Welcome everyone to the very first official Draft "Expert" mock draft for the 2022 NFL Draft! Though the actual draft doesn't start until April and the NFL season is only halfway done, that doesn't stop us from creating a completely useless mock draft!
In this mock draft, you will see picks from every team that possesses a first round pick (obviously), NO trades, and some things that haven't happened in a draft through the past five years and somethings that may have never happened before.
Obviously this isn't how I think the NFL season will end/necessarily think this is how the draft order will look come April, but this is the official order as things stand right now in the NFL, so no complaining about where your team is picking.
So, without further ado, here is the Draft "Expert's" FIRST official 2022 NFL Mock Draft! Please make sure to read it all so you understand the reasoning behind our picks but most of all, make sure to enjoy!
TLBS Podcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WpOhsX7m43u87Xs9e6FPR?si=6d1e27c0b4194116
Pictured: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan; Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon; Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
1. Detroit Lions - Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
The Detroit Lions are in a very weird spot. As of right now, the Lions are 0-7, and may just possibly be the greatest 0-7 team of all time. Yeah sure they don't have a single win to their name, but big Dan Campbell has the team playing together for the first time in what feels like forever. Now, with the number one overall pick (for now) the Lions could very well select one of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft. Though that is a possibility, are any of these quarterbacks worthy of the number one spot? At this point in time, it's hard to say that they are. So, with no quarterbacks really being in the conversation for the number one overall pick, the Lions just select the best player available, which is Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux. The current Oregon Duck is an athletic freak coming off the edge, whether that be with his hand in the dirt or standing up, offensive tackles do not know how to handle Thibs' pressure. Though he's been out a few games this season due to injury, he has still gotten four sacks, two forced fumbles, and 7.5 tackles for loss in just four games this season. This isn't the most insane draft ever, but Thibodeaux has insane upside and athleticism that should make him a surefire bet to be the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami) - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Eagles have a very good chance to change the future of their franchise in the 2022 NFL Draft. With the Dolphins being complete and utter ass this year, the Eagles, as of right now, have two top ten picks, with the possibility of a third, depending on how the Colts do the rest of the way. As we sit here currently, the Eagles have the second overall pick in the draft, and I have flipped back and fourth about 100 times, questioning who they'd take here. The one that keeps coming back to me is quarterback. Though this isn't the best quarterback class and though this may seem a little early to take one, there's an old draft saying that essentially says, "if you want a guy, take him, don't wait and risk someone else taking him," which is why I have the Eagles taking Malik Willis here with the second overall pick. If you've listened to my show long enough, you'd know that Malik Willis is my favorite quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. That being said, recently, he hasn't put together his best performances, i.e. six interceptions through two games against Middle Tennessee State and UL Monroe and -8 yard rushing performance against North Texas, all games Liberty was favored by 20 or more points and games they, unfortunately, did not cover. All that being said, Willis' skillset is truly special and one of a kind. No one else in this draft has his combination of sheer arm talent and insane athletic ability. Similar to that of Michael Vick, Willis is always the most dangerous player on the field and like Vick, could probably throw a football 100 yards if asked to. I think the things that are potentially hurting Willis' draft stock is his level of competition due to Liberty being an independent school and his shaky performances as of late, but again, his talent is unmatched and if you can play, you can play, it doesn't matter who it's against. Look, I know Jalen Hurts isn't the issue in Philadelphia, but I just don't think the Eagles are committed to him long term. Like before the 2021 NFL Draft, the Eagles tried to trade up for Zach Wilson. Then you had head coach Nick Sirianni was always very coy when it came to discuss Hurts and the starting job, and didn't end up announcing him as the starter until right before the season started. Then you had them trading for Gardner Minshew, which doesn't seem like a lot, but trading for a quarterback with a decent amount of experience says something. Then finally, they just signed the greatest high school quarterback of all time, so I'm not sure how they feel about Hurts in the long term. I think the Eagles could really turn their fortunes around with a good draft, and though I think it may be early to take a quarterback, I think Malik Willis is special enough to be worth that pick.
NOTE: I know Willis isn't the number one quarterback in my latest prospect rankings, but I do think that his skill set is greater to that of Corral's, which is why I have him going first.
NOTE II: I think there's a strong chance this pick could be Aidan Hutchinson, athletic freak at d-end that would replace an aging Brandon Graham and a sporadic Derek Barnett.
3. Houston Texans - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Most people out there will probably expect the Houston Texans to take a quarterback with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but like I essentially said with the Lions, this is a pretty weak quarterback class in comparison to the previous few years. Along with that, Davis Mills has arguably been the second best rookie quarterback this season, behind Mac Jones, and they may be trading Deshaun Watson to Miami with Tua Tagovailoa coming back the other way (not to mention Tyrod Taylor is still on the roster). With that, I think the Texans look somewhere else, at least for now, and look at some of the top defenders in this year's draft. Looking at the Texans defense, one that gives up 29 points per game and that has been torched by Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Arizona by a combined score of 102-8, I think it'd be smart for the Texans to address the defensive side of the ball. I think after cutting legend JJ Watt this past offseason, the Texans should look at replenishing their d-line and get someone who can get after the quarterback. I know that Jonathan Greenard has been good this season, registering six sacks and seven tackles for loss, but the Texans could still use some more bodies on the d-line. Enter in Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson. Going into the season, we said that Aidan Hutchinson was one of the most athletically gifted players in all of college football, he just needed to stay healthy and put together some more elite stretches of play. So far this season, I think it's safe to say he's done that and then some. This season, after coming off a leg fracture that saw him miss the latter parts of last season, Hutchinson has totaled six sacks (tied for 14th in the country) and a forced fumble this season for the Wolverines. Though the sack numbers aren't at that "elite" barometer, he's applying constant pressure to the opposing team's o-line and is relentless when it comes to his pursuit of the ball carrier, whether that be the quarterback, running back, or whoever. If the Texans want to get better, they've got to improve things on the defensive side of the ball, and I think Hutchinson, with his athletic tools, can help start to change the fortunes of the Texans defense.
