2022 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions
The 2022 NFL Draft is almost here, and the prospects have continued to rise and fall throughout the draft boards after the NFL Combine and the many Pro-Days. There has been plenty of activity over this off-season in free agency and the trade market, but all of that has slowly quieted down as the draft has approached. First-round pick trades have already begun to start, making the decisions for the landing spots for these prospects require another shake-up. With questions as to where this year’s quarterbacks will land and who will be the first overall pick continuing to be thrown around, this will surely be yet another eventful draft in the books.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Aidan Hutchinson, DE/Edge, Michigan: The Jaguars are in a position to add a potentially serious game-changer with Hutchinson. Michigan’s Heisman nomination displays impressive quickness, power, and relentless pursuit to attack the ball carrier no matter where he finds himself on the field. The largest question for Jacksonville is whether or not new head coach Doug Pederson would rather provide second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence with even more offensive line protection after franchise tagging Cam Robinson.
2. Detroit Lions - Travon Walker, DE/Edge, Georgia: If Detroit loses the chance to take the likely top prospect, Aidan Hutchinson, they have way too many holes to address to be picky with their selections. Walker’s draft stock has continued to rise ever since his strong NFL Combine and Georgia Pro Day performances. He has gained more and more attention every day, which could lead to Walker giving Hutchinson a run for his money for the top pick in the draft. The lack of dominant weapons on either side of the ball for Detroit makes this draft even more important than previous ones.
3. Houston Texans - Ickey Ekwonu, OT, NC State: Houston is in a very similar situation as Detroit whereas they have a lot of room for improvement at just about every position. After trading away Deshaun Watson, their quarterback situation is very unknown moving forward, but strengthening a rather unreliable offensive line that ranked near the bottom is a reasonable plan for such a struggling team. Ekwonu is a strong and imposing force that can thrive at tackle, where he spent most of his time at NC State, as well as potentially becoming a major positive change at guard which is a very likely scenario for this intriguing prospect.
4. New York Jets - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama: New York very well could be looking to improve their offensive line after missing valuable playing time from 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton due to an MCL injury at the start of the 2021 season. His knee surgery has held him out, so New York needs to address the offensive line issue if Becton suffers any setbacks. Neal is the total package in the trenches and he could be exactly what Robert Saleh needs to ensure improved protection for his second-year quarterback Zach Wilson. Taking Neal would give the Jets a feeling of insurance for the offensive line and once Becton returns to being a full participant, New York’s offensive struggles could see a serious improvement.
5. New York Giants - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame: The Giants seem to be in a constant need of something on the defensive side of the ball. Ever since Landon Collins and eventual free-agent pickup Jabrill Peppers failed to fit into their defensive scheme, that position has been an unknown void and in desperate need of a dependable player for years to come. New York has experienced some subpar secondary play over the last couple of seasons and their lack of a dominant safety presence has hurt them, Hamilton’s overall size and ability would provide intriguing possibilities. Their inability to provide consistent and reliable safety help for an on-and-off cornerback core has been a major part of their defensive struggles, the addition of Hamilton onto this squad could finally turn things around.
6. Carolina Panthers - Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati: Gardner’s immense skill and consistency when playing the ball in the air have made him one of the highly coveted prospects entering the NFL Draft. His physical style of play makes him a problem for receivers trying to get off the line and break into their routes. Carolina posted a solid defense for a good portion of last season, but a large part of that success was because of what happened in the box. The secondary play could most definitely use a boost, the addition of Gardner would make him an immediate impact player for a team that is trying to break out of their mediocre tier in the league.
7. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears) - Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE/Edge, Oregon: Thibodeaux has experienced a drop in draft stock over the last number of months, but he is too much of a force off the edge to let him drop too far and miss out on a very special player. After dominating at Oregon, he showed off his speed, posting a 4.58-second 40-yard dash, demonstrating the kind of quickness that he can provide off the edge. Although he has been said to lack some physicality, New York needs a constant and game-changing edge-rusher to complement their solid interior defensive line. Some experts may not be entirely sold on Thibodeaux yet, but he will turn heads when he gets the chance.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: Atlanta is in one very tough situation when it comes to their wide receiver core after losing Calvin Ridley for next season due to his suspension. Additionally, the acquisition of Marcus Mariota warrants a new and intriguing option for the offense, Wilson’s big-play ability gives them exactly what they need. His top-notch speed can give Atlanta a deep threat presence that might be absent without Ridley and Wilson is big enough to fight to grab contested balls in traffic and get solid YAC numbers when the opportunities present appear.
