Sunday, September 11, 2022

Bills Due

I guess it's too late for a spoiler alert. Sorry about that. So, now that you've seen the title of this post, you already know which team my crystal ball is predicting will rule the NFL during the 2022 season. No need to read any further. But if you must, go ahead and keep on reading anyway.
It's always dicey when your pick to win the Super Bowl is a team that has never won the Super Bowl. But this time it just makes too much sense; and I'm sure my crystal ball, aka CB2, isn't the only one that thinks it's a no brainer that the Buffalo Bills will be the team celebrating underneath the confetti shower following Super Bowl 57, to be played 5 months from now on the home field of the Arizona Cardinals.

Of course, as any longtime Bills fan will tell you, it's just not that simple when it comes to this team. Fans of other teams certainly have had their share of disappointment over the years; but to be a Bills fan is to truly know disappointment, the searing disappointment of some of the most gut-wrenching defeats in NFL postseason history.

The Bills wouldn't be on the list of teams that have never won the Super Bowl had they made a simple, stinkin' field goal 32 years ago. After winning the franchise's only two championships in the AFL back-to-back in 1964-65, the Bills went the first 24 years of the Super Bowl era with no Super Bowl appearances. But then in 1990, after finishing 1st in the AFC with a 13-3 record and obliterating the Los Angeles Raiders 51-3 in the AFC championship game, they were a touchdown favorite to defeat the New York Giants in Super Bowl 25. And they were on the cusp of victory after driving from their own 10-yard line into FG range in the final 2 minutes. But the missed 47-yard kick on the last play of the game left them a 1-point loser. And it also seemed to put some sort of hex on the franchise.

A few years later the Bills took the lead in a playoff game with only 16 seconds to play - and lost. And, of course, just last season the Bills took the lead in a playoff game with 13 seconds left - and lost. Yeah, that was some game between the Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2nd round of the playoffs back in January, with both teams scoring twice in the last 2 minutes before the Chiefs pulled it out in overtime. Indeed the Chiefs have been a serious pain in the Bulls' butt the last couple of seasons. But no more. If any other AFC team wants to go to the Super Bowl this season, they're going to have to win on the Bills' home field in January. And that ain't happening, according to CB2. Kiss the hex goodbye.

The Bills were already great last year, as their league best +194 point differential indicates. And now, they could be even greater. If he's not the league's best quarterback, Josh Allen almost is. And the defense, which was the only one in the league to allow fewer than 300 points last year, will be solid again, led by LB Tremaine Edmunds (photo above), who undoubtedly will be at his best this year because this year is a contract year. Edmunds made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020 but not last season. Also, and it's a case of the rich getting richer, veteran LB Von Miller is now on the team. After already winning the Super Bowl with 2 different teams in his career (including last season with the Los Angeles Rams), he's not coming to Buffalo not expecting to win another one. 

And just who will it be that will lose to the Bills in Super Bowl 57? Well, CB2 is predicting a Super Bowl Chris Berman certainly would love. The famous ESPN anchor always use to predict a Super Bowl between the Bills and San Francisco 49ers every year. He never was right, of course. But if that's his choice this year, CB2 guarantees he will be right this time. Yes, you're always apprehensive when you are a team with high expectations and an inexperienced quarterback. But lest you forget it was 10 years ago when a quarterback in his first season as a starter led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. And that's going to be the case again in 2022, with Trey Lance directing a high-scoring offense.

Before the Bills and 49ers face off for the championship, CB2, as always, expects it to be a wild and crazy regular season. Last season's Super Bowl participants, the Rams and Cincinnati Bengals, will struggle but still will be able to get back into the playoffs - in the Bengals' case, just barely. But five other teams who were in the playoffs last year won't. In a loaded AFC there are just too many contenders and not enough playoff spots. Somebody's going to get left out - and that somebody, according to CB2, will be the Chiefs, eliminated after a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18 in one of the most bizarre finishes in NFL history. CB2 believes the additions of WRs Davante Adams (photo above on left) to the Raiders and Tyreek Hill (with his dreads back!) to the Miami Dolphins will make those teams very formidable foes for the Bills. 

