2022 NFL Draft Notebook: Top draft picks of the past decade and more
By John Blair
- 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.