gets lucky when another team waves a white flag.

Several 2nd-year quarterbacks facing pressure to perform in 2023

The leash will be short for several of the top quarterbacks from the 2022 NFL draft.

When the 2023 NFL season starts, at least four quarterbacks taken in the 2022 NFL will be in their team’s starting lineup. But with a loaded 2024 NFL draft class, some of these players might be eyeing their last, best shot to stick in the starting lineup.

The one starter who appears to be safe regardless is Pittsburgh Steelers Kenny Pickett. After being named the starter early in 2022, Pickett has the full confidence of the team and a strong cast of skill-position players around him.

But of the other starters, there is much more uncertainty. The Washington Commanders are starting Sam Howell, the Atlanta Falcons have Desmond Ridder and the San Francisco 49ers have Brock Purdy.

With guys like USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Quinn Ewers would all be upgrades over Ridder, Howell and even Purdy. Unfortunately, the window for quarterbacks to play well is very small and shrinks even more when you are a mid or late-round quarterback starting in a season ahead of a very strong draft class.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Tar Heel QB Howell receives praise from teammate

Former Tar Heel QB Sam Howell enters his first full season as an NFL starter. Commanders teammate Jahan Dotson has a lot of faith in him.

Sam Howell goes down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever sling a football for the University of North Carolina.

Howell holds almost 30 school records, including career passing yards (10,283) and career passing touchdowns (92). His 92 passing touchdowns also place him third in ACC history.

Despite all this success at the collegiate level, Howell fell to the later rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, as he wasn’t selected until the fifth round (144th pick) by the Washington Commanders. In the very final week of the 2022-2023 regular season, with the Commanders recently eliminated from playoff contention, head coach Ron Rivera started his rookie from UNC.

Howell fared solid in his first NFL start, completing 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 26-6 upset over the Dallas Cowboys. Howell’s very first NFL pass, infact, was a 16-yard touchdown to number one receiver Terry McLaurin.

With a solid debut, plus Carson Wentz hitting the free agent market and Taylor Heinicke signing with the Atlanta Falcons, the Commanders are entering their 2023 campaign with Howell as the starter.

Howell is already earning praise from his teammates, including wideout Jahan Dotson.

In a recent interview with commanders.com’s Fred Smoot, Dotson touched on how he believes Howell is Washington’s quarterback of the future.

““He’s a special talent, I truly believe it,” Dotson said of Howell. “I always tell people he makes every throw on the field look so easy. He makes it look effortless. His arm talent is insane and he’s just getting better. He’s getting smarter [with the offensive scheme] every single day and he’s getting more comfortable with us. I feel like once he gets comfortable with everyone, the sky’s the limit.”

Combine spending most of last season behind Wentz and Heinicke with having a second offseason to learn the entire playbook, Howell is going to be in good shoes for Sophomore Year. He’ll have a 1,000-yard receiver in McLaurin and 2022-2023’s touchdowns leader (7) in Dotson. Eight Commanders registered over 100 receiving yards last season – whoever Howell’s throwing it to has experience, which will certainly help his transition from bench player to full-time starter.

Howell will almost certainly get his second start in two weeks, when Washington opens its preseason against the Cleveland Browns on Friday, Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Detroit Lions Training Camp Battles: Tight Ends

Breaking down the ongoing Detroit Lions training camp battle at tight end

While we enter the days of training camp, it’s already been interesting for the Detroit Lions. Wide receiver Jameson Williams suffered a minor injury and should miss a few days. Meanwhile, they suffered an injury scare when defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down with a knee injury.

Fortunately, the injury for Gardner-Johnson has been defined as minor and is considered day-to-day.

While both players will be worth monitoring, there’s still plenty to follow when it comes to each position group during training camp. One of the main positions to follow is the tight end position.

Last season, the Lions tight end room changed drastically when they traded away T.J. Hockenson. Fortunately for the Lions, they made it work with players such as Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra.

As we enter the off-season, we knew that their was a need for an upgrade at tight end in Detroit. However, we didn’t know if the Lions were going to sign one or draft one. As it unfolded, we saw the Lions select Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta in the 2nd Round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

By selecting LaPorta, the Lions get a clear upgrade at the position. During training camp, we should see LaPorta be a step ahead of every other tight end on the roster. Much of this is due to the route running and athletic ability that he possesses. With that skill-set, it should allow the Lions the ability to consistently run between 12 and 21 personnel and they should find plenty of success.

Players such as Zylstra and Wright are experienced and are familiar with the scheme being ran under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. For Brock Wright, he had 591 snaps on offense last season and recorded 18 receptions for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns.

As for Shane Zylstra, he could be on the outside looking in and his performance during training camp could be crucial on if he makes the roster or not. Last season, he had 227 offensive snaps but he did score 4 touchdowns off just 11 receptions. What we’ve seen from himis very similar to what we saw in 2013 and 2014 from Joseph Fauria. We’ll see if Zylstra only plays two seasons for the Lions like Fauria.

The determining factor for Zylstra could be based off three things:

  • Can LaPorta handle the role of being the top tight end
  • Is James Mitchell ready to take another step?
  • Do the Lions carry three or four tight ends on the roster?

We know the Lions selected James Mitchell in the 7th Round of the 2022 NFL Draft but he was coming off a torn ACL. However, he played well in 14 games last season. He had 11 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown. But it’s unclear on what his progression from year one to his second season looks like.

Ultimately, I’d expect Sam LaPorta to be the top option for the Lions at the tight end position. He should get the majority of the first-team snaps, but it looks like he’s got a good supporting cast behind him and an even better supporting cast around him at the other positions. The Lions could carry four tight ends this year, but I think they’ll go with three of them. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out during training camp, but the projected three tight ends I have for the Lions are Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright and James Mitchell.

Aidan Hutchinson earns a place in the NFL Top 100 after his rookie season

Hutchinson is already earning respect around the league after just one season

Just one season into the NFL and the Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson has already made an impact. While he was expected to be an immediate impact player, I don’t think anyone could predict it would go this well for him in year one.

Drafted as the number two overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson registered 9.5 sacks while having 9 tackles for loss and 15 QB hits in 17 games. He also became the fifth player and first rookie with three interceptions and nine-plus sacks since individual sacks were officially tracked in 1982, per NFL research.

Every NFL off-season, the NFL has the players in the league vote on who the top-100 players in the league are. For Hutchinson, he was voted as the 88th best player in the NFL from his peers.

As of now, Hutchinson is the only player from the Detroit Lions on the top-100 list. However, there’s only been the players ranked from 100th to 81st overall revealed. Former Lions running back Jamaal Williams was listed as the 95th overall player. We very well could see Hutchinson’s teammates such as Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow and Amon-Ra St. Brown on the list.

During the reveal of Hutchinson as the 88th overall player in the top-100, here’s a few things that were said about him from players around the league:

  • “As the seasons progress, you start to see him get better and better. Both in the pass-rush game and in the run game as well.” – Eagles OT Lane Johnson
  • “Some people have, just, that they were born with it. The natural thing that you’re born with. He’s definitely one of those guys that were born with it.” – Saints IOL Cesar Ruiz
  • “I think he’s definitely proved a lot of people wrong.” – Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
  • “I’ll be the first to admit that he was basically playing in our entire backfield when we played them. He’s that type of player.” – Jets RB Zonovan Knight

You can see the full clip of Hutchinson’s reveal into the NFL Top-100 Players below: