The Super Bowl is over and the Los Angeles Rams are the champions. We are now fully entrenched into the 2022 NFL MOCK DRAFT season.
After going with a two-round mock the last go around I am now back to the traditional one rounder.
So, let’s do some mock drafting.
2022 NFL Mock Draft 13.0
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Evan Neal, OT, Alabama | Fresh off of the hiring of head coach Doug Pederson, we now look to build around Trevor Lawrence. The top of the OT class is so close. I believe Evan Neal is slightly ahead of Ekwonu and Cross. |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon | The Lions have a choice between the uber talented Thibodeaux and the home state kid in Hutchinson. I love the upside of the Oregon product more. |
| 3 | Houston Texans | Aiden Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan | The Texans have a roster that resembles an expansion team. They just fired their coach after one season and hired a retread with Lovie Smith. Needless to say, they have many holes to fill. Hutchinson could be their next JJ Watt. |
| 4 | NY Jets | Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State | The Jets have tons of cap space and four picks in the top 38. Their staff will also be coaching at the Senior Bowl. They have a chance to better in a hurry. Ekwonu is the type of nasty demeanor OT that they can pair with Mekhi Becton to continue to protect Zach Wilson. |
| 5 | NY Giants | Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State | Andrew Thomas was a great addition in the 2020 draft but the offensive line still needs help. If they are going to a more pass heavy offense with Brian Daboll then they need a pass blocking stud like Charles Cross. |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers | Malik Willis, QB, Liberty | Matt Rhule & Co are coaching for their jobs in 2022. Taking a risk with a lottery ticket like Malik Willis may not be the best choice. I am still not convinced that Carolina doesn't acquire Deshaun Watson. |
| 7 | NY Giants (F. CHI) | Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame | With their second pick in the top seven, the G-Men go with BPA and Kyle Hamilton. |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati | Atlanta can have one of the best young CB tandems in the league by adding Gardner with AJ Terrell. WR is most definitley in play as well. |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh | One has to believe that QB is on the table unless they somehow acquire a veteran like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. If they keep the 9th pick, Pickett may be the guy htye like to run Nathan Hackett's offense. |
| 10 | NY Jets (F. SEA) | Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas | The Jets continue to build their offense around Zach Wilson. Giving him a game breaker like Burks would be huge. |
| 11 | Washington Commanders | Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi | I think Wasington is coming away with a QB in this draft. Be it a veteran or a high draft pick, I don't think they will stay put at the position. |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue | I love DJ Wonnum but he is more of a rotational piece. They can upgrade opposite of Danielle Hunter with Karlaftis. |
| 13 | Cleveland Browns | Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State | I know the Browns will target a WR here. It just depends on which one. Garrett Wilson is the guess here. |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Travon Walker, DL, Georgia | The Ravens have a lot of free agency decisions on their defensive front. Walker is a scheme versatile lineman with pass rush upside. |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles (F. MIA) | Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia | The Eagles appear to be going all-in on Jalen Hurts. So, they can use their three first round picks to upgrade on the OL and defense. Nakobe Dean is a sideline-to-sideline tackler who can cover like a safety. |
| 16 | Philadelphia Eagles (F. IND) | Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU | Stingley has fallen off some in mock drafting circles. The Eagles hope he can regain his form from the 2019 season. |
| 17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Demarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M | The Chargers look to add a Rams-esque Outside-inside pass rush duo. Leal isn't Aaron Donald (who is) but pairing him with Joey Bosa is intriguing. |
| 18 | New Orleans Saints | Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama | The Saints need to enter full-on rebuild mode. Jameson Williams was WR1 in this class before his injury. He may miss some time in 2021 but this is a pick for the future QB. Whomever that may be. |
| 19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa | Linderbaum is a top-ten talent in this class. If/when the Eagles move on from Jason Kelce, Linderbaum can do that. Either at guard or center, he is an upgrade. |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa | Pittsburgh is going to have to upgrade at QB eventually. Mason Rudolph ain't it. But they need a new tackle as well. Penning and his nasty demeanor would seem to be a match made in heaven. |
| 21 | New England Patriots | Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida | A lot of ways this pick can go, especially on the defensive side. Elam is the pick here over Devin Lloyd. |
| 22 | Las Vegas Raiders | David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan | Vegas is likely going to move on from several players acquired from the old regime. In the immediate sense, Ojabo probably shouldn't be the pick. However, his athletic potential is too much to pass up. |
| 23 | Arizona Cardinals | Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M | This isn't a sexy pick but Arizona could use an earth mover like Green. |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State | After a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl, Johnson has risen into the first round conversation. He may end up higher as the process moves along. |
| 25 | Buffalo Bills | Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia | Buffalo continues to build their defensive front with the athletic big man from Georgia. |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans | Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah | Rashaan Evans is a free agent and the Titans may move in another direction. lloyd is grat in coverage and makes a ton of plays in the run game. |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State | Will they let Chris Godwin walk? If so, Olave could step right in. |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers | Drake London, WR, Southern Cal | If we are to assume Aaron Rodgers is moving on, then i expect Davante Adams will as well. Green Bay will need to help Jordan Love out with a high volume target like Drake London. |
| 29 | Miami Dolphins (F. SF) | Zion Johnson, G, Boston College | Zion Johnson was one of my favorite players to watch at the Senior Bowl. Miami has spent a lot of draft capital on their offensive line but can't seem to get it right. Johnson can play any of the three interior positions and do it at all at a high level. |
| 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lewis Cine, S, Georgia | Kansas City can make some upgrades. Lewis Cine is a physical and fast safety that can upgrade a spot on their back end. |
| 31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma | Winfrey was the MVP of Senior Bowl. He dominated practices and continued his dominance during the game. If the Bengals don't bring back Larry Ogunjobi they will need a dominant interior presence like Winfrey. I didn't like the value of any of the available offensive linemen. |
| 32 | Detroit Lions (F. LAR) | Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State | The Lions have to upgrade their WR room. Watson is a big target who is going to run sub 4.4. He has great hands and showed tremendous route running during the Senior Bowl practices. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |