Teams That Improved the Most Through the 2022 NFL Draft

Many teams should feel good about their rookies after the end of the NFL draft.

Some teams improved more over the last three days than others because of a volume of selections, a number of high picks or finding great value at positions of need. We will look at the six franchises that improved the most, with the caveat that draft classes can't be truly evaluated for at least a couple of years.

We will focus on factors such as prospect upside, team needs, selection volume and draft value and will use the Scouting Department's big board as a guideline.

Let's revisit how the weekend unfolded.

Kyle Hamilton, Sbaum, Notre Dame; Tyler Linder, C, Iowa; David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan; and Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama have been added.

The fact that the Baltimore Ravens traded a 1,000-yard receiver limits their improvement. Baltimore deserves credit for getting a first-round pick back for a good-not-great receiver with just two years remaining on his contract.

Brown did reach 1,000 yards for the first time in 2021, but he also had a passer rating of only 87.9%. The Baltimore dealt him and then traded down again to get Tyler Linderbaum.

He fills a need at center, as Bradley Bozeman left for Carolina in free agency.

Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton was the best player in the draft and was the first pick by Baltimore. He was the seventh-ranked prospect on the B/R board and should boost a pass defense that ranked last in the league.

Hamilton had 34 tackles, two tackles for loss, four passes defended and three intercepts.

David Ojabo was picked up by the Ravens in Round 2. He may not be ready early in 2022, but he is a potential future star and a Round 1 talent. He was the 40th-ranked prospect on the B/R board.

The 50th-ranked prospect on the B/R board was picked up by Baltimore in the third round. Before the end of Day 2, the Ravens had three immediate contributors and a long-term building block.

Round 1 talent goes in Round 3. The Ravens just continue to steal the biggest baddest dudes on the planet.

Baltimore got more value in the fourth round. The former Missouri offensive tackle was the 53rd-ranked player on the B/R board and could work his way into the starting lineup relatively quickly.

On the third day of the draft, the Ravens picked up a couple of potential depth pieces. Sam Koch could potentially be replaced by Jordan Stout.

It was a great three days for the Ravens, who made 11 picks and landed both high-end talent and possible steals.

Added: James Houston IV, LB, Jackson; Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky; Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois; James Mitchell,TE, Virginia Tech; Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State.

The Detroit Lions took Michigan pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, a prospect that some thought would go first. He is a sack artist who was excited to join Detroit.

For the whole draft process, I wanted them to pick me. Hutchinson said that he was so grateful that he went No. 2 to them.

Hutchinson, who had 14 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season, will be an immediate difference-maker in the defense.

The Lions traded up to 12 to get Williams. The Minnesota Vikings got back No. 46, but Williams has perennial All-Pro upside.

Williams might not make a difference in Week 1 as he is still recovering from a torn knee. He should pair with Amon-Ra St. Brown to form one of the most exciting young receiver duos.

In his final six games, St. Brown caught at least eight passes and provided a passer rating of 104.0.

The Lions got a defensive end in Round 2. He is ready to contribute now that he has room to grow as an edge-rusher.

Pashchal already has the strength and run-defense chops to hang as a pro. It isn't hard to see how Paschal could be an effective starter once he settles into a position.

The Detroit pass rush only had 30 sacks in 2021, but it looks scary with Hutchinson and Paschal.

Kerby Joseph was grabbed by Detroit in Round 3. He can play in the slot or deep as a defensive back.

Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell and Arizona State defensive back Chase Lucas were added to Detroit's depth on Day 3. Malcolm Rodriguez might have been a steal for the Lions.

Rodriguez was the biggest surprise on the final B/R board.

Detroit added high-end starters early and did a great job of finding value and addressing needs throughout the draft. The Lions are going to be a problem for opponents.

Added: John Metchie III, receiver, Alabama; Christian Harris, LB, Alabama; Dameon Pierce, running back, LSU.

The Houston Texans might have surprised a few people when they took LSU's Stingley Jr. He battled injuries over the next two seasons, despite having elite game tape. An ankle injury limited him to three games.

Stingley was the fourth-ranked prospect on the B/R board. He will become a key player in the Texans defense.

Houston added fourth and fifth-round picks in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green was grabbed by Houston. He will give an immediate boost to an offense that ranked dead last in yards per rush last season.

In the second round, the Texans grabbed a safety from the Bears, who had 75 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, two picks and a recovery. He will join Stingley in changing a pass defense that ranked 30th in yards per pass allowed.

Alabama receiver John Metchie III is coming off a serious injury, he tore his knee in the SEC Championship game. He will make an impact once healthy, but it will take time to return to form.

Metchie can be a contributor on Day 1 for most NFL offenses as a Z receiver who canbump inside and out because of his well-rounded skill set and feel for space.

Metchie will be a reliable target for Davis Mills once healthy.

Houston landed Metchie in the second round and then added Christian Harris in the third.

Harris, the 32nd-ranked prospect on the B/R board, can become the captain of Houston's defense and will further bolster a unit that ranked 31st in yards allowed last season.

