A look at the last 20 years of the NFL’s 22nd overall pick
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins, for now, pick number 22 in this months draft. Over the past two decades that pick has yielded some great players and some not so great.
For the Dolphins they are obviously hoping for a great player at 22 and if one is not there then they will hope for a trade partner and move down. This years draft is said to be defense heavy with starting caliber talent drifting into round three. That should mean that any players taken at 22 should be starter ready by week one.
Over the past two decades 20 players have been selected with pick number 22. The Dolphins have never made a draft selection at 22 in their history but have selected in the 21st and 23rd slots. In 1980 the Dolphins selected DB Don McNeal with their 21st overall pick and in 1991 selected receiver Randall Hill with their 23rd.
What does the 22nd pick offer exactly? Here is a look back at the 22nd overall NFL draft pick through history.
Last year the Washington Redskins slected WR Josh Doctson. It’s too early to tell if he will become the player they anticipate and OLB Bud Dupree who was taken by Pittsburgh the year before at 22 is starting to develop. The year before that, 2014 saw the Cleveland Browns throw the 22nd pick out the window. It landed on a barge in Cleveland Harbor and was blown out into Lake Eerie. That pick was Johnny Manziel.
2013 – Desmond Trufant – DB – Atlanta: Has started all 57 games he has appeared in.
2012 – Brandon Weeden – QB – Cleveland: Started 25 games but was ineffective and replaced.
2011 – Anthony Castonzo – T – Colts: Started 89 of the 89 games he has appeared in.
2010 – Demaryius Thomas – WR – Denver: Has established himself as a top receiver.
2009 – Percy Harvin – WR – Vikings: Harvin had all the talent but off-field issues derailed an otherwise promising career
2008 – Felix Jones – RB – Dallas: Jones busted in Dallas and never came close to what the Jones’ thought they were buying.
2007 – Brady Quinn – QB – Cleveland: Another blown QB pick by the Browns but that was an hard to watch fall during the draft.
2006 – Manny Lawson – DE – San Francisco: Started 110 of 143 possible games played.
2005 – Mark Clayton – WR – Baltimore: The other Mark Clayton. Clayton never reached his potential.
2004 – J.P. Losman – QB – Bills: Below average QB who never came close to his draft slotting.
2003 – Rex Grossman – QB – Chicago: Another QB who was over-valued heading into the draft and thus over drafted.
2002 – Bryan Thomas – DE – Jets: Started 104 games during his NFL career.
2001 – Will Allen – DB – NYG: Allen had a solid NFL career
2000 – Chris mcIntosh – T – Seattle: McCintosh only started 13 of the 24 games he appeared in.
Overall the number 22 overall pick has added promise to some teams but for the most part aside from a few players the 22nd pick hasn’t been greatly kind to the NFL. The Dolphins are hoping that they are one of the few who can find a gem in this “deep” draft.