NFL Draft

The first round of the NFL draft brings the sizzle, but the middle to late rounds provide the meat and potatoes of an organization's roster. Some of the most important pieces to the personnel puzzle are acquired between the second and seventh rounds. In fact, 84 percent of the players who made Week 1 rosters at the start of the 2021 campaign didn't hear their names called in the opening frame, per Spotrac. 

So, the idea those franchises currently without a first-round pick are at a severe disadvantage shouldn't be viewed as such. They simply must rely on their scouts to identify mid-round talent to address their needs.

The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams, showed that a different approach can be just as successful as treating first-round selections like Gollum pining for the One Ring. The Rams haven't made a first-round selection since 2016 when they grabbed Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick. As of now, the Rams don't have another first-round choice until 2024.

"Here's what I know: The late John Madden said winning the Super Bowl was the highest of high," general manager Les Snead said during the Rams' victory speech.

"So you know what? Our players, our coaches, [team owner] Stan [Kroenke] and his family, everyone in this organization who supports them on that mission, and everyone out there, you know what? We know what that highest high feels like today.

"So in honor of the shirt, F them picks—we'll use them to go win more Super Bowls."

Snead flipped those precious commodities for proven veterans in Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford. In doing so, the Rams didn't just toss away those picks willy-nilly—they did so while acquiring one of the game's best cornerbacks and upgrading at the most important position.

Now, the Rams are without their first three picks this year once the Von Miller deal is taken into account. But they should be fine because Snead and Co. know how to navigate these shallow waters.

The Rams aren't the only team without a first-round pick. The Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers will have to wait until April 29 to further build their respective rosters. 

Obviously, Los Angeles' trades paid off handsomely. Meanwhile, the Bears and 49ers have what they believe are their quarterbacks of the future as a result of their deals. Safety Jamal Adams played well in his first season with the Seahawks and earned a Pro Bowl nod, but his play declined this past year primarily because of improper usage.

The Colts flubbed their decision by acquiring signal-caller Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles. Furthermore, Wentz's future is now considered "bleak" after a disappointing first season with the franchise, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen (h/t Pro Football Focus' Ari Meirov). 

Regardless of if those earlier expenditures were worth it or whether these teams are playoff-caliber or not, each situation should still provide them an opportunity to get better in the draft, sans first-round selection. How those franchises should go about their business is different, though.

For the Rams, their first draft pick will come late in the third round thanks to an expected compensatory selection granted by the Detroit Lions' hire of Brad Holmes as their general manager. Another compensatory pick should be awarded in the fourth round since free agent John Johnson III signed with the Cleveland Browns last offseason. 

Once again, Snead must deal with a salary-cap figure that's currently in the red while potentially re-signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., outside linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Darious Williams, nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day and offensive linemen Brian Allen, Austin Corbett and Joseph Noteboom. 

The offensive line is an excellent starting point for the Rams' draft plan because quality centers and guards can always be found in the middle-to-late rounds. Ohio State's Nicholas Petit-Frere, Louisiana-Lafayette's Max Mitchell, UTSA's Spencer Burford, Arizona State's Kellen Diesch and TCU's Obinna Eze are possible targets at tackle.

The potential of replacing Allen and/or Corbett feeds into one of the class' real strengths. Memphis' Dylan Parham, Central Michigan's Luke Goedeke, Kentucky's Luke Fortner, Tennessee's Cade Mays, Georgia's Justin Shaffer and Chattanooga's Cole Strange are just some of the options along the offensive interior. 

Like the Rams, the Colts offensive line requires fortifications since left tackle Eric Fisher and right guard Mark Glowinski are pending free agents. Unlike Los Angeles, Indianapolis isn't set behind center and holds a second-round selection. 

While the top two or three quarterbacks are expected to come off the board in the first round, no one can pinpoint the best one out of a weak crop. Liberty's Malik Willis has the most upside, while Pitt's Kenny Pickett could be a Day 1 starter. Maybe North Carolina's Sam Howell or Nevada's Carson Strong will be available in the second frame.

Otherwise, the Colts can build around the position by concentrating on those offensive line prospects mentioned earlier, plus the likes of Penn State's Rasheed Walker, Oklahoma's Marquis Hayes, Virginia Tech's Lecitus Smith and LSU's Ed Ingram. 

The Seahawks' primary goal this offseason is keeping quarterback Russell Wilson. Seattle's front office can go about this in a couple of different ways. 

The offensive line is an issue here as well (see a pattern forming?), and Duane Brown's pending free agency could place left tackle atop the Seahawks' wish list. But with $35.4 million in available salary-cap space, re-signing Brown should still be a priority. 

