Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
2022 NFL DRAFT ORDER
The 2022 NFL draft will be held in Las Vegas from April 28-30:
1. Jacksonville (3-14)
2. Detroit (3-13-1)
3. Houston (4-13)
4. New York Jets (4-13)
5. New York Giants (4-13)
6. Carolina (5-12)
7. N.Y. Giants (from CHI, 6-11)
8. Atlanta (7-10)
9. Seattle (from Denver, 7-10)
10. New York Jets (from SEA, 7-10)
11. Washington (7-10)
12. Minnesota (8-9)
13. Houston (from CLE, 8-9)
14. Baltimore (8-9)
15. Philadelphia (from MIA, 9-8)
16. N. Orleans (from PHI via IND)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)
18. Philadelphia (from NO, 9-8)
19. New Orleans (from PHI, 9-8)
20. Pittsburgh (9-7-1)
21. New England (10-7)
22. Green Bay (from LV, 10-7)
23. Arizona (11-6)
24. Dallas (12-5)
25. Buffalo (11-6)
26. Tennessee (12-5)
27. Tampa Bay (13-4)
28. Green Bay (13-4)
29. Kan. City (from Miami via SF)
30. Kansas City (12-5)
31. Cincinnati (10-7)
32. Detroit (from LAR, 12-5)
PACKERS HAVE 11 PICKS:
1st round (2 picks): No. 22 overall (from LV) and No. 28
2nd round (2 picks): No. 53 overall (from LV) and No. 59
3rd round: No. 92 overall
4th round (2 picks): No. 132 overall and No. 140 (compensatory)
5th round: No. 171 overall
7th round (3 picks): No. 228 overall (from HOU), No. 249 and No. 258 (compensatory)
the board. Booth is one of them. There’s also Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd and Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam. What I like about Booth is his ability to excel in zone coverage. That’s what the Patriots are likely to rely upon in 2022. So it makes Booth an instant fit in Bill Belichick’s vision for the defense next year. And in the meantime, the Patriots can work on developing Booth into a shutdown corner on an island – which will take time to develop. – Henry McKenna, Patriots Wire
22. Green Bay Packers: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The run on receivers puts the Packers in somewhat of an awkward spot here, but Lloyd’s unexpected fall provides an opportunity to add a big-time playmaker for Joe Barry’s ascending defense. This is a “best player available” scenario. Plug the Utah star next to All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell and the Packers might suddenly have one of the best inside linebacker duos in football. Lloyd is a highly disruptive player (22 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 4 INTs in 2021) who can stay on the field in all situations. – Zach Kruse, Packers Wire
23. Arizona Cardinals: Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
Here it comes down to Wyatt or Florida CB Kaiir Elam. While the Cardinals should use the pick on a premium position like cornerback and pair Elam with his former teammate Marco Wilson, the Cardinals’ fourth-round selection last year, GM Steve Keim won’t be able to stop himself. He can’t help himself with a super athletic defensive tackle. He took Robert Nkemdiche in 2016, coveted Quinnen Williams in 2019 and probably would have taken Derrick Brown over Isaiah Simmons in 2020 had the Panthers not nabbed Brown one pick before the Cardinals selected Simmons. Wyatt adds explosive athleticism to a defensive line with J.J. Watt and Zach Allen. He can give them what they hoped Jordan Phillips would give them the last two seasons. – Jess Root, Cards Wire
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
A center? There’s a lot of talk about the club not being enamored with the measurables of Linderbaum and while there was improvement in Tyler Biadasz as the 2021 season went on, this is a pick Dallas fans will come to love. Linderbaum’s tape doesn’t lie and his wrestling background proves he’s a leverage animal and will relentlessly win at the pro level. If any of the wide receivers Dallas will have on official visits were still there (Olave, Burks, London) that would’ve been the move but the remaining DEs don’t feel like great fits to me at this point. It was Linderbaum, Kenyon Green or Zion Johnson here and to switch things up the guards will have to wait. – K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire
25. Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Bills typically don’t enter the draft with “needs.” After breaking the bank for Von Miller, this year, general manager Brandon Beane was not able to shore every position up. Beane essentially left a hole in one place: Cornerback. If Elam does fall, Beane could still look like a genius. Elam is a DB with excellent size for the pro game at 6-2 and he is experienced in a zone defense like the one Buffalo runs. Elam did not have the best 2021 season, but in previous years, he played very well for the Gators and he will likely be eased into a starting spot with Tre’Davious White (when healthy) slotting in as Buffalo’s lockdown corner. The Bills had a formal meeting with Elam at the combine as well. – Nick Wojton, Bills Wire
26. Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College
With all of the top receivers off the board here, the Titans address their major need along the offensive line at guard by drafting Zion Johnson. The Boston College product gives Tennessee the longterm solution it needs at left guard with Rodger Saffold gone, and someone who can compete for a starting job right away for the win-now Titans. Head coach Mike Vrabel has plenty of familiarity with Johnson, who was both a teammate and roommate of his son Tyler at BC, and he’s an ideal fit in a zone-run scheme like Tennessee’s. – Mike Moraitis, Titans Wire
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
This is an easy one for the Bucs, who would be hoping that one of this year’s top interior blockers falls to them at this spot. Especially if Wyatt is off the board, finding a starting-caliber left guard to fill the void left behind by Ali Marpet’s surprising retirement should be Tampa Bay’s top priority. Green has experience at tackle but played his best football for the Aggies when lined up inside. He’s been tested against top competition in the SEC, and would complete Tampa Bay’s reload in the trenches in front of Tom Brady. – Luke Easterling, Bucs Wire
28. Green Bay Packers: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Two defensive players in the first round? The pick was between Devin Lloyd and George Karlaftis at No. 22. With Karlaftis still available at No. 28, the Packers stick with “best player available” and get the hulking edge rusher from Purdue. Lloyd and Karlaftis both look like top-15 players. While the Packers have Preston Smith and Rashan Gary at edge rusher, the team did lose Za’Darius Smith last month, and general manager Brian Gutekunst loves keeping the edge rusher position well-stocked with premium talent. Karlaftis could be an excellent role player early on while having time to develop. In time, he could be the replacement for Preston Smith. As always, prioritize passrushers. Receiver can be addressed in the second round. – Zach Kruse, Packers Wire
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Steve Spagnuolo is willing to bend on some his criteria for edge rushers for a player like Ebiketie. Coming in under 6-3 and at 250 pounds, would typically be a red flag, but I feel like the ceiling is high enough here that the Chiefs would take a shot. They could opt for players like Cameron Thomas, Boye Mafe or Logan Hall, who all might be better fits, I’m just not sure any of them have the athleticism or explosion that Ebiketie does. It’s exactly what the Chiefs have been lacking in terms of their edge rush. – Charles Goldman, Chiefs Wire
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
After trading Tyreek Hill this offseason, the Chiefs need to continue adding weapons for Patrick Mahomes on offense. Moore is one of the best receivers in this draft class when it comes to defeating press-man coverage. His footwork and ability to set up defenders and get open aligned in both the slot and on the outside make him an appealing option for Kansas City. He’s the type of rookie that could come in and supplement what the team already has in Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez ValdesScantling. – Charles Goldman, Chiefs Wire
31. Cincinnati Bengals: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
After upgrading three offensive line spots in free agency and seeing how the board falls here, the Bengals are in a position of luxury. They go all-in on that idea, scooping up Ojabo despite his Achilles injury this spring. He’s got rare physical traits and huge upside. Cincinnati can afford to wait on his recovery and development while leaning on the likes of Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample to plug that rotational rusher and 3-tech need. – Chris Roling, Bengals Wire
32. Detroit Lions: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Corral isn’t for everyone, but I love the jump he made in all-around play in 2021 despite losing considerable support from the 2020 season. The plucky QB has the arm strength, downfield accuracy, athleticism and leadership that make him a worthy potential successor to Jared Goff. With so many safeties still on the board, the Lions can land an instant starter (Jaquan Brisker, Lewis Cine, Daxton Hill) with the No. 34 pick. – Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire