LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 28: Chris Olave celebrates onstage after being selected 11th by the New Orleans Saints during round one of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft is in the book and some teams probably would like a do-over on their questionable picks.
The first round of the NFL Draft was absolutely bonkers as blockbuster trades shook up the draft order and left fans with their jaws dropped on Twitter. There were some tremendous values, such as Jermaine Johnson falling to the Jets at 26, but there were also a few headscratchers on night one.
Whether it was reaching for players or overvaluing certain positions in trades, the mistakes made here could be costly in the long run. Let’s break down the five worst picks of the first round, beginning with the Saints’ trade-up for Chris Olave.
5 worst picks of the first round in the 2022 NFL Draft
11
Chris Olave
WR Ohio State
The position of the day at the draft was wide receiver, where six were selected in the first round and two veterans were traded on Thursday night. Perhaps panicking at the thought that a receiver wouldn’t last until their first pick at 16, New Orleans traded up to No. 11 to snag Ohio State’s Chris Olave, giving up third and fourth-round picks to move up five spots in the draft.
While Olave is a nice player who should complement Michael Thomas nicely, giving up two mid-round picks to secure his services was an overpay. The Saints are operating as if they are still Super Bowl contenders who are a piece away from Super Bowl contention, which isn’t the case since they still haven’t found a long-term answer at quarterback after Drew Brees retired.
There is something to be said for going for it instead of blowing it up to start a rebuild but giving up those assets makes more sense if the move is going to be for a quarterback. Doing it for a wide receiver in a deep class of them doesn’t make sense from a value perspective.