Running back isn't considered a major concern because of the position's value. However, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll believes in a physical running attack and Seattle must improve upon finishing among the bottom six with 413 carries this past season.

The team's top two rushers, Rashaad Penny and Alex Collins, are free to test the market, while Chris Carson is under contract for one more season, but he's coming off neck surgery. 

The 41st overall pick could be an ideal spot to add a premium ball-carrier since the position tends to slide a bit. Michigan State's Kenneth Walker III, Iowa State's Breece Hall and BYU's Tyler Allgeier are the top three options. One or two of them being available isn't a stretch, and the Seahawks could get an excellent value for their system by attacking a devalued position. 

Surprise, the Bears also need to address their front five to keep Fields upright. Similar investments must be made at wide receiver for the fledgling quarterback to build confidence and trust in his receivers.

Fields does have Darnell Mooney, but Allen Robinson II is a pending free agent and might be out the door. Fortunately, the incoming wide receiver crop is extremely deep, as per usual.

With the 39th selection, the Bears could land an instant-impact target. Clemson's Justyn Ross, Cincinnati's Alec Pierce, Boise State's Khalil Shakir, Georgia's George Pickens, Purdue's David Bell, Kentucky's Wan'Dale Robinson and North Dakota State's Christian Watson should be viewed as potential options at the start of the draft's second day. 

The 49ers could use help along their offensive interior, but their biggest concerns lie on the defensive side of the ball, particularly cornerback and defensive end. 

The secondary could take a massive hit since Jason Verrett, K'Wuan Williams, Josh Norman, Dontae Johnson and safety Jaquiski Tartt are set to enter free agency. San Francisco still has Emmanuel Moseley, Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, though the latter two will be entering their second year. Another investment in the premium position would add significant talent and depth. 

With the 61st pick in hand, the Niners will be waiting awhile before they can add another piece to their backline. Mississippi State's Martin Emerson, Cincinnati's Coby Bryant and Oregon's Mykael Wright have the potential to contribute early. With Tartt's uncertain status, safety prospects such as Georgia's Lewis Cine, Texas A&M's Leon O'Neal Jr. and Cincinnati's Bryan Cook could come into play. 

Up front, Arik Armstead showed he's more than comfortable playing along the interior, but Nick Bosa could still use a long-term running mate on the other end. USC's Drake Jackson, Cincinnati's Myjai Sanders, Texas A&M's Micheal Clemons and Penn State's Arnold Ebiketie could help provide more of an edge presence. 

The draft will always be the lifeblood of team-building, but there's more than one way to build a champion, as the Rams clearly showed. First-round picks aren't a necessity. The ability to hit selections a little later in the process is vital, though. 

The Rams, Bears, Seahawks, 49ers and Colts may have to wait a little while during draft weekend before they can make a move. Even so, they're not at a distinct disadvantage compared to other franchises. As long as they're smart about their investments, they can be just as successful as those hoping they land Grade-A talent earlier in the process. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

The New York Jets may reportedly target Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with one of their two top-10 picks in the 2022 NFL draft.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported Wednesday the Jets "like Hamilton a lot" and could "double down" with defensive players at both Nos. 4 and 10, though the team's moves in free agency will determine whether it goes defense-heavy in Round 1.

The Jets would likely need to invest the fourth overall pick in the standout safety if he's one of their prized targets, as the early predraft hype suggests he's a long shot to remain on the board at No. 10.

Hamilton recorded 138 total tackles, 16 passes defended, eight interceptions and a touchdown in 31 games across three seasons with the Fighting Irish. His final college campaign came to a premature end in October because of a knee injury.

While he recovered before Notre Dame's bowl game, a Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State, he opted to skip the contest to begin preparations for the draft.

He described it as a "business decision" on the Inside the Garage podcast (via Rivals' Tyler Horka) and said his outlook would have been different if the Irish were playing for a national title.

"It's not that I don't want to play," Hamilton said in December. "If we're in the playoff right now—I've told you guys, I've told all the coaches—if we're in the playoff, I'm going to go. I want to go win a national championship. I'm going to suit up. I'm going to play."

The situation hasn't impacted his draft stock, as he's still one of the most coveted prospects available.

Bleacher Report's Cory Giddings described Hamilton as a "generational talent" in his predraft scouting report.

"Hamilton is a rare athlete who has the frame of a linebacker and the movement skills of a defensive back," Giddings wrote. "He is a long strider who covers a lot of ground, no matter if he is playing as a deep safety or down in the trenches."

