2022 NFL Mock Draft 

1/15/2022

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

There is not a consensus top pick in this draft (at the moment) so there will be a few players vying to be the #1 pick in the 2022 draft. The Jaguars could go a variety of ways and with a new head coach in place some philosophies will obviously change. Trevor Lawrence looked much more efficient and comfortable with Urban Meyer out of the picture. The Jaguars could ultimately use this pick to protect Lawrence however, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson are both elite pass rushing prospects making it difficult to pass both of them up. Thibodeaux may have the higher upside, as he has a ton of raw athletic ability and was dominant at times during his freshman season. He has the upside to consistently be getting 12+ sacks a season. 

  1. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

There’s no doubt that Aidan Hutchinson should be in consideration for the top overall selection making him a very real option for the Lions at number 2 overall. The Lions need a new quarterback but without a top tier quarterback they could wait and take an elite pass rusher to improve the defense. Hutchinson had a very good sophomore year in 2019 with 10 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks but was also a force at getting in passing lanes and disrupting the quarterback. As the leader of the Wolverines defense in 2021 he took his game to another level finishing with 14 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss. He’s not only a very good pass rusher but he is a great run defender and has a ton of athletic ability. Hutchinson in the complete package as an edge defender making him a lock for the top 3 selections. 

  1. Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Davis Mills was a highly recruited quarterback and had he stayed in college he may have been the top quarterback in this draft. He had his very promising moments this year and his emergence has taken some pressure off the Texans front office. Deshaun Watson will be moved but the Texans won’t need a quarterback in return. We don’t often see safeties go this high but Hamitlon is worth a top 5 selection. He is the complete package when it comes to a difference maker in the secondary. Hamilton has elite range and tackling ability and has an incredibly high IQ. While he can cover a lot of range in the secondary, he is equally as good as a run defender. Hamilton will be a starter from day 1. 

  1. New York Jets: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU

Robert Saleh is a good head coach with a good direction. He does need some help on the defensive side and get a few players who can help elevate the defense. Derek Stingley can be one of those players. Stingley has great length and speed and his technique as a man defender make him one of the highest upside corners we have seen in awhile. The Jets would be allowed to leave him on an island and shut down opposing teams top receivers. Stingley is another guy with an incredibly high IQ who could make a difference immediately. 

  1. New York Giants: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

If the Giants do intend to keep Daniel Jones this pick could go a variety of directions. If they move on from Jones, this very well could be a quarterback. Andrew Thomas has been much better than he gets credit for and has shown a lot of improvement. On the right side Nate Solder is on the downside of his career and will be gone next year. Evan Neal is a large man, who can play left or right tackle but would be an ideal right tackle for the Giants. This would give them an elite set of bookend tackles to help improve the run game. 

  1. Carolina Panthers: Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi 

Sam Darnold looked like a steal at the beginning of the season but that went downhill fast. Matt Rhule and company will be coaching for their jobs and could look for a veteran but Corral would be a good pairing with Rhule. Corral had an outstanding season under Lane Kiffin and showed a lot of improvement in his accuracy and ball placement. He has a ton of athletic ability and a strong enough arm to make all the necessary throws. Ideally, Rhule and company would run a scheme fit to his ability.

  1. New York Giants (CHI): Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

The Giants should address the defensive side with at least one of their first two picks. Ahmad Gardner is one of the best athletes in the entire draft class and has the makings of being an elite corner. Gardner has great length and plays with great fluidity that make him a tough defender for any receiver. Gardner is a capable tackler with good instincts. He is a smart, aggressive defender that helps in both the pass and run game.

  1. Atlanta Falcons: DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M

Matt Ryan is at the end of his career but he will probably be the starter in 2022, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see a quarterback taken here. There are some interesting prospects for the Falcons but they may wait until the 2023 draft. On the defensive side the Falcons need to improve their defensive line. DeMarvin Leal is a unique defender who can play the edge and the interior. He has a quick twitch but is an elite technician. His position flexibility allows the Falcons to play him in a variety of spots depending on scheme.

  1. Denver Broncos: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

The Broncos need to figure out their quarterback situation and they will most likely make a strong play for Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers if they are available. However, if they aren’t able to attain one of them a quarterback should be in play at 9th overall. No one helped their draft stock as much as Kenny Pickett this year. Pickett is a reliable, accurate, smart quarterback who showed improved decision making. He has solid build and good athleticism. The one knock is he doesn’t have elite arm strength which can hurt on some throws at the NFL level. He can make those throws; he just doesn’t have the best arm in the draft.

