This past weekend was a big one for former Georgia high school football players at the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada. 30 players with ties to the Peach State heard their names called during the three-day event.
Texas had the most former players taken with 32.
Leading the way was Cedar Grove High School, which had three players taken. That’s the most for one high school in this year’s draft. In addition to the Saints, Archer, Cherokee and Marist each had two players selected.
Former Cedar Grove quarterback Jelani Woods, who is now a tight end, was taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the 73rd overall pick.
The Atlanta Falcons grabbed the two other local kids — linebacker DeAngelo Malone with the 82nd pick and guard Justin Shaffer at No. 190.
Leading the way from Georgia was the overall No. 1 pick, defensive end Travon Walker from Upson-Lee, who was picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last year, the Jags chose former Cartersville QB Trevor Lawrence with the first in the draft.
Related: Travon Walker was also a good high school basketball player
Marist safety Kyle Hamilton was the second Georgia player drafted. The Baltimore Ravens took Hamilton with the 14th pick.
The Falcons third local pick was Marist alum John FitzPatrick, who played collegiately at the University of Georgia. That means the tight end has played his entire football career in-state, so far.
Andrew Booth, Jr. of Archer was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 42nd pick.
The New York Giants used the 67th pick to take former Archer offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu.
The two picks from Cherokee were wide receive Montrell Washington by the Denver Broncos at No. 162 and running back Brittain Brown at No. 250 by the Las Vegas Raiders.
2022 NFL Draft – Georgia Picks
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | High School |
| No. 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Travon Walker | DE | Upson-Lee |
| No. 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Kyle Hamilton | S | Marist |
| No. 22 | Green Bay Packers | Quay Walker | ILB | Crisp County |
| No. 28 | Green Bay Packers | Devonte Wyatt | DT | Towers |
| No. 42 | Minnesota Vikings | Andrew Booth, Jr. | CB | Archer |
| No. 67 | New York Giants | Joshua Ezeudu | G | Archer |
| No. 73 | Indianapolis Colts | Jelani Woods | TE | Cedar Grove |
| No. 82 | Atlanta Falcons | DeAngelo Malone | OLB | Cedar Grove |
| No. 86 | Tennessee Titans | Malik Willis | QB | Roswell |
| No. 90 | Oakland Raiders | Dylan Parham | G | Carrollton |
| No. 100 | Arizona Cardinals | Myjai Sanders | DE | Camden County |
| No. 107 | Houston Texans | Dameon Pierce | RB | Bainbridge |
| No. 133 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jake Carmarda | P | Norcross |
| No. 141 | Baltimore Ravens | Damarion Williams | CB | Community Christian |
| No. 143 | Tennessee Titans | Chigoziem Okonkwo | TE | Hillgrove |
| No. 162 | Denver Broncos | Montrell Washington | WR | Cherokee |
| No. 179 | Green Bay Packers | Kingsley Enagbare | OLB | Hapeville Charter |
| No. 183 | New England Patriots | Kevin Harris | RB | Bradwell Institute |
| No. 190 | Atlanta Falcons | Justin Shaffer | G | Cedar Grove |
| No. 195 | Los Angeles Chargers | Jamaree Salyer | G | Pace Academy |
| No. 208 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Connor Heyward | FB | Peachtree Ridge |
| No. 213 | Atlanta Falcons | John FitzPatrick | TE | Marist |
| No. 215 | Arizona Cardinals | Lecitus Smith | G | Fitzgerald |
| No. 225 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Mark Robinson | OLB | Lee County |
| No. 228 | Green Bay Packers | Tariq Carpenter | ILB | Long County |
| No. 231 | Buffalo Bills | Baylon Spector | ILB | Calhoun |
| No. 240 | Washington Commanders | Christian Holmes | CB | McNair |
| No. 243 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jaylen Watson | CB | Laney |
| No. 244 | Arizona Cardinals | Christian Matthew | CB | Chattahoochee |
| No. 250 | Las Vegas Raiders | Brittain Brown | RB | Cherokee |
