On the latest 49ers Talk podcast, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan discuss how the prospects the Niners drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft fit the offensive scheme Trey Lance will be looking to run.
Now that the 2022 NFL Draft has come to an end, we take a look at where each team stands. Did each club address glaring needs? Who is set up to compete and who will struggle? Who reloaded and who is rebuilding?
We take a look at all 32 teams in our NFL power rankings:
32. Houston Texans
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
The Texans are in full rebuild mode and added significant talent in the draft. LSU cornerback Derek Stingley was the first defensive back off the board, and 12 picks later the club drafted Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green to help protect current quarterback Davis Mills.
Baylor safety Jalen Pitre will likely contribute early, but Alabama receiver John Metchie was a slight reach in the second round coming off an ACL injury. The Texans will likely see some adversity in 2022 but possibly signs of growth as well.
31. Detroit Lions
The Lions have a lot of work to do rebuilding but they took a step in the right direction in the draft. The club is clearly focusing on building a dominant defense with six of their eight picks falling on that side of the ball.
San Francisco 49ers
Find the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
The first of Detroit’s two offensive picks however, could be a game changer. Alabama receiver Jameson Williams is coming off an ACL injury but when healthy is incredibly dynamic. Being paired with Amon-Ra St. Brown should help the Lions enter the 2022 season with some hope.
30. Atlanta Falcons
USC wideout Drake London, the No. 8 overall pick, joining tight end Kyle Pitts should help the Falcons' offensive production in 2022. Marcus Mariota was signed during the offseason, but the club looked ahead drafting Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round after missing out on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes.
Atlanta also attempted to shore up their defense by adding Penn State pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie in the second round and DeAngelo Malone from Western Kentucky in the third. The club still has quite a few holes to fill to be a contender in 2022.
29. Chicago Bears
The Bears had to wait until the second day of the draft after moving up to take quarterback Justin Fields in 2021. When they were finally on the clock, the club took back-to-back defenders in Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker from Penn State.
Chicago’s third round pick, Tennessee receiver Velus Jones Jr. will provide Fields with another solid target, but the team is still in rebuilding mode heading into 2022.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
With two picks in the first round, general manager Trent Baalke went with what he knows best -- defense. Only two of the clubs picks were on offense. Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker is similar in build to ex-49er Aldon Smith who Baalke drafted in 2011 while with the 49ers.
A pair of linebackers -- Utah’s Devin Lloyd and Wyoming’s Chad Muma -- and a pair of cornerbacks will help the defense take pressure off quarterback Trevor Lawrence as he heads into his sophomore season. But the rebuild continues.
27. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers focused on offense with their first two picks, taking the first offensive lineman off the board in North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu. Two rounds later they addressed their need at quarterback with Ole Miss play-caller Matt Corral, who will likely sit behind Sam Darnold for a season.
Carolina is still in a rebuilding phase, but they made moves to help secure their future.
26. New York Giants
Taken at No. 5, Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux will instantly give the Giants' defensive line a boost. Two picks later, the club took the second offensive lineman off the board by drafting Alabama tackle Evan Neal.
While the club isn’t entirely happy with the production of quarterback Daniel Jones, a solid left tackle and their second-round pick Kentucky wideout Wan’Dale Robinson could offer support. Still without solid production from running back Saquon Barkley, the Giants will likely struggle.
25. Washington Commanders
The first move in the draft for the Commanders was adding Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson as a target for quarterback Carson Wentz who will pair up with receiver Terry McLaurin on the offense. The strength of Washington is on the defense, and the club added another Alabama defensive lineman at No. 47 with Phidarian Mathis.
While Washington did fill some needs, it did not make enough game-changing acquisitions to dominate its division.
24. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are apparently rolling ahead with Drew Lock after not drafting a quarterback. Instead they acquired protection for their play-caller by drafting Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross at No. 9 and Washington tackle Abraham Lucas at No. 72.
Interestingly, Seattle did not draft a receiver in this year’s talent-rich class until deep into the seventh round. Instead they added Michigan State ball carrier Kenneth Walker in Round 2. 2022 looks to be a rebuilding season in the Pacific Northwest.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
At No. 20, the Steelers drafted the first quarterback off the board in Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett. Later in the second round the club selected a target for their young play-caller in Georgia receiver George Pickens and then Memphis receiver Calvin Austin III in the fourth round.
Pittsburgh will likely see its fair share of struggles in 2022 as it begins a path without longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
22. New York Jets
With three picks in the first round, the Jets added legitimate talent to their roster including No. 4 pick Cincinnati cornerback “Sauce” Gardner. Six picks later, the club added a target for sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson with Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson.
