NFL Mock Draft '22
NFL ‘22 Mock Draft
***Disclaimer*** This mock draft does not feature any trades as of 4/26/22. Don’t get it twisted, I don’t grind All-22 film, so if you’re looking for that go look up Mel Kiper or Daniel Jeremiah. That said, you *might* learn a thing or two about the NFL stars of tomorrow and this *might* be better than whatever Portnoy’s draft guys are putting out now. ***End of disclaimer***
Round 1
(Thursday, April 28 at 8 pm ET on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network)
1) Jacksonville Jaguars
Needs: Everything but a QB and WR.
Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan, Edge) - Coming off a 14-sack 2021 season, Hutchinson has been a consensus top pick since November. Is he the next Bosa brother or Chris Long?
2) Detroit Lions
Needs: Either a franchise QB, someone who could protect their next franchise QB, or someone who can sack Aaron Rodgers.
Ikem Ekwonu (NC State, OT) - Head Coach, Dan Campbell, famously quoted he wants his team “biting kneecaps.” Ekwonu is a 6’4”, 320 lb. athletic bruiser who will immediately bring grit to the Detroit offensive line.
3) Houston Texans
Needs: Replace JJ Watt.
Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon, Edge) - Is this year’s “Me Guy.” Has faced a ton of questions about how much he really loves football. Great talent, probably shouldn’t fall.
4) New York Jets
Needs: A homegrown star at a skill position or pass rusher.
Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (Cinncinnati, CB) - Slick and smooth corner. In his 35 games and over 1,100 snaps never allowed a receiving touchdown. The Jets have not had a shutdown corner since Darrelle Revis.
5) New York Giants
Needs: Fans will say offensive line. Could also use a pass rusher.
Evan Neal (Alabama, OT) - He and Andrew Thomas can sure up their line for whoever their next Eli Manning is. Please don’t watch offensive line highlights.
6) Carolina Panthers
Needs: Figure out if Sam Darnold is worth keeping around.
Charles Cross (Miss St, OT) - Might as well roll the dice this year with Darnold, Cross can help protect his blind side or whoever they draft next year.
7) New York Giants (from Chicago Bears)
Slight: Are they really going through with Daniel Jones for another year?
Trevon Walker (Georgia, Edge) - Giants need to get back to winning football games by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
8) Atlanta Falcons
Needs: Someone to matchup with Kyle Pitts in practice.
Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame, S) - A true centerfielder as a safety. I don’t love drafting safeties as a luxury pick this early, but he is a very clean prospect who should have a long career ahead of him no matter where he is drafted.
9) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)
Needs: Russell Wilson's replacement.
Malik Willis (Liberty, QB) - First QB off the board. Willis dominated the small-school college football scene from Lynchburg, Virginia after transferring from Auburn.
10) New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)
Slight: Under GM Joe Douglas, have started 0-10 in the month of September the last 3 seasons. Also worth mentioning they have not won a division game since 2019 (0-12).
Drake London (USC, WR) - Would not be having to draft a WR if Denzel Mims had shown more promise. London may not create as much separation as the other star WRs from this class, but he could be the next Mike Evans.
11) Washington Commanders
Needs: To either pay “Scary” Terry McLaurin or trade him and find his replacement.
Garrett Wilson (Ohio State, WR) - Clean prospect (I like that term), not sure if he’ll ever be a top 10 WR, but has an elite combination of route running and quickness so is likely to be able to create separation on Sundays.
12) Minnesota Vikings
Needs: Cornerback youth, currently have Patrick Peterson as their #1 corner.
Derek Stingley (LSU, CB) - Looked like the next Jalen Ramsey his freshman season (LSU year they won the championship w/ Burrow/Chase/Jefferson), before electing to miss the 2020 Covid season and having an injury-riddled 2021.
13) Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)
Slight: With the Deshaun Watson situation no longer looming over their franchise, this team needs a new identity in the worst way.
Jordan Davis (Georgia, DT) - Mountain of a man. Immediately creates a dynamic duo with Kayvon Thibodeaux.
14) Baltimore Ravens
Needs: A double-digit sack artist. Have not had one since Terrell Suggs in 2017.
Jermaine Johnson (FSU, Edge) - Ravens always seem to draft well at pass rusher so if I hit on this I can say I hit on this immediately on draft night.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins)
Needs: Some injection of young defensive playmakers.
