The best pick your team made in the NFL Draft

In a NFL Draft dominated by defensive players (it is only the second time since 1967 that the first five selections were on the defensive side), practically all teams found at least one starter between the first two rounds.

But,what was the best selection your team made in this Draft? We tell you in this first of two installments:

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State

Third round, pick 87

In Arizona’s 3-4 defense, Thomas will be used as outside linebacker and will compete in training camp with Markus Golden. In his final season with the Aztecs, Cameron recorded 10.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Desmond Ridder, QB Cincinnati

Third round, pick 74

The Falcons were patient and waited until the third round to draft who is likely to be your next franchise quarterback. Ridder, however, isn’t ready to start in the NFL. For now, Marcus Mariota is QB1, until the Cincinnati product learns to be more accurate and not miss so many routine passes.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

First round, pick 25

The Ravens offensive line has a new leader. Linderbaum is an athlete whose technique and speed have earned him comparisons to Maurkice Pouncey, the former Steelers center, invited to nine Pro Bowls and named an All-Pro twice.

BUFFALO BILLS

James Cook, RB, Georgia

Second round, pick 63

Not only does Cook add depth to the Bills’ running back position, he becomes a new target for Josh Allen in the passing game. Cook caught 67 passes in his final season with the Bulldogs.with 730 yards and 6 touchdowns.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi

Third round, pick 94

Just like Atlanta, the Panthers knew how to wait to recruit Corral, who in his first year in the NFL could be used as a “gadget quarterback”, that is, for certain situations and with the option of running. In his senior year at Ole Miss he had 614 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

CHICAGO BEARS

Kyler Gordon, BC, Washington

Second round, pick 39

Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker (second round, 48th pick) should start the Bears’ defense at the start of the regular season. Gordon is considered one of the best and most complete athletes in the Class of 2022 and therefore you can also play the slot.

CINCINNATI FLARERS

Zachary Carter, DT, Florida

Third round, pick 95

It’s true that safety Daxton Hill (first round, 31st pick) could take the job away from Vonn Bell, but Carter will be a valuable asset in the Bengals’ frontcourt rotation.. In his last season with the Gators he had 11.5 backfield tackles and 7 quarterback sacks. BJ Hill is the starter, but Carter will earn his time on the field and it will pay dividends for him.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

David Bell, WR, Purdue

Third round, pick 99

Bell (93 receptions, 1,286 yards, and 6 touchdowns in his final year with the Boilermakers) is the ideal complement for Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, in the revamped Browns wide receiver corps, now under Deshaun Watson. Bell is likely to be used in the slot, as he doesn’t have the speed to play opposite Cooper.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama

Third round, pick 88

After losing Cooper in free agency, Jerry Jones had to find a WR2 to accompany CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. Tolbert closed out two spectacular years with the Jaguars, in which he had 2,560 yards and 16 touchdowns. This could be remembered as one of the steals of the 2022 Draft.

DENVER BRONCOS

Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma

Second round, pick 64

It is difficult for Bonitto to start in September (Ahead of him will be Randy Gregory), but defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero could use him in downright passing situations. In his last two seasons with the Sooners he recorded 26.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

DETROIT LIONS

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

First round, pick 2

There is not much to think about here. Jaguars might regret not drafting Hutchinson (14 sacks and 16.5 backfield tackles in 2021 with the Wolverines) with the first overall pick. In Detroit’s defense he will start from training camp and will make an interesting pairing with Michael Brockers, who came to the Lions in 2021 via trade from the Rams.

Enlarge

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

First round, pick 28

Along with ILB Quay Walker, also of the Bulldogs, the Packers’ defense found two new starters in the first round of the Draft. Wyatt, who had five sacks at Georgia, could play end in Green Bay’s 3-4 defense, with Kenny Clark at nose tackle and Dean Lowry at the other end.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor

Second round, pick 37

In CB Derek Stingley and G Kenyon Green, the Texans drafted two potential starters, but Pitre catches my attention because the Bears used him as a safety, in the slot and even as a kind of outside linebacker. to pressure the quarterback. He finished the 2021 campaign with 18.5 tackles for loss and 7 passes defensed. Coach Lovie Smith must have a plan to exploit this defensive back’s versatility.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati

Second round, pick 53

The Colts were one of nine teams without a first-round pick, but in the second they opted to give veteran Matt Ryan a new target. Pierce must start the regular season on the opposite side of Michael Pittman. In his last year with the Bearcats he caught 52 balls and had 884 yards and 8 touchdowns. His speed makes him the new deep-threat in Indianapolis.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Travon Walker, LB, Georgia

First round, pick 1

Walker, who played defensive lineman at Georgia, will be used as an outside linebacker in the Jacksonville defense, a position that he is not unaware of because with the Bulldogs he came to perform the functions of an OLB, even in pass coverage. His numbers, however, aren’t spectacular, with just 9.5 sacks in three years at Georgia, including 6 in 2021.

Enlarge

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

First round, pick 30

Karlaftis is projected to be a starter from training camp, alongside Chris Jones and Frank Clark. In the two full seasons he played with the Boilermakers he recorded 27 backfield tackles and 12 quarterback sacks. Additionally, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could also use him at defensive tackle if needed.