NFL Draft 2022 Round 1 picks: Shock $130m draft trade has NFL in meltdown

A “blockbuster” trade has shaken up the NFL Draft on a crazy night where the No. 1 draft pick became engulfed in a car crash storm.

A.J. Brown is on the move. Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images.

The 2022 NFL Draft was forecast to be the “craziest draft in 30 years” — and it delivered on the hype.

A record nine trades were made in the first round as teams carved up the talent on offer.

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Defensive rusher Travon Walker was picked at No. 1 just one hour after a betting market plunge on the Jaguars picking him with the top selection.

The Georgia University product was described as a “rare” talent by NFL commentators on ESPN.

American football icon Booger McFarland said “My goodness” when asked to describe what the physical beast will add to the Jaguars’ defence.

However, just minutes later it was revealed Walker had recently been involved in a car crash that the Jaguars were aware of.

NFL insider Ian Papaport first revealed the shocking news on Twitter.

You can read on below to see the details of the crash.

Minutes later Detroit wasted no time by picking defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

That was followed by the first big surprise of the night with cornerback Derek Stingley being picked by the Houston Texans.

Stingley has battled an ongoing Lisfranc injury for more than two years, but his raw explosive talent made him too irresistible for the Texans to say no to.

The next headline moment came when the Saints made an aggressive move to trade with Washington for the No. 11 pick in order to take wide receiver Chris Olave.

It triggered a flurry of trades.

Blockbuster trade sends NFL into meltdown

Former Tennessee receiver A. J. Brown has made a sensational move to the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade that has the league in meltdown.

The Eagles were able to get a deal done by forking out its No. 18 overall pick and a third round selection. The Titans used that pick to snatch receiver Treylon Burks off the board.

Brown is coming off a red-hot year, but he has just one more year remaining on his contract.

It means the Eagles are rolling the dice on trying to sign Brown to a contract extension as he enters free agency in one year’s time.

A.J. Brown is going to get paid. Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images.

The news was announced by an ESPN commentator, who said on the live broadcast: “Wow, I have a stunning announcement”.

ESPN’s Dianna Russini first reported the Titans made the move because the writing was on the wall.

“Brown wanted a massive contract extension from the Titans with a year left on his deal and didn’t receive it,” she posted on Twitter.

“He didn’t attended voluntary workouts and stopped communicating with the team, per sources The Titans made an offer, but it wasn’t enough for Brown, now he’s an Eagle.”

NFL journalist Ian Rapaport reported Brown will receive a four-year extension for up to $100 million, with $57 million guaranteed.

That is more than $140m in Aussie dollars.

Shock as top NFL Draft pick in ‘serious’ car crash

Travon Walker of the Georgia Bulldogs. Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images.

NFL Insider Ian Rapaport and Walker have given contrasting reports of how serious the No. 1 draft pick’s car crash was.

“A big-time scare before the Draft: #Georgia’s Travon Walker was in a serious car accident in Athens, GA before the draft, crashing into two parked cars.

“He emerged without injuries somehow. No citations. But a scare for sure.”

Walker was asked about the incident after being picked and said it occurred nearly two weeks prior to the draft.

“It wasn’t anything serious. It was just a fender bender,” he said.

“There aren’t really any details to give.”

Rapaport revealed one hour before the start of the draft that the Jaguars had held onto their secret for several days, having made the decision privately earlier this week to settle on Walker as their guy.

“They are set. This does not seem to be a decision that was difficult for them,” he said.

“The people I speak to, most of them believe it’s going to be Trayvon Walker.

“This is the first time in a few years we don’t know for sure. But they are set.”

There’s plenty of interest in this year’s Draft. David Becker/Getty Images/AFP

NFL Draft 2022 order, results

Round 1

1) Jacksonville Jaguars — Travon Walker

2) Detroit Lions — Aidan Hutchinson

3) Houston Texans — Derek Stingley

4) New York Jets — Ahmad Gardner

5) New York Giants — Kayvon Thibodeaux

6) Carolina Panthers — Ickey Ekwonu

7) New York Giants (from Chicago Bears) — Evan Neal

8) Atlanta Falcons — Drake London

9) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos) — Charles Cross

10) New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks) — Garrett Wilson

11) New Orleans Saints — Chris Olave

12) Detroit Lions — Jameson Williams

13) Philadelphia Eagles — Jordan Davis

14) Baltimore Ravens — Kyle Hamilton

15) Houston Texans — Kenyon Green

16) Washington Commanders — Jahan Dotson

17) Los Angeles Chargers — Zion Johnson

18) Tennessee Titans — Treylon Burks

19) New Orleans Saints — Trevor Penning

20) Pittsburgh Steelers — Kenny Pickett

21) Kansas City Chiefs — Trent McDuffie

22) Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas Raiders) — Quay Walker

23) Buffalo Bills — Kaiir Elam

24) Dallas Cowboys — Tyler Smith

25) Baltimore Ravens — Tyler Linderbaum

26) New York Jets — Jermaine Johnson

27) Jacksonville Jaguars — Devin Lloyd

28) Green Bay Packers — Devonte Wyatt

29) New England Patriots — Cole Strange

30) Kansas City Chiefs — George Karlaftis

31) Cincinnati Bengals — Daxton Hill

32) Minnesota Vikings — Lewis Cine

Coach slams ‘fake’ report

Evan Neal’s personal coach slammed a report that claimed the offensive tackle had a “medical issue” just days before he was projected to go in the top 10 of the 2022 NFL Draft.

“FAKE NEWS!” offensive line coach Duke Manyweather tweeted this week, in response to a report that said some teams “medically flunked” the Alabama product, who could be a target of the New York Giants at pick number five or seven overall.

“Neal WAS NOT a medical re-check and was medically cleared at combine. Dude hasn’t missed a workout since the national Championship!”

Manyweather went on to tweet a number of videos showing Neal dominating Georgia defensive end Travon Walker — another top draft prospect who’s now the favourite to go No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars — in the national title game.

Pro Football Talk confirmed Neal was not asked to return to Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine’s medical re-check. Neal missed only one game in college, and that was due to Covid.

On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said “a handful of teams” had raised knee and hip issues about Neal, and that “a good number of clubs” are considering him to be a notable medical risk.

Neal is one of three offensive tackles, along with Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross, widely predicted to go in the top 10.

Evan Neal is fit and firing. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

New York Post

Originally published as NFL Draft 2022 Round 1 picks: Shock $130m draft trade has NFL in meltdown