Devin Lloyd (Utah, LB) - Joel Embiid should have won MVP.
16) New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia Eagles, originally from Indianapolis Colts)
Needs: Their next Drew Brees.
Kenny Pickett (Pitt, QB) - Is this year’s “QB with small hands” guy. Usually, the best QB draft classes are the ones that don’t get the hype before the draft. Pickett will join Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, and new teammate Jameis Winston as QBs that wear gloves.
17) Los Angeles Chargers
Needs: To keep surrounding Herbert with as many young offensive guys, the defense is set.
Tyler Lindenbaum (Iowa, Center) - Could move Corey Linsley over to guard and give Herbert his version of Jeff Saturday/Nick Mangold.
18) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)
Slight: I don’t think they can mask Jalen Hurts’ passing deficiencies enough to win playoff games.
George Karlaftis (Purdue, Edge) - Deep edge rush class. Ideal for a 4-3 defensive front.
19) New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia Eagles)
Slight: Last time Sean Payton wasn’t the coach (2012 Bounty Gate season) the Saints went 7-9.
Treylon Burks (Arkansas, WR) - Plays faster in game than he runs in shorts.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: Big Ben replacement or some structure of an offensive line for when they draft one next year.
Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa, OT) - Plays with attitude but also almost caused an injury scare in the Senior Bowl.
21) New England Patriots
Needs: J.C. Jackson’s replacement.
Andrew Booth (Clemson, CB) - Prototypical size, speed, and ball skill.
22) Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas Raiders)
Needs: Davante Adams replacement.
Devonte Wyatt (Georgia, DT) - I don’t really know much about this guy. Here is a Nestor Cortes mixtape, guy is an absolute wildcard on the mound and a delight to watch pitch.
23) Arizona Cardinals
Needs: To figure out the contract situation with Kyler Murray.
Desmond Ridder (Cinncinnati, QB) - This would immediately be the biggest surprise of draft night. Gives the team some leverage until Murray decides he wants to play for the Oakland Athletics. Ridder is a smart QB with 4 years of starting experience coming off a great senior season.
24) Dallas Cowboys
Needs: Have not been shy about surrounding Dak with first-round WRs in the past.
Jameson Williams (Alabama, WR) - Would have been a no-doubt top 10 pick without his ACL tear in the NCAA Championship game. Has Desean Jackson type speed and all signs point to him progressing well with the injury.
25) Buffalo Bills
Needs: A true running game to make Josh Allen’s legs even more efficient and less used.
Breece Hall (Iowa St, RB) - Set an NCAA record of 24 consecutive games with a rushing touchdown. Can do it all in the passing game as well. Draft him in fantasy.
26) Tennessee Titans
Needs: Tannehill up until this point has shown not to be able to elevate his play in playoff games.
Matt Corral (Ole Miss, QB) - This is a 4 QB class partly because drafting Boye Mafe or Arnold Ebiketie would be boring.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Needs: To provide Brady with a tight end, Gronk sounds 50/50 on coming back.
Trey McBride (Colorado St, TE) - Probably early here but McBride had a monster senior season with 90 catches and 1,121 receiving yards.
28) Green Bay Packers
Slight: After losing Adams and paying Rodgers will they finally draft Rodgers some first-round help besides picking his successor.
Chris Olave (Ohio St, WR) - A speedster that Rodgers has never really had.
29) Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco 49ers through Miami Dolphins)
Needs: Tyreek Hill replacement.
Christian Watson (North Dakota St, WR) - Andy Reid loves drafting small school prospects. Watson was the star WR on the small school scene.
30) Kansas City Chiefs
Slight: Can they really trust Mecole Hardman to step up now that Hill is gone?
Trent McDuffie (Washington, CB) - “Technically sound.” Should go in the first round.
31) Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: To not get Joe Burrow killed.
Kenyon Green (Texas A&M, OT) - Green can likely fill in a role right away at one of the guard or tackle positions.
32) Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)
Slight: Tough to think Detriot had Barry Sanders or Calvin Johnson for over two decades and neither player made a Super Bowl.
Jahan Dotson (Penn St, WR) - Ekwonu and Dotson would be a solid haul for the Lions. David Bell or John Metchie were also in consideration here.