Which EDGEs were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted those EDGEs, and how does the 2022 class compare to previous years?
Which EDGEs were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look at the EDGEs drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. The position got off to a fast start with three players selected inside the top five picks. However, we then surprisingly had to wait for 21 selections for the next player to come off the board at the position.
Travon Walker, Georgia | Round 1, Pick 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars
After much debate, it was the upside of Travon Walker that the Jaguars went for with the first-overall selection. Walker played both defensive tackle and as an outside pass rusher at Georgia. He finished his time with the Bulldogs with 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Of those statistics, 7.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks came in his final season in 2022.
Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan | Round 1, Pick 2 | Detroit Lions
Aidan Hutchinson came from the fringes of Day 1 to be the second player drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. His meteoric rise came thanks to a 2021 season that saw him set a program record with 14 sacks as he helped take Michigan all the way to the College Football Playoff.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon | Round 1, Pick 5 | New York Giants
Kayvon Thibodeaux actually saw his stock fall a little during his final season in Oregon. Entering the year as the No. 1 overall prospect, he ended up being taken fifth by the Giants. Thibodeaux heads to the NFL on the back of 19 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss with the Ducks.
Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State | Round 1, Pick 26 | New York Jets
The fall we saw from Jermaine Johnson II on Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft was somewhat of a surprise. Considered a consensus top-10 talent in this draft, it took the Jets to trade back up into the first round to take him with the 26th selection. It took Johnson to move from Georgia to Florida State to really spark his career, where he finished with 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss.
George Karlaftis, Purdue | Round 1, Pick 30 | Kansas City Chiefs
George Karlaftis is another player whose stock fell during the 2021 season. Considered a top-10 selection at one point, he ended up being drafted with just three picks remaining in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Karlaftis’ college career never lived up to his freshman season of 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. In the next two years, he would manage just 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 14 games.
Round 2
6) Arnold Ebeketie, Penn State
R2-P38 | Falcons
7) Boye Mafe, Minnesota
R2-P40 | Seahawks
8) David Ojabo, Michigan
R2-P45 | Ravens
9) Josh Paschal, Kentucky
R2-P46 | Lions
10) Sam Williams, Ole Miss
R2-P56 | Cowboys
11) Drake Jackson, USC
R2-P61 | 49ers
Round 3
12) Alex Wright, UAB
R3-P78 | Browns
13) Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
R3-P87 | Cardinals
14) Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati
R3-P100 | Cardinals
Round 4
15) Micheal Clemons, Texas A&M
R4-P117 | Jets
Round 5
16) Tyreke Smith, Ohio State
R5-P158 | Seahawks
17) Esezi Otomewo, Minnesota
R5-P165 | Vikings
18) Dominique Robinson, Miami (OH)
R5-P174 | Bears
19) Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
R5-P179 | Packers
Round 6
20) Kyron Johnson, Kansas
R6-P181 | Eagles
21) Amaré Barno, Virginia Tech
R6-P189 | Panthers
Round 7
22) Isaiah Thomas, Oklahoma
R7-P223 | Browns
23) Daniel Hardy, Montana State
R7-P235 | Rams
24) Jeffrey Gunter, Coastal Carolina
R7-P252 | Bengals
25) Jesse Luketa, Penn State
R7-P256 | Cardinals
How many EDGEs were drafted in 2022?
A total of 25 EDGE defenders were drafted during the 2022 NFL Draft. It is hard to compare this number historically as players are often classified as defensive ends or linebackers. A combined total of 50 EDGE defenders and linebackers were drafted. That falls short of the 55 from 2021 and the 56 from 2020.
With five EDGE prospects selected in the first round, it was the second time that feat had occurred in the past five years. However, it just fell short of the six defensive ends selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.