Golf
The picks for the biggest winners and losers from the 2022 NFL draft as unusual draft
The picks for the biggest winners and losers from the 2022 NFL draft as unusual draft
After three days full of surprise picks, shocking developments, and a truckload of trades, the 2022 NFL draft is finally complete.
Just like free agency, the draft can give every fan base the chance to hope for better results for the upcoming season, thanks to the addition of new talent for their favorite team. That said, not every team takes full advantage of their opportunities, leaving fans and analysts alike scratching their heads.
Bill Belichick and the Patriots have been doing things their own way for 20 years, probably going back to cutting Lawyer Milloy when everyone thought they were crazy. It turned out pretty well for them. They’ve done it their own way, and their way resulted in the greatest dynasty in major American professional team sports.
Therefore, every grade comes with a disclaimer. Everyone dislikes the Patriots grades, but … it’s the Patriots. They’re just smarter than everyone else.
The picks for the biggest winners and losers from the 2022 NFL draft as unusual draft
But what if they’re not this time? What if reaching a round or two on just about every pick actually isn’t the right call? Tom Bradyisn’t around to cover up issues anymore; this is a new Patriots era.
It’s possible all the grades are right and this was just a bad draft, right at the time New England needs to be pushing forward.
The Los Angeles Rams laughed at the Patriots’ first-round pick, Tennessee-Chattanooga guard Cole Strange (and if you want to believe the Rams reaction was misunderstood that’s fine, but it reflected the opinion others held). The Patriots traded down from No. 21 to No. 29 and took Strange, who wasn’t on anyone’s radar for a first-round pick. Belichick said the Patriots might have taken him as high as 21st had the team not traded down (“Probably a good chance it would have been him,” Belichick said).
Baylor WR Tyquan Thornton was seen as a reach by at least a round and if there is one negative thing about Belichick nobody can argue, it’s that he struggles to draft receivers.
There’s nothing wrong with being unconventional, but the whole draft seemed to be a reach.
“As a rule of thumb, most of their picks — other than Marcus Jones — were taken about a round higher than we would have liked, and there was repetition (Jack Jones, Bailey Zappe) to pieces they have already on the roster,” Yahoo Sports draft expert Eric Edholm wrote.
There were small-school picks and picks that looked like reaches and others that don’t appear to fit a need. Of course, the Patriots don’t care what you think about it.
WINNERS
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are really, really good at drafting.
The Ravens stayed put and got Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the 14th pick. It wouldn’t be a massive surprise if Hamilton ends up having the best career of any player in this draft class. Later in the first round after trading receiver Marquise Brown they got their starting center, Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum, who slipped a bit but is a really good player. Second-round pick David Ojabo is a risk, because the Michigan edge rusher is coming off an Achilles injury, but he could hit big if he recovers. Defensive tackle Travis Jones, a third-round pick, was considered by some a borderline first-round pick.
READ ALSO: “Marriage Is a Business to Many”: Controversial Model Lashes Out at LeBron James and Stephen Curry’s Wives in Reply to NFL’s Cam Newton
Malik Willis: Willis, the Liberty quarterback who many figured would be the top quarterback off the board in the NFL draft, couldn’t have been happy to slide all the way to the third round, but it could work out pretty well.
The Tennessee Titans took Willis with the 86th pick. That’s not the worst thing. First-round quarterbacks are expected to play. There is nowhere near the same pressure on teams to play third-round quarterbacks. Willis has tremendous skills but will need some time. The Titans aren’t going to displace Ryan Tannehill anytime soon, but he is turning 34 years old during the season. If Willis comes in and picks up the NFL well, there could be a clear succession plan without him being under undue pressure to play too soon.
Jalen Hurts: The quarterback who might have been the biggest winner in the first round was probably Hurts.
A healthy A.J. Brown makes any quarterback look better. Hurts is entering a key third season, still not assured to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback of the future but he has had some good moments. The Eagles made the playoffs last season. And now they have Brown, DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert and a strong running game that had the most yards in the NFL last season. All of that helps a quarterback.
Hurts has a great opportunity. Brown is going to make him better. There’s nothing keeping the Eagles from making the playoffs again. With a big season Hurts could establish himself as the Eagles starter for the foreseeable future, right when his rookie contract is a year from expiring. He’s in a good spot, and the Eagles might be too.
