NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers waited until the second round of the 2022 NFL draft to address their need at receiver, but they reportedly "liked" Chris Olave heading into Round 1, according to Peter King of NBC Sports.

The New Orleans Saints traded up to the No. 11 pick to take Olave, while the Detroit Lions took fellow receiver Jameson Williams with the 12th pick after moving up from No. 32.

Green Bay, instead, stayed put in the first round with pick Nos. 22 and 28, taking linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. The Packers eventually moved up on Day 2 to select Christian Watson with the 34th overall pick.

King argued the team would have been better off packaging both first-round picks to move up to select Olave in Round 1.

Olave was a highly productive player during his career at Ohio State, totaling 175 catches for 2,702 yards and 35 touchdowns across four seasons.

Bleacher Report's Scouting Department was especially high on the wideout, naming him the second-best receiver in the class behind only Drake London, and 10th best player overall. Olave was considered the most "pro-ready" at the position and the best "route-runner."

B/R listed Watson as the No. 15 receiver in the 2022 class.

The North Dakota State product is seemingly more of a project at the position, which general manager Brian Gutekunst indicated after the draft.

"He's a big, fast, physical receiver," he told reporters Friday. "We think his best football is ahead of him."

While Watson could develop into a star thanks to his physical tools, the Packers need immediate help at receiver after losing Davante Adams and Marques Valdes-Scantling this offseason. The team signed Sammy Watkins in free agency, but no one on the roster had more than 600 receiving yards last year.

It puts a lot of pressure on reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers to carry the offense without many proven weapons.     

The 2022 NFL draft might have only concluded Saturday, but oddsmakers are already looking ahead to next year.

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is the betting favorite (+200; bet $100 to win $200) at DraftKings Sportsbook to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Stroud is followed by a pair of Alabama stars: quarterback Bryce Young (+225) and edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. (+330).

Stroud threw for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns in his first season as the Buckeyes' starting quarterback. Young likewise lived up to the hype after replacing 2020 first-round pick Mac Jones. He threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns.

Anderson, meanwhile, had one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory for a defensive player.

If the 2023 draft were right now, one of those three would likely be taken first overall.

This year offered a barren landscape at quarterback. Kenny Pickett was the only QB selected in the first two rounds. Malik Willis, who some thought could go second overall to the Detroit Lions, was a third-rounder.

The 2023 draft might be much more fertile ground for teams looking to target a signal-caller. In addition to Stroud and Young, Boston College's Phil Jurkovec (+1500), Miami's Tyler Van Dyke (+1800) and South Carolina's Spencer Rattler (+2000) are all fringe No. 1 pick contenders.

Rattler will be one of the most interesting players to watch from the 2023 class.

When the 2021 NFL season was getting ready to kick off, the then-Oklahoma star was the projected No. 1 pick in Bleacher Report's mock draft. As the year unfolded, Rattler's stock dropped precipitously.

Now in fresh scenery, the Gamecocks star might be able to climb to the top of draft boards again with a big 2022 season.

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There's little doubt now that in order to take the next step forward with franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2022, the Baltimore Ravens will have to provide him with more weapons.

That was arguably the case in free agency when the Ravens signed no receivers but moved on from Sammy Watkins and Miles Boykin. It was arguably the case in the draft, where they traded top wide receiver Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals but spent none of their 11 picks on wideouts.

With the draft in the rear-view mirror and Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay likely leading the receiver depth chart, the Ravens must realize that it's time to pull the trigger on a deal for disgruntled San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Deebo Samuel.

Bateman could become a star, but the 2021 first-round pick barely hit the 500-yard mark during an injured-riddled rookie campaign. Duvernay is a return specialist who is better suited as a complementary receiving option.

And the only other receivers on the roster are James Proche II (17 catches in two NFL seasons), Tylan Wallace (two catches in 17 games as a rookie in 2021), Binjimen Victor (an undrafted 25-year-old with no NFL work under his belt) and Jaylon Moore (an undrafted 24-year-old with the same resume as Victor).

Sure, the Ravens offense is run-oriented, and the secret sauce lies with Jackson's dual-threat ability and tight end Mark Andrews' dominance as a safety valve. However, that hasn't yielded much in terms of success, and Baltimore ranked below average offensively in terms of yards per play while posting an 8-9 record in 2021. 

When the team dealt Brown to the Arizona Cardinals during the first round of the draft, Ravens fans likely hoped that was a precursor to a bigger move. The Ravens need an upgrade over Brown, not take a step backward. And the only obvious way to accomplish that now is to pay up for Samuel. 