CB2 doesn't expect much change in the NFC, predicting the New Orleans Saints as the only new playoff team, replacing the Cardinals. CB2 sees a particularly crazy race in the NFC South, with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers both going from the driver's seat to out of the race in the final month of the season. Those two teams will leave their fans heartbroken (and disgusted), with both losing their last 4 games while the Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both win their last 4 to get in.  

CB2 doesn't expect much change at the bottom of the league either, predicting the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and both New York teams - the Giants and Jets - to be among the most awful teams. But the awful-est of them all will be the Houston Texans, whose bid to become the NFL's first ever 0-17 team will end when they beat the Jaguars in Week 17. Take heart though if you're a fan of one of those teams. At this time last year CB2 picked the Bengals to go 2-15 and they ended up in the Super Bowl.

In its forecast for the 2021 season CB2, the Bengals notwithstanding, picked the winner correctly in 160 of the 272 games. Since there were 16 more games to pick with the expansion of the schedule, total wins is no longer a valid comparison to previous seasons' predictions. So instead we'll go with winning percentage. The 160 wins computes to a win percentage of .588, which is significantly better than the .562 and .559 marks of the previous two seasons. What about 2022? Well, in the two scans below you can see CB2's picks for all 272 games of the 2022 season. And then, as always, we'll look at the forecast one division at a time, with CB2's exact words, as always, in italics.



AFC EAST
  1. BUF 14-3
  2. MIA 12-5
  3. NE 7-10
  4. NYJ 3-14
CB2: With division crown on the line in crucial Week 15 battle at Buffalo, Tyreek Hill takes punt return 98 yards to the house with 2:00 to play to give Dolphins 27-20 lead. But Bills drive 75 yards in 12 plays and score on last play of game on James Cook's 4-yard reception for his 10th TD of season. Then Josh Allen scores on QB keeper for 2-point conversion to give Bills 28-27 victory and 2-game lead in division. 2 weeks later Bills clinch AFC East with Dolphins' loss at New England in snowstorm.


Undaunted by last year's failed prediction that Zack Moss would be the first Bills player with dreads to reach double figures in TD scored, CB2 is making the same prediction again this season - except that it will be rookie James Cook (photo above), not Moss (who no longer has dreads) who will score the 10 TD and lead all NFL rookies with dreads in touchdowns. CB2 is also predicting a big first season with the Dolphins for Tyreek Hill (photo below). In his first season with dreads since 2019 Hill's 13 TD will be the most by an AFC East player with dreads.
  

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AFC NORTH
  1. BAL 12-5
  2. CIN 10-7
  3. PIT 9-8
  4. CLEV 8-9

CB2: With Bengals clinging to 28-24 lead over Ravens and needing win to keep playoff hopes alive in Week 18 thriller at Cincy, Chidobe Awuzie gets his 4th interception of season, picking off Lamar Jackson pass in end zone on 3rd and goal with 22 seconds to play to clinch victory for Bengals. Later in day Chiefs' loss in Vegas clinches final AFC playoff spot for Bengals.

Although CB2 doesn't have the Steelers making the playoffs, it does have them taking the team crown for the most TD scored by players with dreads, with Najee Harris (photo above) scoring 13 of their league leading total of 26 touchdowns by players with dreads. A safe pick - and totally opposite of its weird forecast that Browns rookie Martin Emerson (photo below) (who had all of 1 interception in 3 college seasons) will lead all NFL players (not just rookies) with dreads with 7 INT.



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AFC SOUTH
  1. IND 9-8
  2. TENN 9-8
  3. JAC 3-14
  4. HOU 1-16
TIEBREAKER: Colts clinch 1st place due to head-to-head sweep of Titans (Weeks 4 and 7)

CB2: With Colts - favored by 17 at home over pathetic Texans - trailing 27-14 and on brink of choking away playoff spot in Week 18 for 2nd straight year, Matt Ryan hits Mo Alie-Cox in end zone twice in last 4 minutes of game, including game-winning 3-yarder with :17 on clock, giving Colts division clinching 28-27 win and eliminating Titans from playoff race.


