This week’s 2022 NFL Draft Notebook takes a look at the top five draft choices over the previous 10 years. Two main factors were looked at to determine what selections qualified as the best picks over the past decade including their overall production with each player on this list being named to at least two Pro Bowls. It was also factored in where they went in the draft as no player on this list was drafted until the third round, and three of the five players were selected in the fifth round.
Along with naming the top five picks over the previous decade this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also take a look at the following
- The top offensive guards in the 2022 NFL Draft
- How Cam Akers injury could affect the Los Angeles Rams 2022 NFL Draft plans
- A couple of rookie wide receivers could surprise this year
- And much more
Top Draft Picks
1. Seattle Seahawks: QB, Russell Wilson, third-round pick in 2012
No player has helped transform the quarterback position more in the past ten years than Russell Wilson. The old thought was a team needed a big tall pocket passer to today’s thinking of needing more of an athletic quarterback who can make plays with their feet regardless of their size.
During his nine seasons, Wilson has thrown for over 20 touchdowns becoming just the third quarterback to do this with the other two being Dan Marino and Peyton Manning. He has also been named to the Pro Bowl eight times, won a Super Bowl, and been an MVP candidate several times.
2. Dallas Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott, fourth-round pick in 2016
The first two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft were Jared Goff who went number one to the Los Angeles Rams and Carson Wentz who went number two to the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, the best quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft fell to the fourth round when the Dallas Cowboys selected Dak Prescott. Since joining the Cowboys, Prescott has been named to the Pro Bowl twice and become one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: WR, Tyreek Hill, fifth-round pick in 2016
Tyreek Hill fell to the fifth round due to his off-the-field issues that included a domestic violence incident.
However, since coming into the NFL he has become one of the best deep threats in the NFL catching 61 deep passes for 2,439 yards and 28 deep touchdowns all of which lead the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.
4. Atlanta Falcons: DT, Grady Jarrett, fifth-round pick in 2015
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarret is the best defensive pick over the past ten years. Since being a fifth-round selection in 2015 he has established himself as one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL registering 25.5 sacks including three in the Super Bowl 51.
5. San Francisco 49ers: TE, George Kittle, fifth-round pick in 2017
One of the main reasons George Kittle fell to the fifth round in the 2017 NFL Draft is that he was underutilized in Iowa’s offense. During his career with the Hawkeyes, he never had more than 22 receptions in a season and finished with only 48 career receptions.
He has seen this production skyrocket since entering the NFL though never recording less than 42 receptions in a season and being named a Pro Bowler in both 2018 and 2019.
One of the biggest snubs of last season was North Carolina State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu only being named third-team All-ACC. This was despite Ekwonu leading the team with an impressive 50 pancake blocks and 22 knockdowns. He was also well respected by his opponents as one opposing coach called him the most feared lineman in the ACC and another one saying that he was a better offensive lineman than Christian Darrisaw who went in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Ekwonu also had a strong freshman season in 2019 becoming the first true freshman to start at offensive tackle for the Wolfpack since 2010. He finished that year with 37 pancakes and was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team.
As a prospect Ekwonu’s top trait is his strength. He routinely blows guys off the ball and his impressive strength is one of the main reasons he was able to account for 87 pancake blocks and 28 knockdowns over the past two seasons. To go along with his strength he has the size to be one of the more physical linemen at the next level coming in at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds.
Some of the other traits working in his favor include his versatility, overall intelligence, and non-stop motor. During his college career, Ekwonu has played both tackle and guard and shows the potential to play either right tackle or guard in the NFL. He is one of the smarter players in this year’s draft both on and off the field.
Coming out of high school Ekwonu turned down offers from Harvard and Yale and while in college has an Academic All-ACC performer both of his years in college. His coaches also rave about his motor and he does an outstanding job of finishing his blocks.
The biggest concern with Ekwonu is his ability to pass block. Last season, he gave up 25 pressures and seven sacks which is a major concern. In pass blocking, he struggles in two main areas which are hand placement and the quickness to keep up with edge pass rushers. In terms of his hand use, he tends to be late on his punch and also doesn’t always get his hands inside.
