LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft is complete, and it started and ended as it should, with a national champ Dawg being drafted.
Channel 2 sports director Zach Klein was in Las Vegas for the first night of the draft which saw the Atlanta Falcons make their first pick and five University of Georgia defenders being drafted.
UGA defensive end Travon Walker was the No. 1 overall draft pick taken Thursday night by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
During his three years with the Bulldogs, Walker saw 65 total tackles and 9.5 sacks.
The 21-year-old Thomaston, Ga. native finished in the 98th percentile for the 40-yard dash and the 93rd percentile for the three-cone drill during the NFL Combine.
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With the eighth pick of the draft, the Falcons chose University of Southern California Wide Receiver Drake London.
The 6′4″, 219 lb. newest Atlanta Falcon grew up in Moorpark, California and spent three years with the USC Trojans.
During those three years, he racked up 2,153 yards and 15 touchdowns.
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With the final pick of the first round, the Minnesota Vikings ended the first round the same way it began by drafting a Georgia Bulldog. They drafted safety Lewis Cine.
The rest of the Dawgs drafted in the first round include:
- Round 1, Pick 13 - Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
- Round 1, Pick 22 - Linebacker Quay Walker drafted by the Green Bay Packers
- Round 1, Pick 28 - Defensive Tackle Devonte Wyatt drafted by the Green Bay Packers
It is the first time in NFL history that a school has had five defensive players taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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Another local player is also making his way to the pros. Atlanta native Kyle Hamilton, a safety from Notre Dame, was the No. 14 overall draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens.
There’s still plenty of talent from Georgia left on the board. A surprising move is no one drafted linebacker Nakobe Dean. The linebacker, who some say is undersize, could be a steal for a team in the second round. Offensively, wide receiver George Pickens could also go early Friday night.
Former Roswell High quarterback Malik Willis is also on the board.
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