NOTE: Derek Stingley is an option here as well
4. New York Jets - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Jets are coming into this hypothetical draft with two big areas of concern, the offensive line and the secondary. Though I think Evan Neal would be a very nice pick for the Jets, I just feel Robert Saleh and co. would like to take one of the best defenders in the draft with their first pick, especially after addressing the offense a lot during the 2021 NFL Draft. With the aforementioned issues in the secondary, I think the Jets take LSU corner Derek Stingley with this pick. Though Stingley hasn't played all that much since his freshman year at LSU, he's still an insane threat on the outside. During that insane freshman season, Stingley intercepted the ball six times and defended 15 passes enroute to a National Championship, which also saw Stingley be named a Conscious All-American and First Team All-SEC recipient (an honor he got in 2020 as well). Standing at 6'1" and weighing in at 195 lbs., Stingley has the ideal size at being a true shut down corner in the NFL. He's fast, twitchy, and is very instinctive on where the ball is going to be, reading the game extremely well. As of right now, the Jets have only allowed seven touchdowns so far this season, but also are the only team in the NFL without an interception, and have allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete almost 70% of their passes against them (69% to be exact, lol). I think for the Jets to get better they need to get some skilled players on the defensive side of the ball, and with Stingley on the board here at number four, I can't really seeing a defensive minded head coach like Robert Saleh passing on him.
NOTE: I said this before, but Evan Neal would be a wise pick here as well, has the ability to play every position on the offensive line.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Evan Neal is a freak out at left tackle. Standing at 6'7" and weighing 350 lbs., Neal is humungous, yet moves very very well for a guy at his size. He's also, unsurprisingly, extremely strong and just flat out bullies any defender that tries to step up to him. Even at his size, Neal's athleticism has allowed him to be moved around the Alabama offensive line. During his Freshman season at Alabama, Neal started all 13 games at left guard, then his sophomore year transitioned to right tackle, and now, he has been starting at left tackle for the Crimson Tide. For a guy at that size with that athleticism it should be illegal to move him around the o-line as much as they did because who is actually going to get past him? He has gone up against d-tackles, d-ends, outside linebackers, etc., and nothing really seems to faze him. Wherever you put him, he will perform. Now for Jacksonville, their o-line hasn't been that terrible, as opposed to previous seasons, but it could definitely could be improved by drafting Evan Neal. The current tackles in Jacksonville are Jawaan Taylor (RT) and Cam Robinson (LT) with both have been very solid for the Jags this season. The thing is, Robinson will become a free agent after this season, so there will be an opening at that left tackle position, a place where Neal would fill very nicely. But I think as Neal has shown at Alabama, even if the Jags do in fact resign Cam Robinson, Neal is open and capable to playing any position on the o-line. With a very young and talent quarterback and running back trio, drafting a guy like Neal should extend all of their careers.
6. Philadelphia Eagles - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
It's a real shame that Kyle Hamilton fell this far in this mock draft, but hey, if this does actually happen, I don't think the Eagles would complain about it too much. Kyle Hamilton is a friggin cheat code when it comes to the safety position. At 6'4" 220 lbs., Hamilton can play up tight against the line of scrimmage or sit deep and play center field for Notre Dame. Not only can he line up anywhere on the defensive side of the ball, but he's also very athletic, very instinctive, and very rangy which sees him make plays all over the football field. Like, just look at this play he made against Florida State in the first game of the season.
I don't know why, but they're just always seems to be at least one player that dips a little bit more than what their talent suggests. Like, look back in 2018, Minkah Fitzpatrick fell to 11 and Derwin James fell to 17, and to a lesser extent, Jamal Adams slipped a little to sixth overall in 2017. All safeties who have all had really nice careers in the NFL up until this point. I think Kyle Hamilton is a special player, but I fell like teams would rather look towards upgrading a quarterback, improving their d-line, or get a lock down corner than draft a safety, just seems to be a recent trend at least. Regardless, wherever he goes, Kyle Hamilton will make a huge difference for that team's defense. Like I said above, he can play on the line, he can play as a deep center fielder, he can even line up in the slot or outside to guard a team's wide receiver, he can do everything defensively, even chipping in with some special teams plays every now and again. In a division full of explosive players from Saquon Barkley (when healthy), Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Gibson, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Terry McLaurin, Kadarius Toney, Kenny Golladay, and even players like Tony Pollard and JD McKissic, the Eagles could use someone like Hamilton to wrangle in some of these players. Though the division hasn't been great record wise recently, they've still got some skilled players that need to be stopped or at least slowed down, Kyle Hamilton can do that, and then some, for the Eagles (if he falls to them).
NOTE: The Eagles have Anthony Harris (FS) and Rodney McLeod (SS) starting for them at the safety positions. Harris signed a one-year deal back in March of 2021 and McLeod signed a two-year deal in March of 2020, so both will be out of contract come next season. Even if they were back, Kyle Hamilton would be an upgrade at the safety position for Philly moving forward.
7. New York Giants - DeMarvin Leal, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M
I don't know if I was the only one who thought this, but before the season started, I thought the Giants defense would be a little better than what it has been this season. Like, so far, the Giants are giving up 401.3 yards per game, or 2,408 total yards given up. This season, they've given up 50 yards more per game than they did last year. I thought they'd keep improving on what they did last year, but I was wrong. They also give up a fair few amount of rushing yards and have had 177 points scored on them this season, good for joint second to last in the league, with another disappointing defense in the Dolphins. I think a player that could help rectify some issues on defense is Texas A&M's DeMarvin Leal. The main thing I like about Leal is about his ability to play all over the place on defense. Per PFF, Leal has played 143 snaps at defensive tackle, 23 at nose tackle, 33 at defensive end, and 223 as a stand up outside linebacker. Wherever you put Leal, he's going to make plays. At 6'4" 290 lbs., dude is extremely athletic, as shown by the number of positions he can play. If the Giants want to improve on defense, I would suggest getting a guy like DeMarvin Leal, a guy who can wear many hats per-say on defense.
NOTE: I don't think the Giants will move on from Daniel Jones. I think he's got the tools to become a nice quarterback in this league, time will tell if he can put it all together but he is talented. I think the Giants will wait on him rather than replace him this early.