It remains to be seen if Derrick Henry (left photo) will keep his dreads unleashed once the regular season begins (they were that way the entire preseason, and I won't believe it 'til I see it), but according to CB2 you can count on this: Henry will regain his throne as the top-scoring player with dreads in the league, finishing with 17 TD. But it won't be enough to get the Titans into the playoffs. CB2 also has Mo Alie-Cox (right) repeating as the top-scoring TE with dreads (he shared the title with David Njoku last season), with his 2 late TD in Week 18 giving him a career high 7 as the Colts dethrone the Titans as division champs. 
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AFC WEST
  1. LV 12-5 
  2. LAC 11-6
  3. KC 10-7
  4. DEN 6-11
Wait a minute, CB2, aren't you selling the Broncos a little short?
CB2: You sayin' Russell Wilson's staying healthy all year?
Oh, so now you're predicting injuries too?
CB2: 6-11.

CB2: In winner-take-all battle for division crown at Vegas in Week 18, Chiefs lead Raiders by 3 in last minute when Tommy Townsend, punting from end zone, booms career long 81-yard punt, downed by gunner Chris Lammons at 9-yard line with :30 on clock. But play is reviewed and overturned, with Lammons ruled to have stepped on sideline on his way down field. Since he was first to touch ball, Chiefs are penalized 4 yards (half the distance to goal line) and down is replayed. Chiefs punt again on next play and Davante Adams makes fair catch at KC 49 with :22 on clock. Raiders elect to attempt free kick field goal, and Daniel Carlson nails 59-yarder to send game into overtime. Chiefs take 41-38 lead on first possession in OT and apparently clinch win on Nick Bolton's 1st career INT on 6th play of Raiders' ensuing drive. But, while Chiefs' celebration is already underway on the field, play is reviewed and overturned, with Chiefs being penalized 5 yards for having 12 men on field. And on next play Adams' 36-yard catch and run to the house gives Raiders 44-41 victory for division crown. 
Moments after craziness is over at Vegas, Chargers kick 61-yard FG at Denver to send their game into OT, and on 1st play of OT Asante Samuel Jr. scoops up fumble by Javonte Williams and races 26 yards to the house, giving Chargers' playoff-clinching 32-26 victory and eliminating Chiefs from playoff race.

Whew. If that actually happens, CB2, I'll give you an 'A' regardless of all the rest of your predictions.

CB2 is certain that with the addition of Davante Adams (left photo) and others, the Raiders will end their 3-year drought of having no TD scored by players with dreads (their last one was Dwayne Harris' wild 99-yard punt return in Week 16 of 2018). With Adams leading all players with dreads in TD receptions with 14, the Raiders will top the 20 mark in total TD by players with dreads. But that'll only be good for 2nd best in the division. CB2 is confident that Javonte Williams (right photo), in his first full season with dreads, will score 9 TD as the Broncos lead the division with 24 TD scored by players with dreads.
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NFC EAST  
  1. PHIL 12-5
  2. DALL 12-5
  3. WASH 6-11
  4. NYG 4-13
TIEBREAKER: Eagles clinch 1st place due to better record than Cowboys in games vs. division opponents (PHIL 5-1, DAL 4-2)

CB2: After failed 2-pt. conversion by WFT - er, Commanders - with 47 seconds left leaves Cowboys with 27-26 lead in Week 18 thriller at FedEx Field, CeeDee Lamb recovers onside kickoff, apparently clinching victory for Cowboys. But instead of going down, Lamb returns kick 43 yards to the house with 40 seconds to go. Extra point is blocked and scooped up and taken 88 yards to the house by Rachad Wildgoose for defensive 2-point conversion, cutting Dallas' lead to 33-28. Then on last play of game Cam Sims outjumps three defenders to haul in Hail Mary pass for 50-yard TD, giving Commanders 34-33 win, costing Cowboys division title, and making it 18 years in a row without repeat champion in NFC East. 



