We are a little over four weeks away from the 2022 NFL Draft. I am back today with another one-round mock draft.
Since the last time we were here, there have been several first-round picks to change hands.
So, let’s get to some mock drafting!
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia | I do love a trendy pick. And the trends seem to be moving the Georgia edge rusher in Jacksonville's direction. It feels like offensive tackle is not happening now. Aiden Hutchinson still could, however. |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | Aiden Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan | The Lions are thrilled that the Jags passed on Hutchinson and letting the home state kid fall to them. A trend I am not buying, however, is Malik Willis heading to Detroit at 2. |
| 3 | Houston Texans | Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State | The Texans look to add a bit of nastiness, and some more protection, for what looks to be their 2022 starting QB, Davis Mills. |
| 4 | NY Jets | Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon | The Jets could go several directions here, but I feel like the opportunity to add a pass rusher with the skill level of Thibodeaux is too much to pass. I wouldn't be surprised if they targeted one of the top OTs or Kyle Hamilton either. |
| 5 | NY Giants | Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State | The Giants have a hole at right tackle and may look to fill it with one of their two firsts. Cross is one of the best pass blocking tackles in this class. It stands to reason that new coach Brian Daboll may put it in the air more. |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers | Evan Neal, OT, Alabama | If Matt Rhule wasn't flirting with unemployment, I could make an argument to take a quarterback here. Instead, I opt to go with the franchise left tackle. If not Evan Neal, I could see either Charles Cross or Ikem Ekwonu if they fell, or even Trevor Penning being an option at 6. |
| 7 | NY Giants (F. CHI) | George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue | The Giants need to add more to their pass rush. If one of the other three fell they would also be in play. Karlaftis is a great athlete and will give them a boost. |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame | The Falcons roster is a complete wreck and can use a talent infusion at almost every position. They go BPA to keep re-tooling their secondary. |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks (F. DEN) | Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa | The Seahawks are currently in rebuild mode after dealing Russell Wilson to Denver. They currently don't have either of their previous starting offensive tackles under contract. I am about as enamored with Drew Lock as everyone else but it seems they would need to address the OT situation first. Then they could deal for someone like Baker Mayfield later. |
| 10 | NY Jets (F. SEA) | Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati | After acquiring the pass rusher at four, the Jets can fix another defensive hole at corner. Gardner is a stud with the size and skillset you crave. |
| 11 | Washington Commanders | Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State | The Commanders traded for Carson Wentz. Is he the long term solution? I can't answer that. However, they need to get Terry McLaurin some help on the outside. |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU | I don't know if Danielle Hunter is still on the rumored trading block or not. They signed Za'Darius Smith to rush the passer on the other side. So, noe they move on to another defensive position of need. Patrick Peterson is a free agent. So, Minnesota replaces him with another LSU corner. |
| 13 | Houston Texans (F. CLE) | Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State | Houston passed on an edge rusher with the third overall pick. They come back and grab the explosive pass rusher from Florida State here. |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia | This feels like a Ravens' pick. Davis is one of the most athletic players to ever test at the Combine. He also fits a need for Baltimore. |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles (F. MIA) | Drake London, WR, Southern Cal | If the Eagles take a WR with one of their three first round picks, it will be the third year in a row that they have done so. The fact that they have to do it again shows how much of a failure Jalen Reagor has been. Drake London was headed towards a potential record breaking season before an injury cut his year short. He has great size and is a tremendous route runner. |
| 16 | Philadelphia Eagles (F. IND) | Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah | The Eagles need a player to handle the middle of their defense. Lloyd is great in coverage and is very rangy. |
| 17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa | This feels like a reach at 17 but right tackle is one of very few holes on the Chargers roster. Smith is still young, but is strong and athletic. |
| 18 | New Orleans Saints | Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama | Is Jameis Winston the quarterback of the future in NOLA? If not, then QB could be in play here. Instead, I go with arguably the best WR in this class (pre-injury) in Jameson Williams. |
| 19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson | Eagles need a another corner. Booth is lower on board than most but I certainly get his appeal. |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Malik Willis, QB, Liberty | Could the first QB off the board really come this late? Pittsburgh is delaying the inevitable with the Mitchell Trubisky signing. The worst kept secret out there is the Stellers love for Malik Willis. If he were to fall this far, the Steelers would almost assuredly pounce. |
| 21 | New England Patriots | Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington | The Patriots lost JC Jackson in free agency. As a stop gap, they brought back Malcolm Butler. McDuffie doesn't have great arm length but he is a good cover man. |
| 22 | Green Bay Packers (F. LV) | Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State | The Packers traded Davante Adams to Vegas. The almost HAVE TO draft a wide receiver with one of their two picks in round one. Olave is a burner who can open up the field for Aaron Rodgers. |
| 23 | Arizona Cardinals | Zion Johnson, G, Boston College | There are lots of rumores surrounding Kyler Murray's future in the desert. For now, I am not buying it. What I am buying is the Cards taking the best guard prospect in this class to help keep Kyler upright. |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | Lewis Cine, S, Georgia | The Cowboys need a free safety. Cine is a premier athlete at the position with great production. |
| 25 | Buffalo Bills | Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M | I have no idea what the Bills are thinking at pick 25. Green has fell a little out of favor but he is as good of a guess as any here. |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans | Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia | Like the Bills, the Titans are a team with few holes. I do believe they can upgrade at LB. Nakobe Dean is a great all-around backer. |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia | Wyatt is a great athlete with pass rush upside. He could be a perfect fill-in for the spot currently vacated by Ndamukong Suh. |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers | Bernhard Raimann, OT, Western Michigan | In addition to WR, Green Bay has a big hole at right tackle. Raimann is a super athlete (a former TE). But he feels like a reach at 28.Could Green Bay find a suitor wanting to come up for a QB? |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs (F. SF/MIA) | Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas | KC traded Tyreek Hill to Miami for this pick and now has a huge hole at WR. They signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster but could use another. Treylon Burks didn't test as well as expected but he is still a tremendous receiver on tape. |
| 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida | The Chiefs also need help covering receivers. I am high on Kaiir Elam. I love his aggressive cover skills and size. |
| 31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa | The Bengals took their biggest weakness, the offensive line, and have turned it into a potential strength with the signings of La'el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras. Right now, Karras is slated to start at center. However, if zone blocking stud Tyler Linderbaum were to fall in their lap at 31, then Karras can move to left guard and the OL overhaul would be complete. |
| 32 | Detroit Lions (F. LAR) | Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh | Could Kenny Pickett fall all the way to 32? In reality, probably not. But it happened here. Now the Lions can stop pretending Jared Goff is the man and move on properly. |
| Pick | Team | Player | Explanation |