At No. 26, the club added Florida State pass rusher Jermaine Johnson, and at No. 36 Iowa State running back Breece Hall. While these additions don’t guarantee immediate success for coach Robert Saleh, it should start the turnaround.
21. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings didn’t just trade back for quantity, they drafted quality. With the No. 32 overall pick, the club selected Georgia safety Lewis Cine and later in Round 2, Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth. Both defensive backs will join All-Pro Patrick Peterson, who is on a one-year deal with the club.
Minnesota relies heavily on running back Dalvin Cook’s ability to move the chains, and adding LSU guard Ed Ingram in the second round will help open up holes for the powerful back. If this was enough to tip the scales in the Vikings favor won’t be known until the season starts.
20. New England Patriots
Most draft boards show New England drafting Chattanooga guard Cole Strange at No. 29 a reach, but with coach Bill Belichick making the calls you just never know. The Patriots did need to add a support system for sophomore quarterback Mac Jones and their second pick, Baylor receiver Tyquan Thornton could be just that.
The Patriots used seven of their 10 draft picks on offensive players, which would indicate they are of the belief that to compete, they will need to help Jones develop by adding talent to the offense.
19. New Orleans Saints
The Saints got their guy then they moved up to select Ohio State receiver Chris Olave with the No. 11 pick. Eight spots later, the club drafted Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning, who will attempt to fill the void left by Terron Armstead who signed with Miami as a free agent.
The Saints' remaining three picks were used on defense, but their path in 2022 depends on Jameis Winston’s return from an ACL injury.
18. Miami Dolphins
After trading for Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins were left with only four selections in the draft. The club’s first pick came in the third round where they selected Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall.
How Miami fares in 2022 will depend on if rookie head coach Mike McDaniel can help Tua Tagovailoa, Hill and Jaylen Waddle build chemistry on the field.
17. Tennessee Titans
The Titans pulled off a first-round trade sending receiver A.J. Brown to the Eagles that included the No. 18 pick which they used for Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks. While the rookie is much more fiscally responsible, his NFL production is yet to be seen.
The club drafted their future in Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, who surprisingly fell to the third round, becoming a great value pick for Tennessee. While the Titans will be able to compete, losing Brown will be a hit to the offense.
16. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles moved up to snag Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis at No. 13 with one of their multiple first-round picks. They used No. 18 to trade for Brown and then agreed to a long-term extension.
The club then drafted Nebraska center Cam Jurgens in the second round and Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean in the third. It appears that quarterback Jalen Hurts is set up to have an improved season.
15. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts didn’t have a first-round pick because of their trade last offseason for Carson Wentz, who was subsequently sent to Washington in 2022. The club still was able to add depth to positions of need. With a solid defense already in place, the club’s first three picks were wide receiver, tight end and offensive line.
Cincinnati receiver Alec Pierce, Virginia tight end Jelani Woods and Central Michigan tackle Bernhard Raimann could help the production of quarterback Matt Ryan as he enters his first season with the club.
14. Cleveland Browns
The Browns did not have a selection until the third round after trading with Houston for Watson. When they were finally on the clock, their first two picks were on the defensive side of the ball.
Mississippi State cornerback Martin Emerson and UAB pass rusher Alex Wright should contribute immediately, but it still remains to be seen if Watson will see the field with 22 civil lawsuits pending. That will greatly affect their standing in 2022.
13. Green Bay Packers
While quarterback Aaron Rodgers waited for his team draft a receiver, the front office went to the Georgia well with back-to-back picks taking linebacker Quay Walker and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt. This was probably wise after the top six wideouts were selected prior to the club’s first pick at No. 22.
Rodgers finally got his receivers with the team moving up to draft North Dakota State’s Christian Watson in the second round and later with Nevada’s Romeo Doubs in the fourth. The club also drafted three offensive linemen to protect the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
12. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys immediately addressed needs on the offensive line, adding Tulsa tackle Tyler Smith in the first round. In true Cowboys fashion, the club used their second-round pick on Ole Miss defensive end Sam Williams, who has off-the-field issues in his past.
Dallas' third-round pick, South Alabama receiver Jalen Tolbert, will complement wideouts CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup in the absence of Amari Cooper, who was traded to the Browns in the offseason.
All three early draftees have the potential to contribute in 2022, which could help the Cowboys stay in the mix again.
11. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals brought in wideout Marquise Brown by trading their first-round pick, adding a familiar target for Kyler Murray. In the second round, they added the highest-rated tight end in the 2022 class by selecting Colorado State’s Trey McBride.
Arizona focused on defense with its next two picks, taking edge rushers Cameron Thomas from San Diego State and Cincinnati’s Myjai Sanders to fill in the void left by Chandler Jones, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.
The Cardinals will offer legitimate competition in the NFC West with USC running back Keaontay Davis joining James Conner in the backfield. On paper they look like contenders.
10. Baltimore Ravens
With two first-rounders, the Ravens added players who could have an immediate impact as rookies. Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton joins a very experienced secondary which will be one of the toughest to face in the league.
Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum was the top-ranked center in the draft and will help Lamar Jackson and the offense in the ground game. What the club didn’t address was their wide receiver group after losing top target Brown, who was traded to the Cardinals.
9. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers waited well into the second day of the draft for their first selection after trading up for Trey Lance in 2021. At No. 61, the club drafted USC edge rusher Drake Jackson, who could prove to be a great bookend for Nick Bosa.
RELATED: 49ers pass on safeties in draft, will bank on Ward and Co.
General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan used their next two picks to provide more tools for Lance with LSU running back Ty Davis-Price at No. 93 and speedy SMU receiver Danny Gray at No. 105. The club did not select a center but did take two offensive linemen to add depth as well as two cornerbacks to round out a balanced draft. It should set the team up to be contenders once again in 2022.
8. Las Vegas Raiders
After trading for wideout Davante Adams, the Raiders only had six picks in the draft and four of them they used in the trenches -- two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen. Third-round pick Memphis guard Dylan Parham will likely see the field immediately as will both defensive tackles -- LSU’s Neil Farrell and Tennessee’s Matthew Butler.
If Adams is as productive in Las Vegas as he was with the Packers, the Raiders will be very competitive in the coming season.
7. Denver Broncos
With the acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson, the Broncos did not have a pick until the end of the second round where they drafted Oklahoma pass rusher Nik Bonitto. Six of the club’s nine picks were spent on the defensive side of the ball, which already added D.J. Jones and K’Waun Williams during free agency.
Denver lost tight end Noah Fant to Seattle in the trade for Wilson, which likely prompted the club drafting UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich in Round 3. The Broncos, at least on paper, are set up for success in 2022.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers moved out of the first round to acquire more picks, first adding Houston defensive lineman Logan Hall at No. 33 and protection for Tom Brady in Central Michigan tackle Luke Goedeke at No. 57.
Two weapons on offense were selected next in Arizona State’s pass-catching running back Rachaad White in the third round and Washington tight end Cade Otton in the fourth. The Bucs didn’t need a lot to keep the ball rolling and look to be very competitive in 2022 mostly because Brady came out of retirement after 40 days.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers made a wise move investing in protection for Justin Herbert by drafting Boston College guard Zion Johnson with the No. 17 pick. The club also drafted Baylor safety J.T. Woods in the third round and a pair of cornerbacks in the sixth and seventh rounds to add depth behind Derwin James and Nasir Adderly.
Without many holes on their roster, the Chargers are once again set up to compete in the AFC West.
4. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs drafted players who can contribute immediately in Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie and Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis. While Skyy Moore won’t be able to fill the entire void left by Tyreek Hill, the rookie will easily become one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top targets.
Kansas City drafted four cornerbacks and a safety ensuring depth on the defense and another trip to the postseason.
3. Los Angeles Rams
The defending Super Bowl champions didn’t have a pick until late in the third round where it drafted Wisconsin tackle Logan Bruss to help protect quarterback Matthew Stafford. The club signed linebacker Bobby Wagner and receiver Allen Robinson during free agency, which likely prompted them to draft four defensive backs on Day 3 of the draft.
Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams could add an wrinkle on the offense as a versatile pass catching back. The Rams simply reloaded for another run in 2022.
2. Buffalo Bills
The one glaring need that the Bills had was addressed by drafting Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam in the first round. The club also drafted Dalvin Cook’s brother, Georgia running back James Cook to add speed out of the backfield.
Buffalo drafted Boise State receiver Khalil Shakir in the fifth round to give Josh Allen another reliable target, which will help the club not miss a step heading into the 2022 season as a contender.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
After a disappointing performance defending the pass in Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals used their first two picks to improve their secondary. In the first round, the club drafted safety Daxton Hill from Michigan. Thirty-one picks later, it was Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt.
Cincinnati drafted a second safety in the fifth round, Toledo’s Tycen Anderson, as well as edge rusher Jeffrey Gunter from Coastal Carolina in the seventh to indicate their confidence in quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense in 2022.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
