The 2022 Draft

A first-round pick spent on a veteran receiver, a tight end the board liked more than the roster needed, and no cornerback until the seventh round.

• The need: defensive end, cornerback and receiver.
• The trade: pick 23 to Baltimore for Marquise Brown and pick 100.
• The pick: McBride at 55, 60th on PFF's board and the best left on the club's, at a position with two veterans re-signed.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A first receiver for an empty room, two pass rushers, and a quarterback in the third round that every board liked.

• The need: quarterback, defensive end and receiver.
• The trade: 43 and 114 to the Giants for 38, used on Ebiketie.
• The pick: Ridder at 74, Kiper's fourth-ranked quarterback and a second-round player on his board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Value at every early slot, and a receiver a year from a new deal turned into a first-round center and an extra pick.

• The need: cornerback, defensive end and center.
• The trade: Brown to Arizona for 23 and 100, then 23 to Buffalo for 25 and 130.
• The pick: Hamilton at 14, fourth on Kiper's board; Ojabo at 45 with a torn Achilles on the record.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The last first-round corner on the club's board bought for a fourth, two trades down that paid, and one reach at linebacker.

• The need: cornerback opposite White, then linebacker and running back.
• The trades: 25 and 130 for 23; 57 down to 63 for two sixth-round picks; 168 and 203 for 148.
• The pick: Elam at 23, the last first-round grade on the club's board; Bernard at 89 a reach on Kiper's board and PFF's.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The best tackle on the board at 6 and a quarterback at 94 for a future third, in a class that had no Day 2 pick of its own.

• The need: quarterback, offensive line and cornerback.
• The trades: 137 and a 2023 third to New England for 94; 144 and 149 to Washington for 120 and 189.
• The pick: Ekwonu at 6, Kiper's top tackle; Corral at 94, 32nd on Kiper's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two defensive backs at value, then little for the quarterback until the third round.

• The need: offensive line, receiver and cornerback.
• The trades: four on Saturday, all down or for extra late picks.
• The pick: Gordon at 39 and Brisker at 48 for the secondary; no tackle until the fifth round.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Value at 31, then two Day 2 picks at named needs that the boards had much lower.

• The need: offensive line, defensive tackle and cornerback.
• The trades: 63 and 209 to Buffalo for 60; 174 and 226 to Chicago for 166.
• The pick: Hill at 31, ten spots of value on Kiper's board; Carter at 95, outside PFF's top 200.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick, a trade down that added two fourth-rounders, and all three named needs met by the fourth round.

• The need: receiver, defensive tackle and defensive end.
• The trades: 44 to Houston for 68, 108 and 124; 118 to Minnesota for 156 and a 2023 fourth.
• The pick: Winfrey at 108, a player Kiper had about 50 picks higher.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Needs met on the line and at receiver, with the first two picks ahead of the public boards and a risky group behind them.

• The need: receiver, offensive line and defensive line.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 155 and 193 came from the Cooper trade.
• The pick: Smith at 24, 16th on the club's board and a project to Bleacher Report; Williams at 56, a Day 3 player on Kiper's.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick after the Wilson trade, value at the edge and tight end, and a future third gained by moving down.

• The need: tight end after Fant left in the Wilson trade, then tackle and cornerback.
• The trades: 75 for 80 and 162; 96 for 179 and a 2023 third; 179 and 234 for 171.
• The pick: Bonitto at 64, 38th on PFF's board; Dulcich at 80 after a trade down.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The top player on the board at the top need, then a costly move up for a receiver coming off a torn ACL.

• The need: defensive end, receiver and quarterback.
• The trade: 32, 34 and 66 to Minnesota for 12 and 46.
• The pick: Hutchinson at 2, first on Kiper's board; Williams at 12 with a torn ACL on the record.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two first-round defenders at value, then two second-round picks spent to get the receiver the roster needed.

• The need: receiver, defensive end and offensive line.
• The trade: 53 and 59 to Minnesota for 34, used on Watson.
• The pick: Wyatt at 28, PFF's top interior lineman; Walker at 22, 45th on its board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that paid and real Day 2 value, offset by reaches at 15 and 44 and no edge rusher.

• The need: cornerback, running back and defensive end.
• The trades: 13 for 15, 124, 162 and 166; 68, 108 and 124 for 44; 80 and 162 for 75.
• The pick: Green at 15, 39th on PFF's board; Metchie at 44 with a torn ACL on the record.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick, then a Day 2 that met every named need and a trade down that landed a first-round tackle at 77.

• The need: receiver, offensive line with left tackle open, and defensive back.
• The trades: 42 to Minnesota for 53, 77 and 192; 179 and a 2023 third to Denver for 96.
• The pick: Raimann at 77, a first-round talent on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A first overall pick on projection, a good trade back into the first round, and third-round picks the boards had lower.

• The need: offensive line, defensive line and defensive back.
• The trade: 33, 106 and 180 to Tampa Bay for 27, used on Lloyd.
• The pick: Walker at 1, ninth on Kiper's board; Lloyd at 27, 15th on PFF's.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Three needs met with the first three picks, two of them steals on PFF's board, and the trade up paid for with the Hill picks.

• The need: cornerback, wide receiver and a pass rusher after the Hill trade.
• The trades: 29, 94 and 121 to New England for 21; 50 to New England for 54 and 158.
• The pick: McDuffie at 21 was 11th on PFF's board; Karlaftis at 30 was its biggest steal of the first round.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No pick before 90 after the Adams trade, then value at guard and defensive tackle and extra picks from trading down.

