Expert Analysis
5/2/22
11 min read
How Each NFC Team Filled Their Biggest Needs
Like the AFC teams, clubs from the NFC were also able to address some key needs during the NFL draft. We will take a look at how each NFC team filled their biggest needs.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals made a splash on night one by trading their pick and adding a starting WR in Marquise Brown. With the remainder of their picks, they were still able to add positions that they had holes at, TE Trey McBride, and EDGEs Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders, in particular.
Draft Class:
Pick 55: Colorado State TE Trey McBride
Pick 87: San Diego State ED Cameron Thomas
Pick 100: Cincinnati ED Myjai Sanders
Pick 201: USC RB Keaontay Ingram
Pick 215: Virginia Tech OG Lecitus Smith
Pick 244: Valdosta State DB Christian Matthew
Pick 256: Penn State Edge Jesse Luketa
Pick 257: Oklahoma OG Marquis Hayes
San Francisco 49ers
Thanks to the trade up to select Trey Lance last season, the 49ers were without their first-round pick. That said, they were still able to find quality pieces on day 2, as they look to make another deep playoff run. Drake Jackson will provide pass rushing upside to compliment Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. Danny Gray will give them more speed at WR, which is something San Francisco was clearly looking for.
Draft Class:
Pick 61: USC Edge Drake Jackson
Pick 94: LSU RB Tyrion Davis-Price
Pick 105: SMU WR Danny Gray
Pick 134: UTSA OT Spencer Burford
Pick 172: Toledo CB Samuel Womack
Pick 187: Fordham OT Nick Zakelj
Pick 220: UCF DT Kalia Davis
Pick 221: Penn State CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Pick 262: Iowa State QB Brock Purdy
Los Angeles Rams
Due to trading for veterans Matt Stafford and Von Miller, the Rams, yet again, lacked many draft picks. They will likely be considered a “loser” of draft weekend, but coming off a SB victory, it seems their unique strategy has worked thus far. Players like Logan Bruss, Decobie Durant, and Derion Kendrick will all provide immediate depth.
Draft Class:
Pick 104: Wisconsin OG Logan Bruss
Pick 142: South Carolina State CB Decobie Durant
Pick 164: Notre Dame RB Kyren Williams
Pick 211: UCLA S Quentin Lake
Pick 212: Georgia CB Derion Kendrick
Pick 235: Montana State DE Daniel Hardy
Pick 253: Kansas State S Russ Yeast
Pick 261: Michigan State OT A.J. Arcuri
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have not drafted especially well over the past several seasons but after trading Russell Wilson during the offseason, they acquired enough valuable picks to draft highly desired players. While they decided not to fill their need at QB, they did so at OT and EDGE in a big way by selecting Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, and Boye Mafe. They also added Kenneth Walker III as Rashad Penny is set to be a free agent after the season. CB depth was also a clear priority as Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen both have starter upside.
Draft Class:
Pick 9: Mississippi State OT Charles Cross
Pick 40: Minnesota Edge Boye Mafe
Pick 41: Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III
Pick 72: Washington State OT Abraham Lucas
Pick 109: Cincinnati CB Coby Bryant
Pick 153: UTSA CB Tariq Woolen
Pick 158: Ohio State Edge Tyreke Smith
Pick 229: Rutgers WR Bo Melton
Pick 233: Lenoir Rhyne WR Dareke Young
New York Giants
Due to last year’s trade down, the Giants had two top 10 selections. They capitalized on those by adding top of the line players in the trenches in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. They also added exciting gadget WR Wan’Dale Robinson and selected many depth pieces all over the roster, as they look to get cheaper and younger as a whole.
Draft Class:
Pick 5: Oregon Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
Pick 7: Alabama OT Evan Neal
Pick 43: Kentucky WR Wan'Dale Robinson
Pick 67: North Carolina OG Joshua Ezeudu
Pick 81: LSU CB Cordale Flott
Pick 112: San Diego State TE Daniel Bellinger
Pick 114: Iowa S Dane Belton
Pick 146: Indiana LB Micah McFadden
Pick 147: Arizona State DT DJ Davidson
Pick 173: North Carolina G Marcus McKethan
Pick 182: Cincinnati LB Darrian Beavers
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles may have easily “won” the entire weekend with their draft and draft day trades. After compiling picks over the last few years, they were able to make a move for Pro Bowl WR AJ Brown, then still came away with Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens, and the falling Nakobe Dean, all of whom can be very valuable starters at the next level.