8. New York Jets (via Seattle) - Tyler Linderbaum, iOL, Iowa
I don't know if there's a player in the NFL right now that I feel more sorry for than Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. Now out a couple of weeks with a knee injury, Wilson was sacked a league high 19 times before he got hurt early in the second quarter. The Jets o-line to this point has been a complete and utter mess. I love that they got Alijah Vera-Tucker in this past year's draft and have a monster in Mekhi Becton but boy, this thing needs some tinkering. To be honest, I think Wilson may die if they don't get some more help on the offensive line. I think getting someone who is adept in both the running and passing game will be key for the Jets success moving forward, which is why I think it'd be smart to get someone like Tyler Linderbaum here at number eight. Now, t's not often you see a center get taken in the top 10, but I just think Linderbaum is truly a special talent when it comes to the position. Though he's more known for his run blocking ability, a place where he has little to no weaknesses, Linderbaum is almost as good as a pass blocker. During his first two years as Iowa's starting center, after moving from d-tackle, he allowed just one sack in the 2019 and 2020 seasons combined. Now, I guess you could say he's had something of a down year since he has allowed two this season, so maybe he's not worth the pick in the end...I'm joking of course. The Jets offensive line would be massively improved by adding Linderbaum to it. An o-line featuring Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Tyler Linderbaum would be one of the best young o-lines in the entire league. Hopefully for the Jets, and Zach Wilson, this scenario plays out, because there could be a decent chance Linderbaum is off the board before the Jets come up to the podium. If the Jets left the draft with Derek Stingley and Tyler Linderbaum, Jets fans everywhere should rejoice, cause that is a great haul.
9. Washington Football Team - Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Out of all the teams picking in the 2022 NFL Draft, I think the team that will most obviously take a quarterback is the Washington Football Team. Look, I like Taylor Heinicke. I think he works really hard and it's obvious to see that his teammates love playing with him, but it's also pretty obvious to see that he's limited in what he can do at the position, and Washington could definitely use an upgrade. Like we've said before though, this is a relatively weak quarterback class compared to the previous seasons, but with Washington's biggest need easily being quarterback, I think we see our first one off the board here at nine, with Ole Miss' Matt Corral going to the Nation's Capital. Matt Corral is having a fantastic season at Ole Miss this year. Not only is he one of the top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he's also one of the favorites when it comes to the most prestigious award in college football, the Heisman Trophy. There has been times this season where Matt Corral has put his team on his back and carried them to victory. Just look at the games against Louisville and Tennessee to see Corral taking a beating, yet still getting up and battling, especially against Tennessee where he had 30 carries for 195 yards. With that, I think that his development as a runner has also helped his draft stock. Now, we've known he's a mobile quarterback, but he's been Ole Miss' main back in regards to running the ball. Along with that, he's made a lot smarter choices throwing the ball as well. Last season, he threw 11 interceptions over just two games, six against Arkansas and five against LSU. So far this season, Corral has only thrown one interception, which came against Tennessee. As of right now, I think it's hard to say Matt Corral isn't the number one quarterback in the NFL Draft. Obviously there's a lot of things that could change between now and the actual draft in April of 2022, but for now, I'd say Corral is number one, and I think Washington would be smart to take him, if he is available to them of course.
10. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco) - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Now, there is a real chance that this pick belongs to the Houston Texans if the Deshaun Watson trade actually happens, but, for now, this pick still belongs to Miami via the San Francisco 49ers. All that being said, this pick may surprise some people. Maybe not necessarily with the team and the position, but more so the player. To me, Treylon Burks is unmatched in this draft class when it comes to natural size, speed, and athleticism at the wide receiver position. Though he's not going to put up numbers like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, or Drake London, which is due mainly to Arkansas' run first style of offense, but I think Burks' upside may be greater than the three previously mentioned. Again, at 6'3" 225 lbs., Burks has the speed and athleticism of someone way smaller, but also has the strength of someone that should be way bigger. Adding Burks would give the Dolphins another legit red zone target to pair with tight end Mike Gesicki.With Burks and Gesicki lined up in the red zone, the Dolphins should be scoring almost at will. According to PFF, since 2020, quarterbacks have a 152.1 passer rating when targeting Burks, which is the best in college football in that time frame and damn near perfect overall. Burks is just a match-up nightmare and I don't think he truly gets the credit he deserves as the nations top wide receiver. I think after his combine workout, we'll see more people jump on the Burks train.
NOTE: I am aware the Dolphins drafted Jaylen Waddle in 2021 and currently have DeVante Parker and Will Fuller on the roster, but Fuller is on a one-year deal and Parker is alway hurt, so adding Burks and pairing him with Waddle and Gesicki would make the Dolphins anemic offense a whole lot more threatening.
11. New England Patriots - Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Coming into this season, Florida's Kaiir Elam was getting talked about as a potential top 10 pick. Though I still think there's a chance, I still think it's more likely that we see Elam get taken just outside of the top 10, especially with a corner back needy team like the Patriots sitting here at number 11, he may not fall that far outside of the top 10. This offseason, the Patriots and former corner Stephon Gilmore had somewhat of a falling out which saw the former defensive player of the year traded to Carolina. Now, I am aware the Patriots have JC Jackson, a player who had nine interceptions to his name last year, and three so far this year, but I'm sure Bill and co. would love an athletic corner like Elam to partner Jackson in the secondary. Though he may be having what some would consider a "down year" for what was expected of him at the beginning of the season, but that could be credited to him missing three games earlier this season with a sprained knee, games against Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. I think Elam's upside, length, and athleticism is what will help his draft stock this coming April. Sure he's not putting up insane numbers, but at 6'2" 200 lbs., he's got the size and length teams are looking for in their corners. I think Elam would be a nice addition for the Patriots.
