2022 NFL Draft Grades: AFC West

2022 NFL Draft Grades: AFC West

Best division in football? The AFC West certainly has an argument. After the 2022 NFL Draft, it appears even more difficult to navigate. OR does it? Let’s get right down to business and hand out those 2022 NFL Draft grades for the division.

Denver Broncos: Grade D+

• Round 2: No. 64 (from LAR) – Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma
• Round 3: No. 80 (from NO via HOU) – Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
• Round 4: No. 115 – Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
• Round 4: No. 116 (from SEA) – Eyioma Uwazurike, DE, Iowa State
• Round 5: No. 152 – Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
• Round 5: No. 162 (from PHI via HOU) – Montrell Washington, WR, Samford
• Round 5: No. 171 (from GB) – Luke Wattenberg, C, Washington
• Round 6: No. 206 (from TB via NYJ and PHI) – Matt Henningsen, DT, Wisconsin
• Round 7: No. 232 – Falon Hicks, DB, Wisconsin

Feels like a blown opportunity here. Nik Bonitto is fine but I don’t see him as a game wrecking edge presence. Greg Dulcich was at the top of my tight end list but this shouldn’t have even been addressed. Albert O should have been given that opportunity in a year where you are missing picks because of the Russell Wilson trade which again is the only reason this isn’t an F.

This draft is filled with roster depth. No real stars or players of note.

Kansas City Chiefs: Grade F

• Round 1: No. 21 (from NE) – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
• Round 1: No. 30 – George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
• Round 2: No. 54 (from NE) – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
• Round 2: No. 62 – Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
• Round 3: No. 103 – Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
• Round 4: No. 135  – Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
• Round 5: No. 145 (from SEA via DET via DEN) – Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
• Round 7: No. 243 (from LV via NE) – Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
• Round 7: No. 251  – Isaih Pachecho, RB, Rutgers
• Round 7: No. 259 – Nazeeh Johnson, S, Marshall

I praised Brett Veach a year ago and was pretty spot on. I hate this draft. Trent McDuffie is fine. Looks like a tiny slot corner. He won’t be the second coming of Marcus Peters. That much I know. George Karlaftis is far from a safe pick. I know Garrett kinda likes him but I thought that combine was brutal. He’s super raw and feels risky.

Skyy Moore feels very Mecole Hardman. They left this draft without properly replacing Tyreek Hill which is a total failure. Leo Chenal has major James Laurinaitis vibes. Darian Kinnard had maybe the worst Senior Bowl of any player. I’m not sure what happened but I think Veach took a three month long vacation and forgot to scout players.

Las Vegas Raiders: Grade A

• Round 3: No. 90 (from TEN) – Dylan Parham, G, Memphis
• Round 4: No. 122 (from IND via MIN) – Zamir White, RB, Georgia
• Round 4: No. 126 – Neil Farrell Jr., DT, LSU
• Round 5: No. 175 (from LAR) – Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee 
• Round 7: No. 238 (from MIA via LAR) – Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State
• Round 7: No. 250 (from MIN via SF via DEN) – Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA

This new Raiders general manager sure as hell is a lot smarter than the last one…

The Draft starts out with Davante Adams. That’s pretty good, right? That’s not entirely what it’s about. This Raiders draft is filled with great gambles in the middle rounds.

Dylan Parham is arguably the best center in this class. Had a stupid good combine. Outside of Tyler Linderbaum, he’s probably the best you were going to do at the position. Zamir White is just tough as hell. He’s going to give you everything Josh Jacobs already does at a fraction of the price.

I honest to god think every single guy the Raiders picked outside of maybe Brittain Brown will be on the roster in four years. That says it all. Neil Farrell and Matthew Butler could legit turn into two starting defensive tackles. Higher on Farrell but this was a job WELL done.

Los Angeles Chargers: Grade B

• Round 1: No. 17 – Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
• Round 3: No. 79 – JT Woods, S, Baylor
• Round 4: No. 123 – Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
• Round 5: No. 160  – Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
• Round 6: No. 195 – Jamaree Salyer, G, Georgia
• Round 6: No. 214 – Ja’Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
• Round 7: No. 236 – Deane Leonard, DB, Ole Miss
• Round 7: No. 260 – Zander Horvath, FB, Purdue

Solid job. Nothing crazy but got a lot accomplished. Zion Johnson really takes care of this offensive line. He was my top guard in the class. Oh, and this Jamaree Salyer is pretty good too. Would not be surprised at all if he becomes a starter.

If you told me before the year Isaiah Spiller was going in the fourth round, I would have thought you were insane. I don’t care what the measurables are, he’s a damn good football player. I’m pissed I have him in fantasy but believe in the talent. Would not be shocked if he works himself into a timeshare with Austin Ekeler. Spiller is not another Joshua Kelley. This dude can really play.

Don’t love all the picks but this will be a draft that got a lot of good things accomplished.

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