Rumors swirled over this pick for the last few days. GM Trent Baalke preferred Walker, while HC Doug Caldwell wanted Ikem Ekwonu to beef up the Lawrence fortress. In the end Baalke wins. Selecting Walker is not without merit, although listed as an edge defender, he can be depolyed all over the line. In a conference that features the two biggest RB studs in the NFL in Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor, stopping the running games of those teams can bear fruit.

If developed properly, athletic freak Walker can become perrenial all-pro.

Grade: B (The only A grade would involve a trade down)

After season one of Holmes and Campbell, touting "change" and a reshaping of organizational culture, this duo and front office was tested early on with the Lions' fanbase. What would they do with their draft in 2021? Would they actually trade Stafford? Would their first round selection actually hit? Would Brad Holmes live up to his brand of finding steals late in drafts? All of those question marks were checked off this past season by trading Stafford, drafting a stud in Penei Sewell, and finding another great talent in Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Turning the page to this draft, so much was being said about Detroit's pick here and Lions' fans, myself included, were anxious yet again to know exactly what this front office would do when the pressure was on. Would they cave and select Kayvon Thibodeaux despite the rumors of his character flaws? Would they go after someone who comes from a football family, an immense talent and known work ethic? Well, they did here by picking Aidan Hutchinson and I couldn't be more elated. In fact, as soon as the pick was announced, admittedly, I jumped out of my chair and began fist pumping. Now, let's hit on pick #32 and this Lions rebuild, retool, culture shift will take on a whole new meaning and a newfound confidence from Lions' fans all around.

Draft Grade: A+

- Doug Hyde, Lions Analyst

The Houston Texans have already told the world they were not happy with their CB play in 2021. GM Nick Caserio and the Texans front office decided to remedy this by drafting Derek Stingley Jr. out of LSU with their 3rd overall pick!

Derek Stingley Jr. from LSU learned a lot from his grandfather's NFL days and his dad's coaching. Find out what draft position this CB from Baton Rouge will go on the 2022 ABC ESPN NFL Draft on @newschannelnine! pic.twitter.com/lh9x8FusbA

— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) April 28, 2022

Derek Stingley Jr. is about as smooth of a CB prospect as you could ever hope for coming out of the draft! Derek has elite speed and fluid hips that allow him to mirror WRs step for step in and out of breaks while possessing a rare ball-hawking ability to intercept passes thrown at him. Stingley Jr.'s elite athleticism and rare ball skills make him a generational talent at CB!

Grade: A-

- Cody Lachney, DraftTek Senior Analyst

In a bit of a surprise, the Jets decide to bolster the Defense with the addition of CB Ahmad Gardner. Edge Rusher was a bigger need but as a prospect, this guys is as good as they come. I guess my question would be if it's wise to add someone who can be a dominant shutdown CB on a team that looks like the will be using Zone Coverage. Every Jet fan who watched Revis play can attest to what a shutdown CB can bring to a team, but Revis wasn't the same player in a Zone system in Tampa. Let's hope Robert Saleh can play him in way to make the most of his skillset. From a BPA perspective though, Joe Douglas can be very happy with this pick.

Rich Tinley, Jets Analyst

Grade: A-

The Giants add to their pass-rush needs with Kayvon Thibodeaux at #5. With all the top OTs still on the board, GM Joe Shoen picks the top edge rusher still on the board.

It's been a long time since the Giants have had a truly elite edge defender for the defense, after having tried to get by on a slew on Day 2 picks in previous drafts. Shoen and HC borrow from their Buffalo playbook by building up the defensive line.

The Carolina Panthers haven't drafted an OT in the 1st round since 2008 when they drafted Jeff Otah 13th overall. That long dry spell has OFFICIALLY come to an end!

While Carolina believes Brady Christiansen showed promise playing LT in 2021, he was far from the kind of prospect the Panthers are looking for to hold down the left side of the line for the foreseeable future. This makes drafting Ikem Ekwonu a no-brainer for the Panthers!

