Re-Drafting the 2022 NFL Draft Ahead of NFC, AFC Championship Games

One of the great traditions of fandom is second-guessing how decisions can alter the future. In the NFL, the draft is a great source of hindsight.

If we sent many of this season's rookies to other franchises, how different would the postseason look?

The selections, naturally, are a personal list but consider what a team needed most in 2022 or beyond. Player performance is valued, even with no guarantee that production would be the same. Future projections are inherently subjective but also a factor.

In short: Your order will not match mine.

But as conference championship weekend arrives, let's reconfigure the 2022 draft and throw an imaginary spin on the Super Bowl chase.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Travon Walker may become the impactful pass-rusher hoped, but Sauce Gardner immediately shined as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks. After tallying a league-best 20 pass defenses, Gardner is the front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Factor in the breakout year of Tyson Campbell, and the Jags could've solidified a corner duo worth a sleepless night or three.

2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

No change for the Lions, who snagged Aidan Hutchinson from the nearby Big Ten program. The edge-rusher piled up 52 tackles with 9.5 sacks and 29 pressures, even intercepting three passes. Hutchinson is a cornerstone of a much-improved Detroit roster.

3. Houston Texans: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia

Sticking with Derek Stingley Jr. would be a reasonable option, but a high-end pass-rusher is tough to pass up. Walker, who registered 49 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 21 pressures, would have provided a jolt to a Texans depth chart that lacked, well, depth at his position.

4. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

Although he missed about half of the season because of a hamstring injury, Stingley performed well in his limited action. While gathering 43 tackles and five pass defenses, the touted cornerback ceded a modest 7.6 yards per target and zero touchdowns for Houston.

5. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

Similar to Detroit, the Giants don't budge from their original pick. Kayvon Thibodeaux had a quiet opening to the 2022 campaign but finished on a hot streak. During the last two months, he recorded 35 tackles with three sacks and a defensive touchdown.

6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

In the predraft process, the Panthers were often connected to Kenny Pickett. They picked left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who looks like a long-term blindside protector. Carolina, though, meandered through a season full of subpar QB play and still finished 7-10. Pickett could've helped the Panthers win a bad NFC South.

7. New York Giants: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

No matter if you believe in Daniel Jones as a franchise QB, his receiving corps was a weakness. Second-half surges from Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins saved the Giants, but they could've added Garrett Wilson instead of watching him land with the Jets. Wilson racked up 83 catches for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR, USC

Drake London or Chris Olave? The answer is a hair-split. Given the Falcons' need for a physically imposing top receiver, staying with the 6'5" London is sensible. He provided 72 receptions for 866 yards and four scores on a rough Atlanta offense.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

This is another borderline pick. Could the Seahawks keep Charles Cross? Absolutely. He may wind up a better pro. Ekwonu slightly outperformed his rookie counterpart, however, and could've provided even more protection for Geno Smith's breakout year.

10. New York Jets: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

This is the moment the draft gets tricky. If the Jets select Olave, do the New Orleans Saints trade up for him? More on that shortly. In the meantime, Olave descends on New York to bolster a thin receiving corps. He tallied 72 catches for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns.

11. New Orleans Saints: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

While continuing the run on receivers might be appealing, the Saints should be thrilled to grab Cross. He started all 17 games at left tackle for the Seahawks and did an admirable job of holding down the position. New Orleans later picked Trevor Penning, who endured a rough preseason and a foot injury before managing just 124 offensive snaps.

12. Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

Knowing he'd miss a large chunk of the 2022 season, it would've been controversial for an aggressive New Orleans front office to take Jameson Williams. He remains in Detroit as the big-play receiver the Lions hope to unlock in a healthy 2023 season.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

Don't fix what's not broken, right? Although an ankle injury sidelined Jordan Davis in November, he's provided a stout run-stopping presence as a rotational piece. Given that the Philadelphia Eagles are in the NFC Championship Game, it feels proper to not touch this selection.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Baltimore has an obvious and compelling need to consider a receiver, such as Jahan Dotson or Treylon Burks. However, the Ravens added a gem in Kyle Hamilton. He steadily earned a larger role this year, totaled 62 tackles and allowed just 5.7 yards per target.

15. Houston Texans: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA

Hello, hindsight! Tariq Woolen, a fifth-round pick in Seattle, emerged as one of the best rookie surprises. He posted 63 tackles, six interceptions and three fumble recoveries, collecting 16 pass defenses and a Pro Bowl nod. Woolen could have reinforced the Texans secondary, especially given this redraft sends Stingley elsewhere.

16. Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

If you're committed to adding a quarterback in a win-now stance—as the Commanders did with Carson Wentz—you provide as little excuse as possible for his performance. Washington picked Jahan Dotson, and the speedster was a dynamic target with seven touchdowns on 35 receptions in 12 games. He's a promising piece for Washington's future. Wentz, on the other hand, is not.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

Another golf clap for a franchise that crushed its selection. Zion Johnson, a 17-game starter at right guard in Los Angeles, impressed as a run-blocker and earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

18. Tennessee Titans: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

As the Titans dealt A.J. Brown, the takeaway was clear: The blockbuster that sent him to Philly meant Tennessee could not use the 18th overall pick on a different position. George Pickens, a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, reeled in 52 passes for 801 yards and totaled five touchdowns. He would've been the Titans' pick instead of...

19. New Orleans Saints: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Treylon Burks closed his rookie season with 33 receptions for 444 yards and one touchdown. Two injuries limited him to 11 games, and Tennessee's instability at quarterback didn't help. However, it's easy to imagine Burks' production would rise in a still-not-great-but-moderately-functional passing game in New Orleans.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Evan Neal, OL, Alabama

The value is too much to pass up. Evan Neal had a mediocre rookie year on the Giants, but he's a potential longtime starter. Given that Pickett is off the board, a rebuilding Pittsburgh roster could take Neal and let him handle the growing pains he experienced anyway.

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

If anything, Trent McDuffie should be picked earlier than his original spot. While a hamstring injury robbed him of two months, McDuffie returned in November and settled into a critical spot for the Chiefs. He's been a lockdown corner, allowing a mere 5.0 yards per target.

22. Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia

Both in reality and our redraft, the question is Devin Lloyd or Quay Walker. Considering both linebackers earned PFWA All-Rookie honors, it's another hair-splitting conversation that leans toward what actually happened. Walker racked up 121 tackles and forced three fumbles.

23. Buffalo Bills: Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa

Following the draft, the Dallas Cowboys expected Tyler Smith to play left guard. Tyron Smith missed 13 games because of a knee injury, however. In his absence, Tyler Smith moved to left tackle and responded well to the challenge. Buffalo needed a corner but would have benefited from playing him at left guard over ineffective veteran Rodger Saffold.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

Early on, Christian Watson's near-absence of production made it seem the Packers wasted a key selection late in Aaron Rodgers' career. But Watson broke out late, amassing 31 receptions, 523 yards and seven touchdowns in the last eight games. Dallas had no effective wideout beyond CeeDee Lamb, which reared its ugly head in the postseason.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this exercise is not adding a receiver for Lamar Jackson. The problem is Baltimore nailed the evaluation of both Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum, a couple of All-Rookie selections. As he'd done in college, Linderbaum thrived as a run-blocker. On a run-first Ravens offense, he still makes a ton of sense.

26. New York Jets: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue

Back in April, the Jets understandably prioritized an edge-rusher with a third opening-round pick. Jermaine Johnson might be that impact player. But the thought of having George Karlaftis bolster this defense is appealing. He tallied six sacks and 21 pressures with the Chiefs.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Jacksonville jumped all over Devin Lloyd at this spot during April's draft. He ranked third on the defense with 115 tackles, intercepted three passes and recovered two fumbles. Lloyd played an integral role as the Jags stole an AFC South title.

28. Green Bay Packers: Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati

Watson heading to Dallas would complicate the outlook for Green Bay, which needed to consider a receiver early on. Alec Pierce would be the last top option available, and he impressed on a horrid Indianapolis Colts offense. He notched 41 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns.

29. New England Patriots: Dylan Parham, OG, Memphis

Right position, different player. A third-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders, Dylan Parham lined up at three spots along the offensive line but settled at left guard. He endured a fair share of "rookie moments" yet offered hope for a frustrating Las Vegas offense. And hey, Cole Strange might've found his way to New England anyway.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: James Houston, Edge, Jackson State

Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker landed serious consideration, but Kansas City needed an edge-rusher more than a safety. James Houston, a sixth-round pick, played in only seven games for Detroit. However, he registered a dazzling eight sacks in his late-season breakout.

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia

The reworked offensive line in Cincinnati has survived, not necessarily thrived. Jamaree Salyer had experience at multiple spots in college, and he showed off that versatility as the emergency left tackle for the Chargers in 2022. Salyer could have provided the same impact after a knee injury ended Bengals right tackle La'el Collins' year in December.

32. Minnesota Vikings: Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State

New England uncovered a fourth-round diamond in Jack Jones. While providing 30 tackles, he nabbed two interceptions—including a pick-six—and didn't allow a touchdown on 37 targets. Jones could have stabilized at least one part of an injury-filled Minnesota secondary.