LOSERS
Tennessee Titans: Maybe the Titans don’t need anyone on offense other than Derrick Henry. We might find out.
The Titans lowballed A.J. Brown and then traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles, saying there was no way they could bridge the gap with his contract demands. With that, the Titans lost their second-best offensive player.
It might end up looking smart, especially if Treylon Burks has a great career. The Titans picked Burks with the first-round pick they got for trading Brown. But a No. 1 seed in the AFC last season all of a sudden is pretty thin in the passing game. Burks is impressive physically but might need some time to adjust to the NFL game. Robert Woods, acquired from the Los Angeles Rams, is a very good player but he’s 30 and coming off an ACL.
The picks for the biggest winners and losers from the 2022 NFL draft as unusual draft
Justin Fields: There is more than one way to help a quarterback. Drafting a good defense to take pressure off him can help.
But the Bears didn’t go all-in on putting pieces around Fields before his season season. They had three picks in the top 167 and used their first two on defense. The third pick, receiver Velus Jones Jr., could pan out but he’s more of a gadget player than an alpha receiver. It’s a big year for Fields and practically speaking he’ll have the same offense around him, but without Allen Robinson II. We’ll see how that goes. You might be hearing a lot this season about how the Bears haven’t done enough to help Fields’ development.
Jets haters: It’s fun to crack jokes about the New York Jets. They make it easy sometimes.
But it’s hard to do so after this draft. Yes, making three first-round picks will make any team’s draft look better, and it’s not like the Jets didn’t pay for those picks. They did well with the picks though, with the first four being players who should start right away and make an impact: cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, receiver Garrett Wilson, pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II and running back Breece Hall. Many would agree that Gardner, Wilson and Hall were the best at their respective positions in this draft class.
READ ALSO: Tiger Woods and ex Elin Nordegren CONFLICT over son Charlie
Last year’s Jets draft was deep too, and those players should continue to make strides this season. The development of quarterback Zach Wilson is enormous and we’ll see how he comes along. But the Jets got him some help, and improved the roster as a whole. The AFC East is tough but the Jets are coming on strong with a core of young talent. They could be contenders soon.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany are at it again as he…
Patrick Mahomes celebrated Mother’s Day with his wife Brittany and their two children on Sunday.
The 27-year-old two-time Super Bowl-winning NFL player shared a series of photos of his family to his Instagram Story to celebrate the personal trainer and mother of his children, 27.
The couple welcomed their second child — son Patrick ‘Bronze’ Lavon, four months old — in November 2022.
They also share a two-year-old daughter named Sterling Skye.
The co-owner of the Kansas City Currents also shared photos of Patrick and their children as they celebrated the holiday and enjoyed a soccer match together.
In pictures and videos, Patrick was seen carrying his daughter as they both sported matching jerseys.
Brittany wore a bright red dress as she carried their son Bronze — who donned an ‘I [heart] Mom’ onesie.
Before the game, Brittany also posted a snap of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback hugging their two children as they all sat on the couch.
‘Dad let Mom sleep in and he got both kids up and ready this morning and I walk out to this,’ she wrote over the snap with teary-eye emojis.
On her Instagram feed, she also shared a series of professional portraits with her children and dedicated a sweet caption about being a mother to Sterling and Bronze.
‘Mom. Part of my purpose and my main priority,’ she wrote. ‘These two have impacted my life and I cherish every last second with them.
READ MORE: Brittany Mahomes Hilariously Accuses Patrick Mahomes of ‘Using Her’ to Get Out of Plans
‘They make all my days the best days. Never could I have imagined having two of the most perfect little additions to our family,’ she gushed.
‘I love them beyond anything I could ever say and I’m so so so thankful to be their mama,’ she continued. ‘I knew becoming a mom was gonna be amazing but man have they have [sic] made it better than I could have ever thought’.
On the same day, Patrick also shared a photo of himself with his supportive mother — Randi Mahomes — wearing his football jersey.
Brittany also gave a social media shoutout to her mother, Diana Lindenberg, and wished her a happy Mother’s Day.