Draft Class:
Pick 13: Georgia DT Jordan Davis
Pick 51: Nebraska C Cam Jurgens
Pick 83: Georgia LB Nakobe Dean
Pick 181: Kansas ED Kyron Johnson
Pick 198: SMU TE Grant Calcaterra
Washington Commanders
After acquiring Carson Wentz this offseason, the Commanders focused on upgrading on the outside at WR where Jahan Dotson can play opposite Terry McLaurin. After losing some strength on the interior of the DL, they were able to bolster the area by adding another Alabama DT in Phidarian Mathis. As QB Sam Howell fell down draft boards, Washington also took a chance on him, as he has starting potential and can be a high-level back-up as well.
Draft Class:
Pick 16: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson
Pick 47: Alabama DT Phidarian Mathis
Pick 98: Alabama RB Brian Robinson
Pick 113: Louisiana S Percy Butler
Pick 144: North Carolina QB Sam Howell
Pick 149: Nevada TE Cole Turner
Pick 230: Tulsa G Chris Paul
Pick 240: Oklahoma State CB Christian Holmes
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys returned several key players on their roster this year and look poised for another run in a more competitive NFC East. That said, there were still some clear holes in their roster, particularly at OT, ED, and WR, thanks to the departures of La’el Collins, Randy Gregory, and Amari Cooper. With their first three picks, they focused on upgrading those positions, as they selected Tyler Smith, Sam Williams, and Jalen Tolbert.
Draft Class:
Pick 56: Ole Miss DE Sam Williams
Pick 88: South Alabama WR Jalen Tolbert
Pick 129: Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson
Pick 155: North Dakota OT Matt Waletzko
Pick 167: Fresno State CB DaRon Bland
Pick 176: LSU LB Damone Clark
Pick 178: Arkansas DT John Ridgeway
Pick 193: Oklahoma State LB Devin Harper
Green Bay Packers
With the departure of Davante Adams, the Packers were able to add some valuable picks, as they look to make their expensive, and soon to be even more expensive, cheaper. As a result, however, they had major holes at WR, in addition to needs at LB, DT, and OL depth. They were aggressive and picked three times in the top 34, coming away with Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, and Christian Watson. They also added Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom, as both have clear starting potential along the OL. Romeo Doubs was another selection at WR, as he's a player who can make an immediate impact in the receiver room.
Draft Class:
Pick 22: Georgia LB Quay Walker
Pick 28: Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt
Pick 34: North Dakota State WR Christian Watson
Pick 92: UCLA OT Sean Rhyan
Pick 132: Nevada WR Romeo Doubs
Pick 140: Wake Forest OT Zach Tom
Pick 179: South Carolina LB Kingsley Enagbare
Pick 228: Georgia Tech LB Tariq Carpenter
Pick 234: Miami DT Jonathan Ford
Pick 249: Penn State OT Rasheed Walker
Pick 258: Nebraska WR Samori Toure
Detroit Lions
The Lions are laying the important foundation for their rebuild and after last year’s class, certainly, are committed to building up the trenches. They added to this philosophy in a big way after selecting Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal. With a big hole at WR, as well, they made an aggressive trade up for Jameson Williams once the run on first round WRs was underway. Adding Kerby Joseph to the young secondary was also another move that filled a need.
Draft Class:
Pick 2: Michigan Edge Aidan Hutchinson
Pick 12: Alabama WR Jameson Williams
Pick 46: Kentucky DL Josh Paschal
Pick 97: Illinois S Kerby Joseph
Pick 177: Virginia Tech TE James Mitchell
Pick 188: Oklahoma State LB Malcolm Rodriguez
Pick 217: Jackson State Edge James Houston
Pick 237: Arizona State CB Chase Lucas
Minnesota Vikings
With a new regime in place, the Vikings were active on draft night, as they traded back in the draft to acquire more picks once the top CBs had been taken off the board. With clear needs in the secondary, they spent their first two picks on Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth, who should both be starters right away. They also upgraded the trenches by adding Ed Ingram and added more talent and speed to the LB move with Brian Asamoah.
Draft Class:
Pick 32: Georgia S Lewis Cine
Pick 42: Clemson CB Andrew Booth
Pick 59: LSU OG Ed Ingram
Pick 66: Oklahoma LB Brian Asamoah
Pick 118: Missouri CB Akayleb Evans
Pick 165: Minnesota ED Esezi Otomewo
Pick 169: North Carolina RB Ty Chandler
Pick 184: Illinois OT Vederian Lowe
Pick 191: Michigan State WR Jalen Nailor
Pick 227: South Carolina TE Nick Muse
Chicago Bears
This draft seemed that it was going to be all about putting talent around Justin Fields, but without a first-round selection this year, the board did not help this plan. As a result, the Bears looked to upgrade a number of other big needs, especially in the secondary, where they selected Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, making the Bears secondary a very legitimate group. Adding depth all over the place, they did get Justin Fields, a WR in the electric slot receiver and return man, Velus Jones.
Draft Class:
Pick 39: Washington CB Kyler Gordon
Pick 48: Penn State S Jaquan Brisker
Pick 71: Tennessee WR Velus Jones
Pick 168: Southern Utah OT Braxton Jones
Pick 174: Miami (Ohio) Edge Dominique Robinson
Pick 186: San Diego State OT Zach Thomas
Pick 203: Baylor RB Trestan Ebner
Pick 207: Illinois C Doug Kramer
Pick 226: Southern OG Ja'Tyre Carter
Pick 254: California DB Elijah Hicks
Pick 255: N.C. State P Trenton Gill
Carolina Panthers
With clear needs at QB and LT, it seemed like the Panthers would address either one at 6. With Ikem Ekwonu on the board, he was too good to pass up on, even with their choice at any QB. They did get the falling Matt Corral on day two, then took two highly athletic, developmental defensive prospects in Brandon Smith and Amare Barno.
Draft Class:
Pick 6: N.C. State OT Ikem Ekwonu
Pick 94: Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
Pick 120: Penn State LB Brandon Smith
Pick 189: Virginia Tech Edge Amare Barno
Pick 199: Tennessee OG Cade Mays
Pick 242: Baylor CB Kalon Barnes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While Tom Brady decided to return to the Bucs this offseason, the departures of Ali Marpet, Ndamukong Suh, and Ronald Jones left clear holes in a very talented roster. After trading back out of round 1, Tampa Bay was still able to fill those needs, strengthening the trenches with Logan Hall and Luke Goedeke. They also added needed RB and TE depth with Rachaad White and Cade Otton.
Draft Class:
Pick 33: Houston DE Logan Hall
Pick 57: Central Michigan OG Luke Goedeke
Pick 91: Arizona State RB Rachaad White
Pick 106: Washington TE Cade Otton
Pick 133: Georgia P Jake Camarda
Pick 157: Sam Houston State CB Zyon McCollum
Pick 218: Minnesota TE Ko Kieft
Pick 248: LSU LB Andre Anthony
Atlanta Falcons
Major changes to the Falcons roster took place this season, as they traded Matt Ryan and announced the suspension of Calvin Ridley. As a result, holes all over the defense, QB, and especially WR were significant. With their five top 100 picks, the Falcons filled many of these needs and more when they selected WR Drake London and QB Desmond Ridder, who could see the field this year. On defense, they added a lot of pass rush help in Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone and added versatile athletic LB Troy Andersen.
Draft Class:
Pick 8: USC WR Drake London
Pick 38: Penn State Edge Arnold Ebiketie
Pick 58: Montana State LB Troy Andersen
Pick 74: Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder
Pick 82: Western Kentucky Edge DeAngelo Malone
Pick 151: BYU RB Tyler Allgeier
Pick 190: Georgia OG Justin Shaffer
Pick 213: Georgia TE John Fitzpatrick
New Orleans Saints
It seems as though much of the salary cap gymnastics finally caught up to the Saints this offseason as they were unable to retain many key players, who became too expensive, OT Terron Armstead and S Marcus Williams, in particular. They also had a big need at WR, as they were able to get a few players to fill those needs. They executed a first-round trade up, taking Chris Olave, then selected OT Trevor Penning with their second selection.
Draft Class:
Pick 11: Ohio State WR Chris Olave
Pick 19: Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
Pick 49: Tennessee CB Alontae Taylor
Pick 161: Appalachian State LB D'Marco Jackson
Pick 194: Air Force DT Jordan Jackson
Find How Each AFC Team Filled Their Biggest Needs Here