12. Denver Broncos - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Like I said above with the Miami Dolphins pick, there is a decently strong possibility that this pick belongs to someone else, with it seeming like George Paton and co. want to trade for a veteran quarterback, i.e. Aaron Rodgers. But again, like Miami, nothing has happened and as of right now, the Broncos hold the 12th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Though quarterback is a possibility here, I think the Broncos will turn their attention to the offensive line, especially after cutting right tackle Ja'Wuan James before the season started and having the two players listed at right tackle on one-year contracts in the form of Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming (even if they weren't on one-year deals, I'd still say draft a tackle). With Evan Neal obviously off the board already, I think the Broncos take a shot at one of the other athletic tackles in this draft is Mississippi State's Charles Cross. Though Cross is very athletic for the position, some may call him a "project piece." That being said, he's getting a lot of reps at Mississippi State, especially in the pass blocking department, as seen last year where he played 528 pass blocking snaps, with this year seeing him play 366 pass-blocking snaps, which is tied for fifth in college football. With him being a very good pass blocker, he still needs to get better in regards to his run blocking, but I believe that'll come in time. Again, Cross is a very athletic tackle, and at 6'5" 310 lbs., he has all the tools to become a very nice tackle at the next level. Don't be scared off by the possibility of him being a "project."
13. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis) - Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
With their first two picks, the Eagles got themselves a new quarterback and got a "do everything" cheat code safety in Kyle Hamilton. With the 13th pick, I think the Eagles turn their attention back to the secondary and find a partner for stud corner Darius Slay. To me, a guy that would be a very nice compliment to Slay would be Clemson's Andrew Booth. Much like Derek Stingley before, Booth has all the necessary size and athleticism to be a true lock down corner (even was in Stingley's recruiting class). At 6'0" and 200 lbs., Booth can cover any receiver on the field, but maybe even more impressively he is one of the better tacklers out of the corners in the draft. Now, though he may be biased because he's his d-coordinator, Brent Venables said "there can't be a better tackling cornerback in college football." Again, though he may be biased, Venables knows a thing or two about the defensive side of the ball. A former receiver as well in high school, he can run some of the routes as good as some receivers, and can read the field very well. Though he may not have a pick to his name this season, Andrew Booth's all around game should make him a very intriguing prospect at the corner back position and could be a guy to help improve the Eagles defense. I think Booth would be a great addition for the Eagles to pair up with Darius Slay. Like I said before, the NFC East has some very talented weapons, I think it'd be smart for the Eagles to double down on shoring up their secondary.
NOTE: Wide receiver could be an option here, with Jalen Reager and JJ Arcega-Whiteside haven't really lived up to expectations.
14. Carolina Panthers - Kenyon Green, iOL/OT, Texas A&M
Much like we said about the Miami Dolphins pick earlier, there is a chance, though smaller, that this pick could belong to the Houston Texans, if the Panthers do pull the trigger for Deshaun Watson. Again, that being said, like we said with Miami, the pick still belongs to Carolina. With that, I think the Panthers should grab one of the top offensive lineman in this draft class, and with someone available that has the positional versatility that Kenyon Green has still on the board, the Panthers should pounce on the opportunity to take him. While at Texas A&M, Green started his career at right guard, where he started 13 games for the Aggies, then moved over to left guard as a sophomore, a season that saw him be named a conscious All-American and name second team All-SEC, before finally moved to offensive tackle this season. So far this season for A&M, he’s played 81 snaps at left tackle, 112 at left guard, 106 at right guard, and 142 at right tackle, he's just an insanely versatile football player. Green is very athletic, an absolute tank at 6'4" 325 lbs., and is, again, very versatile. With the Panthers seemingly having a weakness at both guard and tackle, Green could help fill some of the holes on the o-line. Whoever the quarterback is for the Panthers is next year, they'd be happy the Panthers grabbed a guy like Kenyon Green.
15. New York Giants - Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
To say the least, the Giants offensive line is pretty garbage, all things considered. That bing said, they did try and rectify their o-line woes by drafting tackles Andrew Thomas (4) and Matt Peart (99) in the 2022 NFL Draft, and they did trade for center Billy Price this offseason, but only after cutting Kevin Zeitler. With the two aforementioned tackles not living up to the hype, especially Thomas, who was the first tackle taken in 2020, and starting right tackle Nate Solder turning 34 before the draft in April. I think it might be time for the Giants to try again at hitting on an offensive lineman, this time, going for Ohio State's Nicholas Petit-Frere. An experienced tackle, playing at both right and left tackle, Petit-Frere hasn't allowed a single sack throughout his entire Ohio State career. Let me repeat that, Petit-Frere has allowed zero sacks throughout his entire Ohio State career. Not one, not two, not three, but zero sacks. Along with allowing zero sacks, Petit-Frere has allowed just two pressures all season, which is very impressive considering how often Ohio State throws the football. At 6'5" 315 lbs., he's got the prototypical size and length to be a real threat at the next level and with Daniel Jones getting hit almost every time he drops back, it'd be smart for the Giants to invest in a guy who's never allowed a sack. As his career's gone on, Petit-Frere keeps getting better and better, if that continues, there may be a chance he's not available here at 15 for the Giants to take. He'd be a great addition and would solidify the Giants offensive line.
16. Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Everyone and their dog knows how bad the Chiefs defense has been this season. Hell, it's not only been bad, but it's one of the worst defenses in Kansas City Chiefs history. This season, the Chiefs rank in the bottom five in total yards given up and in yards per game, bottom five in pass defense, bottom six in rush defense, and rank in the bottom three for points allowed this season, giving up 203 points, good for 29 a game. All that being said, though I think it'd be the smarter move to look for some talent on defense, for some reason I just feel the Chiefs will look for more fire power on the offensive side of the ball. Like, if you really think about it, outside of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, who do the Chiefs really have on the outside that posses and real threat to the opposing team? I mean, Mecole Hardman can, at times, I guess, but I'm sure they're going to want give Mahomes another legit weapon, especially with everyone coming to Mahomes defense about his league leading nine interceptions, because remember, nothing is ever Mahomes' fault. So, with all that being said, I think the Chiefs may turn their attention to someone like Ohio State receiver Chris Olave to help remedy some of their receiver woes. Though he may not be the biggest wide receiver in this draft, at 6'1" 188 lbs., he is almost unmatched when it comes to the threat of the deep ball and just his overall finding of the end zone, as Olave has scored 30 touchdowns in 33 games at Ohio State. He's an insanely crisp route runner and finds holes in the defense very well and exploits them. Again, though I think the Chiefs should go defense, I could totally see them looking for someone like Olave. Someone that could take the pressure off of Hill and Kelce and give Mahomes another weapon to throw to.