  1. New York Jets (from SEA): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St.

The Jets will need to find some help for Zach Wilson on the offensive side and could look to bolster the offensive line but have invested first round picks in 2020 and 2021 so they may look for a weapon on the outside. Corey Davis struggled this year in a new offense and with injuries. Wilson creates separation off the line with his quick release and sudden movements. Once he gets the ball in his hands he makes defenders miss. He is an elite athlete and the type of player who the Jets have been missing. 

  1. Washington Football Team: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Taylor Heinicke is not the answer and Ryan Fitzpatrick is another year older. Ron Rivera had a ton of success with Cam Newton so he may be able to replicate that with Malik Willis. The Senior Bowl is going to be huge for all of the top tier quarterbacks but maybe the biggest stage for Willis. He is the best athlete and has the strongest arm of all the quarterbacks in this draft. Playing at Liberty allowed him to get on the field right away (after transferring from Auburn) but raised some questions about the talent he played with and against. The Senior Bowl practices will be significant for Willis so that he can showcase his talent against other talented players. 

  1. Minnesota Vikings: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue

The Vikings are one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL and unfortunately that can show up quarter to quarter. At times the Vikings look like a Super Bowl contender and at others they look as if they should receive a top 3 selection. They have blown numerous leaders this season which hasn’t helped their cause so the direction they ultimately take this selection could be where they really want to revamp their team. Danielle Hunter is a great pass rusher but he has missed 26 of the last 33 games. Everson Griffen has been dealing with some personal issues and is going to be 34 by the end of this season. Enter George Kaflaftis, who is a complete edge rusher who can use his length and power to get into the backfield. He is very good against the run and shown a lot of growth since his freshman year even though the stats don’t necessarily show it. He has a high ceiling as a complete defensive end that can play in any scheme.

  1. Cleveland Browns: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Baker Mayfield struggled in 2022, especially in the second half of the season. Jarvis Landry is a reliable receiver over the middle but the Browns lack playmakers on the outside who can stretch the field and make plays with the ball in their hands. Williams transferred from Ohio St. to Alabama and instantly became Bryce Young’s favorite target. Williams is an explosive athlete with good hands and is a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands. He’s also an elite returner with 2 kickoffs for touchdowns in only 10 returns. Even after tearing his ACL in the National Championship, Williams should still go in the top 15. 

  1. Baltimore Ravens: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina St.

The Ravens gave up a lot of sacks in 2021 and they need to improve their blocking all around. After trading Orlando Brown it left a large hole on their offensive line. Ikem Ekwonu might be the ideal fit for the Ravens. While he doesn’t have the ideal height temas look for in a left tackle, he has the experience, footwork and technique to be a perfect fit in the Ravens offense. 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (from MIA): Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

With three first round picks the Eagles have the luxury of taking the best player available each time. Andrew Booth is a great overall prospect who has a very good chance to go top 10. Booth has great length, athleticism and technique to make him the complete cornerback and an immediate starter. He uses his athletic ability well and understands his responsibilities. He could be a day 1 starter. 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (from IND): Kenyon Green, iOL, Texas A&M

Jason Kelce is a free agent and will be 35 years old next season so he may not be back even though he has still be a very good starter. The Eagles could take Tyler Lindenbaum here but after draft Landon Dickerson in the second round last year, they may just slide him over to center and upgrade at guard. Kenyon Green was a highly recruited offensive linemen out of Texas and received offers from the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma and Georgia but ultimately chose to be an Aggie after initially committing to LSU. Green has played left tackle this year but he is best suited to play guard in the NFL. He is absolutely worth a top 15 selection so sliding to 16 may be too good to pass up.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers: David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan

The Chargers were one of the worst run defenses in the NFL this past season and it needs to be upgraded in 2022 which makes some interior run defenders a possibility. However, we don’t really see players go here that are one dimensional and don’t offer much in the way of pass rush. Enter David Ojabo. Ojabo has 11 sacks and 5 forced fumbles so far during the 2021 season. He has good athletic ability and has a ton of raw talent. He will be a top 20 pick so this may be the lowest he can possibly go.

  1. New Orleans Saints: Drake London, WR, USC

The Saints could seriously consider a quarterback but Jameis Winston was playing at a high level before he got hurt. If he comes back then the Saints will look in a different position. Even if Michael Thomas returns to form the Saints will need another wide receiver. Drake London suffered a broken ankle after just 8 games yet still amassed 88 catches for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns. London was still named PAC-12 Offensive Player of the Year even though he only played in 8 games. London is a big target with a wide catch radius that would be a perfect compliment to Thomas.

