Nakobe Dean’s Slide Ends At No. 83 Overall
Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean was far and away considered on the two best linebacker prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, behind only Utah’s Devin Lloyd. After a mysterious tumble through the first and second rounds, Dean finally heard his name called midway through the third round at No. 83 overall.
Dean led the National Champion Bulldogs in tackles for loss and was second on the team in both tackles and sacks this past season. Dean watched plenty of his teammates fly past him in the past two days due to multiple rumored medical issues. Many teams looked into his medical history and believed surgery would be on the horizon for the 21-year-old.
Dean will join a linebackers room in Philadelphia that lost leading tackler Alex Singleton, Genard Avery, and Eric Wilson. The Eagles return T.J. Edwards, Davion Taylor, and Shaun Bradley while also bringing in Haason Reddick and Kyzir White. This should give Philadelphia enough depth to allow Dean to get healthy while still giving him ample opportunity to earn a starting job once he’s ready.
Texans Trade Up Past Ravens To Select Christian Harris
For the second time in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Texans made a move to slip up past the Ravens, this time selecting Alabama linebacker Christian Harris with the No. 75 overall pick. 
Harris has been Top-5 in the Crimson Tide’s defense for tackles each of the last three years. The 21-year-old racked up 27.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks over his college career, adding 15 quarterback hurries and 3 forced fumbles along the way.
Harris was expected to be selected somewhere in the second round, so the Texans didn’t hesitate when they saw him inching ever closer to a Ravens team that certainly could use an upgrade at linebacker.
In order to acquire the Broncos No. 75 pick, the Texans had to part ways with their 80th (3rd round) pick and 162nd (5th round) pick.
Falcons Draft Desmond Ridder At No. 74
The long wait for the second quarterback to be taken off the board is finally over as the Falcons selected Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round with the No. 74 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. 
Ridder has produced every season as a four-year starter saving his best year for last. While he reduced his running a bit this past year, he’s shown his abilities in past seasons racking up 650 yards in 2019 and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2020. Perhaps most importantly, Ridder knows how to win, achieving a 44-7 record in four years as a Bearcat.
Ridder comes to a Falcons team that is looking forward to the next era at quarterback. After 13 years with Matt Ryan at the helm, the only players awaiting Ridder’s competition in the quarterbacks room in Atlanta are Marcus Mariota and Feleipe Franks.
Despite not being picked until the third round, Ridder has a very real chance to win the starting job behind center for the Falcons. With weapons like Kyle Pitts and newly drafted Drake London at his disposal, Ridder could see some early rookie fireworks lead to a long-term starting gig.
Bengals Trade Up To Take Cam Taylor-Britt At No. 60
The Bengals addressed another secondary position in the 2022 NFL Draft, trading up to take the Bills spot at No. 60 overall, a pick the Bills had just received from the Buccaneers one trade earlier. Cincinnati used the pick to select Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. 
Taylor-Britt led the Cornhuskers in passes broken up last year with an impressive 11, adding six interceptions over the course of his college career. Taylor-Britt was a physical defender forcing seven fumbles and blocking a kick in his career. He earned second team All-Big Ten honors in each of his final two college seasons.
The Bengals gave up their 63rd (2nd round pick) and 209th (6th round) pick in order to move up to 60th for Taylor-Britt.
Bucs Acquire No. 57 To Take Luke Goedeke
Central Michigan offensive lineman Luke Goedeke finally hears his name called as the Buccaneers were tired of seeing him slide down the board. Tampa Bay traded up four spots to make sure the 23-year-old found his way to Central Florida.
Goedeke moved from tight end to offensive tackle during his redshirt season with the Chippewas, earning the team’s starting right tackle position as a redshirt sophomore. Goedeke missed the 2020 season due to a knee injury, but came back strong to earn All-Mid-American honors as a redshirt junior.
Despite spending his college career at tackle, Goedeke projects as an interior lineman at the next level. This fills a huge position of need for the Buccaneers who lost Alex Cappa to free agency and Ali Marpet to retirement.
The Bucs’ received the pick used to draft Goedeke from the Bills, giving them their No. 60 pick and No. 180 (6th round) pick in exchange.
Vikings Trade Up To No. 42 For Andrew Booth
The Vikings traded for the Colts No. 42 overall pick to select Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth in the 2022 NFL Draft. Booth is the seventh cornerback off the board. 
