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The pomp and circumstance has already begun in Vegas. We simply had a rendition of “Carry Each Voice and Sing,” adopted by a second of silence for the late Dwayne Haskins and now Kodi Lee is enjoying a restrained solo piano rendition of the nationwide anthem. It’s serviceable, I’ll give it a 5/10.
Predictions
Let me be trustworthy: I did quite a lot of analysis for this draft and I’m fairly certain I’ve retained completely none of it. Fortunately I’ve a prewritten cheat sheet that may hopefully get me via the primary 10-15 picks. If I make it via the eight picks and not using a workforce going out of its method to choose a participant I’ve nothing on, I’ll depend at this time as a hit.
So, alongside the best way, be happy to ship us your ideas through e mail (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or Twitter (to @HunterFelt, till I’m banned by the positioning’s soon-to-be new proprietor but). Oh, and as an experiment, they’ve opened up the feedback part on this liveblog and I’ll do my greatest to attempt to hold tabs on no matter’s happening there.
In any case, if you happen to’re questioning who I listed as my high 5 draft picks in today’s preview, right here was my try.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, edge
(NOTE: I already completely don’t really feel snug in any respect with this one, just some days after making this prediction.)
2) Detroit Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge.
3) Houston Texans: Ikem Ekwonu, offensive deal with.
4) New York Jets: Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, cornerback.
5) New York Giants: Evan Neal, offensive deal with.
Vegas, Child, Vegas!
So, the NFL Draft is coming to us from Las Vegas this yr. Why precisely? Nicely, there are a number of causes. Clearly, the NFL needed to indicate off the truth that they’ve a workforce in Las Vegas now, what with the previous Oakland Raiders enjoying there. They’d have been right here earlier, however these plans had been delayed by the pandemic. (Sure, that’s technically nonetheless happening, however let’s not dwell on that at this time.)
Then, in fact, there’s the pageantry concerned in placing on one of many league’s showcase occasions in such a legendary setting. Apparently, they’ve constructed a red carpet stage over the fountains at the Bellagio. Additionally, let’s face it, in addition they needed an excuse to hang around in Vegas for per week.
There’s one unstated storyline right here: the NFL is broadcasting from Las Vegas as a result of they need you to gamble on their product. I’m already gearing myself up for nonstop advertisements from all kinds of questionable soccer betting relating companies all through the following few hours. It’s exhausting to think about any potential drawbacks to sports activities leagues embracing betting: in spite of everything, it’s not like there’s any historical past of outcome-fixing in US sports or something like that. (Quotation wanted.)
If you’re watching ESPN’s draft protection and puzzled why draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. isn’t with the remainder of the crew on what’s principally his Christmas? Nicely, let him clarify:
Preamble
Welcome everyone to the 2022 NFL Draft, the place I hope that you’ve got all accomplished your homework! This yr’s draft just isn’t precisely crammed with family names. Last year we had determined groups battling one another a recent crop of scorching, younger quarterbacks, ones who might both flip franchises round or assist sink their fortunes for years to come back. These are big-time stakes.
The stakes really feel considerably decrease at this time, as this looks like a uncommon draft with none assured high-profile “can’t miss” varieties. This draft is filled with edge rushers and offensive tackles, who’re extraordinarily vital when placing collectively a soccer workforce however are sometimes neglected when it comes all the way down to endorsement offers. This, nonetheless, doesn’t imply that this gained’t be an attention-grabbing draft: typically it’s extra enjoyable when no one has any thought what they’re doing. That feels like the 2022 NFL Draft in a nutshell.
Let’s begin with the truth that the primary total choose remains to be up within the air. Normally, we’re so used to a consensus primary that it’s annoying to attend for groups to run the clock out earlier than making their long-predetermined choice. This time across the Jacksonville Jaguars would possibly find yourself having to exploit the clock as a result of they genuinely aren’t 100% on the identical web page.
So, fingers-crossed, we must be in for a surprise-filled few hours, a kind of days the place even the Mel Kipers of the world are ripping up their mock drafts in disgust. Within the meantime, be happy to ship out your ideas, questions and commentary both through e mail, to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com, or tweet them to @HunterFelt and we’ll use them all through at this time’s weblog. It’s the 2022 NFL Draft, reside at Caesars Discussion board in Las Vegas, Nevada. The ceremony itself is about to begin at 8:00 pm EST, however we’ll be again nicely earlier than then.
Who will the No 1 choose be? Nicely, our panel (together with myself) had differing views:
Travon Walker, edge, Georgia. Aidan Hutchinson, the favourite to go first total, is sensible. He most likely ought to go first total. However Trent Baalke, the Jags’ chief decision-maker, is at all times liable to do Trent Baalke issues. Walker is an outrageous athlete who can shift all alongside the defensive entrance. Baalke likes to draft toolsy prospects slightly than those that have racked up school manufacturing. It might not be a shock to see him swing for the fences with a reputation aside from Hutchinson. Oliver Connolly
Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan. There’s a cause the Jags have the No 1 total choice and are perennially selecting within the high 10: they want a boatload of assist. Hutchinson is a secure however polished participant who ought to give the Jags’ move rush a much-needed enhance. Melissa Jacobs
Aidan Hutchinson. It’s not an entire lock, however the consultants appear to have hitched their wagons to Hutchinson because the possible first choose, particularly for the reason that draft inventory of his peer at edge rusher, Kayvon Thibodeaux, has fallen due to an early exit at the NFL scouting combine. Hunter Felt
Evan Neal, offensive tackle, Alabama. Neal has been dominant all through his profession at Alabama whereas enjoying in opposition to elite competitors, and he has additionally confirmed the flexibility to play a number of positions alongside the offensive line. New Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is aware of he should defend quarterback Trevor Lawrence to have even the slightest probability of success in Jacksonville. Tyrell Feaster
Draft order for the first-round
And right here’s a reminder of tonight’s draft order. The Jaguars are selecting No 1 for the second yr in a row, which tells you numerous in regards to the present regime in Jacksonville. Eight groups have a number of picks within the first spherical, with the Giants and Jets every getting two Prime 10 picks.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars
2) Detroit Lions
3) Houston Texans
4) New York Jets
5) New York Giants
6) Carolina Panthers
7) New York Giants (from Chicago Bears)
8) Atlanta Falcons
9) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)
10) New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)
11) Washington Commanders
12) Minnesota Vikings
13) Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)
14) Baltimore Ravens
15) Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins)
16) New Orleans Saints (from Indianapolis Colts via Philadelphia Eagles)
17) Los Angeles Chargers
18) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)
19) New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia Eagles)
20) Pittsburgh Steelers
21) New England Patriots
22) Inexperienced Bay Packers (from Las Vegas Raiders)
23) Arizona Cardinals
24) Dallas Cowboys
25) Buffalo Payments
26) Tennessee Titans
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28) Inexperienced Bay Packers
29) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (from San Francisco 49ers via Miami Dolphins)
30) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
31) Cincinnati Bengals
32) Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)
Hunter will likely be right here shortly, within the meantime listed below are our writers’ verdicts on this yr’s draft class:
Is that this a foul draft class or are there simply no nice quarterbacks?
It is a nice draft class! It’s unusually loaded at edge rusher and offensive deal with, two of the sport’s premier positions. The place discussing this class will get sticky is that there are such slender gaps between the higher tiers of any given place group: there isn’t an apparent ‘elite’ sect. There are 50 gamers this yr worthy of going within the first spherical. It simply so occurs they don’t play the sport’s most beneficial place. Oliver Connolly
There’s a lot expertise available within the trenches and fascinating move rush choices. And a reminder that 2017 was additionally imagined to be a “weak quarterback class.” That’s the yr Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson had been drafted. (We’ll ignore the Bears whiffing on Mitch Trubisky at No 2 total.) Melissa Jacobs
It’s an unsexy draft class that’s for certain: probably the most gifted gamers are edge rushers and offensive line varieties, not guys prone to rework the course of a franchise. However that might result in groups constructing a deeper pool of expertise slightly going all-in on a star quarterback. A draft for the true soccer geeks, in different phrases. Hunter Felt
This class could not have any nice quarterbacks, however it does have depth. Heaps and many depth, at key positions at that. Edge rushers, broad receivers, and offensive tackles taken early (and a few picked lengthy after most followers cease paying consideration) will make large impacts for years to come back. Tyrell Feaster
And you can even make amends for extra of our draft previews right here:
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