CB2 believes Quez Watkins (left photo) will score a career high 7 TD for the Eagles and give CeeDee Lamb (right photo) a run for his money as the NFC East's top scoring player with dreads. But ultimately Lamb will pull away and lead the division's players with dreads in TD for the 3rd straight year, finishing with 13 TD, including an NFC leading 12 TD receptions. CB2 also believes Giants S Xavier McKinney (sorry, no photo) will finish with 6 INT for the 2nd straight year and will dethrone Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs (sorry, no photo) as the NFC player with dreads with the most picks.
 
NFC NORTH
  1. GB 12-5
  2. MINN 9-8
  3. CHI 5-12
  4. DET 5-12
TIEBREAKER: Bears clinch 3rd place due to head-to-head sweep of Lions (Weeks 10 and 17)

CB2: Needing Week 18 win to clinch playoff spot Vikings turn ball over 4 times at frigid Soldier Field but still have chance to win after K.J. Osborn's 17-yard TD catch on last play of game cuts Bears' lead to 17-16. But after Dalvin Cook's run for successful, would-be game-winning 2-point conversion is nullified by holding penalty, Vikings instead attempt kick for game-tying extra point and sudden, severe gust of wind blows kick wide right, giving Bears win and eliminating Vikings from playoff contention.

CB2 thinks Packers LB Rashan Gary (photo above) will take another big step forward in 2022 and will lead all the league's players with dreads in sacks with 14. And CB2 also thinks Dalvin Cook (photo below) will recover from last year's scoring slump and once again reach double figures in TD scored with 11, one more than his little brother scores for the Bills. But with Justin Jefferson no longer recognized as a player with dreads, the Vikings will be dethroned by the Steelers as the NFL team with the most TD scored by players with dreads.

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NFC SOUTH
  1. TB 10-7
  2. NO 10-7
  3. CAR 8-9
  4. ATL 8-9
TIEBREAKER: Buccaneers clinch 1st place due to better record than Saints in games vs. common opponents (TB 9-5, NO 8-6)
TIEBREAKER: Panthers clinch 3rd place due to better record than Falcons in games vs. common opponents (CAR 6-8, ATL 5-9)

CB2: With 4-way tie for division crown (which would give Panthers division crown and Falcons wild card berth) looming, Saints and Bucs come from behind incredibly in Week 18 to steal playoff berths. At Atlanta Tom Brady hits Julio Jones for 3 TD in 4th quarter, including 6-yarder with :06 remaining as Bucs wipe out 31-14 deficit in last 7 minutes to stun Falcons 35-31 and clinch division crown, eliminating Falcons from playoff contention. Moments later at Superdome, after Alvin Kamara's 3rd TD of 4th quarter with 41 seconds remaining completes Saints' comeback from 27-6 deficit and ties game, Panthers' ensuing drive is almost in FG range when Bradley Roby intercepts pass that deflects off hands of Robby Anderson and returns it 80 yards to the house on final play of game for unbelievable 33-27 victory, sending Saints into playoffs and Saints fans into hysteria, and eliminating Panthers from playoff contention.

CB2 is trusting the reports that Alvin Kamara (photo above) will not be suspended this season for his offseason misbehavior and is predicting he will lead all NFC players with dreads in TD with 14 (dethroning Cordarrelle Patterson). And I don't know why but CB2 also is predicting the Panthers to be the NFC team with the most TD scored by players with dreads, with with 22, with D'Onta Foreman (photo below) celebrating with his teammates often while scoring a career high 10 and with Andre Roberts (sorry, no photo) taking at least one return to the house. 
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NFC WEST
  1. SF 13-4
  2. LAR 10-7
  3. SEA 6-11
  4. ARIZ 6-11
TIEBREAKER: Seahawks clinch 3rd place due to better record than Cardinals in games vs. division opponents (SEA 2-4, ARIZ 1-5)

CB2: Playing on Saturday in Week 18 and needing win to assure playoff spot, Rams trail at Seattle 24-20 after blowing 17-0 halftime lead; but on 4th and 11 with 1:27 to play Rams burn blitz by Seahawks' D as Darrell Henderson takes screen pass 72 yards to the house. Rams hold on for playoff-clinching 27-24 victory.
 