However, the main reason he struggled in this area is he lacks the overall speed and agility to keep up with quick edge rushers. This lack of speed is one of the main reasons his best position in the NFL will likely be offensive guard.
Going into the 2021 season Ekwonu draft stock is all over the board as he is rated the tenth best offensive guard by NFL Draft Scout, yet is rated by Mel Kiper Jr. as the top guard in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The rating he receives by NFL Draft Notebook is much closer to Mel Kiper’s than NFL Draft Scout though as he currently is rated as the second-best offensive guard just behind Kenyon Green of Texas A&M. If he can improve as a pass blocker this year it is not out of the question for Ekwonu to be a late first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Despite spending a fourth-round pick on Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, look for the Cleveland Browns to spend a lot of time this year looking at the 2022 defensive tackle class. The team’s current group of defensive tackles has underwhelmed recently and has plenty of questions about how they will hold up this year. These questions include can Andrew Billings rebound after opting out last season, despite looking out of shape at mini-camp? How many years left does the 31-year-old Billings have left? Will the Browns resign Billings and Malik Jackson who are both on one-year deals after the season? It is doubtful the Browns will get positive responses on each of these questions, which is why it would be a surprise if the team didn’t take a defensive tackle early in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- One trend that could continue in the 2022 NFL Draft is the New England Patriots drafting players from the University of Oklahoma. The Patriots took two players from the school last year in defensive end Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson. New England and Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley are also becoming close allies as Riley has spent time at OTA’s and is close to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Bill Belichick has a history of drafting players from schools with head coaches he is comfortable with as well having drafted 13 players from Alabama.
- With the news that Los Angeles running back, Cam Akers will miss this season with a torn Achilles look for the Rams to strongly consider drafting a running back in the third or fourth round area. This is a need as Akers has been injury-prone, missing several games last season due to rib and ankle injuries and now missing this season. The team’s top backup Darrell Henderson has also seen his playing time limited due to being hurt. A prospect who could make sense for the Rams is Alabama’s Brian Robinson.
- A team with an obvious need going into the 2022 NFL Draft is Washington. The team will need to address the quarterback position as current starter Ryan Fitzpatrick will be 39 at the end of next season, and has never been the long-term answer for any of the teams he has played for. Backups Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen have shown flashes of potential at, but unless one has them has a great season this year neither should be counted on as the starter next season. The 2022 class of free agents also has little to offer with the best quarterback scheduled to be a free agent being Marcus Mariota.
- Teams will love the versatility Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer has shown so far in his career. Salyer has played every position on the offensive line while at Georgia including starting nine games at left tackle and one at guard last season. While this is definitely a positive for him his lack of agility could be a red flag. Explosive defensive tackles can beat him off the ball and he also struggles blocking in space. Due to these concerns, it would not be a shock if he fell to the third day of the NFL Draft
- Liam Dobson of Texas State is an interesting prospect to keep an eye on. Dobson transferred to Texas State from Maine where he was an FCS All-American. In 2019, Dobson averaged an impressive 12 knockdowns a game and was the Black Bears’ highest-graded lineman each game of the season, To go along with his production Dobson is an impressive athlete who posts a 29-inch vertical jump and 4.84 short shuttle time.
- One of the best offensive lines in college football last year belonged to UAB, and that line returns all five starters this season. Last season, UAB’s offensive line helped their ground game rush for 200 yards a game and only gave up four sacks in nine games. Two of the unit’s top prospects are Colby Ragland and Sidney Wells both of who carry priority free agent grades currently.
- Teams that run a zone scheme will want to keep an eye on Clemson offensive lineman Jordan McFadden. While McFadden plays tackle at Clemson his best position in the NFL will likely be at guard due to his lack of size coming in at only 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds. Despite his lack of size, McFadden should be an early day three pick due to his athletic ability and overall mobility.
