Category: NFC South

2022 NFL Draft: Round 1 Recap

By James Layton

This has been the most interesting first round draft I’ve seen in years. You had no idea of how it would unfold.

This is the first draft since 1997 when the 49ers drafted Virginia Tech QB Jim Druckenmiller with the 26th pick.

It was also the first draft to have nine trades and six wide receivers selected in the first round.

This is the most trades made in the first round in past few years that were for active players in the league.

With that let’s get into how the first round unfolded.

  1. Jaguars: Travon Walker, DE Georgia
  2. Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, DE Michigan
  3. Texans: Derek Stingley Jr, CB LSU
  4. Jets: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB Cincinnati
  5. Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE Oregon
  6. Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT NC State
  7. Giants: Evan Neal, OT Alabama
  8. Falcons: Drake London, WR USC
  9. Seahawks: Charles Cross, OT
  10. Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State
  11. Saints: Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
  12. Lions: Jameson Williams, WR Alabama
  13. Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT Georgia
  14. Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame
  15. Texans: Kenyon Green, G Texas A&M
  16. Commanders: Jahan Dotson, WR Penn State
  17. Chargers: Zion Johnson, G Boston College
  18. Titans: Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas
  19. Saints: Trevor Penning, OT Northern Iowa
  20. Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh
  21. Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB Washington
  22. Packers: Quay Walker, LB Georgia
  23. Bills: Kaiir Elam, CB Florida
  24. Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT Tulsa
  25. Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C Iowa
  26. Jets: Jermaine Johnson II, DE Florida State
  27. Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB Utah
  28. Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT Georgia
  29. Patriots: Cole Strange, G Tennessee-Chattanooga
  30. Chiefs: George Karlaftis, DE Purdue
  31. Bengals: Daxton Hill, S Michigan
  32. Vikings: Lewis Cine, S Georgia

NFL First Round Mock Draft Post Super Bowl

2022 NFL Draft Big Board: PFF's Top 150 Prospects | NFL Draft | PFF
By Barb Layton

Now that the Super Bowl is in the books for another year, I turn my attention to the off season. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love free agency, the combine and especially the draft.

I like to be able to see how teams might try to fill their needs either through free agency or the draft.

Let’s get started with my first mock draft of the season.

  1. Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT Alabama
  2. Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE Michigan
  3. Texans: Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame
  4. Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE Oregon
  5. Giants: Derek Stingley, CB LSU
  6. Panthers: Kenyon Green, G Texas A&M
  7. Giants: DeMarvin Leal, DT Texas A&M
  8. Falcons: Ahmad Gardner, CB Cincinnati
  9. Broncos: David Ojabo, EDGE Michigan
  10. Jets: Andrew Booth, CB Clemson
  11. Commanders: Malik Willis, QB Liberty
  12. Vikings: Jordan Davis, DT Georgia
  13. Browns: Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State
  14. Ravens: Charles Cross, OT Mississippi State
  15. Eagles: Daxton Hill, S Michigan
  16. Eagles: Devin Lloyd, LB Utah
  17. Chargers: Perrion Winfrey, DT Oklahoma
  18. Saints: Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
  19. Eagles: Jameson Williams, WR Alabama
  20. Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB Pitt
  21. Patriots: George Karlaftis, EDGE Purdue
  22. Raiders: Nakobe Dean, LB Georgia
  23. Cardinals: Ikem Ekwonu, OT NC State
  24. Cowboys: Trevor Penning, OT Northern Iowa
  25. Bills: Drake London, WR USC
  26. Titans: Tyler Linderbaum, OC Iowa
  27. Buccaneers: Kaiir Elam, CB Florida
  28. Packers: Trent McDuffie, CB Washington
  29. Dolphins: Trevon Walker, EDGE Georgia
  30. Chiefs: Jaquan Brisker, S Penn State
  31. Bengals: Zion Johnson, G Boston College
  32. Lions: Chad Muma, LB Wyoming

Reserve/Future Signings 2022 for the NFC South

by Barb Layton

Buccaneers

  1. K Jose Borregales
  2. RB Kenion Barner
  3. TE Codey McElroy
  4. G John Molchow
  5. OLB Elijah Ponder
  6. DL Will Previlon
  7. DL Kobe Smith
  8. CB Rashard Robinson
  9. S Troy Warner

Falcons

  1. DB Dee Alford
  2. DB Cornell Armstrong
  3. OL Willie Beavers
  4. OLB Quinton Bell
  5. LB Jordan Brailford
  6. LB Dorian Etheridge
  7. WR Chad Hanson
  8. RB Caleb Huntley
  9. DB Luther Kirk
  10. TE Brayden Lenius
  11. P Dom Maggio
  12. OL Ryan Neuzil
  13. DB Lafayette Pitts
  14. DE Nick Thurman
  15. WR Austin Trammell
  16. DB Dee Alford
  17. TE Brayden Lenius
  18. DB Corey Ballentine
  19. LB Duke Ejiofore
  20. TE Daniel Helm
  21. OL Rashaad Coward

Panthers

  1. RB Spencer Brown
  2. CB Madre Harper
  3. DL Frank Herron
  4. OL Mike Horton
  5. DE Austin Larkin
  6. OL Aaron Monteiro
  7. WR Aaron Parker
  8. OL Austen Pleasants
  9. WR C.J. Saunders
  10. TE Colin Thompson
  11. RB Darius Bradwell

Saints

  1. WR Kawaan Baker
  2. LB Sharif Finch
  3. OT Jerald Hawkins
  4. DB Dylan Mabin
  5. DT Braxton Hoyett
  6. DB Jordan Miller
  7. DB KeiVarae Russell
  8. WR Easop Winston
  9. QB Blake Bortles
  10. C Cohl Cabral
  11. DT Malcolm Roach
  12. DB Bryce Thompson
  13. WR Kevin White
  14. TE Ethan Wolf
  15. WR Jalen McClaskey
  16. RB Josh Adams
  17. WR Kirk Merritt

2022 NFL Hall of Fame Modern-Era Semifinalists

By Barb Layton

I always love when we get the semi-finalists for the Hall of Fame. It is fun to try to figure out who will make it into the Hall of Fame this year.

Sometimes you look at the list and several names will pop out at you. It is the same with this class. This is a class of more offensive than defensive players. There are several WRs and RBs in this list.

Here goes with the list:

  1. Eric Allen, CB Eagles, Saints, Raiders
  2. Jared Allen, DE Chiefs, Vikings, Bears, Panthers
  3. Willie Anderson, OT Bengals and Ravens
  4. Ronde Barber, WR Buccaneers
  5. Anquan Bolden, WR Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Lions
  6. Tony Boselli, OT Jaguars and Texans
  7. LeRoy Butler, S Packers
  8. Eddie George, RB Oilers/Titans
  9. Devin Hester, WR/RS Bears, Falcons, Ravens
  10. Torry Holt, WR Rams and Jaguars
  11. Andre Johnson, WR Texans, Colts and Titans
  12. Robert Mathis, DE/LB Colts
  13. Sam Mills, LB Saints and Panthers
  14. Richard Seymour, DE/DT Patriots and Raiders
  15. Steve Smith, WR Panthers and Ravens
  16. Steve Tasker, ST/WR Oilers and Bills
  17. Fred Taylor, RB Jaguars and Patriots
  18. Zach Thomas, CB Dolphins and Cowboys
  19. Hines Ward, WR Steelers
  20. Demarcus Ware, LB/DE Cowboys and Broncos
  21. Ricky Watters, RB 49ers, Eagles, and Seahawks
  22. Reggie Wayne, WR Colts
  23. Vince Wilfork, DT Patriots and Texans
  24. Patrick Willis, LB 49ers
  25. Darren Woodson, S Cowboys
  26. Bryant Young, DT 49ers

NFL Top 10 Power Rankings Week 2

by Barb Layton

This is my rankings of the 10 teams who had a good week. It was a very crazy week with several top teams losing, including Packers, Bills, Browns (who beat themselves) and the Ravens.

  1. Chiefs
  2. Buccaneers
  3. Saints
  4. Seahawks
  5. Steelers
  6. Rams
  7. Chargers
  8. Bills
  9. 49ers
  10. Dolphins

My NFL Division Predictions

By Barb Layton

In the AFC East I agree with most people that the Bills are the team to beat in that division. It is also possible they could go to the Super Bowl this year. So this is how I feel the teams will fall in the East.

  • Bills
  • Dolphins
  • Patriots
  • Jets

In the AFC North I still have the Steelers as the number one spot. It is because I believe they have the best defense in the NFL. Even though Ben is getting up in years the team have surrounded him with offensive weapons. The OLine seems to be the concern of most people yet we have not seen them play all together as a unit.

  • Steelers
  • Browns
  • Ravens
  • Bengals

In the AFC South I believe the Titans will win this division. The Colts also have a chance to win this division. As of now I am going with the Titans.

  • Titans
  • Colts
  • Jaguars
  • Texans

The last division of the west it has to be the Chiefs. They are set for many years to come.

  • Chiefs
  • Chargers
  • Broncos
  • Raiders

In the NFC East I see the Washington Football Team winning this division. They have a great defense. Cowboys have a better offense but not a good defense. So this is team 1 and 2.

  • Washington
  • Cowboys
  • Eagles
  • Giants

In the NFC North with Aaron Rodgers it has to be the Packers. I think Vikings will be second.

  • Packers
  • Vikings
  • Bears
  • Lions

In the NFC South you all know you have to pick the super bowl champions. I had a hard time in picking the rest of this division.

  • Buccaneers
  • Saints
  • Panthers
  • Falcons

The NFC West this is probably the best division in football. So I just when with my gut feelings on this one.

  • Seahawks
  • Rams
  • 49ers
  • Cardinals

Saints Official Final Cuts

By James Layton

Saints final cuts. Some players will be back or on the practice squad. I think QB Trevor Siemian will be back. Other names WR Kevin White and DB Natrell Jamerson.

  • Alex Armah, FB
  • Caleb Benenoch, OL
  • Devonta Freeman, RB
  • Chris Hogan, WR
  • Natrell Jamerson, DB
  • Jordan Mills, OT
  • Keivarae Russell, DB
  • Trevor Siemian, QB
  • Damien Square, DT
  • J.R. Sweezy, G
  • Kevin White, WR
  • Kawaan Baker, WR
  • Josiah Bronson, DL
  • Eric Burrell, DB
  • Grant Haley, CB
  • Albert Huggins, DT
  • Derrick Kelly, G/T
  • R.J. McIntosh, DL
  • Wynton McManis, LB
  • Bryan Mills, CB
  • Christian Montano, C
  • Shaq Smith, LB
  • Deuce Wallack, DB
  • Eason Winston, WR
  • Ethan Wolf, TE