CB2 is adamant that Brandon Aiyuk (left photo) will be a major contributor to the 49ers success, finishing with a career high 10 TD. But he will have to share the title for the NFC West's top scoring player with dreads with Marquise Brown (right photo). With DeAndre Hopkins suspended for the Cardinals' first 6 games, CB2 has Brown, in his first season on the team, picking up the slack and also scoring a career high 10 TD.
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OK, to make it a bit easier and so that you don't have to keep scrolling back and forth, here are all the predicted records again more condensed. 

AFC
BUF 14-3           BAL 12-5          IND 9-8          LV 12-5
MIA 12-5           CIN 10-7           TENN 9-8       LAC 11-6
NE 7-10             PIT 9-8             JAC 3-14        KC 10-7
NYJ 3-14           CLEV 8-9         HOU 1-16       DEN 6-11 
 
AFC TIEBREAKER: Raiders clinch #2 seed due to better record than Ravens in games vs. common opponents (LV 4-1, BAL 3-2)
AFC TIEBREAKER: Bengals clinch #7 seed due to head-to-head win over Chiefs (Week 13)

NFC
PHIL 12-5         GB 12-5           TB 10-7           SF 13-4
DAL 12-5         MINN 9-8         NO 10-7          LAR 10-7
WASH 6-11      CHI 5-12          CAR 8-9          SEA 6-11
NYG 4-13        DET 5-12          ATL 8-9           ARIZ 6-11

NFC TIEBREAKER: Eagles clinch #2 seed due to head-to-head victory over Packers (Week 12)
NFC TIEBREAKER: Rams clinch #6 seed due to head-to-head win over Saints (Week 11)
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PLAYOFFS

ROUND 1
  • LV over CIN
  • BAL over LAC
  • MIA over IND
  • PHIL over NO
  • GB over LAR
  • DAL over TB
ROUND 2
  • BUF over MIA
  • LV over BAL
  • SF over DAL
  • GB over PHIL
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
  • BUF over LV
  • SF over GB
SUPER BOWL 57
  • BUF 29 SF 27 (MVP: Josh Allen)
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CHANGES FOR 2022
 
The House of Dread has now been refitted entirely with revolving doors - to speed things up a bit, allowing for entry and exit at the same time. And with the NFL - and all the other sports too - now having more players with dreads than ever, those doors certainly have been getting a workout in the last couple of seasons. Here are all the comings and goings, and all the other changes as of the beginning of the 2022 season.

EX-DREAD

Here are all the players who went out that revolving door - all the ones that I know of who had dreads when last season began but have cut them off for now.

  • Boogie Basham (BUF)
  • A.J. Brown (PHIL) (photo below)

 

















  • Bryan Cook (KC) (rookie)
  • Michael Davis (LAC)
  • Elijah Hicks (CHI) (rookie)
  • Myles Jack (PIT)
  • Derwin James (LAC) (photo below)



Derwin James, shown at practice on Sept. 7, had dreads all the way through the preseason until they suddenly disappeared at some point during the Labor Day weekend.






  • Jakob Johnson (LV)
  • Desmond King (HOU)
  • Christian Kirksey (HOU) (left photo below)
  • DeMarcus Lawrence (DAL) (right photo below)

  • Boye Mafe (SEA) (rookie)
  • Nicholas Morrow (CHI)
  • Zack Moss (BUF) (photo below)














  • Jalen Reeves-Maybin (HOU)
  • Elandon Roberts (MIA)
  • Wan'Dale Robinson (NYG) (rookie)
  • Marvell Tell (CIN) (PS)
  • Jaylen Waddle (MIA) (photo below)


Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill at training camp practice on July 30. No sooner had Hill brought back his dreads, Waddle cut his off - ending any chance the Dolphins had to lead the league in touchdowns scored by players with dreads before it even got off the ground.






  • Jamaal Williams (DET)
  • Jabari Zuniga (SEA) (PS)
Sheldrick Redwine, who finished last season with the Dolphins, and Jason Pierre-Paul, who played for the Buccaneers last season, also have cut off their dreads. They both are unsigned as of the start of the 2022 season.

And that's not all. There are a few more names to be added to the ex-dread list. Names that I probably shouldn't have welcomed to the house in the first place. It's my bad that I did. 

Yes, it's time for a little, needed housecleaning - in the form of the dismissal of the players who have their hair in the semi-dreads/semi-braids style known as 2-strand twists. At least until those players decide to allow their hair to lock together. Many players have started with 2-strand twists and let them lock and become dreads - Brandon Aiyuk of the 49ers, for example. But many others have shown they're just fine staying with the 2-strand twists. Exhibit A in this category is Justin Jefferson of the Vikings. I welcomed Justin to the house during his 2020 rookie season expecting his twists to turn into dreads - just like Aiyuk's. But after 2 years of waiting it's now obvious he's not going to let it happen - as you can see in the photos above (from the beginning of training camp on July 27 on the left and from the Vikings' preseason game vs. the Raiders on Aug. 14 on the right). So - and I'm sorry, Justin - you have to go. You and all the other players listed below, whom I've previously identified as having dreads, but not anymore. 
  • Paulson Adebo (NO)
  • Cam Akers (LAR)
  • Quintez Cephus (DET)
  • Demetric Felton (CLEV)
  • Kristian Fulton (TENN) (left photo below)
  • Mike Hilton (CIN) (right photo below)

  • Justin Jefferson (MINN)
  • Ifeatu Melifonwu (DET)
  • Amen Ogbongbemiga (LAC)
  • Janarius Robinson (MINN) (PS)
  • Mike Strachan (IND)
  • Patrick Taylor (GB) (PS)
  • Tracy Walker (DET)
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NEW DREADS

These are the players I'm welcoming to the house (welcoming back a couple of them) this season after they did not have dreads at the beginning of last season.
  • Tutu Atwell (LAR) (photo below)




















  • Coby Bryant (SEA) (rookie)
  • Sam Franklin (CAR)
  • Marquise Goodwin (SEA)
  • Dre Greenlaw (SF)
  • Tyreek Hill (MIA)
  • Timmy Horne (ATL) (rookie)
  • Lil'Jordan Humphrey (NE) (PS)
  • Kelvin Joseph (DAL)

  • Shaq Lawson (BUF) (left photo above)
  • Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (CLEV) (right photo above)
  • Roy Robertson-Harris (JAC)

  • Darrell Taylor (SEA) (left photo above)
  • Rachaad White (TB) (rookie) (right photo above - it was a close call, but I'm going to welcome                                  White, who is well on his way to converting from 2-strand twists to dreads)
  • Javonte Williams (DEN)
  • Sammy Watkins (GB) (photo below)
Sammy Watkins, back home at Arrowhead Stadium for the Packers' preseason game at Kansas City on Aug. 25. After not having dreads during his three seasons with the Chiefs (2018-20) and his one season with the Ravens (2021) Sammy has decided to put his dreads back on this season. But unfortunately these aren't the same wonderful, awesome-looking dreads he had during his first 4 seasons in the league with the Bills and Rams. Their length is fine but they are far too reduced. But I guess it's better than no dreads at all.  


Alex Armah, who was let go by the Commanders after being injured midway through August, also has completed his conversion from 2-strand twists to dreads. But he remains unsigned as of the beginning of this season.