NOTE: I'm drafting Jordan Davis or George Karlafits if I were the Chiefs, I just feel they'll look to add someone on offense
17. Atlanta Falcons - Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
This is a dream scenario for the Atlanta Falcons. Having an in-state product fall right into you lap here at the 17th pick, the streets of Atlanta should be thrilled if this scenario was to actually play out. For past 100 years, the biggest issue on the Atlanta Falcons has been on the defensive side of the ball. Though people like to point the figure at Matt Ryan and co. for not winning games, it's pretty damn hard to win when your defense is letting opposition cut through them like it's nothing. Now, by the grace of God, the Falcons defense actually hasn't been that bad this season, ranking middle of the road in pretty much every defensive category, apart from their scoring defense, which has seen them allow 29.3 points per game. Now, I'm not saying he'd fix everything, but getting a guy like Jordan Davis would be huge in fixing the Falcons defense. While being one of, if not the main cog in Georgia's defensive juggernaut, this season, we are seeing some historically great things from the Bulldogs. Ranking first in points allowed, which is an absurd 46 total points, good for 6.6 points allowed per game. They also rank second in both the pass and the run game in yards allowed and then first again for total yards allowed, giving up 207.1 yards per game, and have given up 111 less total yards than second place Wisconsin. For Davis, being 6'6" and 340 lbs., Davis moves extremely well, and though he may not be getting to the quarterback at an insane rate, his size and athleticism draw in more blockers, freeing up rush lanes for other players on Georgia's defense. As of right now, the Falcons run a 3-4 defense, with their biggest nose tackle being 6'2" 309 lbs. Now, that's a big dude, compared to you and me, but Davis dwarfs him. Adding a guy as big as Jordan Davis to the heart of their defense would strike fear into opposing quarterbacks, running backs, and even certain offensive linemen. When you look around the division, and see the Bucs with Vita Vea and the Panthers with Derrick Brown, I think the Falcons would love someone like Davis at the heart of their defense. I love this pick/fit for the Falcons.
NOTE: I could see Davis going way before this pick, but this is just how this draft scenario played out
18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
I think we can all agree that Big Ben's time as the unquestioned starter in Pittsburgh is about to end, and I hope he just retires this time instead of dragging it out there for another season again. Though the Steelers have both Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins on the roster, I just find it hard to believe Mike Tomlin and co. would really go into a season with those two battling it out for the starting job in Pittsburgh. For that exact reason, I think the Steelers should be one of the teams that looks for a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. At this point and time, to me, the third best quarterback in this draft class is Nevada's Carson Strong. Even though he may not be the most fleet footed quarterback (and that's putting it lightly), I think Strong should develop into a very nice quarterback at the next level. As his name suggests, he's got a very strong arm and would be perfectly capable of playing in the cold late season games in the AFC North, as he's experienced it quite a few times playing for the Wolf Pack. This season, Strong has gotten better as the season has gone on. As I'm 100% sure you read in my week eight quarterback prospect preview, Strong started the season with eight touchdowns through the first four games, which was the lowest out of anyone in the top five at that time. Since then, in just three games, Strong has thrown 12 touchdowns, with six of them coming against a insanely suspect New Mexico State defense. Strong has all the tools to be a success at the next level (apart from his running ability). He's got great size, 6'4" 215 lbs., has a really strong arm that is also accurate, and has played numerous games in cold weather. I think he may be perfect as Big Ben's replacement.
NOTE: I could totally see the Broncos taking Strong because he's just the type of QB they've looked for over the past few drafts. But also, don't count out Pitt's Kenny Pickett. He's having himself a very nice season and is more mobile than Strong. Maybe the Steelers keep a Pitt quarterback in Pittsburgh. Who else remembers the last time they didn't do that? I wonder how that guy turned out...
19. Minnesota Vikings - Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Vikings are a very strange team. Every season it seems like there's some decent expectations placed on them, and they would come relatively close to reaching them if they didn't get in their own way. You look at games against the Bengals, Cardinals, and the Browns, all games they probably should've won, but they didn't cause something went wrong on their end. Whether it be a missed kick, fumbles that may not have been fumbles, blown coverages, not being able to stop the run, whatever, the Vikings are a better team than their 3-3 record shows. This offseason, to try and hopefully re-solidify a defense that Mike Zimmer called, "the worst he's ever coached," they went out and got Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Sheldon Richardson, and brought back Everson Griffen. Sadly, Peterson is on IR with a hamstring injury, leaving Cam Dantzler and Bashaud Breeland covering in the secondary, which has not been fun to watch at times this season. Along with that, both Breeland and Peterson are on one-year deals, leaving one of, if not both of the starting corner back spots open for next year. With that being said, I think next year the Vikings should look at someone like Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. First off, before we start, can we just address the fact that his name on Cincinnati's official roster is Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner! To quote Ned Schneebly (Dewey Finn), that's so punk rock! Now, for the player himself, Gardner is a true shut down corner. Per PFF, among corners who have played more than 500 snaps since 2020, Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner has allowed the fewest yards (268), fewest first downs (12), and he has not allowed a single touchdown over that span. Along with that, Gardner has scored three touchdowns, and has a passer rating allowed of 35.3. Just for comparison, spiking a ball in the dirt is good for a rating of 39.6, like c'mon! This season for Cincinnati, Gardner has allowed just four receptions and has gone 187 coverage snaps without allowing a completion of 15 yards or longer. Like I said above, Gardner is a true shut down corner, and would be a great addition for the Vikings and give them another long, lengthy, shut down corner like they had with Xavier Rhodes. With two of their top corners possibly leaving this offseason, the Vikings would be smart to look towards someone like "Sauce."