• The need: offensive tackle, defensive tackle and defensive back.
• The trades: 86 to Tennessee for 90 and 169; 164 to the Rams for 175 and 238.
• The pick: Parham at 90 was 76th on Bleacher Report's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A starting guard at 17 and a second-round pick spent on Mack, with little behind them.

• The need: offensive tackle, linebacker and guard.
• The trades: 48 to Chicago for Mack before the draft; 254 and 255 to Chicago on the weekend.
• The pick: Johnson at 17 was Kiper's top-ranked guard.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No pick before 104 by choice, then the guard the line needed and depth behind him.

• The need: offensive line after Corbett left, then the secondary.
• The trades: 175 and 238 to Las Vegas for 164; 218 to Tampa Bay for 235 and 261.
• The pick: Bruss at 104 was Kiper's seventh-ranked guard.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Four picks after the Hill trade: Tindall met the linebacker need at value, and the line and cornerback went unmet.

• The need: offensive line, cornerback and linebacker.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 29, 50 and 121 had gone to Kansas City for Hill.
• The pick: Tindall at 102, a player Kiper projected early in the second round.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Traded down from 12 with a rival and still met the cornerback need at value, with the line left for later.

• The need: defensive line, cornerback and tight end.
• The trades: 12 and 46 to Detroit for 32, 34 and 66; 34 to Green Bay for 53 and 59.
• The pick: Cine at 32 was 26th on PFF's board; Booth at 42 a first-round talent in its view.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Trades added picks and the guard filled a real hole, but the first two picks went to players PFF's board had 86th and 192nd.

• The need: both starting guards gone, then cornerback, wide receiver and linebacker.
• The trades: 21 to Kansas City for 29, 94 and 121; 54 and 158 to Kansas City for 50.
• The pick: Strange at 29 was 86th on PFF's board; Thornton at 50 was 192nd.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Olave and Penning met two needs, paid for with a future first and second, then a reach at 49.

• The need: offensive tackle, wide receiver and defensive end.
• The trades: a 2023 first and 2024 second to Philadelphia for 16 and 19; 16, 98 and 120 to Washington for 11.
• The pick: Olave at 11 met the receiver need; Taylor at 49 was near PFF's biggest reach.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two top-seven picks on the two top needs, extra picks from trading down, and a reach at 43.

• The need: a pass rusher and the offensive line, then tight end.
• The trades: 36 to the Jets for 38 and 146; 38 to Atlanta for 43 and 114.
• The pick: Thibodeaux at 5 and Neal at 7 were first and second on Bleacher Report's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Four picks in the top 38, three of them Kiper's top-ranked players at their positions, with the line left for later.

• The need: defensive back, offensive line and wide receiver.
• The trades: 35, 69 and 163 to Tennessee for 26 and 101; 38 and 146 to the Giants for 36.
• The pick: Gardner at 4 and Wilson at 10 were Kiper's top-ranked cornerback and receiver.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A future first and second added, a proven receiver for the top need, and Dean's medical risk taken at 83.

• The need: wide receiver, defensive back and linebacker.
• The trades: 15, 124, 162 and 166 to Houston for 13; 18 and 101 to Tennessee for A.J. Brown.
• The pick: Dean at 83 was the steal of the draft on Kiper's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback at 20 without a trade and two receivers with first-round talent, and no lineman at all.

• The need: quarterback, offensive line and wide receiver.
• The trades: none on the weekend.
• The pick: Pickett at 20 was the fourth quarterback on PFF's board; Pickens at 52 carried medical risk.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two sound need picks, and a reach at 93 on a roster with holes.

• The need: with no first-round pick, the holes were a rusher opposite Bosa, protection for Trey Lance and receiver speed.
• The value: Jackson at 61 met the biggest need at a price called phenomenal value; Gray at 105 brought speed.
• The miss: Davis-Price, a running back on a roster that drafted two the year before, was named the worst pick.

From 6 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Sam Kezar, written Sep 22, 2026. The piece.

Two tackles and a pass rusher from the Wilson capital, and no quarterback.

• The need: quarterback, offensive tackle and defensive end.
• The trades: 145 to Kansas City for 158 and 233.
• The pick: Cross at 9 was PFF's top tackle.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that added picks and all three needs met, at slight reaches.

• The need: guard, defensive tackle and running back.
• The trades: 27 to Jacksonville for 33, 106 and 180; 60 and 180 to Buffalo for 57.
• The pick: Hall at 33 was 72nd on PFF's board and 56th on Kiper's.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Brown traded for picks, all three needs met, and Willis in the third round.

• The need: offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback.
• The trades: A.J. Brown to Philadelphia for 18 and 101; 26 and 101 to the Jets for 35, 69 and 163.
• The pick: Willis at 86 was Kiper's top-ranked quarterback.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that added picks and met the receiver need, then three picks ahead of PFF's board and no early cornerback.

• The need: wide receiver, defensive back and offensive line.
• The trades: 11 to New Orleans for 16, 98 and 120; 120 and 189 to Carolina for 144 and 149.
• The pick: Dotson at 16 was 56th on PFF's board; Howell at 144 was 34th.

From 8 reports dated on or before May 2, 2022. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.