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SAME DREADS, NEW THREADS

The dreads are the same, but the uniforms have changed for these players who are playing for different teams than they did last season. Last year's team is listed first, followed by this year's team, which will be underlined.
  • Ameer Abdullah (CAR, LV)
  • Davante Adams (GB, LV)
  • Mario Addison (BUF, HOU IR)
  • Kwon Alexander (NO, NYJ)
  • Anthony Averett (BAL, LV)
  • Brandon Bolden (NE, LV) (left photo below)

  • Teddy Bridgewater (DEN, MIA) (right photo above)
  • Marquise Brown (BAL, ARIZ)
  • Deon Bush (CHI, KC)
  • Keion Crossen (NYG, MIA)
  • Dennis Daley (CAR, TENN)
  • Cody Ford (BUF, ARIZ IR)
  • Mike Ford (DEN, ATL) (photo below)



















  • D'Onta Foreman (TENN, CAR)
  • Dante Fowler (ATL, DAL)
  • C.J. Gardner-Johnson (NO, PHIL)
  • Stephon Gilmore (CAR, IND) (photo below)



















  • Randy Gregory (DALL, DEN)
  • Marcell Harris (SF, NYJ) (left photo below)
  • O.J. Howard (TB, HOU)
  • Melvin Ingram (KC, MIA) (right photo below)

  • Richie James (SF IR, NYG)
  • Lonnie Johnson (HOU, TENN)
  • Julio Jones (TENN, TB) (left photo below)
  • Ronald Jones (TB, KC)
  • Cory Littleton (LV, CAR) (right photo below)

  • Tyrann Mathieu (KC, NO)
  • Ty Montgomery (NO, NE)
  • Ifeadi Odenigbo (CLEV, IND)
  • Dare Ogunbowale (JAC, HOU)
  • Larry Ogunjobi (CIN, PIT) (left photo below, wearing jersey #65 during the preseason before switching to #99 for the regular season)  
  


  • Zach Pascal (IND, PHIL) (right photo above)
  • Michael Pierce (MINN, BAL)
  • Justin Reid (HOU, KC)
  • Andre Roberts (LAC, CAR)
  • Logan Ryan (NYG, TB)
  • Laviska Shenault (JAC, CAR)
  • Za'Darius Smith (GB, MINN) (photo below)














  • M.J. Stewart (CLEV, HOU)
  • Billy Turner (GB, DEN)
  • Jordan Whitehead (TB, NYJ)
  • Isaac Yiadom (GB, HOU) (photo below)












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DAWG GONE

With their thrilling 33-18 victory over Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game to conclude the 2021 season - a victory that avenged their 41-24 defeat to the Crimson Tide in the SEC title game 5 weeks earlier, the Georgia Bulldogs were officially crowned the new kings of college football. And not settling for just that, 15 weeks later the Bulldogs became the new kings of the NFL Draft too. No fewer than 15 Dawgs were gone from teams' draft boards by the end of the 2022 Draft on Apr. 30. Previously - and ever since the draft went to a 7-round format in 1994 - the most players picked from one college team in any one year had been 14.

The parade of Dawgs began immediately, with DE Travon Walker being taken by the Jaguars with the very first pick of the Draft. Of the other 14 UGA players picked 5 have dreads, two of whom who went in the 1st round. Massive 6-foot-6, 341-pound DT Jordan Davis (photo on right) was the first of the 5 picked, going 13th overall to the Eagles. Then with the last pick of the 1st round the Vikings selected S Lewis Cine (in the upper left in the photo below). The others are RB James Cook (upper right) in the 2nd round by the Bills, who as was mentioned earlier is the younger brother of Vikings RB Dalvin Cook; and then G Justin Shaffer (lower left) by the Falcons and CB Derion Kendrick (lower right) by the Rams - both in round 6.

Davis barely missed being the 1st player with dreads picked in this year's draft. One pick before he was taken the Lions took former Alabama WR Jameson Williams 12th overall, giving him the honor of being the 1st player with dreads selected. After Williams and Davis there were 45 more players with dreads picked, with the total of 47 falling 2 short of the record 49 picked in 2020. Along with the 47 players with dreads there were at least 35 picked with either braids or 2-strand twists. So there might be some players you thought had dreads that will not be included on the list below.

The Seahawks lead the way with 5 players with dreads picked, followed by the Browns and Bears with 4 each (although one player from both the Bears and Seahawks had to be put on the ex-dread list already). With 5 players from Georgia, it's no surprise that the SEC was the conference that had the most players with dreads picked - a total of 10. 2nd place goes to the ACC with 8. And there's a 2-way tie between guards and cornerbacks for the position with the most players with dreads drafted - 8 of both. Only 6 of the league's 32 teams did not select at least one player with dreads - the Cowboys, Commanders, Saints, Patriots, Jets, and Bengals.

2022 NFL DRAFT

Here are the 47 players with dreads picked. They made their teams' opening day roster unless otherwise indicated.

ROUND 1

12. WR Jameson Williams (DET) (NFI)* (left photo above)
13. DT Jordan Davis (PHIL)
15. G Kenyon Green (HOU) (left photo below)
17. G Zion Johnson (LAC) (right photo above)
27. LB Devin Lloyd (JAC) (right photo below)
32. S Lewis Cine (MINN)

*Jameson Williams was not in uniform at all during the preseason while recovering from the knee injury he suffered in that thrilling championship game between Alabama and Georgia. Since the injury did not occur in an NFL game, he landed on the NFI list instead of IR and, by rule, will not be allowed to play in the first 8 games of the season (even if he's healthy before then). Despite that, he's so sensational a player that the Lions picked him in the 1st round anyway.

ROUND 2
40. LB Boye Mafe (**) (SEA)
41. RB Kenneth Walker (SEA) (left photo below, fiddling with his dreads during minicamp on June 7)
45. LB David Ojabo (BAL) (IR)
63. RB James Cook (BUF)
64. LB Nik Bonitto (DEN) (right photo below)

ROUND 3
66. LB Brian Asamoah (MINN)
67. G Joshua Ezeudu (NYG)
68. CB Martin Emerson (CLEV)
71. WR Velus Jones (CHI) (right photo below, showing off his dreads at the Rookie Premiere on May 21)
73. TE Jelani Woods (IND) (left photo below)
78. DE Alex Wright (CLEV)
90. G Dylan Parham (LV)
91. RB Rachaad White (TB)

ROUND 4
108. DT Perrion Winfrey (CLEV) (#97 in left photo below, alongside 3rd round pick Alex Wright)
109. CB Coby Bryant (SEA)
116. DE Eyioma Uwazurike (DEN)
119. CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (BAL) (right photo below)
125. WR Erik Ezukanma (MIA)
138. WR Calvin Austin (PIT) (IR)
143. TE Chigoziem Okonkwo (TENN)

ROUND 5
153. CB Tariq Woolen (SEA) (left photo below, now wearing jersey #27 after he wore #39 during the                                                                                                                                                       preseason)
158. DE Tyreke Smith (SEA) (IR) (right photo below)
168. OT Braxton Jones (CHI)
169. RB Ty Chandler (MINN)
173. G Marcus McKethan (NYG) (IR)

ROUND 6
190. G Justin Shaffer (ATL) (PS)
197. CB Gregory Junior (JAC) (PS)
201. RB Keaontay Ingram (ARIZ) (left photo below)
202. WR Michael Woods (CLEV) 
212. CB Derion Kendrick (LAR)
214. CB Ja'Sir Taylor (LAC)
215. G Lecitus Smith (ARIZ) (right photo below)
216. DT Curtis Brooks (IND) (PS)
217. LB James Houston (DET) (PS)
220. DT Kalia Davis (SF) (NFI)

ROUND 7
226. G Ja'Tyre Carter (CHI)
234. DT Jonathan Ford (GB)
242. CB Kalon Barnes (CAR)
251. RB Isaih Pacheco (KC) (left photo below)
254. S Elijah Hicks (**) (CHI)
256. LB Jesse Luketa (ARIZ) (right photo below)

(**) Boye Mafe and Elijah Hicks had dreads when they were drafted in April and still had them as late as the middle of August, but both have cut them off to start their rookie seasons.
.

UNDRAFTED

At least 19 rookies with dreads who were not picked in the 2022 Draft will begin their careers on the practice squads of various teams. But their were 3 who were impressive enough during the preseason to have beaten the odds and made their teams' opening day rosters:

DT Timmy Horne (ATL)
RB Jordan Mason (SF) (left photo below)
LB Luiji Vilain (MINN) (right photo below)


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