5 Best and 5 Worst First-Round Selections in 2022 NFL Draft

After 32 dreams came true, the first round of the NFL Draft closed on Thursday in Las Vegas. This year’s first-round featured nine trades on the first day of the selection process. 

Historically, selections in the first round are the most criticized. We often label first-round picks as valuable assets that can turn into superstar players. However, not every pick always works out … far from it. 

After the first round, several picks stick out as great ones while others are questionable. Take a look at the 5 best andworst first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

5 Worst First-Round Selections

These are the worst picks. First-round picks are considered poor when the fit is questionable, it does not address a team need, or a player was taken far too high. 

The 2022 NFL Draft is no exception, the worst first-round picks all fall into one of the mentioned categories. 

Travon Walker (DE) – Jacksonville Jaguars

Travon Walker soared up NFL Draft boards after a freakish combine. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end ran an explosive 4.51-second 40-yard dash combined with a 4.32-second 20-yard shuffle.

Clearly, Walker had the measurables to be a top 10 pick. However, he had little production in college at Georgia. Jacksonville could have gone with Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson competed for the Heisman Trophy as a Michigan defensive end and recorded 14 sacks last season. 

Overall, Hutchinson is a more polished pass-rusher. Using the first overall pick on a player simply due to an elite combine is questionable. The biggest concern is how long will it take to develop Walker? 

Jahan Dotson (WR) – Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders were in a prime position to take a receiver at No. 11. After Garrett Wilson was chosen by the Jets at pick 10, Washington decided to move back to the 16th pick.

Once the Commanders were up at 16, they stuck with taking a receiver. Penn State’s Jahan Dotson was projected as a late first-rounder. Taking a WR made sense, but Dotson at 16 is a reach. The Penn State product has elite athleticism but his small frame with a lack of physicality is a cause for concern. 

Kenny Pickett (QB) – Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh had to draft a QB to replace Ben Roethlisberger. At pick 20, the Steelers went with the in-town kid, Kenny Pickett.

Headed into draft night, many expected Pickett to slide out of the first round. Taking Malik Willis out of Liberty could have been the better fit for Pittsburgh at 20. How good can Pickett be, is his ceiling high enough? Only time will tell. 

Tyler Smith (OT) – Dallas Cowboys         

Many expected the Dallas Cowboys to bolster their offensive line. After Kenyon Green and Zion Johnson went off the board, Dallas had slim pickings. 

The Cowboys had several intriguing defensive options on the board, such as Jermaine Johnson, Daxton Hill, or Devin Lloyd. Instead, Dallas sided with the offensive tackle Tyler Smith out of Tulsa. 

Smith is a development project who has technique concerns. He was penalized 12 times last season, further proving a lack of technique. The Cowboys could have grabbed an instant defensive spark but went for the developmental OT instead.    

Cole Strange (OL) – New England Patriots                         

The New England Patriots made perhaps the biggest reach. Cole Strange from Chattanooga was widely regarded as a second-round prospect. 

With the 29th pick, the Patriots made a shocking selection by taking Strange. New England has been one of the most conservative franchises for years, making the pick more surprising. 

There are concerns about Strange’s strength, which could prevent him from playing guard. This is why some suggest he could move to center. However, he has major issues with snapping at this point. This is certainly a project pick for the Pats.                

5 Best First-Round Selections

Now that the head-scratchers are out of the way, here are the picks that created a favorable impression. These selections immediately addressed key needs, are great fits, or were fantastic value picks. 

Aidan Hutchinson (DE) – Detroit Lions 

The Detroit Lions quickly turned in the No. 2 pick after Jacksonville selected Walker. Last season, Detroit had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL; Hutchinson immediately addresses that need.

Most experts had Hutchinson as the top player in the 2022 NFL draft. This was an easy pick for the Lions. Plus, the pick becomes even more likable with the Michigan man, Hutchinson, staying in-state.  Hutchinson, by the way, said he knew he wasn’t going first overall. He was following the odds and they told him he would be a big cat, a Lion but not a Jaguar.

Evan Neal (OT) – New York Giants  

The Giants had one of the best drafts. Evan Neal at No. 7 was a home run for New York.

Neal was regarded as the second-best offensive lineman. The Giants were searching for a tackle to place opposite Andrew Thomas. With Alabama, Neal was best at right tackle during his sophomore season. New York has a dynamic tackle duo going forward with Thomas at left tackle and Neal at right tackle. 

Kyle Hamilton (S) – Baltimore Ravens

This offseason, the Ravens signed the safety Marcus Williams to a lucrative contract. Baltimore doubled down on safety by drafting Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton at pick 14.

Hamilton was a great value, with the potential to be a superstar. He is a dynamic playmaker in the secondary who flies around the field. The Ravens could enjoy elite safety play for years to come with Williams and Hamilton. 

Trent McDuffie (CB) – Kansas City Chiefs 

Kansas City continues to draft well, taking Trent McDuffie at pick No. 21. The Chiefs traded the 29th pick, a third-rounder, and a fourth-rounder for the Patriots’ 21st pick.

McDuffie fell a few spots and Kansas City pounced. The CB out of Washington has elite speed combined with solid tackling. He is undersized at 5-foot-11 and makes few plays on the ball, but still handles himself in coverage. 

The Chiefs lost the corner Charvarius Ward this offseason, McDuffie is a nice replacement. 

Daxton Hill (DB) – Cincinnati Bengals

During the Super Bowl, the Bengals’ secondary came back to bite them on the Rams’ game-winning drive. Cincinnati decided to address its secondary with the 31st pick.

Daxton Hill gives the Bengals a versatile player who can do practically anything. He was one of the most underrated prospects in the first round. Though Hill’s projection was a little low, he managed to fall. 

This was a great value pick while also addressing Cincinnati’s needs. 

The 2022 NFL draft marches on with the second and third rounds taking place Friday evening at 7 p.m. ET. Several 2022 NFL Draft betting lines are still live at BetUS Sportsbook, take your pick.