Defence Rules Round 1 Of 2022 NFL Draft

Five defensive players were selected with the first five selections in the 2022 NFL Draft: linebacker TRAVON WALKER (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville), defensive end AIDAN HUTCHINSON (No. 2, Detroit), defensive back DEREK STINGLEY JR. (No. 3, Houston), defensive back SAUCE GARDNER (No. 4, New York Jets) and defensive end KAYVON THIBODEAUX (No. 5, New York Giants).

The 2022 NFL Draft marked the second time since 1967 that each of the first five selections were from the defensive side of the ball, joining the 1991 NFL Draft (where an NFL-record first six players were selected).

With the selections of Stingley Jr. (No. 3) and Gardner (No. 4), it marks the first time since the 1997 NFL Draft [SHAWN SPRINGS (No. 3) and BRYANT WESTBROOK (No. 5)] that two defensive backs were selected among the top-five picks.

Doubling Up

Nine teams selected multiple players during the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the most teams to make multiple first-round selections in a single draft since 1967.

The New York Giants (No. 5 and No. 7 overall) and New York Jets (No. 4 and No. 10) each made two selections within the first 10 picks. It marked the fourth time in the common-draft era that two teams each made multiple top-10 selections in the same NFL Draft, joining 2000 (Baltimore and Washington), 1979 (Buffalo and Chicago) and 1973 (Baltimore Colts and Philadelphia).

Top Dawgs

Five defensive players from the University of Georgia were selected in the first round, the most defensive players from one school selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft since 1967: linebacker TRAVON WALKER (No. 1 overall, Jacksonville), defensive tackle JORDAN DAVIS (No. 13, Philadelphia), linebacker QUAY WALKER (No. 22, Green Bay), defensive tackle DEVONTE WYATT (No. 28, Green Bay) and defensive back LEWIS CINE (No. 32, Minnesota).

Roll Tide

The University of Alabama saw tackle EVAN NEAL selected No. 7 overall by the New York Giants while wide receiver JAMESON WILLIAMS was selected with the 12th pick by the Detroit Lions.

Alabama became the second school in the common-draft era to have multiple offensive players selected in the first round in four consecutive NFL Drafts, joining the University of Miami (four consecutive drafts from 2001-04), and the first school since 1967 to have an offensive player selected in the first round in eight consecutive NFL Drafts (2015-22).

The Crimson Tide joined Texas A&M (2013-16) and Southern California (1980-83) as the only schools to have an offensive lineman selected in the first round in four consecutive NFL Drafts since 1967 and joined the University of Tennessee (1982-84) as the only schools since 1967 to have a wide receiver chosen in the first round in three consecutive NFL Drafts.

Run On Receivers

Six wide receivers were selected within the top-20 picks for the first time in the common-draft era: DRAKE LONDON (No. 8 overall, Atlanta), GARRETT WILSON (No. 10, New York Jets), CHRIS OLAVE (No. 11, New Orleans), JAMESON WILLIAMS (No. 12, Detroit), JAHAN DOTSON (No. 16, Washington) and TREYLON BURKS (No. 18, Tennessee).

At least two wide receivers have been selected in the first round of 14 consecutive NFL Drafts, the longest such streak in the common-draft era, and at least five wide receivers were selected in the first round in three consecutive NFL Drafts for the first time since 1967.

Ohio State wide receivers GARRETT WILSON (No. 10, New York Jets) and CHRIS OLAVE (No. 11, New Orleans) were selected with consecutive picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It marks the fourth time since 1991 that consecutive first-round choices were players from the same college that also played the same position.