The Jets could certainly use more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked last in both total defense (397.6 yards allowed per game) and scoring defense (29.6 points allowed per game) in 2021 while also finishing with the second-fewest turnovers forced (14).

Hamilton would be a Day 1 starter and, with a few other upgrades via free agency, could help lead a much-needed resurgence within the New York secondary.

The New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers will be starting new eras at quarterback if the latest Daniel Jeremiah mock draft proves accurate.

The NFL Network expert projected the Saints to select Pitt's Kenny Pickett with the No. 18 overall pick and the Steelers to grab Liberty's Malik Willis two picks later. Pickett and Willis have emerged as the top two quarterbacks in the 2022 class.

The Saints and Steelers are looking for long-term replacements for recently retired mainstays under center. New Orleans struggled to replace Drew Brees in 2021. Jameis Winston suffered a torn left ACL seven games into the season, and the combination of Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill didn't mount much production in the passing game over the final 10 contests.

Hill is the favorite to start among the quarterbacks under contract, but it's unclear whether he'll have as much leeway after the resignation of Sean Payton, a longtime Hill proponent. New head coach Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. were on Payton's staff, but it remains to be seen if they'll want to create an offense in their own vision.

The Saints are $80.4 million over the salary cap, so the draft is their only viable option to find a new long-term starter.

Pickett is viewed as the most NFL-ready quarterback in this class after spending the last four years starting at Pitt. After three middling seasons, Pickett broke out as a Heisman finalist in 2021, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns against seven interceptions while adding 233 yards and five scores as a runner. 

The Steelers are in a far better cap position with $24.7 million in space before extensions or restructurings. Pittsburgh could try the trade route to land a veteran quarterback, but the team doesn't have much history of sacrificing future draft picks for veteran players.

Willis is widely considered the most physically gifted quarterback in this class, generating regular comparisons to Josh Allen. The team that drafts Willis will need to take after the Buffalo Bills' approach with Allen and be patient because he's raw, but the Liberty product's combination of size, arm talent and scrambling ability gives him the chance to be special. 

The Atlanta Falcons have yet to map out a succession plan beyond Matt Ryan, but that might change with the 2022 NFL draft.

ESPN's Mel Kiper called the Falcons a "team to watch" for one of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft class. On Monday's First Draft episode (25:27), Kiper also called the Falcons "the most interesting team" because of the QB intrigue:

They didn't take a quarterback last year; they went for Kyle Pitts, the receiving entity. Now they get another receiver in Drake London in [Todd McShay's] mock, but you're passing on the quarterback. And I can see why, you'd be reaching. But somebody always does. They always stretch it for these quarterbacks, reach for a guy that's maybe 20 on the board. They take him in the top 10 to 12. ... The heir apparent to Matt Ryan, if they fall in love with a [Kenny] Pickett, a [Malik] Willis or a [Matt] Corral in late April, they would certainly be a team to watch.

The general attitude toward the 2022 QB class is lukewarm.

Coming out of the Senior Bowl, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder (No. 17) was the highest-rated QB on the big board for the B/R NFL Scouting Department. Pickett was the only other signal-caller in the top 50.

However, the value of the position and scarcity of options inevitably mean teams often select a quarterback a little earlier than expected, as Kiper laid out. B/R's most recent mock draft had Pickett, Ridder and Willis all off the board in the first round, with Pickett at No. 9 to the Denver Broncos.

Last year, the Falcons passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones when they made Pitts the fourth overall pick. The rookie tight end went on make the Pro Bowl.

While Atlanta seems to have a key piece of its passing game going forward, the absence of a young quarterback to eventually replace Ryan is still glaring. The benefit of reaching for Willis, Ridder or Corral is that they'd have a more gradual adjustment process.

Perhaps that mitigates some of the risk in taking a QB who is far from a sure thing at the next level.

Player agents aren't threatening to boycott the NFL Scouting Combine altogether but are suggesting to their clients they avoid working out at the annual showcase, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Dan Graziano of ESPN initially reported agents were concerned about the NFL's health and safety rules for the combine, which limited the extent to which draft prospects would have contact with their agents, trainers, doctors and nutritionists.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Sunday that as many as 155 players were weighing a "formal boycott."

Schefter provided some clarity Monday afternoon:

Any players who choose not to attend the combine or limit their participation would be doing so with an endorsement from the NFL Players Association. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared an NFLPA memo in which the union cited "long standing opposition" to the combine:

According to Graziano, the inability for players to personally interact with their nutritionist was a point of contention "since many of the prospects are trying to reach certain weights in time for the combine and that effort could be upset by the last-minute decision by the league to be the sole provider of food for prospects at the event."