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State: Seattle made the big decision to trade Russell Wilson this off-season, putting themselves in rough waters in the quarterback conversation. The new kid on the block Drew Lock will likely be given the chance to prove himself as their potential quarterback of the future, but he may be nothing more than a placeholder for a quarterback in next year's draft. Therefore, strengthening their offensive line, which has been a problem for quite some time, is a reasonable and necessary move, Charles Cross can give Pete Carroll’s team much-needed security. Cross might not have the imposing size like Alabama’s Evan Neal, but his quickness at tackle gives him a valuable factor to account for.
10. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks) - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU: Stingley gained large amounts of attention and exposure after posting such an impressive and note-worthy freshman season, including his 6 interceptions during LSU’s championship year, but injuries have become a constant problem for him. After turning the heads and perhaps changing the opinions of several scouts at his pro day, Stingley showed that he still has the proper speed, quickness, and playmaking ability. Stingley seems to be moving up the draft board and the Jets are right in the mix to pick him up. New York’s defense continues to need major attention, the addition of Stingley would give them a large upgrade.
11. Washington Commanders - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: The discussion regarding who the top linebacker prospect is in this year's draft is between Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean. But, Lloyd’s size advantage over Dean might be the factor that pushes him in front of the Georgia linebacker. Lloyd is an overall defender who can strive in stopping just about the type of play, whether it’s a run or pass. His ability to provide a strong pass-rush when necessary is one of the more underappreciated aspects of his game, but it’s too hard to ignore. Washington is looking to bounce back and return to their more dominant defensive performances after last the struggles they suffered last season. A player like Lloyd that can be such an impact all over the field is just what the Commanders need.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa: Minnesota continues to attempt to break free from the offensive inconsistency that they have been dealing with. With weapons like Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook, the offense should be a constant threat. A less than impressive offensive line is something that new head coach Kevin O’Connell has inherited and should beef up the protection for Kirk Cousins, especially after signing a new one-year extension. Linderbaum has been an incredibly powerful and relentless force throughout his time at Iowa. He plays aggressively on every play, and it is difficult to find a flaw in his game that could warrant real concern or could be exploited easily, he seems to be a no-brainer kind of prospect when it comes to considering interior offensive lineman.
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty: The decision for who will be the first quarterback selected in this year's draft appears to be coming down to Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett, but Willis has only become more valuable each day. Despite Willis playing against FBS competition that is viewed as a lower-tier of Division-I football, his season numbers and performance at his pro day have proved that his overall talent and ability as a dual-threat quarterback enough more than enough to make a splash in the NFL. Houston is struggling to find a trustworthy quarterback after trading away Deshaun Watson to Cleveland. Willis can fit the similar play style and scheme that Watson exhibited in Houston, so of the quarterbacks in the draft, Willis very well could be selected to take over the Texans' offense.
14. Baltimore Ravens - Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia: Davis is an absolute monster of a prospect and the speed that he displayed at the NFL combine and his pro day make him such an intriguing option. His immense size alone is impossible to ignore, and it makes him extremely difficult to move for an offensive lineman. Being able to move as he does at that size makes him a prospect that is difficult to pass up, even if a team does not have an immediate or major need for an interior defensive lineman, Davis should be considered. Baltimore has a solid defensive line in terms of the pressure off the edge, but interior presence is not nearly as prominent. The Ravens have experienced some occasional defensive struggles lately, so defense might be the focus in this year’s draft, Davis would give them an immediate boost from day one.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins) - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: Philadelphia has not possessed a consistently dominant linebacker core for quite some time. Having a definite high-level backer to be the leader of the defense could finally turn things around for a squad that seems to rarely have a reliable answer at linebacker. Dean displays that ability to make plays all over the field which includes a recent improvement in his pass-rush presence. The big question surrounding Dean’s status is that he is seen as undersized in the position, but he has demonstrated that his so-called lack of size is not a problem. His high accumulation of tackles and efficiency at Georgia playing against top-tier SEC and overall Power 5 competition speaks enough to what kind of player he is despite his critiques from scouts.
16. New Orleans Saints (via Philadelphia Eagles) - Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia: New Orleans has a solid pass rush presence coming off the edge with Cameron Jordan with the hopes of Marcus Davenport overcoming his injury problems to boost the edge even more. On the other hand, the interior power of the defensive line has been somewhat underwhelming, so implementing a new game-changer is very much in the conversation. Wyatt demonstrated great power and quickness at Georgia working alongside Jordan Davis. Although Wyatt could have been overshadowed by Davis at times, Wyatt was integral to the success of the National Champion Bulldog defense that only gave up 9.5 points per game.
17. Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas Raiders/TRADE with L.A. Chargers) - Drake London, WR, USC: Green Bay is in desperate need of wide receivers after losing some key factors for Aaron Rodgers’ offense, specifically the loss of Davante Adams. Rodgers’ brand new contract extension left the team in a difficult situation when it came to maintaining the offense that has performed so strongly for the last number of seasons. The wide receiving core in Green Bay is looking rather bleak, so adding someone like London to the squad could serve to address some much-needed attention. The former USC pass-catcher has great size that allows for him to succeed in making contested catches, including plenty of deep catches that are possible due to his sneaky speed. London is capable of thriving both out wide and in the slot, which adds even greater value to his name.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints) - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington: After addressing the linebacker issue at pick 15 with Nakobe Dean, the next sensible option would be to move to the cornerback issue. Aside from Pro-Bowler Darius Slay, the Eagles’ secondary play has been extremely inconsistent and unreliable. There have been attempts to address the problem through free agency over the last couple of seasons, but no specific addition has effectively worked as much as expected. McDuffie is a slightly smaller option compared to the other cornerback prospects, but his top-end speed gives him the ability to stay right alongside even the fastest receivers and make the offense think twice when throwing his way. Although he is on the smaller side, he is one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the draft giving himself another leg-up on other options that could be considered ahead of him.
19. New Orleans Saints (via Philadelphia Eagles) - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State: Although Garrett Wilson has undoubtedly become the more desirable wide receiver option coming out of the Ohio State, Olave deserves his proper amount of praise and consideration. He is an excellent deep threat receiver with his note-worthy speed, shown by his 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, as well as cementing himself as one of the best route-runners over the last couple of seasons. New Orleans needs a new, young wide receiver option that Jameis Winston can rely on daily. Although Michael Thomas is an elite-level player, he has become injury prone and is viewed as one-dimensional, at times. Adding Olave to an offensive squad that continues to find its identity since the departure of Drew Brees, would be a huge step forward.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh: The quarterback class in this year’s draft is not as plentiful and ambitious as last year’s draft, but Pickett appears to be one of the most NFL ready quarterback prospects this year. After an outstanding final season in college, the Heisman Trophy runner-up is one of the most intriguing players to look out for. His truly special play and the huge numbers that he put up in 2021 made Pitt into a surprisingly dangerous team to play. The question is, can Pickett’s one standout season be replicated, and can his skills be enough to take over as a trustworthy starting quarterback. Pittsburgh is in desperate need of a quarterback and in a division as contentious as the AFC North, having a reliable and game-changing quarterback is the major difference between fighting for first place or quickly falling to the bottom.
21. New England Patriots - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama: Williams might be viewed as somewhat of a risky pick due to his ACL injury that sustained during the 2021 season. Aside from the injury, he is too dangerous to be dropping too far in the draft, especially after seeing reports that his recovery could be ahead of schedule. Although he will most likely be rehabbing for quite some time, his ability to get off the line and break out of his routes with such special speed is something that simply can’t be ignored. New England has needed a big-time wide receiver in their lineup for a while, especially after dealing with how disappointing N’Keal Harry has been. Mac Jones looks like has the real possibility to turn into something special, having Williams will solidify a stronger chance for success.
22. Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE with Green Bay Packers) - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: Los Angeles is pretty set at most positions, they just need to figure out to put everything together effectively because they are a constant Super Bowl contender. The offensive line was solid, but aside from Rashawn Slater, the opposite side tackle is a general area of concern after the major loss of Bryan Bulaga. Penning is a very large prospect who has most of his snaps being at left tackle, but he has received his fair share of snaps at right tackle, so a transition there is very possible. Penning is much more of a run-blocking focused tackle, but his pass-protection is constantly improving, so Justin Herbert should only find himself in a better situation regardless.
23. Arizona Cardinals - Jermaine Johnson II, DE/Edge, Florida State: Johnson is a very versatile player who has come a long way from his “Last Chance U” journey. He is able to lineup at defensive end and outside linebacker which can give the defense a plethora of options in rotations. Johnson has excellent abilities in pass-rush situations, his strong balance of speed and power rushes led him to pick up 11.5 sacks in the past season. Acquiring Johnson would help to address the issues of losing some options off the edge, including Chandler Jones and Jordan Phillips, as well as J.J. Watt’s injury conflicts. Arizona has had a solid defensive line and specifically their edge rush for the last couple of seasons, Chandler Jones has been the main contributor. Johnson has the capability to take over as the new top threat coming off the edge.
24. Dallas Cowboys - George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue: Karlaftis is much more of a power-reliant pass rush, and that has proved to be rather difficult to stop or contain. He displays decent size on the defensive line, but he is still able to get to the quarterback effectively despite attempts to take advantage of his supposed lack of length. Dallas has posted some of the most disappointing defensive displays over the last number of seasons and the major lack of pressure on the defensive line has been a major factor in that. The departure of Randy Gregory puts Dallas even more of a difficult situation on the defensive side of the ball. The addition of Karlaftis may not completely solve the problem, but he will provide the necessary impact alongside Micah Parsons.
25. Buffalo Bills - Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson: Buffalo is another team that is pretty solid at the majority of their positions, especially after a strong haul of free agent signings over the off-season. The secondary has been somewhat of a struggle though, that become painfully obvious in their playoff loss, where pass coverage completely fell apart. The loss of Levi Wallace and dealing with Tre’Davious White’s injury warrants a large need for a new cornerback to assist and Andrew Booth Jr. could be that answer. Booth strived in many different coverage packages at Clemson, but his talent in press coverage is his best asset. Booth has issues securing and finishing interception opportunities, but his pure talent in just about any type of coverage and ability to cover the entire field prevents him from becoming so one-dimensional.
26. Kansas City Chiefs (TRADE with Tennessee Titans) - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State: Kansas City has a new problem to deal with as the departure of Tyreek Hill continues to create yet another problem that has occurred over this off-season. Hill has played such a large role on the Kansas City offense, his sudden trade warrants wide receiver to be a position that needs to be addressed immediately with the best available prospect. Dotson is an absolute game-changer who can make a major impact in the slot and as a deep threat. His impressive speed, ability to slip past defenders, and capability to make the tougher catches, despite his somewhat undersized frame, sets him apart from other deep-ball options. Replacing Hill with Dotson is absolutely a possibility, also being able to work alongside Juju Smith-Schuster will open the field more often.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State: This year’s draft does not feature such a strong running back class as compared to previous years, but there is still a good chance that one can be taken in the first round. There are not many teams that appear to be too desperate to find a running back in the earlier parts of the first round, so Tampa Bay may find themselves having all such options available. After losing Ronald Jones, the primary running back group in Tampa Bay is only dependent on Leonard Fournette, therefore the addition of Kenneth Walker III would provide the proper relief. Walker is on the smaller side, but he is more than capable of making defenders look silly with his agility and while having surprising power when he lowers a shoulder. Although Fournette would be the definite number one ball carrier, Walker is too dangerous to leave on the sideline, therefore he will do enough to fight for more time and potentially split game reps more often as the season progresses.
28. Green Bay Packers - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Taking two wide receivers in the first round may seem to be confusing for some teams, but it’s really not that absurd in Green Bay’s case. An ideal situation would be to sign a free agent to pair with a first-round rookie receiver, but they are simply not in a good financial situation to sign an effective and trustworthy free agent. The draft might be their best chance to improve the wide receiver core in Green Bay, Burks is a solid player to add to the mix. He is a pretty big receiver, although he can be deceptively fast and can execute his routes so well for being somewhat larger, he should be much more effective in the slot rather than as a deep threat.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Miami Dolphins) - Travis Jones, DT, UConn: The defensive line play in Kansas City has decreased in quality and efficiency by a large margin over the last couple of seasons. Although their players are making close to the amounts of the top defensive linemen in the league, they are not performing like it, the interior linemen are a large part of the struggles. Aside from Chris Jones, there needs to be a major improvement and the addition of Travis Jones can work to help the team return to a higher level of play. Jones is a massive interior defensive lineman, standing at 6' 4" and weighing in at 325 lbs, and can provide a major impact simply by taking up space. He plays the run much better than the pass, but he can improve with the proper coaching.
30. Tennessee Titans (TRADE with Kansas City Chiefs) - Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M: Tennessee is in the market to obtain an offensive guard that can be a reliable protector on every down. With the Taylor Lewan conducting the majority of offensive line success and dependence, the guard play has been way too inconsistent to ignore. The absence of David Quessenberry is going to be an issue, but with most of the top-tier offensive line prospects being selected at this point, addressing the guard situation should be a priority. Green is excellent in the pass and run protection, and his ability to climb to the second level quickly is huge for a young lineman fighting for a spot. Green also has experience playing every position on the offensive line, except for center, his knowledge at either side as a guard would give the Titans plenty of flexibility.
31. Cincinnati Bengals - David Ojabo, LB, Michigan: Cincinnati is coming off a magical Super Bowl run where their biggest offensive line problems were made abundantly clear. Nevertheless, they have been busy this off-season signing multiple players to address the lack of protection. As for the defense, a greater presence in the pass-rush and linebacker standpoints are very likely options to discuss. Plugging Ojabo into the defense as the outside linebacker and edge rush threat would give Cincinnati many more opportunities to create additional pressure and stress that was not as prevalent last year. Ojabo is in a difficult situation after suffering an Achilles injury at his pro-day, but a definite first-round talent like him is too dangerous to pass up.
32. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) - Daxton Hill, S, Michigan: Detroit continues to have a large number of holes to fill throughout the entire team, finding a player that can efficiently monitor different aspects of the game. Safety has been one of the Lions’ defensive question marks and finding a consistent player has not been very evident lately. Hill has the ability to cover a lot of ground with his quickness, as a safety, he is able to effectively cover in his zone while also thriving in the occasional man coverage situation that he is put into. When it comes to stopping the run, he is not a big-time hitting safety, but he can make the necessary tackles to save explosive plays if necessary.
