Fanspeak: 2022 NFL Draft

Atlanta received bad news this week as it was reported that star receiver Calvin Ridley may seek to play elsewhere next season. Ridley was the Falcons’ first-round pick in 2018. The former Alabama star was very steady to start his pro career, catching 64 and 63 passes, respectively, his first two seasons. Then he exploded … More »

You can’t predict the future, but you can figure out what Minnesota is likely to do in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Consider the following: “Trader Rick,” the nickname for Vikings GM Rick Spielman, has made 36 draft-day trades since taking over in 2012, including the last two drafts which led to … More »

Odell Beckham Jr. has silenced the doubters after signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams back in October. He had 17 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns in six games with Cleveland. Since then? OBJ has 25 receptions for 287 yards and 5 TDs with Los Angeles. But there’s a good chance … More »

The Washington Football Team is closer to contention than some might realize. The team enters the offseason with the fourth-best cap situation, according to Over The Cap, so it should have the money to sign some of its key free agents, most notably All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff. When healthy, the offensive line should be one … More »

Dallas was intent on fixing its defensive backfield after the 2016 season. That was the rookie seasons for Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. Those two helped lead the Cowboys to an improbable 13-3 record and an NFC East title. But the Mike McCarthy-led Green Bay Packers came into town and ultimately ended Dallas’ season, 34-31. … More »

Could Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton slide to Cleveland in the 2022 NFL draft? History says yes. The Browns drafted former UCLA free safety Eric Turner with the No. 2 overall pick in 1991, making him the highest-drafted defensive back in the modern era of football. Over the past 10 drafts, only two safeties have … More »

Atlanta has a lot more problems to solve during the offseason than its current 6-8 record would indicate. Start with free agency. Twenty-three players are set to become unrestricted free agents – including nine full- or part-time starters. The Falcons are projected to be under the cap by $14.5 million in 2022, but almost 70 … More »

When Matt Rhule took over nearly two years ago, fixing the Carolina Panthers defense was one of his top priorities. And while it’s hard to say “mission accomplished” when the team sports a disappointing 5-8 record, Carolina’s defense has ranked among the league’s best this season. The Panthers are giving up 293 yards per game, … More »

The New Orleans Saints will draft a quarterback and a wide receiver in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL draft. You’ve read that and heard that so many times by now that those moves probably feel inevitable. But that doesn’t take into account the team’s salary cap situation. New Orleans is projected to … More »

Do you take the player who’s clearly better, or do you take a lesser talent at the most important position? That’s the problem facing Detroit in the 2022 NFL draft. This problem has recently come up – with very mixed results. In the 2020 draft, LSU’s Jeff Burrow went No. 1 overall and has thus … More »