USA Today's Josina Anderson reported on similar concerns:

The NFLPA memo alluded to the general questions many have asked over the years as to the overall utility of the NFL Scouting Combine.

In his Netflix series Colin in Black & White, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick compared the event to a slave auction. Others have drawn the same parallel, albeit in different terms.

There are obviously benefits to bringing representatives from every NFL team and nearly all of the top incoming draftees to one central location. But for the players, there is increasingly less need to work out en masse when they can instead turn their focus toward their school's pro day.

The 2022 combine is right around the corner. It's slated to begin March 1 and run through March 7 in Indianapolis.

However, what is typically the biggest pre-draft event on the calendar may lose some of its importance this year.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 203

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 33"

WINGSPAN: 6'7 1/2"

40-YARD DASH: DNP

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 38.5"

BROAD: 10'3"

POSITIVES

— Shows good range as a deep safety. Able to track the ball well in the air, getting off the hash and making attempts on the sideline.

— Opportunistic player. Looks to capitalize on plays in front of him.

— Has some versatility and position flexibility.

NEGATIVES

— Can be overly aggressive in the run. Has bad eyes, can stare at the quarterback too often. Poor awareness, causing him to lose receivers.

— Some tightness at the top of routes. Trouble bending, often rounds breaks.

— One-speed runner who lacks a true burst out of breaks. Shows to have just average breaking ability.

— Below-average tackler. Often comes down out of control, leading to poor leverage. Looks to be a secure wrap tackler, but his blow delivery suffers greatly

2021 STATISTICS

12 Games, 57 Tackles, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 2 PBU, 2 FR

OVERALL

Kerby Joseph is a defensive back who performs best when in coverage. He played the majority of his snaps at safety, where he was asked to cover slots and to be the deep safety.

He tends to be a bit lazy in his backpedal at times, leading to loose footwork that causes him to be erratic and often out of position. He’s not an overly active player but does his best when in deep center field, where he can read the quarterback and react to the ball in the air.

Although he uses his range to attack the ball in the air, he has average ball skills to capitalize. Slow in play recognition, he is often in recovery mode. Joseph displays some tightness in man coverage, where he rounds his breaks at the top of routes.

When playing the run, Joseph does a good job of reacting to what he sees, sometimes being overly aggressive to the run. When filling the run, he comes down quickly; although often a bit out of control, losing leverage in pursuit and even ducking his head on contact. He looks to be a wrap tackler who rarely delivers a big blow.

Ultimately, Joseph flashed range and some ball skills in the pass game, but his lack of awareness brings him down a bit. His lack of presence in the run game is also a concern. While playing on a down Illinois team, he didn’t stand out much. He has roster potential but will need to clean up his game to make a team.

GRADE: 6.4 (High-level Developmental Prospect - 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 177

POSITION RANK: S12

PRO COMPARISON: Steven Parker

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'4 5/8"

WEIGHT: 324

HAND: 10 3/4"

ARM: 34"

WINGSPAN: 6'11 1/8"

40-YARD DASH: 5.02

3-CONE: 7.78

SHUTTLE: 4.65

VERTICAL: 27.5"

BROAD: 8'9"

POSITIVES

— Thick, strapping build with broad shoulders, good length and big hands.

— Violent, physical playing style with size and power to impose his will through the whistle.

— Heavy, powerful and strong hands to jolt, seize control and generate torque on command.

— Stout anchor with the ability to brace and grind-down speed to power and bull-rush.

— Nimble mover with good foot quickness and agility to redirect and recover.

NEGATIVES

— Stands straight up with low hand carriage in his pass sets.

— Erratic, wild strike timing and hand placement.

— Has an upkick out of his stance that forces him to open his hips towards wide rush angles, creating buttery soft edges.

— Winds up and wraps his hands around defenders in the run game, routinely giving up his chest and turning blocks into a wrestling match.

— Leans and doesn't reset his hands quickly enough, limiting his ability to stay centered on blocks.

— Takes bad angles on the move when attempting to line up smaller targets.

— Brutal tape against Houston and edge-rusher David Anenih.

2021 STATISTICS

- 13 starts at LT.

- Called for 16 penalties.

NOTES

— Former 3-star offensive line prospect out of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

— 24 career starts, all at left tackle.

— Turns 21 years old in April and will be one of the youngest players in the 2022 draft class.