- An underrated player in this year’s offensive guard class is Josh Sills of Oklahoma State. Sills, who started his career at West Virginia, was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2018, and this past season was named to the first team while playing at Oklahoma State. What makes Sills stand out is his combination of size, strength, and mobility. Coming in at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds he is one of the bigger guards in the 2022 NFL Draft. In terms of strength, he easily controls his man once he gets his hands on him. He also moves well for someone his size and can easily get to the second level or be a pulling lineman. Another positive with Sills is his versatility having played tackle, guard, and center during his college career.
Top offensive guard: Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Texas A&M offensive guard Kenyon Green has been a standout from day one. As a true freshman, he started all 13 games for the Aggies and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. This past season he was named a consensus All-American and was one of the reasons Texas A&M led the SEC in sacks allowed (0.7), tackles for loss allowed (3.8), and yards per carry (5.45). As an NFL prospect, he shows outstanding explosion and pop for someone 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds.
Most underrated: Mike Miranda, Penn State
Despite being one of the better offensive linemen in the Big Ten Penn State offensive guard Mike Miranda is being overlooked by most people. Last year, Miranda was named second-team All-Big Ten, and this year the Nittany Lions will be counting on him even more as he makes the move to center. One of the reasons he is making this switch is his high football IQ, which is evident when watching him pick up defensive line stunts.
Most overrated: Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
While Kentucky offensive tackle Darian Kinnard was an All-American last year there are some concerns about his pro potential. One of these concerns is his lack of mobility which causes him to get beat by quicker defenders. This lack of mobility will likely force Kinnard inside to guard, but even in that role, he is going to have to play in a gap scheme. On the positive side, he is a massive player with outstanding strength.
Offensive guard that should significantly improve his stock: Kyler Schott, Iowa
Iowa offensive guard Kyler Schott is someone who keeps improving. He came to Iowa as a walk-on and earned a scholarship after the 2019 season. In 2020, he started two games for the Hawkeyes but made enough of an impression to be named honorable mention All-Big Ten. Going into this season Schott was named a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and should be a full-time starter for the first time in his career.
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Biggest risk: Ed Ingram, LSU
The biggest issue with LSU offensive guard Ed Ingram is the 2018 arrest he had for aggravated sexual assault of a minor. While these chargers were later dropped it did cause him to miss the 2018 season, and will bring up character questions in the predraft process. He also has some concerns about his technique and needs to do a better job of finishing his blocks.
Top small school offensive guard: Cordell Volson, North Dakota State
The only small school offensive guard prospect to earn a draftable grade is North Dakota State’s Cordell Volson. What makes Volson the highest graded prospect is his physical style of play which makes him a highly graded run blocker. On the downside, he is a limited athlete which is why he will likely have to make the switch from offensive tackle to offensive guard in the NFL.
Overall Rankings
1. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M (second round)
2. Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State (second round)
3. Mike Miranda, Penn State (third round)
4. Nick Broeker, Ole Miss (third round)
5. Emil Ekiyor, Alabama (third round)
6. Cade Mays, Tennessee (third round)
7. Cole Schneider, UCF (fourth round)
8. Logan Bruss, Wisconsin (fourth round)
9. Josh Sills, Oklahoma State (fourth round)
10. Cody Ince, Iowa (fourth round)
11. Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (fourth round)
12. Jaylon Thomas, SMU (fourth round)
13. Harry Miller, Ohio State (fifth round)
14. Zion Johnson, Boston College (fifth round)
15. Jordan McFadden, Clemson (fifth round)
16. Junior Angilau, Texas (fifth round)
17. Blaise Andries, Minnesota (fifth round)
18. Jamaree Salyer, Georgia (fifth round)
19. Dylan Parham, Memphis (fifth round)
20. Ed Ingram, LSU (sixth round)
21. Cain Madden, Notre Dame (sixth round)
22. Kyler Schott, Iowa (sixth round)
23. Justin Shaffer, Georgia (sixth round)
24. Ben Petrula, Boston College (sixth round)
25. Marcus McKethan, North Carolina (seventh round)
26. Liam Dobson, Texas State (seventh round)
27. Matt Bockhorst, Clemson (seventh round)
28. Cordell Volson, North Dakota State (seventh round)
29. Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State (seventh round)
30. Chasen Hines, LSU (free agent)
31. Liam Ryan, Washington State (free agent)
32. Liam Fornadel, James Madison (free agent)
33. Henry Bainivalu, Washington (free agent)
34. Josh Seltzner, Wisconsin (free agent)
35. Devontay Love-Taylor, Florida State (free agent)
36. Tristan Schultz, Liberty (free agent)
37. P.J. Burkhalter, Nicholls (free agent)
38. Colby Ragland, UAB (free agent)
39. Eric Wilson, Penn State (free agent)
40. Brent Laing, Minnesota-Duluth (free agent)
41. Sidney Wells, UAB (free agent)
42. Ty Whitworth, Weber State (free agent)
43. Grant Smith, South Dakota Mines (free agent)
44. Chris Paul, Tulsa (free agent)
- A third-round draft pick that should have a big year is Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins. Collins should at the bare minimum be the team’s third wide receiver behind Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, and it would not be a shock if he beat out Cobb for the number two spot. In terms of how he will be used in the passing game, look for him to become more of the team’s possession receiver as he is bigger than Cooks or Cobbs and was used in this role at Michigan.
- Another mid-round wide receiver who should put up strong numbers this year is Amon-Ra St. Brown. Brown was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and fills a big need for the team after they lost Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. in free agency. Brown will likely enter the season as the slot receiver and will look to fill a role similar to what Cooper Kupp did for the Los Angeles Rams when Jared Goff was his quarterback.
- While Collins and Brown will put up strong numbers one wide receiver who might only see limited action is Tutu Atwell. Atwell was drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 NFL Draft, but will likely enter the season as the team’s fourth receiver. Most of his touches will be limited to manufactured touches on plays like jet sweeps and screen passes. However, his playing time will increase if either DeSean Jackson or Cooper Kupp battle injuries this season like they have in the past.
- A training camp battle to watch this training camp is who will win the Denver Broncos starting center job. This is a battle between 2020 third-round pick Lloyd Cushenberry and 2021 third-round selection Quinn Meinerz. While Cushenberry has the advantage when it comes to experience, Meinerz is a much more physical player. It would not be a shock to see Cushenberry win the starting job coming out of training camp but see Meinerz take over in the middle of the season once he gets more comfortable with playing center.
- The New England Patriots placed three of their draft picks on the non-football injury last week. The players placed on this list include running back Rhamondre Stevenson, linebacker Cameron McGrone, and safety Joshuah Bledsoe. While these players can be activated at any time before the end of training camp, if they are still on the list at the start of the season they must miss at least six weeks of action.
- Ohio State’s Harry Miller missed spring ball this year due to the fact he was rehabbing from an offseason injury. This loss of time could hurt him when it comes to making the transition from offensive guard to center for this upcoming season.
- A stat that has to concern teams about Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams is that he fumbled every 49 touches. He was also one of only four running backs with five more fumbles last season.
- While Wisconsin offensive guard Josh Seltzner has only started seven career starts he has put up some pretty impressive stats. In 514 snaps he has not allowed a sack and only two pressures. Seltzner should be a full-time starter for the first time in his career this season as he takes over for current Green Bay Packer Jon Dietzen.
- Iowa has shifted offensive guard Cody Ince to right tackle for the 2021 season. He will still likely be viewed as an offensive guard in the NFL though due to a lack of ideal height.
- A player moving from offensive tackle back to guard this season is Zion Johnson of Boston College. This move should be a plus for Johnson as he struggled with edge pass rushers last year at tackle.
- At SEC Media Days Florida coach Dan Mullen said the Gators offense will look different next year under new quarterback Emory Jones. Look for Florida to focus more on the quarterback run game next year while also taking more shots downfield.
- Another piece of information to come out of SEC Media Days was South Carolina coach Shane Beamer stressing how important the tight end position will be in his offense. This has to be music to Nick Muse’s ears as he is currently rated as the 10th best tight end in the NFL Draft by NFL Draft Notebook, but with a strong year could see his stock rise.