The 5 Most Important NFL Draft First-Round Positions

There’s many different positions to choose from on draft day.

There’s offensive tackle, offensive guard, center, tight-end, wide receiver, running back, full-back, quarterback, defensive end, defensive tackle, nose tackle, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback, safety, punter and kicker. 

What are the most important positions? 

The predominant thought process used to be to draft down the middle. 

Get the quarterback, running back, center, middle linebacker and safety right and everything else falls into place. 

I remember hearing that watching the draft in the 1990’s, but that was then and this is now, and the game has continued evolving. 

Players are not only bigger and faster, but game planning philosophy has changed too. It used to be run to set up the pass, but now it’s about the pass (and don’t forget to run). 

In 2022, 28 out of 32 teams passed more than 50% of the time. Out of those 28 teams, 10 teams threw at least 60% of the time – teamrankings.com

Tampa Bay racked up the most frequent flyer miles, passing 67.88% of the time. 

With this change in offensive philosophy (combined with NFL rule changes), it’s become a pass-happy league.

This falls in line with the adage, “If you have a quarterback, you have a chance.” 

With that said, what are the five most important positions your team can target in the first-round?

1. Quarterback

Everything starts here. 

The two most important characteristics are a quick release and pin-point accurate downfield ball placement.

Quarterbacks are getting the ball out of their hands faster and faster. The league average is 2.5 seconds, snap-to-release time. 

Tampa Bay’s field general Tom Brady is at 2.2 seconds and 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo is at 2.3 seconds. It’s no wonder both have won over 70% of their games as a starter.

A prospect must show the ability to process what they are seeing quickly.

Downfield ball placement is equally as important. Ball placement is not the same as competition percentage. Some receivers are hopping, skipping and jumping all over the place, making circus catches padding a quarterback’s “completion percentage.”

That’s not what we’re talking about.

Ball placement is putting the ball where receivers can run right through the catch and pick up additional yardage.

This was the thing that stuck most about Mac Jones at Alabama coming out in 2021. His downfield ball placement was on point, and he ended up leading New England to the playoffs his rookie season and he became the runner-up for Rookie Offensive of the Year honors. 

Jones’s snap-to-release time is 2.2 seconds.

2. Defensive Pass Rushers (defensive ends, tackles, linebackers)

It’s all about who can disrupt the pocket and get to the quarterback in a couple blinks of an eye. 

Stopping the run or covering the pass for the front seven is a distant afterthought.

The ideal prospect has speed, power, short-area burst into the pocket and a full arsenal of pass rush moves that quickly defeat blockers.

Your team wants the guy who looks “quarterback minded,” on game film.

Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson (DET No. 2) and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux (NYG No. 5) were number one and two on my board in 2022.

3. Cornerbacks

First-round corners must have that short-area explosive second-gear, which is the prerequisite to being a playmaker.

Having fluid hips, top-end straight-line speed, and ball instincts are important too. The most needed trait is that vibe of confidence that comes off like a strong cologne.

Last year, two cornerbacks came off the board early, Derek Stingley Jr. (HOU No. 3) and Ahmad Gardner (NYJ No. 4).

4. Offensive tackles

Left tackles are the premium position if your team’s quarterback is right-handed, and a right tackle if your team’s quarterback is a lefty.

Many of the top pass rushers come off the edge, and making sure the passer stays upright is a must.

On game film, you want to see fast and well-coordinated lateral footwork to be able to slide up and down the pocket like a video game joystick is controlling their movements.

The Chargers’ left tackle Rashawn Slater comes to mind (2021: No. 13)

5. Wide receivers (tight end)

These guys can change the score in a matter of seconds by either taking the top off a defense or grabbing a short pass and taking it to the house.

Having the ability to make quick and razor-sharp changes of direction is the top trait needed to gain separation and position for the catch.

Nobody does that better this year than North Carolina’s Josh Downs.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock.For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.