For awhile, Booth was considered the consensus second-best cornerback in a first round that was expected to see many get selected. Booth didn’t hear his named called with the four other cornerbacks taken yesterday, but he didn’t last long into Day 2.
Booth led the Tigers with three interceptions and added 5 passes broken up in his first season as a full time starter. Booth recently underwent hernia surgery that may hold him out of the Vikings’ early offseason workouts, but Minnesota sees enough upside to the 21-year-old to move up for him anyway. When healthy, Booth boasts an intriguing combination of length, athleticism, and ball skills that should translate well at the next level.
Minnesota gave the Colts their 53rd (2nd round) pick, 77th (3rd round) pick, and 192nd (6th round) pick in exchange for the pick used to select Booth and Indianapolis’ 122nd (4th round) pick.
Steelers Pick Kenny Pickett At No. 20 Overall
The Ben Roethlisberger-era is over for the Steelers. In comes Kenny Pickett from nearby University of Pittsburgh, selected with the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. 
The long-awaited conclusion to the debate of which quarterback would be selected first finally ends in historic fashion, as this is the latest we’ve seen a draft go without any quarterback selections since 1997, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Picket is the first quarterback off the board over Liberty’s Malik Willis and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, as well as some other contenders.
Pickett’s statistics in his last year exploded off the page as he threw for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, adding 233 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Pickett had a prolific season, leading the Panthers to their first ever ACC Championship. He was named a first-team All-American and finished 3rd in Heisman voting, taking advantage of a rare opportunity due to COVID-19 granting him a fifth year of eligibility.
Pickett is the latest Panther to walk across the campus and join the Steelers’ organization, as running back James Conner did in 2017.
Ravens Draft Kyle Hamilton At No. 14 Overall
Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton has seen his first round slide end at No. 14 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Ravens get the top-ranked safety on the board who was viewed at points of the pre-draft process at a top-5 draft pick. 
Hamilton had a highly productive three-year career with the Fighting Irish. He totaled 138 tackles and eight interceptions, demonstrating positional flexibility and leadership qualities along the way. His testing numbers, season-ending knee injury and overall athletic profile, however, have led to a belief he could drop to at least the second half of the first round.
Luckily for Hamilton, his fall has ended and he landed himself in a franchise that prides itself on defense. The Ravens lost safety DeShon Elliott, but replaced him with former-Saints safety Marcus Williams.
Whether the Ravens will utilize Hamilton to help replace Elliott’s production or to boost a lackluster linebacker group is to be seen. Hamilton’s versatility will give them plenty of options in the upcoming season.
Saints Move Up To Select Chris Olave At No. 11
The Saints traded the Commanders their No. 16, 98, and 120 picks to move up in the 2022 NFL Draft and take Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave at No. 11 overall. 
In four years with the Buckeyes, Olave put up consistent receiving numbers despite a healthy competition for targets. In his final three campaigns, he totaled 163 receptions for 2,505 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Olave led the team in 2019 and 2020 before seeing his production out-matched by teammate and fellow first-round draft pick Garrett Wilson. Both receivers were out-produced by sophomore receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though.
Still, Olave displayed consistency, talent, and leadership through his time in Columbus. He’ll head down to New Orleans to help the Saints compete in the NFC South.
Seahawks Pick Charles Cross At No. 9 Overall
The third offensive lineman off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft, Charles Cross has finally heard his name called for the Seahawks at No. 9 overall. 
Cross wasn’t necessarily considered to be on the same level as Alabama tackle Evan Neal or NC State blocker Ikem Ekwonu in terms of overall talent, but the Mississippi State product makes up for his lack of athleticism with consistency and savviness. His length and footwork will allow him to be a long-term answer on the offensive line, and his underrated strength should continue to develop as he ages.
The lineman broke on the scene in 2020, and he followed that up with a standout 2021 campaign. Cross finished the season with 12 starts at left tackle, and he earned first-team all-conference honors.
Cross visited several teams during the pre-draft process with most teams in the late area of the Draft’s top-10 picks counting on him being there if Neal and Ekwonu were taken. The Seahawks get that last top-10 talent available at offensive line in the draft to block for Drew Lock or Geno Smith.