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NFL draft grades: Mel Kiper Jr. picks steals, sleepers and favorite 2022 classes from all 32 teams
ESPN PLUS $ MATERIALThis was my 39th year doing the NFL draft for ESPN, and I can't remember a trading frenzy quite like the one we saw in the middle of Round 1 on Thursday. There were picks and players flying off the board faster than I could wrap my head around which team was on the clock. Now that we've been through all 262 picks, though, it's time for one of my favorite exercises every year. This is the piece everyone complains about up until the next draft.
I love doing NFL draft grades, and it helps me put all 32 teams' classes into perspective. That was tough in 2022, especially with nine teams having multiple first-round picks and 10 teams not having any first-round pick, both of which were the most in the common draft era (since 1967). The defense dominated the top of the draft, and of the 16 offensive players taken in Round 1, a whopping 15 were either offensive linemen (nine) or wide receivers (six).
Let's get into my team-by-team grades. Same rules apply, as always: I grade all 32 classes using my Big Board and position rankings as the prism to gauge how effectively each team addressed key personnel holes as well as how efficient each was in maneuvering the board and adding extra picks or future assets. I wrapped up Round 1 on Thursday night and Day 2 on Friday night, but in the grades file is where I dump out my notebook.
We'll start with the best grades and go to the worst, with teams that have identical grades listed in alphabetical order. Here we go:
Baltimore Ravens: A
Top needs: CB, DE, CHere's whom the Ravens selected with their first five picks:
- Kyle Hamilton (No. 14), my top-ranked safety and No. 4 overall prospect.
- Tyler Linderbaum (25), my top-ranked center and a plug-and-play starter.
- David Ojabo (45), my top-ranked outside linebacker, who would have gone much higher but now might have to redshirt because he tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg in March.
- Travis Jones (76), my second-ranked nose tackle and a defender I thought could go in the top 50.
- Daniel Faalele (110), a 6-foot-8, 384-pound offensive tackle with starter traits whom I projected to go a round higher.
The only thing keeping this class from an A+ is this: Who's going to catch deep balls from Jackson? The Ravens traded away Marquise Brown to get that extra first-rounder, and so there's a lot riding on a second-year surge from wideout Rashod Bateman.
Baltimore Ravens: A
Top needs: CB, DE, CHere's whom the Ravens selected with their first five picks:
- Kyle Hamilton (No. 14), my top-ranked safety and No. 4 overall prospect.
- Tyler Linderbaum (25), my top-ranked center and a plug-and-play starter.
- David Ojabo (45), my top-ranked outside linebacker, who would have gone much higher but now might have to redshirt because he tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg in March.
- Travis Jones (76), my second-ranked nose tackle and a defender I thought could go in the top 50.
- Daniel Faalele (110), a 6-foot-8, 384-pound offensive tackle with starter traits whom I projected to go a round higher.
The only thing keeping this class from an A+ is this: Who's going to catch deep balls from Jackson? The Ravens traded away Marquise Brown to get that extra first-rounder, and so there's a lot riding on a second-year surge from wideout Rashod Bateman.
Baltimore's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/14 | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame |
| 1/25 | Tyler Linderbaum | C | Iowa |
| 2/45 | David Ojabo | OLB | Michigan |
| 3/76 | Travis Jones | DT | UConn |
| 4/110 | Daniel Faalele | OT | Minnesota |
| 4/119 | Jalyn Armour-Davis | CB | Alabama |
| 4/128 | Charlie Kolar | TE | Iowa State |
| 4/130 | Jordan Stout | P | Penn State |
| 4/139 | Isaiah Likely | TE | Coastal Carolina |
| 4/141 | Damarion Williams | CB | Houston |
| 6/196 | Tyler Badie | RB | Missouri |
New York Jets: A
Top needs: DB, OL, WREntering this draft, the Jets had an extra first-round pick (from the Jamal Adams trade) and an extra second-round pick (from the Sam Darnold trade), giving them two in the top 10 and four in the top 38. And after another last-place finish in the AFC East -- their fifth in six seasons -- I thought they'd choose two prospects from three positions -- offensive live, wide receiver and cornerback -- with their top two picks. And that's exactly what they did.