20. Cleveland Browns - George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Weirdly enough, the Browns are one of the more complete teams in the NFL, with decent depth spread around through the entire roster. The issue is, at least this year, that the depth to the depth is hurt, leaving the Browns with a week one pre-season fourth quarter team, spear headed by quarterback Case Keenum and running back D'Ernest Johnson. When healthy, the Browns are a really good/complete football team, but there are areas that should be addressed in the upcoming draft, namely defensive end. No, I'm not talking about replacing Myles Garrett, but replacing the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, who's on a one-year deal and has played for three teams in three years, and Tak McKinley, who is also on a one-year deal. Looking at their recent history, I'd be willing to bet both will be gone by next season, leaving an open spot along the d-line. To me, George Karlaftis would be a very nice replacement on the edge for the Browns. He's bigger than most of the other edge rushers in this draft, at 6'4" 275 lbs., Karlaftis can play both on the edge or on the inside as a d-tackle, two spots the Browns could use him at. He has a very wide variety of pass rushing moves that have seen him get 32 pressures this season and is very good against the run as well, some may even say better. For his size, he moves extremely well and always seems to find his way past opposing offensive linemen against both the run or pass. I think if the Browns had any real holes on their roster, it'd be at edge rusher, opposite of Garrett. I think Karlaftis is good enough to be a very good number two option for Cleveland moving forward.
21. Buffalo Bills - Ikem Ekwonu, iOL/OT, NC State
The Buffalo Bills are one of the NFL's best teams, with a very complete offense and, this year, an evenly complete defense. That being said, there are some things the Bills could improve on to become an even better team, and as someone who watches them every week, I think the main spots would be on the o-line, either at tackle or guard, in the interior of the d-line, a corner opposite of Tre White, and maybe an upgrade at running back. Not necessarily saying any of those positions are bad, they could though use an upgrade. Now, the Bills did just draft Spencer Brown in the third round and Tommy Doyle in the fifth round of last year's draft, I think the Bills could look to go back to the well again and get another lineman. The main reason, for me anyways, is because the Cody Ford pick hasn't worked out to this point, as we saw him get benched early in the season because of poor play. I think the Bills could look at someone like Ikem Ekwonu from NC State to sure up their o-line even more. Though he's played mostly tackle this season for the Wolfpack, NFL scouts are expecting him to transition inside to guard at the next level, which should greatly benefit a team like the Buffalo Bills. According to PFF, Ekwonu has 22 big-time blocks since the start of 2020, which is the most of any offensive lineman in the country over that time span. Every time he blocks someone, it just always seems to end up with the defender flat as a pancake. The word I love to use to describe Ekwonu is "mauler," because that's exactly what he does, he just mauls the opposing defenders into the dirt with every single block he throws. An excerpt from the Athletic that shared a quote from an offensive line coach in the ACC, “to me, he’s the most feared offensive lineman in the ACC. He’s similar to Mekhi Becton but more of an interior guy. He’s got so much short-area power and explosiveness. He’s violent. You’d go watch him on film: ‘Oh, wow, he’s destroying people.’ He’s got something in him that is not coached. There is some natural aggression and ferocity with the way he finishes and strikes. That is a gift.” If he is available for the Bills to take him in the 2022 NFL Draft, I sure hope they don't pass on him. As much as I love Jon Feliciano, the Bills could really use an upgrade at both guard spots, and Ekwonu could be the guy to do the job.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina
The Chargers are a very intriguing team coming into the 2022 NFL Draft, with really only a couple of needs on the roster, like at offensive line (namely right tackle), edge rusher, and getting some more wide receiver depth. With the Bolts attacking the offensive line last offseason, bringing in four new starters, I think we may see the Chargers go after one of the other two needs, and with the Chargers ranking near the bottom in sacks, the think it'd be smart to look for another edge rusher to partner Joey Bosa, in this case, I have the Chargers taking South Carolina's Kingsley Enagbare. Though he's a natural 3-4 outside linebacker, Enagbare definitely has the skillset to not only play there, but also put his hand in the dirt and come off the edge as a transitional 4-3 defensive end. He's got inane burst of the line and possesses very nice bend, allowing him to dip under opposing offensive linemen blocks. This season, Enagbare has gotten up to 18 QB pressures in his past three games, including 10 against Troy, and now has 4.5 sacks on the season and 15 for his college career. As PFF have stated, his production this season has been more in regards to the pressure he applies rather than getting the sack himself, which can almost be as good as getting a sack yourself. I think Enagbare would be a great addition to the Chargers defense. Chargers head coach Brandon Stanley often shuffles between a 4-3 and 3-4 defensive front, allowing Bosa to start from a two point stance from time to time. With Enagbare, the Chargers would hav more freedom to do that and I'm sure they'd have more 13 sacks with "JJ" helping Bosa get after the quarterback.
NOTE: With Keenan Allen turning 30 in April, I wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers looked at one of the top wide outs with this pick.
23. New Orleans Saints - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Going into this season, all the talk from the wide receiver position centered around the two Ohio State guys, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Much like during the pre-season, you won't mention one without mentioning the other for too long, as we have Wilson going one spot after Olave, falling to number 23 to the New Orleans Saints. Garrett Wilson is kind of an anomaly when it comes to the wide receiver position. He's not the biggest guy out there, 6'0" 192 lbs., and he's not the fastest, but somehow he always seems to be behind defenders with a blink of an eye. Though he's not the biggest or fastest, Wilson is explosive and has great body control, allowing him to catch any pass that is thrown to him. If we're just talking stats, this season he has more yards than the aforementioned Olave, 605 to 518, but I give Olave the edge due to him being a better route runner, just, and he's a tad faster than Wilson, though I'd say Wilson is better at making the contested catches. With the Saints at somewhat of a crossroads with Michael Thomas, and them not having a ton of weapons outside, I love the idea of placing Garrett Wilson in this offense. Wilson would give Winston a legit number one wide receiver.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
Throughout the past few seasons, the Cowboys defense, to put it lightly, hasn't been very good, with last year's defense being, statistically, one of the worst in Cowboys history. Ranking in the bottom half of the league in every defensive category and were ranked second to last in rush defense and bottom five in points allowed. This season, though their defense has improved insanely, the Cowboys have had a difficult time at bringing the quarterback to the ground, registering only 11 sacks on the season, good for fourth worst in the league (tied with the Eagles). To help remedy this, I going to have the Cowboys take USC edge rusher Drake Jackson. At 6'4" 250 lbs., Jackson has the natural build and length to get after the quarterback. He possesses great first step quickness and is powerful from the point of attack. The only real issue in Jackson's game is that he can be kind of "shotty" with his production. This season, Jackson has registered four sacks, 24 tackles, and even an interception. Though he may not have the numbers, yet, he's definitely got the athletic tools to be a very nice 3-4 outside linebacker, or even a 4-3 d-end, at the next level.