Dameon Pierce is a promising piece for Houston's backfield. He is a 218-pound runner with burst and should support Mills in his second season. On Day 3, the Texans addressed both sides of the ball with players like Thomas Booker and Austin Deculus.

The Texans did a great job of filling needs and addressing depth throughout the weekend. They may not be ready to push for the playoffs just yet, but they should pressure their division rivals.

Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington; Skyy Moore, receiver, Western Michigan; Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati; and Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State have been added.

The Tyreek Hill trade gave the Kansas City Chiefs extra first and second-round picks. They added a potential playmaking receiver in Western Michigan, Skyy Moore, and added some significant pieces to the defense.

In the first round, Kansas City traded up to get Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis. McDuffie should replace departed starter Charvarius Ward, while Karlaftis has elite pass-rushing potential.

Karlaftis has the size, explosiveness and run-pass versatility to be one of the most disruptive players in the NFL in a few seasons.

The defense produced just 31 sacks in 2021.

Moore is a versatile inside-outside receiver with great after-the- catch ability and solid route skills. He can give Patrick Mahomes a dangerous option out of the gate.

Cincinnati safety Bryan Cook was taken by Kansas City in the second and third rounds. Cook had 57 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions, while Chenal had 115 tackles, eight sacks and two forced turnovers.

Cook and Chenal were the best players at their positions entering the second round.

The strategy for the first two days was sound and should pay off. As long as he is under center, the offense will be dangerous. The Kansas City defense that was ranked 27th in the country last season was much better on Saturday than it was on Wednesday.

Kentucky guard Darian Kinnard and Washington State defensive back Isiah Pacheco were added to the Chiefs on Saturday.

Kinnard could be a valuable piece in front of Mahomes. He was the 100th-ranked prospect on the B/R board and a great value.

The kind of draft Kansas City needed was here. The Chiefs traded one of their biggest weapons, but they look to be a more balanced, deeper team than a year ago.

Added: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati; Garrett Wilson, receiver, Ohio State; Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State; Breece Hall, running back, Iowa State; Jeremy Ruckert,TE, Ohio State; Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana.

The New York Jets might have improved more than any other team in the draft because they came in with several significant needs.

New York's record was 4-13 and it was dead last in both yards and points allowed. The Jets got immediate contributors with each of their first five selections.

SauceGardner has the potential to be one of the league's best man corners sooner than later. The high-upside receiver prospect from Ohio State will make life easier for the second-year quarterback.

Wilson can consistently create yards out of nothing on underneath throws and on wide receiver screens.

Florida State pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson III was taken by the New York Jets with a third first-round pick. The opening night of New York was a great success.

It was never in a million years that I would have thought that the Jets could get three first-round picks out of this draft. There are three top 10 talents.

On Day 2, the Jets made Iowa State's Breece Hall the first running back off the board and then came back in Round 3 to grab Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert. Wilson, Hall and Ruckert significantly upgrade Wilson's supporting cast, while Gardner and Johnson add some much-needed teeth to a defense that was the league's worst a season ago.

Louisiana tackle Max Mitchell and Texas A&M defensive end Micheal Clemons were picked up by the Jets. Both players should provide depth for a team that needs it.

The strength of New York's draft class came in the first two days. This class could help turn around the franchise's fortunes in the AFC East.

Added: A.J. Brown, receiver, TennesseeTitans; Jordan Davis, defensive tackle, Georgia; Calcaterra, tight end, SMU; Dean, LB, Georgia; and Johnson, LB, Kansas.

Thanks to the acquisition of A.J. Brown, the Philadelphia Eagles are on this list. Philadelphia gave up the 18th and 101st picks, but Brown is a star and is only 24 years old.

He was a Pro Bowler in 2020 and is a two-time 1,000-yard receiver. He was limited to 13 games this past season due to a chest injury, but still finished with . The addition of Brown makes the Eagles a better team and will help the development of Hurts.

Philadelphia traded up to get Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis. The sixth-ranked prospect on the B/R board, Davis will contribute early and will eventually become a consistent game-wrecker in the Eagles defense.

He had 32 total tackles, 17 solo stops, two sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Philadelphia got a Nebraska interior lineman in the second round. He is a tad light at 6 feet 2 and 301 pounds, but he should be an early starter at guard and could one day be the center of the team.

He is still relatively new to the offensive line, with excellent athletic ability, explosiveness and competitive toughness to offer as a high-end developmental center with starter potential.

The slide of Georgia's Nakobe Dean was stopped by Philadelphia because of medical concerns.

According to a source, Georgia LB Nakobe Dean declined surgery on his shoulder, and it is now a major concern.

Dean, the 21st-ranked prospect on the B/R board, could prove to be an absolute steal if he can stay healthy.

The Eagles only added two players on Day 3. In the sixth round, Philadelphia grabbed two players. Calcaterra could complement Dallas Goedert and could create mismatches as a receiving tight end.

Philadelphia added a lot of rookies and a proven receiver in Brown. The Eagles will be big winners of draft weekend by just about any metric.

The Pro Football Reference has advanced statistics.