Live blogging the 2022 NFL draft

8:17: Jaguars take Trayvon Walker, Georgia linebacker, No. 1 overall. I can’t remember a year where there was this much uncertainty about who would go first. But the ESPN guys thought Jacksonville would pick Walker or Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

8:21: That didn’t take long. Detroit grabs Hutchinson No. 2 in a heartbeat.

Side note: It’s too early to tell if anyone starts sliding, but I’d love for the Eagles to get Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton somehow. He probably won’t last till Philadelphia chooses 15th overall, the first of the Birds’ two first rounders.

8:27: Texans select LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Bit of a surprise here. I thought he might be available for Philly in the mid first round.

8:35: Cincinnati corner Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner goes fourth to the Jets. In addition to having a great nickname, Sauce is the consensus top CB on draft boards.

8:42: Giants pick Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibidoux with the first of their two first round picks. At one point, Thibidoux was a potential No. 1 overall selection. There are question marks because of his injury history.

8:50: Ickey Ekwonu, N.C. State offensive tackle, is the Panthers’ choice. The ESPN guys think he should have gone higher, so this could be a home run for Carolina. There was talk the team would reach for a quarterback here but instead they went for the best player available.

8:55: Giants take Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal at No. 7. New York fans should be excited to get both Thibidoux and Neal.

9:00: Atlanta, which needs lots of help in a lot of positions, takes USC wide receiver Drake London. I saw him as possibly going to the Eagles but was worried about them taking another USC wideout (J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has been a huge disappointment). That’s probably not fair to London, though. He’s very highly regarded.

9:09: Seattle picks Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross. Ekwonu, Neal and Cross were clearly the top three at their position in the draft.

9:14: Garrett Wilson, Ohio State WR, is selected by the Jets at No. 10. I wish the Eagles could have gotten him. That was never realistic, though.

9:24: Geez, announce the pick already. Tired of the promo stuff.

9:25: Saints trade with Washington and choose Ohio State WR Chris Olave. Lots of great possibilities left for the Eagles – Kyle Hamilton, Jameson Williams, Jordan Davis, Jermaine Johnson II …

9:29: Just reported Eagles moved up to 13th. Hamilton?

9:30: Lions get Saints pick and go for Jameson Williams. OK, Philly has to take Hamilton now. (By the way, Williams transferred to ‘Bama from Ohio State. So he, Olave and Wilson were once college teammates. Wow.)

9:32: Apparently, Philly thought they could get Williams at 13th and was surprised Detroit took him. Instead, the Birds select Jordan Davis. He’s a great run stopper but not a pass rusher. Some mock drafts did have him going to the Eagles, though.

9:47: So, of course, the Ravens draft Hamilton. I really hope the Eagles don’t regret passing on him.

Jimmy Kempski, however, really likes the pick of Davis. He makes some great points.

9:50: Texans take offensive guard Kenyon Green from Texas A&M. Eagles’ second pick coming up soon. Wonder if they’ll trade down.

9:57: I wasn’t expecting this! Washington chooses Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson. Good for him. I didn’t think he’d go this early.

9:59: Chargers take offensive guard Zion Johnson from Boston College. Philadelphia is next. Would they take Jermaine Johnson II?

A.J. Brown traded to the Eagles for the 18th pick and a third rounder next year. You add him to Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Quez Watkins, and that’s suddenly a nice group of young pass catchers for QB Jalen Hurts.

On that note, time to sign off now … till tomorrow!

Addendum, 10:10 a.m. 4/29: I’m still trying to digest the Jordan Davis draft pick and A.J. Brown trade. I’m liking Davis more and more, even if I would’ve very happy with taking Kyle Hamilton at No. 13. Some of the analysts really like the pick, and Davis’ coach at Georgia, Kirby Smart, said he is absolutely a three-down player. The Bulldogs’ defense was so deep (five first-rounders and nearly a sixth) he didn’t have to be on the field all the time.

As for Brown, 24, he is a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver who should make a major impact if he stays healthy. The deal was contingent on the Eagles’ working out an extension for Brown, so they have him under contract now for years. I love this compilation of reactions to the trade, which are very positive. The Jason Kelce video is classic.