Proper teamwork is crucial when talking about NFL rookies and how they project to the next level. We saw many talented prospects selected in seven rounds during the NFL 2022 draft, but which ones turned out to be the perfect scheme for their skill sets? Who was put in the best possible position to succeed? Who will get the right coaching and professional system to maximize their talents?
I chose my 10 favorite options – the prospects that ended up in teams that fit them perfectly, taking into account the scheme, trends and coaching. These players could thrive right after the gates of their NFL careers if set up and developed in the right way. And I believe they are in the perfect place to do just that.
I also chose five of my favorite values from the middle circles. These are boys who were not selected in the top 70, but could play early and often due to their high physical characteristics and the situations in the teams that selected them. Follow them in the 2022 season and beyond.
Let’s dive in, starting with a defensive quarterback who has a superb new home in the NFL.
Go to: Best fit Early theft
Ten rookies who landed with the perfect team
Prepared: 1st round, №4
Why it’s a perfect fit: In the Jets-defined coverage schemes, Gardner fits seamlessly as a boundary angle that can play an important role as a man and a zone defender. With his long, 6-foot-3 shots and his press skills, Gardner will fight out for a defense that played Cover 1 (without a man) in 39% of cover photos last season, the fifth highest in the league.
The zone’s eyes are also there when Gardner presses the ball into three deep covers. And when coach Robert Saleh’s defense faces 3×1 sets, Gardner may be tasked with locking the single receiver to the back of the squad, eliminating the pass catcher from the photo, which will allow the Jets to get field numbers.
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Prepared: 1 round, No18
Why he’s a perfect fit: With a similar physical profile to former Round of the Titans successor AJ Brown, Burkes needs to take on a voluminous role as a target for catching and running in midfield tennis in Tennessee. Last season, the Titans’ quarterback Ryan Tanehill tried 321 passes in the numbers, the fifth highest in the league. So think of digging routes, shoals and slopes here, with mixed elements of action-packed gameplay. This is where Burkes can be released after a catch, using his vision to carry the ball, speed of play and a powerful frame at 6 feet-2, 225 pounds to defeat defenders in space.
Burkes will also see vertical goals of aligning borders and slots, and we know he has the flexibility to plan on screens, jets, and more.
Prepared: round 1, No5
Why he’s a perfect fit: Thibodeaux has the traits of causing trouble as a champion against running, and the straightforward juice he showed on his college ribbon will allow the rookie to chase ball carriers as a backslide defender. But I want to focus more on the pass and speed games that the new defense coordinator, Wink Martindale, can plan from his multi-front system under pressure.
The giants will use the appearance of congestion to give Thibodeaux a defined one-on-one or hang it as a looper to handle internal gaps. And don’t be surprised if Martindale hits Thibodeau in some situations on passes such as defensive strike or 3-straightening technique to create a match with an offensive guard in defense. Thibodeaux’s quick strikes with the ball and power moves to get the blockers back on their heels will allow Martindale to plan the production of passes this season.
Prepared: 2nd round, No. 63
Why he’s perfect: Cook could be used as Alvin Kamara in the pass game for new Bills player Ken Dorsey this season. The rookie is sudden, with receiving blows and a short zone speed to separate from the cover. Dorsey can set Cook on backfield against midfielders or twist it wide to expose defenders in space. And Cook can track the ball vertically.
I see Georgia’s product as another offensive goal for quarterback Josh Allen, who made 57 passes to running backs last season. Expect that number to jump with Cook into the mix. But the rookie will also make a difference as a perimeter runner, with north / south acceleration to go through the second level of defense.
Prepared: round 1, No13
Why he’s perfect: At 6 feet 6 and 341 pounds, Davis changes the dynamics of the Eagles’ defense. In the even and odd positions of the coordinator, John Gannon Davis can generate a break in the game by running with his combination of strength and power of the game. He will arrange, discard and swallow ball carriers, and can also close gaps and command a double team at the point of contact. Here you do not move Davis from the ball consecutively with blocks with one person. This will allow the line defenders to fill down or scrape sideways to stop the run.
