NFL Draft Winners & Losers

The NFL Draft has concluded and now it’s full steam ahead toward another NFL season. While the draft allows every single fanbase the opportunity to get excited for their teams, some fans should definitely be more excited than others. While we won’t truly know who won and who lost this draft for a few seasons, there are a few teams who seem like they steamrolled this draft, and a few that absolutely laid a brick. Here are our biggest winners and losers of the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Winners

The New York Jets haven’t looked this good since Super Bowl 3. If this haul is an indication of what the Robert Saleh era is going to bring then the rest of the NFL needs to be on notice. The Jets have 4 definite starters in this draft and may have another if Michael Clemons pans out. Sauce, Wilson, and Hall were all the consensus top rated players at their position. Jermaine Johnson II was projected by many to go in the top 10. This draft will be remembered forever by the Jets community. 

The Giants didn’t have quite as good of a draft haul as the JETS but they very well may have gotten the best Offensive and Defensive linemen in the draft. Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibideaux were both considered to be the top overall pick at different stages of the draft process. WanDale in the second was an interesting pick. I guess having one Kadarius Toney wasn’t enough. Outside of that the Giants relied heavily on the Defense while also grabbing another guard. GM Joe Schoen did a phenomenal job in his inaugural draft. 

The Eagles likely would have made this list simply by drafting Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens, and Nakobe Dean. Jordan Davis is an absolute Mack Truck and should dominate in the NFL. His teammate Nakobe Dean was largely projected to be a first round pick and somehow slid all the way down to pick 83. Oh, and they added Jalen Hurts’ best friend AJ Brown and locked him down for 100 million. The Eagles became the team to beat in the NFC during round one of this draft. 

Losers

Oof, poor Ryan Tannehill. He has played in two straight home playoff games but came up short each time. Tennessee seemed to still have a championship window but now it’s most likely shut with Tannehill seeing AJ Brown head to Philly. To top it off the Titans likely drafted Tanny’s ultimate replacement Malik Willis who most had going in the first round. 

See Tannehill, Ryan. Treylon Burks may be “Always Save” AJ Brown. Regardless he will need time to develop. Drafting Malik Willis hints toward the Titans looking towards the future. Free. Derrick. Henry. 

For a team that hangs their hat on their ability to draft, the Cowboys whiffed hard. Tyler Smith wasn’t even the best Tackle prospect on the board and likely would have been available in Round 2. Sam Williams does intrigue me if he can keep his nose clean. Unfortunately he was drafted in the second round by Dallas and we already know how that plays out. For those that don’t, it doesn’t end well. Jalen Tolbert was their best pick of the draft and even he was a bit of a reach. 

There were a few teams that were just on the outside looking in. I think the Ravens and Lions both had excellent drafts while I didn’t love the Packers draft. There will definitely be fans who agree wholeheartedly, and some that disagree vehemently. Time will tell who really had the best results. Regardless, sound off in the comments and let us know who you think the biggest winners and losers of the draft were.