Ikem Ekwonu has no regard for human life ?? pic.twitter.com/mcxdSbEMKo

— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) April 19, 2022

Ikem Ekwonu is a dominant pass protector coming out of NC State and easily has the most upside of all the big 3 tackle prospects in this class! Ikem is one of the more athletically gifted tackle prospects you will ever see and moves with ease making second-level LBs look foolish when they try him. Ikem Ekwonu mixes tenacity, size, and devastating power at the point of attack with football intelligence. This unique blend of traits is sure to make Ikem Ekwonu a day 1 starter and potential All-Pro player in the making for The Panthers!

Grade: A -

- Cody Lachney, DraftTek Senior Analyst

After taking Thibodeaux at No. 5, New York knew that they'd have a chance to improve the offensive line with either Ikey Ekwonu or Evan Neal still on the board. Neal has a chance to be a stalwart on the Giants' line for years to come. Measuring in at 6'7" and 337 pounds, Neal topped the Bruce Feldman Freaks List and finished the year ranked second overall on our Big Board. With the power to dominate the run game and the athleticism to excel in pass protection, Neal will do wonders for this Giants' offensive line.

Grade: A

The New York Giants pick Alabama TACKLE Evan Neal No. 7 overall.

83.6 pass blocking grade in 2021 (highest by an Alabama TACKLE since 2018) ?? pic.twitter.com/ap80nrb9IR

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 29, 2022

London calling to the Flowery Branch. Now war is declared and battle come down. Drake London always felt like the #1 WR on the Falcons' WR board. His size, catch radius and run after catch ability adds a much needed weapon to Atlanta's passing game. These are the characteristics that Arthur Smith requires of his wideouts and London makes a perfect complement to Kyle Pitts. Additionally, Terry Fontenot had to take note of how expensive wide receivers' second contracts have become. Having five years of control of a WR1 is a huge burden lifted off the franchise's shoulders for future planning. There were two impact defensive players available, but Atlanta had to address the WR issue. If they can add meaningful pieces in the defensive front tomorrow, this pick should pay off for years. This is a perfect fit, but Atlanta has a lot of needs. A-

For the first time in what feels like 1000 years, the Seahawks don't trade down from their first pick. Instead they opt to select the former Bulldog, Charles Cross. The last time GM John Schneider opted to draft an OT this high, they got a Pro-Bowl tackle in Russell Okung. With Duane Brown unsigned, the blindside protector became a massive need for Seattle and a quality prospect fell into their lap. Cross is more of a zone blocker in the running game, further signifying that Pete Carroll and Shane Waldron want to move into a more Rams style blocking scheme.

Grade: A+

~Jeff Chapman, Seahawks Analyst

The 21 year wait for the Jets drafting a WR in RD 1 is over as they add a real weapon in the shape of Garrett Wilson here. The Jets interest in Tyreek Hill had the fanbase in a frenzy for every other possible WR than may be available via the trade route, but I think Joe Douglas made the sensible decision of keeping with his "built through the Draft" mantra and nab a new weapon to grow with QB namesake Zach.

Wilson has great hands, is an accomplished Route Runner and has the speed to take the top off a Defense. He brings a new dimension to the Offense that was lacking in real star quality for fans to get behind and is a far cheaper option than those established WR's linked over the process.

Rich Tinley, Jets Analyst

Grade: A

Saints WRs floundered this past season. Their production was the worst in the Sean Payton Era. Marquez Callaway led the team with a mere 698 Yds and 6 TDs. The squad ranked 29th in the NFL in passing yards per game (197.9) and last in completion percentage (58 %). Plus, the receiving squad owns a distant last place in the NFL for combined receptions by receivers and TEs (11.875 per game).

Late in the season, our DraftTek Big Board analysts fell into a debate over which Ohio State receiver was better, Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson? It was a close call... Wilson's reception % is 69.8, with 15.7 ypc and 11 TDs. Olave owns a 65.2 reception %, 14.6 ypc, and 13 TD. Contested catch rate: Olave (8 of 13) 65.1% betters Wilson's (4 of 7) 57.1%. However, when it comes to Missed Tackles forced, Wilson (17), the heavier WR, broke more tackles and won the battle over Olave (4). But, Olave is a smooth criminal. The Saints were smart to trade up to steal him.