The Jets selected my top-ranked corner in Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (4) and my top-ranked wideout in Garrett Wilson (10), each of whom has All-Pro skill sets. Then they moved back into Round 1 to take Jermaine Johnson II (26), who had fallen down the board. He is a really solid, all-around defensive end who had 12 sacks last season and was the best prospect at the Senior Bowl in January. I had Johnson No. 11 on my Big Board. Those are three rookie starters from general manager Joe Douglas, for a team that needed a talent infusion at all three positions.
And still, Douglas & Co. had an early-second round pick to get a good player, and they landed my top-ranked running back, Breece Hall (36), a touchdown maker with some tools to be a weapon in the passing game. That's three of my top prospects at their respective positions drafted by the Jets -- and an awesome class from Douglas.
The only slight knock here is waiting until Round 4 for an offensive tackle, which means they must be OK with George Fant and Mekhi Becton in 2022. Max Mitchell (111) is more of a developmental prospect who can be the swing tackle early in his career. I do think Jeremy Ruckert (101) could be a useful tight end in backing up C.J. Uzomah. Overall, this is one of the best groups of 2022.
New York's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | Ahmad Gardner | CB | Cincinnati |
| 1/10 | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio State |
| 1/26 | Jermaine Johnson II | DE | Florida State |
| 2/36 | Breece Hall | RB | Iowa State |
| 3/101 | Jeremy Ruckert | TE | Ohio State |
| 4/111 | Max Mitchell | OT | Louisiana |
| 4/117 | Micheal Clemons | DE | Texas A&M |
Atlanta Falcons: B+
Top needs: QB, DE, WRWith Calvin Ridley suspended for the season, have you taken a look at the Falcons' wide receiver depth chart? It's not good, probably the worst in the league. And oh yeah, they traded away the best quarterback in their franchise's history, with Matt Ryan headed to Indianapolis for a third-round pick. I don't know if this is a full rebuild for coach Arthur Smith & Co., but it's at least a reset on offense, and it's not like this defense is littered with stars, either.
That reset on offense starts with a new No. 1 receiver in Drake London (8), a 6-foot-4 weapon who will make life easier for his quarterback. I'm a big fan of London, who will be great in the red zone and is a sweet fit in the same offense as dynamic tight end Kyle Pitts. How are teams going to cover both in the red zone?
I thought the Falcons had one of the best Day 2s in the league. Quarterback Desmond Ridder (74) looked at times in college like a future All-Pro and at other times an undrafted free agent. He is my fourth-ranked signal-caller, but I thought he'd go in Round 2. I wouldn't be surprised if he started a handful of games as a rookie and wrestled the job away from Marcus Mariota. Arnold Ebiketie (38) is an underrated edge rusher. Troy Andersen (58) is a fit I projected to Atlanta in my two-round mock draft a few weeks ago. DeAngelo Malone (82) can get early third-down snaps as a situational edge rusher. On Day 3, running back Tyler Allgeier (151) doesn't have a ton of straight-line speed, but I expect him to make the team because of his toughness.
What drops this class slightly is that I would have taken Malik Willis over Ridder, but this is still a really good group.
Atlanta's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | Drake London | WR | USC |
| 2/38 | Arnold Ebiketie | DE | Penn State |
| 2/58 | Troy Andersen | ILB | Montana State |
| 3/74 | Desmond Ridder | QB | Cincinnati |
| 3/82 | DeAngelo Malone | OLB | Western Kentucky |
| 5/151 | Tyler Allgeier | RB | BYU |
| 6/190 | Justin Shaffer | G | Georgia |
| 6/213 | John FitzPatrick | TE | Georgia |
Detroit Lions: B+
Top needs: DE, WR, QBThe Lions were feisty in Year 1 under coach Dan Campbell, but they still won just three games. This is one of the league's worst rosters from top to bottom. That's why I was surprised to see them trade up 20 spots in Round 1 instead of keeping pick Nos. 32 and 34. The draft is such a crapshoot that it's almost always better to take two chances at a top-ranked prospect than one.
At the same time, I love the player they got in Jameson Williams (12), an electric wide receiver who could immediately be Jared Goff's No. 1 target. He's coming off a torn left ACL but should be ready to go by training camp. The trade felt like general manager Brad Holmes forced his way into a big move to fill a need, but Williams is going to be great when he's on the field.
You should know by now my thoughts on edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (2). The Lions getting my clear top-ranked prospect is a huge win, because he not only fills a void -- they finished 29th in pressure percentage and 30th in sacks last season -- but he's a local kid who wants to play in Detroit. As I wrote Thursday night, he's going to challenge to be Defensive Rookie of the Year. On Day 2, with the pick they got back from the Vikings when they traded up for Williams, the Lions went back to defensive end, taking Josh Paschal (46), who has some intriguing physical tools with which to work. Credit Holmes for trying to turn edge rusher from a weakness to a strength.
Tight end James Mitchell (177) is another prospect coming off a torn ACL -- he missed the final 11 games of the season -- but could be a solid find when he's healthy. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (188) is undersized but could be a special-teams standout.
Getting Hutchinson and Williams -- two potential All-Pros -- pushes this class close to an A.
Detroit's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Michigan |
| 1/12 | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama |
| 2/46 | Josh Paschal | DE | Kentucky |
| 3/97 | Kerby Joseph | S | Illinois |
| 5/177 | James Mitchell | TE | Virginia Tech |
| 6/188 | Malcolm Rodriguez | ILB | Oklahoma State |
| 6/217 | James Houston | OLB | Jackson State |
| 7/237 | Chase Lucas | CB | Arizona State |
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
Top needs: WR, DB, LBAt the beginning of April, the Eagles owned pick Nos. 15, 16 and 19 as a result of trades with Miami and Indianapolis. They were set up to be the key team in the middle of Round 1. Then they made a deal with the Saints, who wanted to add another first-round pick in this class. To do so, New Orleans gave up a ton of future capital, sending Philadelphia a 2023 first-round selection and 2024 second-rounder, while the Eagles still had two premium picks at Nos. 15 and 18 in this draft.
So how did Philly fare on Day 1? Well, it packaged the first pick to move up a couple of spots for massive defensive tackle Jordan Davis (13), who plugs a hole in the middle of the D. Then it traded the No. 18 pick and a late third-rounder to Tennessee for 24-year-old wide receiver A.J. Brown, who had 24 touchdown catches in three seasons for the Titans. That's a solid Day 1, as Brown -- who is younger than a few prospects in this class -- makes a lot of sense on the other side of DeVonta Smith and gives Jalen Hurts a proven playmaker.
I also liked the Eagles' picks on Day 2, in particular middle linebacker Naboke Dean (83), who is the steal of the draft based on my board. He went a full two rounds after I would have taken him, because teams flagged his medical reports. Philadelphia believes he'll be ready for training camp, though, and so I'm excited to see him quickly become a leader of the defense (and play with his former Georgia teammate Davis). Cam Jurgens (51) is my second-ranked center, and he will likely replace Jason Kelce when Kelce calls it quits.
Philadelphia had just two picks on Day 3, but the Dean pick, the addition of Brown and the extra premium capital in 2023 and 2024 means general manager Howie Roseman put together one of the best drafts of the year.
Philadelphia's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/13 | Jordan Davis | DT | Georgia |
| 2/51 | Cameron Jurgens | C | Nebraska |
| 3/83 | Nakobe Dean | ILB | Georgia |
| 6/181 | Kyron Johnson | ILB | Kansas |
| 6/198 | Grant Calcaterra | TE | SMU |
Seattle Seahawks: B+
Top needs: QB, OT, DESeattle had three picks in the entire 2021 draft. This year? It entered Round 1 with three in the top 41, thanks to the trade of Russell Wilson. I always struggle with what the Seahawks are thinking; they stick to their board and don't worry about a leaguewide consensus. That's why it was good to see coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider also saw their hole at left tackle and went that way at No. 9.
Charles Cross is the best pass-protecting tackle in this class, an easy mover with great fit and long arms. (And this is a rare Seattle mock draft pick that I nailed, even if it was from March.) He'll replace Duane Brown immediately. Say what you want about moving on from Wilson, but at least the Seahawks got a lot of capital in the deal, and they now have a left tackle who can be there for 10-plus years.
On Day 2, I thought there was a prime opportunity for the Seahawks to take quarterback Malik Willis and develop him into a future star. They ended up passing three times on Willis, which I suppose means they're OK with Drew Lock and Geno Smith being just average in 2022. Carroll and Schneider must think the roster is farther along than I do.
As for whom they got on Day 2, I like the players, even if it's not what I would do. Kenneth Walker II (41) is a bowling ball of a running back, and he is going to play in an offense that values those kinds of players. Boye Mafe (40) has some raw pass-rush traits off the edge. Abraham Lucas (72) might be a rookie starter at right tackle, which is rare for a third-round pick.
On Day 3, the Seahawks doubled up with cornerbacks Coby Bryant (109) and Tariq Woolen (153), who in particular fits what Carroll likes in his defensive backs. Woolen is 6-foot-4 with a huge wingspan, and he ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the combine. The former college receiver is just very raw. Wide receiver Bo Melton (229) has some speed that makes him a potential seventh-round find.
There are several good prospects in this class, but it's not quite an A because the quarterback issue could linger into 2023.
Seattle's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/9 | Charles Cross | OT | Mississippi State |
| 2/40 | Boye Mafe | OLB | Minnesota |
| 2/41 | Ken Walker III | RB | Michigan State |
| 3/72 | Abraham Lucas | OT | Washington State |
| 4/109 | Coby Bryant | CB | Cincinnati |
| 5/153 | Tariq Woolen | CB | UTSA |
| 5/158 | Tyreke Smith | DE | Ohio State |
| 7/229 | Bo Melton | WR | Rutgers |
| 7/233 | Dareke Young | WR | Lenoir-Rhyne University |
Arizona Cardinals: B
Top needs: DE, CB, WRIt was a mostly quiet draft for the Cardinals, who dealt their first-round pick (No. 23) for wideout Marquise Brown and No. 100. If they can keep Brown on the field and let his college teammate Kyler Murray float up a few 50-yard bombs, Brown will score 10-plus touchdowns a season. It was a lot to give up, though, especially if they have to hand Brown a long-term extension.
On Day 2, Arizona added more help for Murray with Trey McBride (55), which gives the offense two good tight ends in McBride and Zach Ertz. McBride is the best pass-catching tight end in this class, and he'll fight as a blocker too. This makes me think that Kliff Kingsbury is going to diversify his offense a little bit more in 2022. Cameron Thomas (87) and Myjai Sanders (100) are two solid defensive ends with different skill sets. Thomas could play some tackle, while Sanders -- who has a slim frame -- is more of a stand-up edge rusher. They won't be instant replacements for Chandler Jones, but I like the value.
Running back Keaontay Ingram (201) and guard Marquis Hayes (257) are two prospects I liked late on Day 3. This is a sound, if unspectacular class.
Arizona's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/55 | Trey McBride | TE | Colorado State |
| 3/87 | Cameron Thomas | DE | San Diego State |
| 3/100 | Myjai Sanders | DE | Cincinnati |
| 6/201 | Keaontay Ingram | RB | USC |
| 6/215 | Lecitus Smith | G | Virginia Tech |
| 7/244 | Christian Matthew | CB | Valdosta State |
| 7/256 | Jesse Luketa | OLB | Penn State |
| 7/257 | Marquis Hayes | G | Oklahoma |
Buffalo Bills: B
Top needs: CB, LB, RBI thought the Bills might be the team to take a first-round running back; I agonized in my final mock draft, toggling between Breece Hall and cornerback Kaiir Elam. I settled on Elam but didn't feel great about it. And then Buffalo traded up for Elam (23) when the real thing started, so I feel much better now.
Elam had been rising recently, and he is a great press-man corner with speed and physical tools. He fills a huge hole on the other side of Tre'Davious White. The Bills went running back with their next pick, and I think James Cook (63) is a nice accent player with Devin Singletary. Cook has stellar hands and will open up some checkdown options for Josh Allen. As I mentioned Friday night, the pick of undersized linebacker Terrel Bernard (89) was a reach on my board, even if it was a need. I like Brian Asamoah and Leo Chenal, who were both available, more than Bernard, who does have some read-and-react ability.
On Day 3, wideout Khalil Shakir (148) is super interesting, because of his work out of the slot. I know the Bills added Jamison Crowder, but Shakir could fill that role in 2023 while playing mostly special teams this season. Christian Benford (185) is another late riser at corner, while Matt Araiza (180) is my third-ranked punter, and he went right around where I expected. Araiza is going to boom some punts in Buffalo and flip the field position.
All in all, the Bills filled their biggest needs with their top two picks, and if Shakir or Benford break out, this class could be one of the best when we regrade it in five years.
Buffalo's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/23 | Kaiir Elam | CB | Florida |
| 2/63 | James Cook | RB | Georgia |
| 3/89 | Terrel Bernard | ILB | Baylor |
| 5/148 | Khalil Shakir | WR | Boise State |
| 6/180 | Matt Araiza | P | San Diego State |
| 6/185 | Christian Benford | CB | Villanova |
| 6/209 | Luke Tenuta | OT | Virginia Tech |
| 7/231 | Baylon Spector | ILB | Clemson |
Carolina Panthers: B
Top needs: QB, OL, CBThe Panthers entered this draft in a tough position. They had clear needs at quarterback and offensive tackle but didn't have any picks on Day 2 because of two different trades (including one for Sam Darnold last season). Should they reach for a quarterback at No. 6? Take one of the great offensive tackles available? Or trade down to try to add some capital?
Ultimately, they went with the top tackle in the class in Ikem Ekwonu -- and were still able to get a quarterback at a nice value later in the draft. Let's start with Ekwonu. He's just a baller. He bullies defenders in the run game, and he toys with them as a pass-protector because of his ability to move his feet. He is the left tackle this team needs.
And for the quarterback? The Panthers sent pick No. 137 and a 2023 third-rounder next year to move up to snag a sliding Matt Corral (94), whom I rated as the No. 32 prospect on my Big Board. Corral has his detractors -- his offense relied on a lot of RPOs, and he needs to process reads faster -- but he has a lightning-quick release and can make plays with his feet. I definitely think he could challenge Darnold this season, and I don't see a need for Carolina to trade for Baker Mayfield now (though I do think Mayfield can help a team this season). I do wonder if this relieves some of the pressure on coach Matt Rhule, as he won't have to start Corral immediately. Still, the Panthers need to compete in the NFC South if he wants to keep his job for 2023 and beyond.
If you were watching the ESPN broadcast, you probably saw Amare Barno (189) as my longtime best available prospect. His 4.36-second 40 at the combine turned heads, because he did it at 246 pounds. If he can match his ability with his technique, he could be a steal as an edge rusher. Brandon Smith (120) has the physical talent to be a good run-and-hit linebacker.
Carolina made its six picks count here, but it's tough to grade it too highly because of the amount of picks and because it's still chasing a quarterback after that Darnold trade.
Carolina's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/6 | Ikem Ekwonu | OT | NC State |
| 3/94 | Matt Corral | QB | Ole Miss |
| 4/120 | Brandon Smith | ILB | Penn State |
| 6/189 | Amare Barno | OLB | Virginia Tech |
| 6/199 | Cade Mays | G | Tennessee |
| 7/242 | Kalon Barnes | CB | Baylor |
Cincinnati Bengals: B
Top needs: OL, DT, CBThe Super Bowl runners-up didn't have many picks, but they made their first two count on my board. Daxton Hill has excellent upside as a defensive back who can play as a slot corner and a deep safety and can even get some snaps outside. I thought he'd go about 10 picks higher than he did, so I love this one, especially with the Bengals having some turnover at corner. Hill also could be a potential replacement for Jessie Bates III, if the team and player can't come to an agreement on a new contract.
Speaking of that turnover at corner, Cincy went right back to the position, taking Cam Taylor-Britt (60), who made a leap last season and broke up 11 passes. He ran a 4.38-second 40 at the combine, vaulting his stock. The Bengals could have two new starters in the secondary.
If there's a minor quibble with the early picks, it's with defensive tackle Zachary Carter. Yes, he fills a need with Larry Ogunjobi unsigned, but I didn't see an NFL starter when I watched his tape. That was a reach. And you could make the case the Bengals should have taken Travis Jones over Taylor-Britt at No. 60 and found a better immediate defensive tackle replacement there.
Like Carolina's class, the Bengals had just six picks, so I can't give them more than a decent grade here.
Cincinnati's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/31 | Daxton Hill | S | Michigan |
| 2/60 | Cam Taylor-Britt | S | Nebraska |
| 3/95 | Zachary Carter | DT | Florida |
| 4/136 | Cordell Volson | OT | North Dakota State |
| 5/166 | Tycen Anderson | S | Toledo |
| 7/252 | Jeffrey Gunter | DE | Coastal Carolina |
Cleveland Browns: B
Top needs: WR, DT, DEMost of Cleveland's early draft capital (now and for the next couple of years) is tied up in the Deshaun Watson trade, but it did have three third-round picks to try to plug holes. Even with the addition of Amari Cooper, I thought the Browns would attempt to add a wideout with one of those picks, and that's exactly where they went.
David Bell (99) dropped because of his speed -- he ran a 4.65-second 40 at the combine -- but he put up huge numbers at Purdue. He could be a nice target on curls and crossers because of his sure hands. I expect Cleveland to be in the market for veteran receiving help after the draft, but Bell could fill a role as a rookie.
Martin Emerson (68) is an outside press corner, defensive end Alex Wright (78) has long arms for his 6-foot-5 frame and has some upside as a pass-rusher, and Cade York (124) is my top-ranked kicker. Perrion Winfrey (108) is a nice value pick; I thought he could go 50 picks earlier. As a 3-technique tackle, he can wreak havoc against centers and guards. I bet his Oklahoma teammate Isaiah Thomas (223) will make the team as a rotational edge rusher too.
It's tough to get starters without picks until Round 3, but I thought Cleveland did a good job with what it had.
Cleveland's Complete 2022 Draft Class
| ROUND/PICK | NAME | POS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/68 | Martin Emerson | CB | Mississippi State |
| 3/78 | Alex Wright | DE | UAB |
| 3/99 | David Bell | WR | Purdue |
| 4/108 | Perrion Winfrey | DT | Oklahoma |
| 4/124 | Cade York | K | LSU |
| 5/156 | Jerome Ford | RB | Cincinnati |
| 6/202 | Michael Woods II | WR | Oklahoma |
| 7/223 | Isaiah Thomas | DE | Oklahoma |
| 7/246 | Dawson Deaton | C | Texas Tech |
