The 2022 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday at the fascinating Linq Promenade on the Las Vegas Strip. At first glance, the location of the draft and the remarkable atmosphere that Las Vegas brings is the only thing National Football League fans should get excited about. It should be noted the fan activities are a definite cool element as well that should not go unnoticed.
This year’s draft simply does not contain star power, and I will be focused more on the NBA Playoffs, where the sixth game between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers promises high-level intrigue and drama.
Over the years, there have been several future superstars taken number one. They include future Hall of Famers O.J. Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, Earl Campbell, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, who is fourth on our list of the greatest players of all-time. In recent years, among the players taken number one include quarterbacks Eli Manning, Matt Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence.
This year there simply does not appear to be a franchise quarterback that will immediately come in and make a substantial difference. In the ESPN pre-draft rankings for example, you will not find one quarterback ranked in the top 10.
The projected top two players are in fact on the defensive side of the ball. At number one is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson of the University of Michigan, and at number two is defensive end Travon Walker of the University of Georgia.
What is also of interest is that there is only one player from the University of Alabama ranked in the top 10. That is offensive tackle Evan Neal, who is projected at number four. Last year there were three Crimson Tide players taken in the top 10. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was selected sixth by the Miami Dolphins, cornerback Patrick Surtain II was selected ninth by the Denver Broncos, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith was selected 10th by the Philadelphia Eagles.
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