Which linebackers were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted those LBs, and how does the 2022 class compare to previous years?
Which Linebackers Were Drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look at the LBs drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. For a while, it looked like we would not see a linebacker taken on Day 1, but then the Packers got the ball rolling with the 22nd selection.
Quay Walker, Georgia | Green Bay Packers
Round 1, Pick 22
Everyone expected the first linebacker to come off of the board during the 2022 NFL Draft to be a Georgia linebacker. Very few, if any, expected that Georgia linebacker to be Quay Walker. His teammate Nakobe Dean had all the hype during the pre-draft process.
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Yet, as PFN’s Tony Pauline said leading up to and during the first round, Dean was going to slide. The beneficiary? Walker, who Green Bay took with pick No. 22.
Devin Lloyd, Utah | Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1, Pick 27
Devin Lloyd parlayed a great all-around statistical season at Utah into being a first-round selection during the 2022 NFL Draft when Jacksonville traded back into the round to select him. Everyone assumed he would be a first-round pick, and he was a trade-up target for the Jaguars.
Troy Andersen, Montana State | Atlanta Falcons
Round 2, Pick 58
Troy Andersen, out of small school Montana State, was the third linebacker selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Falcons have needed to rebuild their defense for a long time, and the new coaching staff for 2022 decided to take a chance on Andersen.
He had high grades coming into 2022, and after Senior Bowl practices, Tony Pauline said he had done enough to be a “top-45 pick”. He was close, getting selected just a few picks later.
Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma | Denver Broncos
Round 2, Pick 64
Bonitto is a pass-rushing EDGE more than he is an off-ball linebacker. However, he has traits to develop more of a complete game, which is what the Broncos were banking on when they made him a Day 2 selection. Of course, Year 1 in Denver was a whirlwind, but the hope is that the new staff under Sean Payton can continue his development.
Rounds 3-7
5) Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma
Round 3, Pick 66 | Vikings
6) Chad Muma, Wyoming
Round 3, Pick 70 | Jaguars
7) Christian Harris, Texans
Round 3, Pick 75 | Texans
8) DeAngelo Malone, Western Kentucky
Round 3, Pick 82 | Falcons
9) Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 83 | Eagles
10) Terrel Bernard, Baylor
Round 3, Pick 89 | Bills
11) Channing Tindall, Georgia
Round 3, Pick 102 | Dolphins
12) Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
Round 3, Pick 103 | Chiefs
13) Brandon Smith, Penn State
Round 4, Pick 120 | Panthers
14) Micah McFadden, Indiana
Round 4, Pick 146 | Giants
15) D’Marco Jackson, Appalachian State
Round 5, Pick 161 | Saints
16) Damone Clark, LSU
Round 5, Pick 176 | Cowboys
17) Darrian Beavers, Cincinnati
Round 6, Pick 182 | Giants
18) Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State
Round 6, Pick 188 | Lions
19) Devin Harper, Oklahoma State
Round 6, Pick 193 | Cowboys
20) James Houston, Jackson State
Round 6, Pick 217 | Lions
21) Chance Campbell, Ole Miss
Round 6, Pick 219 | Titans
22) Cameron Goode, Cal
Round 7, Pick 224 | Dolphins
23) Mark Robinson, Ole Miss
Round 6, Pick 225 | Steelers
24) Tariq Carpenter, Georgia Tech
Round 7, Pick 228 | Packers
25) Baylon Spector, Clemson
Round 7, Pick 231 | Bills
How Many Linebackers Were Drafted in 2022?
Off-ball linebackers are quickly becoming a depreciating asset on an NFL roster. The days of Dick Butkus and Ray Lewis are quickly behind us as the top position on a defense. While they still may be the quarterbacks of a defense, the EDGE and the secondary gets all the love. With only 25 linebackers drafted in 2022, that is the fewest in years.
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The linebacker position is always difficult to compare, with some pass rushers being classed as linebackers and others as defensive ends. However, by recent standards, the first round was quiet for the position. The 2022 NFL Draft was the first time since 2016 that fewer than three linebackers were selected in the first round. In the last 10 drafts, an average of 3.7 players were selected at the position on Day 1.