INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 04: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Michigan Wolverines in action during the Big Ten Football Championship against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 04, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft is now history. So which five organizations will sleep well after succeeding in Las Vegas tonight?
Entering Thursday night’s proceedings, eight NFL teams had multiple selections in the first round of the 2022 draft. The Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles all entered the evening with a pair of picks.
There was the usual wheeling and dealing. But five clubs stood above the rest when it came to nailing the first night of the draft – in more ways than one.
These 5 teams walked away winners on Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft
5. Detroit Lions
It’s been more than a long few years for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991, not captured a division title since 1993 and is the only team in the NFC on Super Sunday.
Dan Campbell will begin his second season at the helm of the Detroit Lions. The team played hard but the end result was a 3-13-1 record. And the club’s defensive unit continues to be an issue.
With the second pick on Thursday night, the Lions secured the services of University of Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. He should aid the cause of a unit that totaled a mere 30 sacks in 17 games in 2021.
Then the club moved up to the No. 12 spot in a trade with the rival Vikings when the run on wide receivers began. They opted for University of Alabama standout Jameson Williams, who is on the mend after suffering a knee injury a few months ago. When healthy, he gives Jared Goff a game-breaker to throw to.