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

With their third pick the Eagles should look for another defensive player. They could add another pass rusher to help improve their defense or they could look to the linebackers position. Over the last 5 years they have made 38 selections and only 2 were linebackers (Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley in 2020) and the last time they used a top 100 selection was in 2015 on Jordan Hicks. Needless to say they could use an upgrade at the position and with a multitude of picks they may get the top linebacker in the draft. Nakobe Dean had a great season in 2021 and showed up big in the FBS playoffs. He is not your typical linebacker size but is great in coverage and can get to the quarterback. He is a complete player who is a dangerous weapon on the defensive side.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

The Steelers need a quarterback but they appear to be ready to be aggressive in adding a veteran this offseason. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t draft their quarterback of the future. Desmond Ridder checks a lot of boxes and there’s a lot to like about his game. He has a cannon for an arm, great athletic ability and he’s a proven winner. Since 2000 every first round pick has been from a Power 5 with the exception of Ben Roethlisberger. Ridder has some concerns with his accuracy but some fine tuning to his lower half mechanics can help with that. 

  1. New England Patriots: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Devin Lloyd would add a different dimension to the Patriots linebacking corps. Lloyd plays downhill but has improved his ability in coverage. He runs sideline to sideline and with Dont’a Hightower hitting 32 next year the Patriots could use some youth and speed. Lloyd was outstanding for Utah in 2021 and was named the PAC 12 defensive player of the year. 

  1. Miami Dolphins (from SF): Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St.

The Dolphins made the foolish decision to fire Brian Flores which could possibly put the Dolphins back. Tua Tagovailoa showed some improvement in 2021 and the defense was much improved over the second half of the season. Last years second round pick, Liam Eichenberg, is better suited to play inside at guard. Left tackle is an issue and a position that needs to be improved. Charles Cross had a very good year against some of the SEC best pass rushers. He is a good athlete with good sound technique that can be an instant starter. 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio St.

The Raiders have an improved roster and made a great run into the playoffs. They were hurt by Henry Ruggs arrest and need to find a legitimate #1 receiver. Chris Olave will be the top rated wide receiver on a lot of teams’ draft boards. Olave is the best route runner in the draft and with his speed and quickness make him one of the toughest receivers to defend off the line of scrimmage. Olave is a big play receiver the Raiders miss in Ruggs.

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  1. Arizona Cardinals: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

The Cardinals were the hottest team in the NFL for the first half of the season but their play fell off in the second half of the year. Part of that was due to injuries however, they need to improve a few key areas in order to make a serious run at a Super Bowl. In the secondary, the Cardinals don’t have great depth and could use another starter quality cornerback. Kaiir Elam is a long, elite athlete who showed improved ball skills over the past season. 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals:Tyler Linderbaum, iOL, Iowa

The Bengals are a team on the rise and have something very special in Joe Burrow and company on offense. They could use this pick to bolster an improved defense but they should look to solidify their offensive line and keep Burrow upright. Tyler Linderbaum is the premier center in this draft and one of the better center prospects we have seen in the past 10 years. His only flaw is his lack of size and he at times got pushed around by bigger interior defensive linemen. As long as he adds some strength and can anchor the center spot, he has All Pro potential which is a steal at the back half of the first round. 

  1. Buffalo Bills: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

The Bills have a very complete team and have very few holes from top to bottom. Their secondary is one of the better secondaries in the entire NFL and while cornerback is certainly not a huge priority, getting another corner to compete with Levi Wallace should be a priority. McCreary is a very smooth, technical cornerback who can stay with just about anyone. He is very smart and instinctive and no one in the SEC had more passes defended than McCreary. 

  1. Detroit Lions (from LAR): Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Coming into 2021 Sam Howell was viewed as a potential 1st overall pick. However, after a very subpar year he has seen his stock take a hit. While he lost some great talent (Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, Dyami Brown) he was still expected to pick apart the ACC which had a down year overall. Howell can rebound with a strong Senior Bowl and show off that he still has the capability of being a legitimate top tier quarterback. He has to make some better decisions and improve his footwork. The Lions need to find a franchise quarterback and could do so with a late first round pick.

  1. Dallas Cowboys: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia

Walker could be a perfect fit for the Cowboys defense. He is not a super twitchy defensive end (playing more of a 5 technique in Georgia defense) but is very quick off the snap and knows how to use his hands. He is a very good athlete but its his versatility that makes him a unique player. He can win off the edge, from inside and is a very good run defender so he hardly ever has to come off the field. 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron Thomas, Edge, San Diego St.

Adding Melvin Ingram was an important move mostly because it allowed Chris Jones to slide back inside full time. The Chiefs will need to add another pass rusher this offseason and should look to find one early in the draft. Cameron Thomas is a long, strong pass rusher who had a great year in 2021. He finished with 20.5 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks. Thomas is a very good athlete who combines his strength and technique to be a serious threat off the edge. 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

The Bucs could go a variety of directions with their first overall selection. If a quarterback falls into their lap they may choose to go that direction, however, I don’t think Tom Brady would be in favor of that. They could also look to get a wide receiver if Chris Godwin leaves in free agency. They should look to just get the best player on their board and that very well could be Trent McDuffie. McDuffie is a very tough and instinctive defender. He has great athleticism and elite ball instincts but doesn’t have elite length which will scare some teams off from using a top 15 pick on him. However, Jaire Alexander, Tre’Davious White and Denzel Ward are all under 6 feet tall and have been some of the best in the league.