Unfortunately, the Ravens lack immediate draft capital as trade ammunition. Ideally, they would have made a move for Samuel on Thursday or Friday, but that doesn't mean this can't happen. A team in win-now mode with a quarterback who doesn't appear to be antsy about extending his expiring contract has to be willing to sacrifice future draft capital in a situation like this for a player like this.

It's the cool thing to do now anyway, a la the Los Angeles Rams. Primo draft picks are nice, but those are rolls of the dice, and Samuel is a proven commodity.

The 26-year-old Samuel exploded with 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns in 16 games last season in San Francisco. But he told ESPN's Jeff Darlington last week that he wants to be traded. The 49ers, for their part, understandably appear to be driving a hard bargain for a rising star who remains under contract through 2022, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

So no, Samuel won't come cheap. He'll likely cost more than $20 million per year beyond trade value. But winning is rarely inexpensive, and it's hard not to drool at the thought of a dynamic weapon like Samuel working with Jackson and Andrews in Baltimore's offense. 

The good news is that much of Baltimore's potential competition in the Samuel sweepstakes has invested premium capital in the receiver position via the draft. The Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots all used second-round picks on wideouts, and the New York Jets selected Ohio State product Garrett Wilson 10th overall. 

Maybe that'll help. Maybe it won't. Regardless, the Ravens have a full complement of picks in the 2023 and 2024 drafts, and they might be able to sweeten the pot with a somewhat expendable veteran like Marcus Peters for a San Francisco team that could use help in the secondary. 

If you expect to be good—and the Ravens should expect that, especially with Samuel on the roster—first-round picks are less valuable anyway. 

It's time for Baltimore to employ that approach and offer Kyle Shanahan and Co. an offer they can't refuse for a player who might force the Niners' hand anyway. 

The Detroit Lions and New York Jets "stood out" among the 2022 NFL draft classes, according to ESPN's Todd McShay.

The draft expert released his roundup of favorite picks following the conclusion of the festivities in Las Vegas, giving the Jets plaudits for trading back into the first round to grab defensive end Jermaine Johnson II and the Lions for their bold move up to No. 12 to select wideout Jameson Williams.

The Jets traded picks Nos. 35, 69 and 163 to the Tennessee Titans for Nos. 26 and 101, grabbing Johnson after he surprisingly fell down the draft board. The Florida State product was considered one of the most complete pass-rushers in this class after taking home the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award.

"It feels amazing, man. The journey was so long and hard, but it was so rewarding at the same time," Johnson said after being drafted. "And to be able to be selected in the first round, and by the Jets, I'm so excited. When I visited with the Jets, it was a family feel. We clicked instantly. They said they'd come and get me and that's what they did."

The Lions' move was even bolder, using picks Nos. 32, 34 and 66 to nab picks Nos. 12 and 46, taking Wiliams in the process. Williams likely would have been the first receiver off the board if he weren't dealing with an ACL tear that makes it unlikely he's 100 percent healthy for Week 1.

The Alabama product racked up 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, becoming one of college football's most feared deep threats. He'll join a Lions offense that already boasts promising underneath threat Amon-Ra St. Brown, a solid tight end in T.J. Hockenson and an explosive young running back in D'Andre Swift.

While quarterback is still a long-term question mark, Detroit has the makings of a solid young offense moving forward.

HEIGHT: 6'4 7/8"

WEIGHT: 318

HAND: 8 7/8"

ARM: 34 7/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'11 1/2"

40-YARD DASH: 5.30

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 23.5"

BROAD: 8'6"

POSITIVES

— Tone-setter with excellent competitive toughness to get after defenders from snap to whistle.

— Very good grip strength with violent, powerful hands to deliver a stiff strike on contact before latching, sustaining and gaining control.

— Effectively eliminates space to keep defenders tight to his body when they attempt to shed off, cleaning up reads for the runner.

— Works his pads under defenders on contact to dig them out on drive and down blocks with a wide base and sustained leg drive to create displacement.

— Uses independent hands in pass protection to strike, reset and stay leveraged on blocks.

— Quick processor with impressive play speed to sort through gap exchanges, stunts and line games.

NEGATIVES

— Upright playing style and wide hand placement allow defenders to work underneath and get him on his heels at the point of attack.

— Doesn't always bring his feet into blocks instead relying on his upper body to do the bulk of the work.

— Adequate foot quickness out of his stance and is sluggish redirecting laterally to mirror shifty rushers crossing his face.

2021 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at left guard.

— Second-team All-Big 12 selection.

NOTES

— 4-star recruit and top-five player in the state of Missouri.

— 36 career starts at left guard.

— Accepted an invite to the 2022 Senior Bowl.

