Which safeties were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted those safeties, and how does the 2022 class compare to previous years?
Which safeties were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look at the safeties drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. After a slow start with just one safety drafted in the first 30 selections, Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft ended with back-to-back selections at the position.
Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame | Baltimore Ravens
Round 1, Pick 14
At one point thought of as a potential top-five selection, Kyle Hamilton slipped all the way out of the top 10 entirely. A versatile and talented player, he was let down by a mediocre performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. While Hamilton’s statistics are promising, the athletic testing concerns highlighted some worries about his play speed that had been seen on tape, potentially causing him to slide out of the top 10 and to the Ravens with the 14th selection.
Daxton Hill, Michigan | Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1, Pick 31
The first of two safeties drafted to round out the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Daxton Hill was a key part of the Michigan Wolverines’ run to the College Football Playoff. Hill’s statistics demonstrate a versatile safety that can contribute in a number of ways for an NFL team.
Lewis Cine, Georgia | Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 32
The third safety drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft was somewhat of a surprise pick to round out the first day. Lewis Cine completed a super day for the Georgia Bulldogs defense. Their five selections on the first day of the 2022 NFL Draft set a record in the common draft era. Cine heads to the NFL off the back of a strong season for the Bulldogs in 2021.
Round 2
4) Jalen Pitre, Baylor
R2-P37 | Texans
5) Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
R2-P48 | Bears
6) Bryan Cook, Cincinnati
R2-P62 | Chiefs
Round 3
7) JT Woods, Baylor
R3-P79 | Chargers
8) Nick Cross, Maryland
R3-P96 | Colts
9) Kerby Joseph, Illinois
R3-P97 | Lions
Round 4
10) Percy Butler, Louisiana
R4-P113 | Commanders
11) Dane Belton, Iowa
R4-P114 | Giants
Round 5
12) Delarrin Turner-Yell, Oklahoma
R5-P152 | Broncos
13) Tycen Anderson, Toledo
R5-P166 | Bengals
Round 6
14) Theo Jackson, Tennessee
R6-P204 | Titans
15) Quentin Lake, UCLA
R6-P211 | NFL Team
Round 7
16) Rodney Thomas, Yale
R7-P239 | Colts
17) Russ Yeast, Kansas State
R7-P253 | Rams
18) Elijah Hicks, Cal
R7-P254 | Bears
19) Nazeeh Johnson, Marshall
R7-P259 | Chiefs
How many safeties were drafted in 2022?
There were just 19 safeties drafted during the 2022 NFL Draft. That is less than the 22 that were taken last year. When combining cornerbacks and safeties together, the 55 taken in this draft is more than all but two of the past 10 NFL Drafts.
The three safeties drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft ended a poor streak for the position. No safety had been selected in the first round of the previous two drafts. At least two had been selected in the first round in seven of the previous eight. On average over the past 10 years, two safeties had been selected in the first round.