Let’s re-draft the 2022 NFL Draft after 5 years

Inglewood, California - December 27, 2025 - The 2022 NFL Draft was a tumultuous affair, rife with misjudgments and surprising outcomes. Teams often made ill-advised decisions based on flawed evaluations of players, leading to a plethora of busts and later retirements. Consequently, there is ample opportunity for a redo. This piece attempts to re-draft the first round with a more informed perspective, considering the positions teams had already claimed, their needs at the time, and the current success of certain players.

The draft begins with the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Travon Walker, a defensive end, and the Detroit Lions going with Aiden Hutchinson, another defensive end, in the first pick. The Houston Texans initially took Decker Stingley Jr, a cornerback, but this selection was replaced by Sauce Gardner, a cornerback, in the revised draft. The New York Jets faced similar changes, swapping Sauce Gardner, their initial pick, with Drake London, a wide receiver.

The New York Giants made significant alterations as well, trading Evan Neal, an offensive tackle, and Tyler Smith, an offensive guard, in favor of Kayvon Thibodeaux, an edge rusher, and Ikem Ekwonu, an offensive tackle. The Seattle Seahawks kept Charles Cross, an offensive tackle, while the New York Jets swapped Garrett Wilson, a wide receiver, for Trent McDuffie, a cornerback.

The Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles also underwent notable changes, with Zion Johnson, a offensive guard, taking Ikem Ekwonu, an offensive tackle, and Jameson Williams, a wide receiver, respectively. The Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Commanders similarly altered their selections, with Kyle Hamilton, a safety, replacing Kenyon Green, an offensive guard, and Jahan Dotson, a wide receiver, respectively.

The Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, and Cincinnati Bengals all made various changes in their selections. The final draft order reflects these adjustments, providing a more accurate representation of the talent landscape in the 2022 NFL Draft.