Grade: A-

~DatBudMan, Saints Analyst

We've been hammering this drum for quite some time now and to see Brad Holmes get aggressive going from #32 to #12 overall is a really nice thing to see. The Lions now have a true WR1 in the making with Williams and can allow Amon-Ra St. Brown to either take on that WR2 role or a nifty slot piece. This isn't to slight D.J. Chark as Detroit's number 1 receiving outlet, but as far as the future is concerned, Williams can be that guy.

Suddenly, the Lions' WR corps has become a legtimate one with sets of Chark, Williams, St. Brown, and Josh Reynolds. Let's not forget to mention T.J. Hockenson and D'Andre Swift coming out the backfield. I love the pick and the aggressive move Holmes and Co. made to make this a reality and it shows some semblance of confidence in Jared Goff, at least for 2022. There's still a lot of draft left to go, we'll see if Detroit does end up using a pick to address the future of their QB situation.

Draft Grade: A

- Doug Hyde, Lions Analyst

Ten year ago, the Eagles entered draft night with the 15th overall pick, but wound up trading up a few spots to come away with a dominant DT from an SEC school with a Bulldog mascot. In 2022, history has repeated itself. The Eagles trade up from 15 to get in front of the Ravens to select Jordan Davis to serve as the heir apparent to Fletcher Cox.

Davis lit the combine on fire by running a 4.78 forty at 6'6" and 340 lbs., but it was his play at Georgia that laid the groundwork for his selection here. Davis didn't put up huge numbers in terms of sacks, but he was constantly affecting the play, devouring double teams and pushing the pocket. Davis has room to grow as a pass rusher, and with Fletcher Cox as his mentor he has an excellent chance to reach his sky high potential and keep the middle of the Eagles D-line formidable for the foreseeable future.

Grade: A

Before Free Agency, Safety was arguably the Ravens' biggest positional need. The signing of Marcus Williams meant that the team could afford to look elsewhere on draft day. However, nobody expected Kyle Hamilton to fall this far, and he was easily the BPA. The Eagles jumped ahead to pick 13 to take Jordan Davis, but the Ravens end up with a higher-rated defender. Hamilton can play multiple roles in this defense and he doesn't necessarily steal Chuck Clark's Strong Safety spot. Forget about the 40 time, Hamilton is an awesome player who immediately improves this team.

Grade: A

The Houston Texans have a number of different holes to fill on the roster. GM Nick Caserio and Houston's front office decide to further solidify the trenches in front of Davis Mills by drafting Kenyon Green, OG out of Texas A&M!

Kenyon Green & Isaiah Spiller would be phenomenal 49ers ?? pic.twitter.com/LCKH9NUeCc

— Brad (@Graham_SFN) April 26, 2022

Green is an experienced starter that has played multiple positions along the offensive for the Aggies. In fact, Green has played every position but center. Green has natural functional strength that he uses to become a true road grader in the run game. Offensive coordinators will find it beneficial to call run plays that follow directly behind Green's path. This is a fantastic pic for Houston as Green represents a date 1 starter for the Houston Texans!

Grade: A -
,br>Cody Lachney, DraftTek Senior Analyst

Through the last two weeks of the Draft process, I heard two names consistently over all others; Drake London and Kyle Hamilton. The team was unsure if London would remain on the board, as both the Falcons and Jets had serious interest. With the 6'4" former basketball star still on the board, Washington would pull the trigger on Hamilton, right? Well, nope! Though the trade seems to be good value, Hamilton represented great value at 11. Ron Rivera has repeatedly stated that the team must both surround Wentz with weapons and protect him effectively immediately in 2022. The team's offensive line is in decent shape, so adding a receiver makes sense, but I do often worry about WRs that don't boast high-end separation skills in college. I would have preferred Hamilton, but considering the trade-down, Jahan Dotson is a decent value.

Grade: B-

-Kennedy Paynter, Senior Draft Analyst (@Kennedy_Paynter on Twitter)