CARDINALS

2022 NFL Draft primer: What to know about dates, how to watch, pick order and projections

Arizona Republic

The 2022 NFL offseason has been nothing short of a whirlwind thus far, with multiple blockbuster trades, big-name quarterbacks changing teams and several star players changing venues in free agency. It’s been one of the busiest and most exciting offseasons in recent history.

And it’s only going to get wilder before the season wraps up with Super Bowl 57 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Feb. 12, 2023. It will mark the fourth time the Super Bowl has been played in Arizona.

Up next, however, is the 2022 NFL Draft.

Prospects have been lining up at NFL facilities across the league for pre-draft official visits. General managers and their scouting departments are organizing their draft boards. The evaluation process will continue to ramp up before the first round begins on April 28.

Here is everything you’ll need to know about the draft, from when and where it will be held, how to watch it, the full draft order and more.

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When is the 2022 NFL Draft and what time does it start?

The 2022 NFL Draft will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. The Las Vegas area was awarded the 2020 NFL Draft, but that draft was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city was then awarded the 2022 draft as compensation.

As usual, the draft will take place over three days. Here are the dates and times (PDT):

First round – Thursday, April 28, 5 p.m.
Second and third round – Friday, April 29, 4 p.m.
Fourth through seventh round – Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m.

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Where can I watch or stream the NFL Draft?

NFL Network, ESPN and ABC will provide live coverage. It will also be streamed live on FuboTV.

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What's the first-round draft order?

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Will Aidan Hutchinson be the first player taken in the 2022 NFL draft?

Who is projected to go first overall in the NFL Draft?

Unlike the past three drafts, when Trevor Lawrence went No.1 to the Jaguars in 2021, Joe Burrow went no.1 to the Bengals in 2020 and Kyler Murray went No.1 to the Cardinals in 2019, there isn’t a consensus pick to go first overall this year.

Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal was expected to be the pick for Jacksonville, but then the Jaguars upgraded their offensive line by using the franchise tag on Cam Robinson and acquiring five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff as a free agent.

Most insiders expect the Jaguars to draft a defensive player at No.1 and a majority of mock drafts have it being Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan. However, keep your eyes on another edge rusher in Georgia’s Travon Walker, who seems to be shooting up draft boards.

Early in the process, before the NFL scouting combine, Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, looked like the consensus No.1 pick. His draft stock hasn’t really slipped, but he no longer is considered to be a safe first overall draft choice due to some comments and choices he made at the combine.

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How many QBs will go in the first round?

It remains to be seen but expect anywhere from two to four.

Teams that still might be in the hunt for a franchise quarterback of the future include the Panthers at No. 6, the Falcons at No. 8, the Seahawks at No. 9, the Saints at No. 16, the Steelers at No. 20 and the Lions, who hold picks Nos. 2 and 32.

Quarterback Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh has been linked to the Panthers because of his past experience with Carolina coach Matt Rhule. In my Mock Draft 3.0, I projected Liberty’s Malik Willis going to Seattle with the ninth overall pick. I also had Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder going to Pittsburgh at No.20.

Matt Corral of Ole Miss and Sam Howell of North Carolina could also be in play somewhere in the first round.

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How high will Malik Willis go in the 2022 NFL draft?

What is the strength of the 2022 draft class?

According to the draft experts I’ve talked to, this draft will be remembered for the amount of quality edge rushers and elite-level offensive linemen, especially in the first few rounds.

Some of the top players to keep your eye on among the pass rushers include Hutchinson, Walker and Thibodeaux, along with Purdue’s George Karlaftis, Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson II, Minnesota’s Boye Mafe and Michigan’s David Ojabo, who might slip out of the first round after suffering a torn Achilles during his Pro Day.

Top prospects among the offensive line include Neal, North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu, Mississippi’s Charles Cross, Northern Iowa’s Trevor Panning, Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum, Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green and Tulsa’s Tyler Smith.

There also is some very good depth and talent among this year’s class of wide receivers and cornerbacks with USC’s Drake London, Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Alabama’s Jameson Williams among the elite wideouts and Cincinnati’s Ahmed “Sauce” Gardner, LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr., Washington’s Trent McDuffie, Florida’s Kaiir Elam and Clemson’s Aaron Booth Jr. anchoring the best corners.

Related: Who will the Cardinals pick in the 7 rounds of the NFL Draft?

How many picks do the Arizona Cardinals have in the NFL Draft?

Eight.

They presently have one pick in the first round (No.23), one in the second round (No.55), one in the third round (No.87 overall), none in the fourth or fifth, two in the sixth (201st and 215th) and three in the seventh (242nd, 256th and 257th).

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Could the Arizona Cardinals take a wide receiver, like Drake London, with their first pick in the 2022 NFL draft?

What are the Cardinals’ top draft priorities?

It’s no secret they need to replenish losses at edge rusher, wide receiver, cornerback, interior offensive line and perhaps running back as well. More specifically, Arizona has yet to replace the free-agent departures of outside linebacker Chandler Jones, wide receiver Christian Kirk and running back Chase Edmonds.

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Finding a long-term solution at edge rusher seems paramount, but the good news is the Cardinals should have no problem finding one with either their first- or second-round selection.

“There is absolutely going to be one there when they pick,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said recently on the Dave Pasch Podcast. “I tweeted the other day there are 20 edge guys I like in this draft. That’s how deep it is.”

If the right player isn’t there at No.23, however, look for the Cardinals to consider drafting a wide receiver to start opposite No.1 target DeAndre Hopkins. They’d probably only do that, though, if one of the top 5 prospects were still available – London, Wilson, Olave, Burks or Williams.

Williams might be available at 23, too, considering he tore his ACL in the FBS National Championship game and won’t be ready to start the 2022 season on time. Before his injury, however, he was widely considered the top wide receiver prospect in this year’s draft class.

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch .

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