‘Happy Mother’s Day to my mama,’ she wrote over the photo with different heart emojis. ‘The best example I have always had!!! I love you, mama!’
The high school sweethearts — who have been together for over a decade — tied the knot with a lavish, tropical wedding in Maui, Hawaii in March 2022.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Patrick Mahomes is in trouble as he ‘forgets’ about his brother Jackson by appearing at the…
The life of an NFL quarterback is always a busy one, even in the off-season, but Patrick Mahomes has taken that to a whole new level.
The Kansas City Chiefs star has made an appearance at two major sporting events this week, all amid his brother being charged with sexual battery.
Jackson Mahomes was charged on Thursday after some fairly extreme evidence appeared in the form of security footage. Brittany Mahomes, Patrick’s wife, made some comments about the situation during an Instagram Q&A last month.
“He is a human just trying to live his life and find his way and until you walk a day in his shoes (which no one ever will) you have no right to say s- about him,” she said. “So it’s best to just shut up.”
Patrick Mahomes is in trouble as he ‘forgets’ about his brother Jackson by appearing at the…
A busy week of sports for the Mahomes
With the new NFL season arriving soon, the Mahomes couple is taking every chance they can to enjoy their weekends.
READ MORE: Brittany recovers from ‘trauma’ Patrick Mahomes silent amid family issues
They went to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday and were heavily photographed in their outfits. They were also at the Met Gala on Monday.
Not content with those two huge events, they are expected to be present at the Miami Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. It is just the second time the race has ever taken place there and it will be packed with celebrities and sports personalities.
Mexican driver Checo Perez is in pole position after he got a lap on the board early in Q3. Charles Leclerc’s crash later in the session led to a red flag and it meant Max Verstappen was left down in P9.
THERE IS COMMENT BOX AFTER THE ADS, SHARE YOUR THOUGHT WITH US
Turtlemint’s new film with MS Dhoni is about a futuristic way to…
Turtlemint launches a new brand campaign #FutureKaInsurance with their brand ambassador Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The brand campaign aims at raising awareness around choosing the futuristic way to buy insurance, with the right mix of technology and human assurance. It further highlights the importance of insurance for every individual and their family.
The campaign, conceived by Tilt Brand Solutions, highlights that a seamless fusion of technology and human expertise is the key to simplifying the decision of insurance purchase for customers. Turtlemint’s vision is to emphasize how expert advisors are using advanced technology to create a seamless and hassle-free experience for customers when they have to make important life decisions related to their financial security and well-being.
On the launch of the brand campaign, Anand Prabhudesai, Co-Founder of Turtlemint said, “The insurance ecosystem is a crowded one, with most players playing on the product offerings or traditional tropes of fear and responsibility. This is something we wanted to change while also highlighting what sets us apart from our competition.
Turtlemint’s new film with MS Dhoni is about a futuristic way to…
In the last few years, we have put our advanced AI-powered technology in the hands of 2.8 lakh+ advisors across the length and breadth of the country. While technology sifts through a lot of data to find the best options, the advisor helps make sense of it and relates it to the customer’s needs and aspirations at a human level. We are delighted to collaborate again with our brand ambassador Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the #FutureKaInsurance campaign as he exemplifies our brand values and ethos.
Commenting on the association, Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, “I am excited to collaborate with Turtlemint again and support its vision of increasing the insurance penetration in the country by empowering their advisors with technology and the best branding and marketing tools. I understand that insurance is a complex product and friendly, unbiased advisors, like those associated with Turtlemint, add immense value in ensuring that people make well-informed decisions that are best for them”
READ MORE: Rare video of MS Dhoni’s retro classic cars: Rolls Royce, Mustang and…
Ameya Kovale, Executive Director – Creative, at Mumbai-based Brand and Communication Consultancy Tilt Brand Solutions adds, “We were clear right from the outset, that Turtlemint is a unique insurance product and brand, operating at the intersection of humans and tech. This also gave us the idea to personify the tech half and we created the Turtlemint bot as the perfect jodi for MSD. This Jodi of unbiased tech and human EQ is why we chose the campaign sign-off – Future ka Insurance.”
Pingback: NFL International Fixtures Announcement Sparks The Question
Pingback: Ahead of the 2022 NFL Season Aaron Jones Joins Lamar Jackson as...