  1. Tennessee Titans: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

The Titans are going to be largely committed to the running game and rightfully so. Left tackle Taylor Lewan is a very good, strong left tackle but on the right side the Titans need to find an upgrade. Trevor Penning is a big, strong, mauling tackle who fits very well on the right side in the NFL. Penning will have his chance to continue to improve his stock at the Senior Bowl against FBS competition but there is no doubt he is worthy of a first round selection.

  1. Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn St.

There is a chance that Aaron Rodgers won’t be back next year but ultimately I believe he will be back. Davante Adams is a free agent at the end of the season and will get a significant pay day. The Packers will obviously be active in retaining him but either way the Packers need to find another weapon outside of Adams to take some pressure off of him. Jahan Dotson has elite quickness, has exceptional hands and runs great routes. He is extremely difficult to guard and is a handful for opposing defenses. He is a perfect fit for the Packers offense. 

Second Round

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio St.
  2. Detroit Lions: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
  3. New York Jets: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
  4. New York Giants: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado St.
  5. Houston Texans: Arnold Ekibetie, Edge, Penn St. 
  6. New York Jets (from CAR): Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
  7. Chicago Bears: Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College
  8. Denver Broncos: Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
  9. Seattle Seahawks: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
  10. Washington Football Team: Brandon Smith, LB, Penn St.
  11. Atlanta Falcons: Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida St.
  12. Cleveland Browns: Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama
  13. Baltimore Ravens: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn St.
  14. Minnesota Vikings: Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
  15. Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
  16. Los Angeles Chargers: Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
  17. New Orleans Saints: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia 
  18. Miami Dolphins: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa St.
  19. Philadelphia Eagles: John Metchie, WR, Alabama
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
  21. New England Patriots: Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi St.
  22. San Francisco 49ers: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati 
  23. Las Vegas Raiders: Haskell Garrett, DL, Ohio St.
  24. Arizona Cardinals: Myaji Sanders, Edge, Cincinnati
  25. Cincinnati Bengals: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
  26. Buffalo Bills: Jamaree Salyer, iOL, Georgia
  27. Denver Broncos (from LAR): Logan Hall, Edge, Houston
  28. Dallas Cowboys: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: David Bell, WR, Purdue
  30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sean Rhyan, iOL, UCLA
  31. Atlanta Falcons (from TEN): Kenneth Walker, RB, Michigan St.
  32. Green Bay Packers: Drake Jackson, Edge, USC

Third Round

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
  2. Detroit Lions: Justin Shaffer, iOL, Georgia
  3. New York Giants: Sam Williams, Edge, Mississippi
  4. Houston Texans: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
  5. New York Jets:  Cade Otton, TE, Washington
  6. Jacksonville Jaguars (from CAR): Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
  7. Chicago Bears: Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
  8. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
  9. Washington Football Team: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama 
  10. Atlanta Falcons: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
  11. Denver Broncos: Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
  12. Baltimore Ravens: Kingsley Enagbare, Edge, South Carolina
  13. Minnesota Vikings: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
  14. Cleveland Browns: Nik Bonitto, Edge, Oklahoma
  15. Los Angeles Chargers: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio St.
  16. Houston Texans (from NO): Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
  17. New York Giants (from MIA): Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
  18. Indianapolis Colts: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
  19. Philadelphia Eagles: Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota 
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington
  21. New England Patriots: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise St.
  22. San Francisco 49ers: Jarrett Patterson, iOL, Notre Dame
  23. Las Vegas Raiders: Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn St.
  24. Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
  25. Cincinnati Bengals: John Ridgeway, DL, Arkansas
  26. Buffalo Bills: Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
  27. Denver Broncos (from LAR): Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
  28. Dallas Cowboys: Dohnovan West, iOL, Arizona St.
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Jones, DL, Connecticut
  30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Cook, RB, Georgia
  31. Tennessee Titans: Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa St.
  32. Green Bay Packers: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
  33. Miami Dolphins (from SF)*: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
  34. Los Angeles Rams*: Jaxson Kirkland, OT, Washington
  35. Baltimore Ravens*: Zachary Carter, DL, Florida

100. New Orleans Saints*: Zamir White, RB, Georgia

101. Detroit Lions^: JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska

102. New Orleans Saints^: Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio St.

103. Pittsburgh Steelers^: Verone McKinley, S, Oregon

*-Compensatory pick

^-Projected compensatory pick