Which cornerbacks were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted those CBs, and how does the 2022 class compare to previous years?
Which cornerbacks were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look at the CBs drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. The position got off to a fast and furious start with two players at the position selected in the first four picks. However, things slowed down from there, with just four cornerbacks being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Derek Stingley Jr., LSU | Round 1, Pick 3 | Houston Texans
Derek Stingley‘s college career was somewhat upside down. He exploded onto the scene as a freshman with 6 interceptions in 15 games. However, a combination of COVID and injuries limited him to just a further 10 games and he could not reel in another interception. Ultimately, Stingley’s talent and potential ceiling saw the Houston Texans make him the first cornerback drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati | Round 1, Pick 4 | New York Jets
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was the second CB to be selected inside the top five of the 2022 NFL Draft. While Gardner’s statistics with 9 interceptions and 16 passes defended are impressive, it is the fact he has not allowed a touchdown in his three years that stands out the most. Now the highest-drafted player out of the University of Cincinnati, Gardner heads to the NFL with a big reputation.
Trent McDuffie, Washington | Round 1, Pick 21 | Kansas City Chiefs
Trent McDuffie was one of a pair of talented cornerbacks at Washington University. His statistics are not all that overwhelming, but McDuffie is a talented cornerback who appears well worth his first-round selection.
Kaiir Elam, Florida | Round 1, Pick 23 | Buffalo Bills
Kaiir Elam is another player who does not blow you away with his statistics. However, viewed as one of the most pro-ready cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft class, he heads to a team that is challenging in the AFC. There is a lot to like about Elam being drafted as the final CB taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Round 2
5) Roger McCreary, Auburn
R2-P35 | Titans
6) Kyler Gordon, Washington
R2-P39 | Bears
7) Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
R2-P42 | Vikings
8) Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
R2-P49 | Saints
9) Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska
R2-P60 | Bengals
Round 3
10) Martin Emerson, Mississippi State
R3-P68 | Browns
11) Marcus Jones, Houston
R3-P85 | Patriots
Round 4
12) Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
R4-P109 | Seahawks
13) Damarri Mathis, Pitt
R4-P115 | Broncos
14) Akayleb Evans, Missouri
R4-P118 | Vikings
15) Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama
R4-P119 | Ravens
16) Jack Jones, Arizona State
R4-P121 | Patriots
17) Joshua Williams, Fayetteville State
R4-P135 | Chiefs
18) Damarion Williams, Houston
R4-P141 | Ravens
19) Decobie Durant, SC State
R4-P142 | Rams
Round 5
20) Tariq Woolen, UTSA
R5-P153 | Seahawks
21) Zyon McCollum, Sam Houston State
R5-P157 | Buccaneers
22) DaRon Bland, Fresno State
R5-P167 | Cowboys
23) Samuel Womack, Toledo
R5-P172 | 49ers
Round 6
24) Christian Benford, Villanova
R6-P185 | Bills
25) Gregory Junior, Ouachita Baptist
R6-P197 | Jaguars
26) Derion Kendrick, Georgia
R6-P212 | Rams
27) Ja’Sir Taylor, Wake Forest
R6-P214 | Chargers
28) Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
R7-P221 | 49ers
Round 7
29) Montaric Brown, Arkansas
R7-P222 | Jaguars
30) Faion Hicks, Wisconsin
R7-P232 | Broncos
31) Deane Leonard, Ole Miss
R7-P236 | Chargers
32) Chase Lucas, Arizona State
R7-P237 | Lions
33) Christian Holmes, Oklahoma State
R7-P240 | Commanders
34) Kalon Barnes, Baylor
R7-P242 | Panthers
35) Jaylen Watson, Washington State
R7-P243 | Chiefs
36) Christian Matthew, Valdosta State
R7-P244 | Cardinals
How many cornerbacks were drafted in 2022?
There were 36 cornerbacks drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. This fell just short of the 37 that were drafted in 2021. A total of 55 DBs were selected throughout the 2022 draft. That falls short of the 2021 number (59) but is higher than any other single draft since 56 were taken in 2017.
There had been the potential we might see as many as six cornerbacks drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That is why seeing just four was somewhat underwhelming. While it was the lowest number of CBs drafted in the last three NFL drafts, it was virtually spot on with the average number of players drafted in the first round at the position in the past 10 years (4.1).