Although Davis does not have the features of a high-end domestic pass-rusher, his ability to push his pocket and score two blockers in defense will create more one against one on the Eagles’ defensive front when repeating.
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Prepared: 1 round, No14
Why it fits perfectly: With new coordinator Mike MacDonald in Baltimore, expect Hamilton to be positioned as a destructive force on multiple levels of defense. I’m looking for late rotations, masking and post-click movement to put Hamilton in a position to finish the ball.
With his rare combination of size (6 feet-4, 220 pounds) and speed, Hamilton can play top-down for Baltimore in the safety split or fall as a defender with a hook to patrol the second level. It has an explosive ability forward and will strike on contact. Also, in the security sub-package of three, MacDonald could plan Hamilton as a blitz.
Combined with the signing of free agent Marcus Williams in a very multiple defense system, we should expect Hamilton to show numbers at the start of the rookie season.
Prepared: 1 round, No27
Why he’s perfect: New Jags defense coordinator Mike Caldwell coached defenders last season under Todd Bowles in Tampa, and we saw the Bucs deploy their second-tier defenders both in coverage and as a blitz. This is suitable for the universal Lloyd.
Look for it to be used in pressure circuits, hitting gaps A and B in downhill cascades. He has the physical tools to beat the running backs in defense and I see the second level range needed to play as a cover defender. Lloyd will also accumulate running stops, and we could see that Caldwell is using him as a situation champion. He enlightened the features of a quick skip record in college.
Prepared: round 2, No. 53
Why he’s a perfect fit: Pierce is a frontier X target for quarterback Matt Ryan, who can also move inside to create slot or trip matches, making him really suitable for Frank Reich’s attack. He’s best on the move – running fades, overtakes, shallows and speeds out – and the Colts can plan Pierce to play for Ryan. Try to create second level windows or isolate the rookie as a vertical target.
With his speed of foot and strength of play, Pierce can adjust the coverage of the press and we know that he can be a major option for Ryan in the red zone. Throw the slopes there and take care of Pierce’s 6-foot, 3-meter-long frame and the ability to jump on targets in the end zone, and I expect Pierce’s route tree to expand even further into a professional system.
Prepared: 1 round, No21
Why it fits perfectly: In Steve Spaniello’s scheme – which includes a mix of male pressure and two deep zones – McDuffie has the traits of playing a sticky cover for a man or sinking with a vision of a backfield as a defender of the zone. Last season, the Chiefs played a mix of singles and 2-Man, and they topped the league with 52 shots of zero players (blitz man coverage). Look for a McDuffie that matches the blitz technique, with the ability to play inside or out.
We will also see his urgency in covering the area where he can drive from top to bottom or fight in space. McDuffie can go down with speed as a flat / seam protector in the shells of Spags’ Cover 2.
Prepared: round 2, No. 48
Why he’s perfect: Brisker is a classic fit for the Matt Eberflus scheme in Chicago as a defender with multidimensional features. His style of play reminds me of the safety of Bills Micah Hyde. With a smooth pedal, split field range and the ability to easily transition, Brisker can drive down the ball from the deep half or squash vertically in quarters. When the Bears are playing their single high level schemes, look for a Brisker to spin down, track the ball in the running game, or lurk under the cover.
A highly instinctive player with destructive traits, Brisker will combine security with Eddie Jackson in the Bears’ highly defined system.
Choosing a value that can have an early impact
Prepared: round 3, No. 74
I expect Reeder to challenge Marcus Mariota for playing time this season. Throwing at a pace that can generate speed when needed, Ridder will take advantage of elements of play and action in Arthur Smith’s attack. Atlanta will create certain throws and coverage cavities in early situations, while using its features of movement on shoe concepts. Also, with his pocket balance and composure, Reeder can read it in return situations.
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Prepared: round 4, No. 107
Pierce is a hammer for descending 5 feet 10, 218 pounds, with light legs to dance through the laundry. He has a professional running style that sets him up to handle the volume of the NFL. Suitable for both zoning schemes and gaps in Houston, Pierce can produce when he makes his incision to go north / south. The Florida product will not be included in the pass game, but it has the ability to catch the ball outside the backfield as a target from below.
Prepared: round 3, No82
In Dean Peace …
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