OVERALL

Hayes is a three-year starting left guard in Oklahoma's multiple run scheme. He has a thick build with extra weight around his midsection and is high-cut with good arm length. Hayes has an upright playing style with adequate foot quickness, and he doesn't always bring his feet into contact yet consistently manages to stay attached to defenders using a wide base, vice grips for hands and outstanding effort to run his feet, strain and sustain blocks.

Hayes is a very good run-blocker with the ability to drop his pads and dig out defenders on double-team and down blocks while excelling as a puller using impressive angles, body control and length to fit on his target. He has very good mental processing to not chase gap exchanges across his face, decipher stunts and pick up the most dangerous man on blitzes.

Hayes is a brawler who can generate jarring torque to work defenders off balance, tip and snatch them to the ground. His middling foot quickness and heavy feet delay his ability to redirect and can get him beat across his face quickly against countermoves, but he shows good patience with stiff, independent strikes to stun defenders on contact, latch and end reps quickly.

When uncovered, he is very active and alert, looking for work with a vengeance, oftentimes caving in the ribs of adjacent rushers. Because of an upright playing style, his anchor can be tardy, but he fights to rework his hands under and inside with good core strength to grind down the bull rush with a few gather steps.

Overall, Hayes is a tone-setting presence on the line, with the length, power and play speed to circumvent an upright playing style and below-average foot quickness. He understands how to stay attached to blocks and shows an impressive understanding of the play's intent that allows him to play faster than his athleticism would indicate.

While his ceiling is likely capped as a solid starter, he will likely compete for a job right away and has the tools to be a long-term, functional starter.

GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player - 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 61

POSITION RANK: IOL4

PRO COMPARISON: Dalton Risner

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 6'2 7/8"

WEIGHT: 253

HAND: 10 3/8"

ARM: 32 5/8"

WINGSPAN: 6'6 3/4"

40-YARD DASH: 4.89

3-CONE: DNP

SHUTTLE: DNP

VERTICAL: 37.5"

BROAD: 9'6"

POSITIVES

— Thick build with a ton of muscle in the upper body.

— Great upper-body strength. Flashes heavy hands and can control blocks effectively when engaged.

— Above-average quickness. Can make plays in the backfield on occasion.

— Above-average speed and mobility. Covers ground well after getting off blocks.

— Unafraid to play in cluttered spaces and get scrappy. Tough, violent player.

— Shows the ability to win with power and relentlessness as a pass-rusher.

NEGATIVES

— Poor get-off and acceleration. Rarely comes off the ball with an instant advantage.

— Poor bend and flexibility as a pass-rusher.

— Late hands, both versus run and pass. Too often lets OL into his frame.

— Below-average length.

— Struggles maintaining his base in run defense. More an issue with technique and foot speed than strength.

2021 STATISTICS

12 G, 61 TOT, 8.5 TFL, 0.5 SK, 1 INT

NOTES

— 4-star recruit in 2018.

— Recruited as an inside linebacker, but transitioned to more of an edge position.

— Two-year starter.

OVERALL

Jesse Luketa has all the makings of a quality role player; nothing more, nothing less.

Luketa rocks a stocky 6'2⅜", 261-pound build with a thick upper body. Naturally, run defense is his calling card. He has the strength to knock players back initially as well as take good control of blocks with his upper-body strength. Luketa is also a very violent player, often showcasing that whenever he got a chance to take on a pulling linemen.

If anything, Luketa needs to work on bringing his feet with him and being a bit more privy to how the offense is trying to attack him. He can get knocked off his base too easily, which is troubling considering he has the raw strength for that not to be an issue if not for poor technique.

With that said, Luketa is also quicker than he looks. Luketa's stocky build does not scream quickness and mobility at first glance, but his lateral agility and change of direction are both above-average. Though he does not come off the ball with the same kind of juice, his other movement skills give him the ability to work in a phone booth and find creases every now and again. He also covers ground effectively once he works free.

Luketa's pass-rushing toolbox is limited at this stage, though. He does not come off the snap and accelerate well, making it tough to get the advantage on the edge. He does not have the bend or flexibility to make up for that lack of juice, either. Luketa does offer some good power and a nonstop motor, which lends to cleanup sacks, but his middling length and inconsistent hand usage hurt him too often right now.

Ideally, whichever team drafts Luketa will make him a run-defense specialist on the edge. His pass-rushing traits and approach are lacking right now, and his ceiling in that department is low. However, Luketa's toughness, strength and surprising quickness at the line of scrimmage are enough to make him a playable run defender sooner than later.

GRADE: 6.1 (High-level developmental prospect - 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 210

POSITION RANK: EDGE24

PRO COMPARISON: Mike Danna

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen