Free Agency and trades have shaken up some of the draft order. Spots have been acquired, holes have been filled. Let’s see how teams can improve themselves with the newest version of the NFL 2022 Mock Draft.
Pick 1 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Evan Neal – Alabama OT
Previous Pick – Evan Neal OT
The Jaguars pick stays the same. They franchise tagged Cam Robinson, but that is a short term solution. They spent a lot of money in Free Agency, almost too much and on the wrong people. Hopefully for them, the players become worth the money. Jacksonville needs to focus on developing its offense. You signed FA WR’s. Now get your QB some protection.
Pick 2 – Detroit Lions
Aiden Hutchinson – Michigan EDGE
Previous pick – Aiden Hutchinson EDGE
Aiden Hutchinson remains my top prospect. Like my previous mock, Detroit should probably trade this pick. But since I don’t do trades, they’ll take the best player. Hutchinson stays in Michigan.
Pick 3 – Houston Texans
Ikem Ekwonu – OL North Carolina State
Previous Pick – Ikem Ekwonu OT
Wow. Not much change in this Mock Draft 2.0, but these teams didn’t do much in Free Agency to warrant any change. The Texans plan on building the team around Davis Mills, which isn’t a bad idea. They have as much of a chance at succeeding with Mills than they do any of these rookies. The draft is deep at Wide Receiver and they have plenty of picks after trading away Watson. Shore up that offensive line with Ekwonu.
Pick 4 – New York Jets
Kayvon Thibodeaux – EDGE Oregon
Previous Pick – Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE
The Jets pick doesn’t change either. The Jets need a receiver, but there’s no receiver I would take this high. Thibs provides a key building block for that Saleh defense.
Pick 5 – New York Giants
Kyle Hamilton – S Notre Dame
Previous Pick – George Karlaftis EDGE
The Giants have a lot of holes, especially on defense. They lost a key piece of their secondary in Logan Ryan. They can make that up by getting one of my favorite players in Kyle Hamilton, the massive 6’4″ safety to help that porous secondary. The NFC East has some good receivers in the division. The Giants can certainly even the playing field with this pick.
Pick 6 – Carolina Panthers
Kenny Pickett – QB Pittsburgh
Previous Pick – Charles Cross OT
I don’t think any QB should go this high, but teams will definitely reach for their possible franchise QB. Especially teams with desperate front offices, and boy, are the Panthers desperate. Carolina lost out on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes and pretty much every other FA QB this offseason. Pickett is possibly the most NFL ready QB of this draft. They have a good amount of weapons on that offense. Who’s to say that they shouldn’t swing for the fences and possibly hit it out of the park? It’s a long shot, but if I had to trust anyone with the development of my offense, I would trust former Giants HC and newly appointed Panthers OC Ben McAdoo to truly get the best out of any draft pick. It’s not like he got run out of New York after two pitiful seasons, right?
Pick 7 – New York Giants
Jordan Davis – DT Georgia
Previous Pick – Kyle Hamilton S
Similar to the first Mock, the Giants double down on defense, taking the biggest beast of the draft. At 6’6″ 340 lbs., you are not running up the middle with this man plugging the holes. The Giants could have a quick turnaround on defense just like Dallas had last year. But instead of one man making the difference, the Giants can have two.
Pick 8 – Atlanta Falcons
Chris Olave – WR Ohio State
Previous Pick – Chris Olave WR
The Falcons need weapons. In the span of one year, they went from having two extremely talented receivers, to having none. Olave is still my number one WR and he brings an explosiveness to the Falcons that they’ve been sorely lacking. Unfortunately, with the return of Tom Brady, the division still goes through Tampa, but with Olave on offense, the Falcons could sneak into the playoffs in a noticeably weaker NFC Conference.
Pick 9 – Seattle Seahawks (From Denver Broncos)
Charles Cross – OT Mississippi
Previous Pick – Kenny Pickett QB (Denver)
Our first draft pick to change teams. The Seahawks traded away their franchise QB in exchange for a hefty amount of picks, a perfect foundation to rebuild. You know I love when rebuilds start with the O-line. I think part of the reason for Wilson’s steep drop-off in production last season was the lack of protection. You can prevent that from happening to the next guy by actually investing in your offensive line. Do you hear that John Schneider and Pete Carrol?!? If you protect your franchise QB, they’ll play better and be happier and probably won’t want to leave! Please take the 6’4″ offensive tackle. You can take flashy players later, you certainly have the picks now.
Pick 10 – New York Jets
Garrett Wilson – WR Ohio State
Previous Pick – Garrett Wilson WR
This pick doesn’t change. Zach Wilson needs weapons, and Garrett Wilson can be a great pairing with Corey Davis (if he can stay healthy) and second year receiver Elijah Moore. The Jets have a good offensive line to protect their QB. Take a true No. 1 receiver and watch the Wilson-to-Wilson connection take the league by storm.
Pick 11 – Washington Commanders
Tyler Linderbaum – C Iowa
Previous Pick – Kenyon Green OL
The Commanders stay focused on building the offensive line, but this time, they take the talented center out of Iowa. They have to protect the QB, which is now Carson Wentz, believe it or not. If the Commanders want to get the best out of Wentz, they need to give him protection, and pray that he doesn’t try to play hero ball. As I said in the first Mock, Linderbaum is very quick with his feet and can get to the second level faster than any of his teammates. Washington has an underrated RB room and he can definitely help the run game.
Pick 12 – Minnesota Vikings
Ahmad Gardner – CB Cincinnati
Previous Pick – Andrew Booth Jr. CB
The Vikings go corner in back-to-back Mocks, but this time, they take the man called Sauce. He’s famous for never giving up a touchdown in college, but he’s bound to give up plenty in the NFL. Rookie CB’s are notorious for their struggles in their first few seasons. It takes time to adjust to playing the best of the best every week. Gardner is smart and light on his feet. He can be a great corner if he can shake off a bad play and move on to the next. If not, well, he’ll be the latest in the long line of failed cornerbacks’ prospects drafted by Minnesota in the last five years.
Pick 13 – Houston Texans (From Cleveland Browns)
Trevor Penning – OT Northern Iowa
Previous Pick – Jameson Williams WR (Cleveland)
The first of many draft picks Houston received in the Watson trade, they double down on protecting Davis Mills. Imagine an offensive line with Ikem Ekwonu on one side and nasty Trevor Penning on the other. And before you ask, I know they still have Laremy Tunsil, but they put him on the trading block this offseason, so they aren’t fully committed to the former Ole Miss Tackle. Besides, both Ekwonu and Penning have a tenacity that Tunsil seems to be lacking. In just one round, you solve one of the biggest problems Houston has.
Pick 14 – Baltimore Ravens
George Karlaftis – Edge Purdue
Previous Pick – Tyler Linderbaum OC
The Ravens could use some help on the defense. They signed Marcus Williams from the Saints on a 5-year $70 million deal to shore up a secondary that was so ravaged with injuries last season. They can add a promising pass rusher in the draft by taking Karlaftis with the 14th pick. He’s a big, explosive, and powerful pass rusher that can chase down his opponents.
Pick 15 – Philadelphia Eagles
Jameson Williams – WR Alabama
Previous Pick – Derek Stingley Jr. CB
Devonte Smith has shown some promise in year 1, but you can never have too many weapons and Jalen Reagor has failed to live up to expectations. Williams has tremendous explosiveness coming out of his breaks, and has great breakaway speed. If Philly plans on keeping Jalen Hurts long term, he’ll need receivers who will make it easier for him.
Pick 16 – Philadelphia Eagles
Devin Llyod – LB Utah
Previous Pick – Devin Lloyd LB
The Eagles second of three first round picks remains the same. The Eagles desperately need help on defense if they are to be competitive. The Eagles don’t have a capable linebacker and Llyod can fill that role as an immediate contributor.
Pick 17 – Los Angeles Chargers
Daxton Hill – S Michigan
Previous Pick – Drake London WR
Mike Williams signed a new deal, so the need for a new receiver isn’t the most important need for LA. What is the most important need is defense, and a lot of it. The AFC West is a powerhouse now. Everyone is stacked on offense. The Chargers have a good defense and they’ve gotten better up front, with the addition of Khalil Mack from Chicago, but the secondary will definitely be the make or break for the Chargers. Nasir Adderly is good but the addition of Dax Hill will make that secondary one of the best in the league.
Pick 18 – New Orleans Saints
Derek Stingley Jr. – CB LSU
Previous Pick – Jordan Davis DT
New Orleans could take a QB but they should really strengthen their secondary. It took a hit when Marcus Williams left in Free Agency, but they can change that by keeping the LSU cornerback in Louisiana. One of the fastest corners in college football also has the footwork to keep up with the best of receivers, making him a valuable contributor to pair alongside Marshon Lattimore.
Pick 19 – Philadelphia Eagles
Travon Walker – Edge Georgia
Previous Pick – Trevor Penning OT
The Eagles use two of their picks in the first round picks to shore up their aging defense. Walker wasn’t in my first Mock Draft, but he shot up everyone’s draft boards lately and it’s not hard to see why. He was often overlooked on that stout Georgia defensive line but the tape shows just how good he is. He has tremendous versatility with good burst and length. With Devin Lloyd commanding the defense and Walker creating chaos in the backfield, this defense can become scary in just one round.
Pick 20 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Malik Willis – QB Liberty
Previous Pick – Malik Willis QB
Pittsburgh signed Mitch Trubisky to a two year deal. But unless he performs well, this pick can be a safety blanket. Willis can sit and learn behind Trubisky until his contract is up or if he plays poorly. I still don’t know who was at fault for Trubisky’s lack of development in Chicago, him or Nagy. Willis is an exceptional athlete with a cannon for an arm. A good long term investment in Pittsburgh.
Pick 21 – New England Patriots
Drake London – WR USC
Previous Pick – Ahmad Gardner CB
The Patriots need to give Mac Jones a proper receiver. N’Keal Harry and Nelson Agholor are not it. Drake London is 6’5″, and won’t be a hard target to miss. He can make contested catches with his impressively long arms and can become an instant red zone threat. The Patriots can have an impressive tandem for the next 10-15 years.
Pick 22 – Green Bay Packers (From Las Vegas Raiders)
Treylon Burks – WR Arkansas
Previous Pick – Nakobe Dean LB (Raiders)
The Packers traded away the best WR for a first and a second round pick. It’s not like they could keep both Rodgers and Adams happy, right? There is no way the Packers shouldn’t take a receiver in the first round. Burks is a bit of a reach, but it’s a reach they’ll have to take. With only Allen Lazard catching passes, that offense becomes less of a threat to score on every drive, even with Rodgers at the helm. Introduce Burks and his 6’3″ frame and massive hands, he could be a great addition to that offense, as long as Rodgers doesn’t run him out of town.
Pick 23 – Arizona Cardinals
Jermaine Johnson – Edge Florida State
Previous Pick – DeMarvin Leal DT
JJ Watt is getting older. It’s a shame but he’s far from the player he once was. The Cardinals need to add some much needed youth on the front line, and Johnson can be a plug and play starter that can play multiple positions. Wherever you line him up, he’s going to be a nightmare for the opposing offense.
Pick 24 – Dallas Cowboys
Andrew Booth Jr. – CB Clemson
Previous Pick – Daxton Hill S
The Cowboys haven’t done much in FA yet, but they have a solid roster. With the addition of Booth, that fearsome defense just became even more so. He may not be the biggest, but he has great length and has shown excellent ball tracking skills, which helps him in contested-catch situations. Pair him alongside Trevon Diggs and shut down any offense’s passing game.
Pick 25 – Buffalo Bills
Kaiir Elam – CB Florida
Previous Pick – Treylon Burks WR
If Buffalo wants to make the Super Bowl, they need playmakers on defense. The AFC is overloaded with offensive talent and the Bills just lost in the Divisional Round to Kansas City’s high powered offense. Cornerbacks are becoming more and more of a necessity. Enter Kaiir Elam. He has a good combination of explosiveness and fluidity, while also being physical at the point of attack. In such a pass heavy conference, you can never have to many defenders.
Pick 26 – Tennessee Titans
Matt Corral – QB Mississippi
Previous Pick – Matt Corral QB
Yep. I’m sticking with the same pick for Tennessee. They have a good roster but lack a true playmaker at the most important position. Let Corral learn behind a good veteran in Tannehill and you’ve got your future looking brighter than if you were to take an edge or linebacker.
Pick 27 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenyon Green – OL Texas A&M
Previous Pick – Jahan Dotson WR
With the return of Tom Brady, and the departure of both of the team’s starting guards, Green falls right into the Bucs’ lap. He couldn’t have landed in a better spot in my opinion. Put him between the All-Pro Tristan Wirfs and veteran center Ryan Jensen and let Tom Brady ride on the back of that juggernaut offense to another Super Bowl baby.
Pick 28 – Green Bay Packers
Jahan Dotson – WR Penn State
Previous Pick – Jermaine Johnson EDGE
The Packers take two wide receivers in the first round to try to make up for the loss of Davante Adams. Dotson has great body control and has the ability to make catches under pressure. For Green Bay’s sake, they better hope both these receivers can pan out. I don’t know how you can replace the best receiver in the NFL, but two promising rookies can be a great starting point.
Pick 29 – Miami Dolphins
Nakobe Dean – LB Georgia
Previous Pick – Kaiir Elam CB
The Dolphins could use some help in the middle. They have lacked a true presence at that position since the days of Zach Thomas. Dean may not be as good as Thomas, but if he’s can perform half as well as the future HoFer, this is a steal of a pick.
Pick 30 Kansas City Chiefs
Lewis Cine – S Georgia
Previous Pick – Jaquan Brisker S
I had a hard time choosing which safety the Chiefs should take. Both Cine and Jaquan Brisker have elite level talent. I think I’ll switch it up by going Cine here, though. Tyrann Mathieu is still gone and the AFC West is as stacked as ever. They need help in the secondary. Cine’s 6’2″ frame will be a useful against the stacked receivers in the division, Cortland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, Hunter Renfrow, and now, the best receiver in the NFL, Davante Adams. This team needs all the help it can get on defense.
Pick 31 – Cincinnati Bengals
Zion Johnson – OL Boston College
Previous Pick – Zion Johnson OL
The Bengals have used a ton of their cap space to sign offensive linemen Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and most recently, La’el Collins. That pretty much solidifies a good chunk of that O-line, but you can never have too much protection. With Karras at center, Cappa and Johnson at guard and Collins at LT, that offensive line went from worst to potentially top 10 in just one offseason.
Pick 32 – Detroit Lions
Jaquan Brisker – S Penn State
Previous Pick – Lewis Cine S
The Lions still need to address other positions before they take a potshot at a QB. The defense is still underrated but could use a few more playmakers. Like I said in my previous mock, the Lions need to build their team from the ground up. They aren’t in any position to compete yet and one of these rookie QB’s won’t succeed with this current roster. They have a massive hole in the secondary. Brisker has great awareness and can read routes, allowing him to anticipate the ball, all while playing the QBs eyes. The Lions could sure use a player like him.
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