25. Tennessee Titans - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Over the past few seasons, the Tennessee Titans defense has been ranked in the bottom half of the league, in regards to total defense. In 2019 they ranked 12th from the bottom. In 2020 they famously ranked in the bottom five, yet were still a playoff team. That 2020 defense was so bad, that the Titans cut, released, or traded six corner backs, and used this offseason to draft Caleb Farley and Elijah Molden while also signing Janoris Jenkins and Greg Mabin. Now, in 2021, the Titans defense, though better, still ranks in the bottom 10 in total defense. One of the reasons for that is that two of their starting corners, Kristian Fulton and Caleb Farley, are on IR. Once they come back, their secondary should be better, so I don't know if they'll go out and draft another corner. Instead, I'm going to address the middle of the defense, where next year you could lose former first round pick Rashad Evans to free agency, which I don't think too many Titans fans would be upset about. So, to remedy that, while also adding a skilled inside linebacker, I'm going to give the Titans Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd. One of my favorite ways to describe defensive players is by calling them a "do everything player," and Devin Lloyd is truly that. He does almost everything for the Utes defense, with this season seeing him total 69 total tackles, four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble. With the title "do everything player," it would make sense that Utah use him all over the place, which they do. They have lined Lloyd up as a blitzing linebacker while also allowing him the freedom to make plays all across the field as a middle linebacker. For his career, Lloyd has 214 career tackles, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions. If the Titans want to sure up their defense, adding someone like Lloyd would be a great step in the right direction.
NOTE: Even though I said they probably won't do it, I do think there is a chance they look at a corner here, especially with Caleb Farley's extensive injury history
26. Cincinnati Bengals - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bengals caught a lot a slack from fans and media alike to passing on Oregon tackle Penei Sewell to take Joe Burrow's former LSU teammate, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. One of the few people that liked the pick was your's truly, and I think the Bengals and Chase has throughly flipped off the national media over the pick, as Chase is having one of the greatest rookie seasons we've ever seen. The main reason why I liked the pick is because the Bengals did improve their offensive line during the offseason, mainly by grabbing former Viking tackle Riley Reiff, who was coming off, arguably, his best season in the NFL. The thing is, after this season, Reiff very well may not be apart of the Bengals next season, as his two-year contract is really a one-year deal as it has a void year in the terms, meaning if the Bengals chose not to re-sign him, he'll become a free agent. With the possibility of that happening, I think now the Bengals move for an offensive linemen, this time in the form of another Iowan, this time in Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning. Now, Penning may not be a name you're familiar with, but he is truly one of the more dominating tackles in all of college football, regardless of level. At 6'7" 321 lbs., Penning is another former Panther that'll block out the sun on the edge of the o-line, much like current tackle Buffalo Bill and former Panther Spencer Brown. Penning will burry any opponent in front of him into the dirt and plays with a mean streak that is kind of unmatched when talking about the other tackles in the 2022 NFL Draft. We already said he's massive, but he also moves extremely well, rarely getting beat around the edge by opposing defenders, making him great against both the pass and the run. As a UNI grad, I love to see Panthers playing at the next level and much like Spencer Brown last year, Penning has every chance to be an absolute beast at the next level and I would love to see him go in the first round.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are as complete as they come when you're talking about complete teams in the NFL. Looking at their roster, there's really nothing they necessarily need to add to their roster to keep them in Super Bowl contention for the next few seasons. Looking at their roster, analyzing for the next draft, I would think they'd do the same thing they did in 2021, look at position/player that's aging and getting a talented player in their to learn under them before taking the starting job full time. In the previous draft we saw the Bucs take Washington edge rusher Joe Tryon to eventually replace Jason Pierre-Paul, now, in 2022, we have them taking Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean to eventually replace Lavonte David. David has been apart of the Bucs organization ever since 2012 and has been a great linebacker for them ever since he was drafted. That being said, David turns 32 in January and be on the final year of a recently signed 2-year deal, making him a free agent in 2023, leaving the door open for Dean to take over full time. Kind of in the similar mold to Devin White in regards to size, Dean isn't the most physically imposing linebacker you'll ever come across. At 6'0" 220 lbs., for what he lacks in size, he makes up for in raw, unadulterated speed. This seaso, Dean has been flying all over the field, registering 30 tackles, with 3.5 sacks while leading the Bulldogs in sack yardage (which doesn't mean a whole lot but it's kind of cool). Whether he's stopping the run or getting after the quarterback, Dean's not afraid to make plays for the Bulldogs. Though he may not have the prototypical size team's are necessarily looking for in a linebacker, I think Dean's speed, play making, and football IQ make him a very fun player to watch and would be an excellent replacement for Lavonte David, when the time comes.
NOTE: Cornerback is also an option here, with the Bucs relying on a 33 year old Richard Sherman as their number one guy (who will be 34 in March) due to injuries to Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting
28. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles) - Drake London, WR, USC
The Detroits Lions really could go down as the greatest team to not win a game this season. They show a lot of heart and are behind their head coach, which is something you really love to see. With their first pick in this draft, they unsurprisingly took Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux to hopefully sure up some aspects of their defense. Now, with their second pick, thanks to the Rams, the Lions will probably be expected to go after either a) a quarterback or b) a wide receiver. Though I think quarterback could be a possibility with this pick or their second round pick, I'm going to go with the player who is the best when it comes to both positions, and that, to me, is USC's Drake London. Drake London is having an insane season for the USC Trojans. Though, as a team, the Trojans are struggling, London seems to be one of the few bright spots of this 3-4 team that has been embarrassed a few times this season. Look, we knew going into the season that London was going to be a threat out wide, but I don't know if most people expected him to explode like this. As of right now, Drake London has 1,003 receiving yards, which is good for second in the nation, with five touchdowns on 79 targets. Now, USC is a very pass happy team, and really doesn't have any other options out wide apart from London, but that shouldn't take away from how good he's been this season. At 6'5" 210 lbs., London, unsurprisingly, high points the ball extremely well and has made numerous acrobatic catches this season, namely the one against Colorado. He may not be the fastest wide receiver in this draft class, but London's abilities to high point the ball and to make circus catches makes him very special.