OVERALL

Smith is a two-year starter at left tackle in head coach Philip Montgomery's spread, multiple-run scheme. He has a strapping build with evenly dispersed thickness throughout his frame, good length and big hands.

Smith is a nimble mover out of his stance, with the foot quickness to close space quickly in his jump set, effectively mirror most rush angles and redirect inside to cut off moves across his face. When he can get his hands on rushers quickly, the rep is typically over due to his vice grips for hands and excellent core strength to brace and anchor.

Smith's pad level is high and hand carriage low in his pass sets, causing him to wind up and wrap his hands on contact, routinely giving up his chest. He has an upkick out of his stance that forces his hips to open toward wide rush angles, creating a soft edge and easy access to the corner.

Smith's footwork, pad level and use of hands are painfully raw in the run game. He struggles to consistently create and sustain leverage on blocks, which causes him to fall off blocks way too often. Smith has jarring power, strength and the demeanor to generate some epic finishes as a run-blocker despite his inconsistency, but it is sporadic due to how often he is out-leveraged.

Overall, Smith has the physical traits and aggressive nature to become an eventual NFL starter. However, he is as raw as sushi and a penalty machine who needs to reconfigure his technique from the ground up before he can see an NFL field.

GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter - 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 64

POSITION RANK: OT7

PRO COMPARISON: Trey Smith

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 6'4 1/8"

WEIGHT: 205

HAND: 9 1/8"

ARM: 33 5/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'6 5/8"

40-YARD DASH: 4.26

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 42"

BROAD: DNP

POSITIVES

— Excellent size and length for the cornerback position. Lean, proportional top and bottom half with room to add weight.

— Long strider with excellent speed. Runs extremely well once he can hit open space downfield. Has the recovery speed to make up any lost steps earlier in the route.

— Shows very good awareness and vision to see all threats in zone coverage. Does a good job of anticipating throws and getting a good jump on the ball.

— Patience with the ball in the air. Has the ball skills and timing to play through the catch point when playing the ball as well as with his back to the ball.

NEGATIVES

— Struggles with pad level due to height. Has good change of direction but can take a few extra steps out of break. Slow to sink his hips, creating separation out of breaks.

— Sloppy technique in press. Doesn't move feet on snap and often reaches for receiver. Below average lateral movement doesn't help his play style.

— Can be a bit of a gambler at times. Looks to jump routes in coverage, as well as taking the easy way around blocks in the run game.

2021 STATISTICS

9 G, 25 TKL, 2.5 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PBU

NOTES

— Two-year starter at cornerback.

— 2021 All-CUSA honorable mention.

OVERALL

Tariq Woolen is an intriguing cornerback prospect with outstanding measurables. He has a rare combination of size, length and speed that will cause NFL scouts to salivate. He was able to back his play up at the Senior Bowl by competing with top talent and holding his own all week.

Woolen is a long-striding athlete who has the top-end speed to run with almost anyone once given a few steps to get going. Even when out of position downfield, he has very good recovery speed to close gaps and get back into the hip pocket of receivers.

When in off coverage, Woolen plays with very good positioning downfield, even looking to cut off routes. He also showed the necessary patience and calmness to play both the ball and receiver, with great timing.

Some of Woolen's faults come when he's playing in press coverage. Sloppy with his footwork at times, he was able to get away with not moving his feet and lunging to get hands on in press. He'll need to clean that up when covering some of the NFL's more elite athletes.

As a taller athlete, Woolen struggles to sink his hips and get out of breaks when in a full sprint, causing him to jump into breaks and even take extra steps to stop. Due to this, he often gives up shorter routes too easily.

Woolen excels when playing in zone, where he can read the quarterback and see the routes develop in front of him. He uses his vision and awareness to anticipate and jump underneath routes. He also tends to get a quick break on shorter routes to get a big hit on ball-carriers.

Against the run, Woolen's lack of strength can show up when he's trying to control and disengage from blocks. This can lead to him running around blocks and also giving up his leverage, allowing the ball-carriers outside of him, especially when playing against receivers with a tight split or a nub side tight end. He does not shy away from contact and largely does a good job of tackling, whether it's a big hit or a secure wrap tackle.

Ultimately, Woolen's skill set is hard to come by, and he does enough good things that will translate to the pass-happy NFL. He may not be able to come in and start right away, but he has the skills to develop into a potential starter early in his career.

GRADE: 7.2 (3rd Round - High-Level Backup/ Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 84

POSITION RANK: CB10

PRO COMPARISON: Ifeatu Melifonwu

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings