Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, made history in the NFL draft by being selected by the Chicago Bears as the No. 1 overall pick. Williams expressed his goal of leading the Bears to a Super Bowl victory, aiming to break the team’s 40-year championship drought. The draft saw a total of six quarterbacks chosen in the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10. Offensive players dominated the first half of the draft, with the first defensive player, UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, not selected until No. 15, marking a new record for defensive selections.
Following Williams, the Washington Commanders selected 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, and the New England Patriots took North Carolina’s Drake Maye as the top three picks were all quarterbacks. The Atlanta Falcons made a surprising decision to choose Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, and the Minnesota Vikings traded up to select J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, making it five quarterbacks in the top 10 for the first time. The Denver Broncos then picked Oregon’s Bo Nix at No. 12, tying the 1983 draft with six quarterbacks selected in the first round.
Breaking the quarterback trend, the Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick, while the Los Angeles Chargers chose Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5. The New York Giants took LSU receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6, and the Tennessee Titans selected Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham at No. 7. The New York Jets, who traded down to No. 11, picked offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, and the Las Vegas Raiders chose Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13.
The NFL draft was a festive event in Detroit, with an estimated 275,000 fans filling the streets wearing Lions jerseys. The Detroit Lions selected Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th pick after trading up in a deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, is the third quarterback the Bears have selected in the first round in the past eight years, joining Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. Williams, known for his dual-threat abilities, brings a strong arm and improvisational skills to a team looking to build a winning legacy.
Other notable selections in the draft included North Carolina’s Drake Maye going to the New England Patriots at No. 3, Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20, and Florida wide receiver Xavier Legette selected by the Carolina Panthers with the last pick of the first round at No. 32. The draft showcased a mix of offensive and defensive talent, with teams making strategic choices to strengthen their rosters for the upcoming season. With multiple quarterback selections in the top picks and a diverse range of players chosen, the 2022 NFL draft set the stage for an exciting and competitive season ahead.