NOTE: He could go a lot higher than this
29. Las Vegas Raiders -Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
I'm stuck between two positions of need here for the Raiders. On one hand, the Raiders either cut or traded three starters on the o-line this past offseason, and first round pick Alex Leatherwood has shifted from tackle to guard, after disappointing so far this season. On the other hand, the Raiders recent draft picks at corner, Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullens, have not lived up to expectations and are both currently on IR, leaving the starting cornerback duties to a 32 year old Casey Hayward, who was cut from LA this past offseason, fifth round draft pick Nate Hobbs, and recently signed 31 year old Desmond Trufant, who played two games with the Saints in 2020 before getting cut. Both a big needs for the Raiders, but with some uber talented quarterbacks already in the division, with possibly Aaron Rodgers coming in this offseason, with receivers like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Tyreek Hill, Chris Olave (hypothetically), Travis Kelce, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, KJ Hamler, and Tim Patrick in the division as well? I think the Raiders should look at the cornerback position again, and take athletic corner Trent McDuffie from Washington. Throughout the Raiders history, what have they loved more than anything? Speed and athleticism, and McDuffie has that in bunches. Out of the other top corners in this draft, McDuffie comes in at the smallest, at 5'11" and 195 lbs., McDuffie can make plays all over the secondary. As the main cog in Washington's stellar pass defense, helping them hold the title as the nation's number one pass defense. Giving up just 140.1 yards per game, just 981 total pass yards allowed this season. The have also intercepted more passes than they've allowed touchdowns and hold opposing quarterbacks to a 58.3% completion percentage. For a Raiders team that could use an upgrade in the secondary, I think McDuffie may be the perfect guy for them. He fits that Raiders mold of speed and athleticism mixed with a little bit of dog, which is something the Raiders could use at the cornerback position.
NOTE: Offensive tackle is a real option here as well, for the reasons we stated before. Another Husky, Jaxson Kirkland, is the player I originally had here before switching to McDuffie
30. Green Bay Packers - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
From everything we have gathered from this past offseason, this seems to be Aaron Rodgers' last season in Green Bay. Now, I don't know where he'll go exactly, but with how this whole situations been handled really, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Packers gave Rodgers the middle finger and finally, finally, drafted a wide receiver in the first round. Look, we stated this numerous times prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, but the last time the Packers drafted a wide out in the first round was in 2002, when they drafted Javon Walker 20th overall. I just feel that with Rodgers gone, the Packers would finally draft one, especially if Davante Adams meant what he said about if Rodgers goes he goes. With that all being said, if the Packers do finally move for a wide receiver, I think Penn State's Jahan Dotson would be a perfect one for the Packers. Dotson is a very explosive wide receiver, with and without the ball in his hands, that can make any catch on the field, and has made some sort of a habit of doing that this season for Penn State. Not only that, he is one of the best pure route runners in this draft class, and like Olave, just has a knack of almost always being open. One of the concerns coming into the season for Dotson was the amount of drops he had over the 2019 and 2020 season's. This year though, on 78 targets, Dotson has zero drops, which is big for his draft stock. If the Packers do move on from Aaron Rodgers to usher in the Jordan Love era, getting Love a new wide receiver would be a very nice way to start.
31. Baltimore Ravens - Darian Kirkland, iOL/OT, Kentucky
I was really close at give the Ravens a wide receiver here with the 31st pick, but after seeing Ronnie Stanley go down with an injury and get put on IR, again, and seeing how Alejandro Villanueva has struggled since being in Baltimore, I think the Ravens may need to look at another offensive tackle in this draft class. With this pick, I think the Ravens should look towards Kentucky guard/tackle hybrid Darian Kinnard. At 6'4" 325 lbs., Kinnard is not really what you picture when thinking of a prototypical right tackle, but after talks of moving him inside to guard haunted, Kinnard stepped up and has been playing pretty lights out at left tackle this season for a one-loss Wildcats team. With him being as compact as he is, Kinnard excels in the run blocking department. With some calling him a "tone setter," Kinnard has been opening up holes for running back Chris Rodriguez, and others, all season long. Kinnard's power in the run game would be very beneficial to a Ravens team that, if you didn't know, loves to run the football. His physical talent is there, and I believe he's got a high ceiling, let's see if he can realize it at the next level. I think Kinnard would be a perfect lineman for what the Ravens do on offense, regardless of if it's at guard or tackle.
32. Arizona Cardinals - Adam Anderson, EDGE, Georgia
Though the Cardinals lost to the Packers on Thursday Night Football, as of right now, they still have the 32nd pick, mostly due to this order being made prior to the game happening. That being said, the Cardinals have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season, starting off 7-0 and beating some very nice teams along the way. With the Cardinals being one of the better teams this season, it can be hard to find any true weaknesses on the roster. If we had to chose though, we'd have to look to the defensive side of things, mostly because of how high powered the offense is, but also with some of the ages of the defensive players. Three of the main guys on this defense are one the wrong side of 30, with their two stand-up outside linebackers turning 32 and 31 by the time the 2022 draft comes along. Not to mention, the soon to be 32 year old Chandler Jones will be a free agent in 2022, and with him requesting a trade before the 2021 season started, I think it'd be smart for the Cardinals to inject some youth to their edge rush. One edge rusher that is really fun to watch is Georgia outside linebacker Adam Anderson. At 6'5" 230 lbs., Anderson may not be the biggest edge rusher in this class, but for he lacks in size, he makes up for in explosiveness and insane speed coming off the edge. He's an insane threat coming off the edge with his speed and is a big part in Georgia's insane defense this season. Earlier this season, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart compared Anderson to former ninth overall pick Leonard Floyd, saying "(his) size, speed, athleticism. Elite get off. Long and fast. You start looking at comparisons it's Leonard Floyd. His biggest issue has been being able to handle bulk and weight. He's matured so much in the classroom. He's bought into the program and all that came into it." If Anderson can put on some pounds and carry it, we may have a real threat coming off the edge at the next level.
Players who just missed out
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
David Bell, WR, Purdue
Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
Jaxson Kirkland, OT, Washington
Sean Rhyan, iOL/OT, UCLA
Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma
Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
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