2022 NFL Draft Commences

The 2022 NFL Draft, held from April 28th to April 30th in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a significant event for professional football, shaping the rosters of all 32 NFL teams for the seasons to come.

2022 NFL Draft first 30 picks detailed; Travon Walker (Jaguars) 1st. No draftees were prior College or Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees; those inductions are for past careers.  

This draft was notable for several reasons, including the high number of trades in the first round and the early selection of defensive players. Let's delve into the first 30 selections and examine if any of these players were previously inducted into the College or Pro Football Hall of Fame.  

The Jacksonville Jaguars held the coveted first overall pick and selected Travon Walker, a defensive end from the University of Georgia. This marked the third time in NFL history, along with 1972 and 2000, that the first two picks were defensive players. The Detroit Lions followed, choosing another defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson from the University of Michigan. The Houston Texans then selected cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. from LSU at pick number three, and the New York Jets picked cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner from Cincinnati at number four. Rounding out the top five was the New York Giants, who selected defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux from the University of Oregon.  

The rest of the top 30 picks unfolded as teams addressed various needs. The Carolina Panthers selected offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu from North Carolina State at pick six, followed by the New York Giants again at pick seven, taking offensive tackle Evan Neal from Alabama. The Atlanta Falcons chose wide receiver Drake London from USC at number eight, and the Seattle Seahawks picked offensive tackle Charles Cross from Mississippi State at number nine. The New York Jets made their second top-ten selection at pick ten, adding wide receiver Garrett Wilson from Ohio State.  

Picks 11 through 20 saw the New Orleans Saints select wide receiver Chris Olave (Ohio State), the Detroit Lions take another receiver in Jameson Williams (Alabama), and the Philadelphia Eagles drafted defensive tackle Jordan Davis (Georgia). The Baltimore Ravens picked safety Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame at number 14, and the Houston Texans selected offensive guard Kenyon Green from Texas A&M at number 15. The Washington Commanders chose wide receiver Jahan Dotson from Penn State at pick 16, followed by the Los Angeles Chargers selecting offensive guard Zion Johnson from Boston College. The Tennessee Titans picked wide receiver Treylon Burks from Arkansas at number 18, and the New Orleans Saints made their second first-round pick, selecting offensive tackle Trevor Penning from Northern Iowa. The Pittsburgh Steelers rounded out this segment by selecting quarterback Kenny Pickett from the University of Pittsburgh at pick 20.  

The final ten picks of the top 30 included the Kansas City Chiefs selecting cornerback Trent McDuffie from Washington (pick 21), and the Green Bay Packers choosing linebacker Quay Walker (Georgia) at pick 22. The Buffalo Bills picked cornerback Kaiir Elam from Florida at pick 23, and the Dallas Cowboys selected offensive tackle Tyler Smith from Tulsa at pick 24. The Baltimore Ravens made their second first-round selection at pick 25, taking center Tyler Linderbaum from Iowa. The New York Jets made their third first-round pick, selecting defensive end Jermaine Johnson II from Florida State at pick 26, and the Jacksonville Jaguars made their second first-round pick, choosing linebacker Devin Lloyd from Utah at pick 27. The Green Bay Packers made their second selection at pick 28, adding defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt from Georgia. The New England Patriots selected offensive guard Cole Strange from Chattanooga at pick 29, and the Kansas City Chiefs made their second first-round pick, selecting defensive end George Karlaftis from Purdue at pick 30.  

Interestingly, among these first 30 selections of the 2022 NFL Draft, none of the players had previously been inducted into either the College Football Hall of Fame or the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Induction into these halls of fame typically occurs after a player's college or professional career has concluded and after a waiting period. The players selected in the 2022 draft were just beginning their professional journeys and thus were not yet eligible for such honors.

However, it's worth noting that the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame class was announced in January 2022, prior to the NFL Draft. This class included several notable players such as Andrew Luck (Stanford), Champ Bailey (Georgia), and Marvin Jones (Florida State), none of whom were part of the 2022 NFL Draft class as their playing careers had ended years prior. Similarly, the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, inducted in August 2022, included players like Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, and Richard Seymour, all of whom had long and distinguished NFL careers predating the 2022 draft.  

The 2022 NFL Draft was a crucial event for NFL teams, providing an influx of young talent. While none of the draftees were prior Hall of Fame inductees, their performances in the ensuing years would determine if any would eventually reach such legendary status in either the college or professional ranks. The draft showcased the emphasis on defensive prowess at the top, with a significant number of offensive players also being highly valued.

Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com