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Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
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Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in '15, '16, '17, '18, and '20
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2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1

2022 NFL Draft Week Rumors Friday

Updated April 29, 2022
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

Draft week is finally here! With Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft just hours away, here are some the rumors and chatter WalterFootball.com is hearing from team sources.

It has been known for awhile that the 2022 NFL Draft was deep at edge rusher, but did not have a lot of talent at defensive tackle. There are a number of teams in need of help at defensive tackle, and the free agency market was not bountiful either. That caused teams to expand the search, and sources have told me that the Carolina Panthers turned down a mid-first-round pick for young veteran Derrick Brown. Brown has played well since being the seventh-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Panthers entered the 2022 NFL Draft with big needs at quarterback and left tackle. A mid-first-round pick could have allowed Carolina to address both positions on the opening night of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Panthers, however, value Brown to the point that they decided against trading him for a first-round pick.

Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon was not selected during the opening night of the 2022 NFL Draft, but in the early portion of the draft process, there were a lot of projections of Gordon being a first-round pick. The 2022 NFL Draft was not rich in first-round corners, and cornerback is a premium position that teams target in the first round. Hence, something seemed off with Gordon not being a contender late in Round 1. Team sources told WalterFootball.com that Gordon's makeup hurt him with teams. Teams questioned how much Gordon loves football and wonder if he might have a short career because he has other interests. Apparently, Gordon is big into competitive dance and teams were concerned that he was not interested in a football career as his top priority.

The 2022 NFL Draft did not have a running back taken in the first round, but that could change quickly later tonight. Sources say Iowa State running back Breece Hall is a target of the New York Jets, who have pick No. 38. Hall could give Gang Green a big talent upgrade in the backfield and could help to set up favorable down-and-distance situations for Zach Wilson. Hall would be a plug-and-play starter to lead off Friday night.

Two other teams that could be targeting Hall early in the second round are the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. Another back who could be in play for those teams is Michigan State's Kenneth Walker. Walker probably won't last long once Hall goes off the board.

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