Focusing on the high level of talent at the defensive end entering the league, some teams decided to compensate by getting high-end offensive line talent.
Five defensive ends (eight d-linemen total, see below) were selected in the first round of this year’s draft. And that might be why nine offensive linemen (see below) were also picked in the first round.
I don’t think either Carolina or New England were crazy to get their rosters bolstered up with linemen. The offensive tackles will have their hands most full with the addition of the D-ends. But the selected in Round 1 give each team some good options to try to counter that defensive talent. Another example is Baltimore. The Ravens selected a center.
(From the NY Times: First Round 2022 Draft. Defensive linemen and Offensive linemen)
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
3. Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Louisiana State
4. New York Jets: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
5. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
6. Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
7. New York Giants (via trade): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR, Southern California
9. Seattle Seahawks (via trade): Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
10. New York Jets (via trade): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
11. New Orleans Saints (via trade): Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
12. Detroit Lions (via trade): Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
13. Philadelphia Eagles (via trade): Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
15. Houston Texans (via trade): Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
16. Washington Commanders (via trade): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
18. Tennessee Titans (via trade): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
19. New Orleans Saints (via trade): Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
22. Green Bay Packers (via trade): Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
23. Buffalo Bills (via trade): Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
25. Baltimore Ravens (via trade): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
26. New York Jets (via trade): Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade): Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
28. Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
29. New England Patriots (via trade): Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
30. Kansas City: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
32. Minnesota Vikings (via trade); Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
I don’t think the Patriots will lose with their first-round pick. Six foot five and three hundred plus pounds is a big side of beef. The only thing strange about New England’s pick is his name. It is Strange, literally. I wasn’t sure about Tyler Smith either, but the Cowboys drafted him.
Teams didn’t want to miss the opportunity and slip into the second round, too far away from these players to add them to their roster. Counter decisions in chess-like maneuvers had these teams scrambling to add high-end lineman to their rosters.
The offensive lineman isn’t often talked about. It’s a thankless job that doesn’t get a lot of recognition, and it is harder to recognize their success, too. The O-line isn’t as flashy as running or throwing or catching, and it’s not as noticeable as a sack or interception–even though the game relies on big men paving the way for offensive success.
On the flip side, no running backs or tight ends (two glamor positions) were taken in Round 1. It’s the first time in NFL history that neither position was picked in the Draft’s first round.
