Welcome one and all to the first OFFICIAL 2022 NFL Mock Draft! Obviously, this is subject to change throughout both the NFL and college football seasons, but as we sit here in the first week of August, this is how I see it.
Now, I know not everybody is going to like or agree with my picks, but this is just how I see it now. I'm also well aware of the fact that this could be very VERY wrong by the time the draft coms around. Like, who thought Joe Burrow would be drafted no.1 overall before the 2019-20 season? If you said you knew you're lying.
Again, this is all subject to change throughout the season and as we get closer to the actual 2022 NFL Draft, which takes place April 28th through April 30th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
So, without waiting any longer, I welcome you all to the Draft "Expert's" FIRST OFFICIAL 2022 NFL Mock Draft! Enjoy!
*NOTE: This is not my draft order. This is an order by NFL Mock Draft Simulator and if you want to create your very own mock draft, I would highly recommend using their website!
Pictured: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina/Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma/Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
QB - 1a
The distance between the best and second best quarterback in this draft class is very close, with the jury mostly split on North Carolina's Sam Howell and Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler. Though I think Howell is the better quarterback RIGHT NOW, I think Rattler's ceiling makes him the number one pick, for now.
Ratter's potential hasn't really been that big of a secret. Ever since he announced he was going to Oklahoma people in the media started talking about how he is the most naturally talented quarterback Lincoln Riley has ever had. That's saying something too, as you're saying he's more talented then two Heisman Trophy winners and a Heisman runner-up, but it's that not far fetched.
What makes Rattler special, to me, is his insane arm talent. Comparatively to the Chiefs Patrick Mahomes, Rattler has a very quick release and can contort his body to make every single throw on the field. With a flick of the wrist, Rattler can launch a ball 60 yards. It all just comes so natural to him.
The only real issue in Rattler's game is his inconsistent play, most notably during the first half of last season, where he got benched in the first half against Texas. If he can find some sustained consistancy, who knows how good he can be.
He's not the finished product, which makes him a very exciting prospect. His natural talent and his potential make him an ideal candidate for the first overall pick, and heck, maybe even the Heisman Trophy.
With Deshaun Watson’s future up in the air, I think it may be smart for the Texans to look towards a quarterback in the 2022 Draft.
QB - 1b
If the Lions are as bad as everyone thinks they're going to be, they will not be far off of the second overall pick. To me, it's between Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux and UNC's Sam Howell. In this scenario, the Lions ditch the recently acquired Jared Goff for their quarterback of the future (hopefully).
I really enjoy watching Sam Howell play the quarterback position. Two of Howell's best traits are his extreme consistency and pinpoint accuracy. In his two years at North Carolina, Howell has completed 64.4% of his passes for 7,227 yards with 68 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
To me, Howell and Rattler are pretty much neck and neck for the top quarterback in this draft class. I think the only thing that really separates them is their ceilings, in which case I, and many others, would argue Rattler's is higher. Right now, I say Howell is better, but if you look at Rattler's skill set and natural ability, you'd think he'd better the better QB in the long run.
Now, this season will be a real test for Howell and his abilities. This offseason, North Carolina lost Javonte Williams (Denver), Michael Cartner (New Jersey), Dynami Brown (Washington), and Dazz Newsome (Chicago), all big time players and weapons for the Tar Heels.
Howell is a great quarterback, and will be in the running for the top spot in the NFL Draft. Though I don't have him going number one here, doesn't mean I won't change my mind in the future. The battle for number one will be a fun one to watch between Howell and Rattler.
OT - 1
The 2021 NFL Draft has been a highly talked about subject when it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals.
With a supposedly generational talent at left tackle in the form of Penei Sewell, the Bengals instead went and got Joe Burrow his favorite target from his time at LSU in Ja’Marr Chase.
Though this received mixed reviews, it is hard to ignore the connection the pair had at LSU. Now, I do think that in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bengals will address the offensive line in some form. If they pick this high, it’ll be hard to pass up on Alabama’s Evan Neal.
Neal is an absolute monster at left tackle. Standing at 6’7” and weighing 360 lbs., Neal is by far the largest tackle out of my “way to early” top five. With Miami’s Zion Nelson being 6’5” 316 lbs. and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross being 6’5” 305 lbs.
At that size, Neal is also very versatile. In his first season at Alabama, Neal started every single game at left guard and then transitioned to right tackle during his true sophomore season. For this upcoming season, Neal will be on the move again, this time to replace Alex Leatherwood at left tackle.
Now, it’s not often true freshman start on the offensive line, especially at Alabama. A true testament to how good of an overall lineman he is.
For as big he is, Neal can really move. That combined with his size and power make him a perfect prospect at left tackle. If the Bengals do in fact pick this high in the draft, Evan Neal would be very hard to pass up.
EDGE - 1
For a team as bad as the New York Jets, they have made a weird habit of having the best overall player in the draft fall to them when no one expected them too. Namly Leonard Williams in 2015 and Jamal Adams in 2017. Now in 2022, Kayvon Thibodeaux falls right into their laps at number four.
If the teams above didn't have some issues on the offensive side of the ball, Thibodeaux would almost be a lock to go first overall. But with the Texans and Lions needing quarterbacks and the Bengals wanting to improve their o-line, Thibs falls to number four, which the Jets will not complain about.
Thibodeaux is an athletic freak in every sense of the phrase. At 6'5" 250 lbs., he's a match-up nightmare no matter where you play him.
If he's playing as a 4-3 defensive end, his mix of speed, get off/burst and power allows him to shed blockers and get to the passer. As a 3-4 outside linebacker, let's just say, good luck to whoever is trying to block him.
For the same things that make him a great pass rusher, make him a great run stopper. It's actually rediculous to see how good he is. It's just not fair for the opposing team. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, one unnamed AFC scout said Thibs was, "built out of a lab. Zero weaknesses. Power, bend, speed."
As the former number one high school recruit in the country, Thibs' talents haven't gone unnoticed. Yet, we are all still amazed by the things he can do. If a team with no real quarterback issue has the first overall pick, don't expect them to trade out, expect to take the Oregon edge rusher. The Jets and their fans should be overjoyed if this scenario happens for them.
S - 1
Kyle Hamilton is an absolute unit from the safety position. At 6’4” 219 lbs., he is an absolute force to be reconded with from the saftey spot. Whether that's making plays in the passing game or making plays closer to the line of scrimmage, Hamilton can do it all.
It's not often you see a 6'4" saftey roaming around the secondary, but that's exactly what Hamilton is. Like I said above, he makes plays everywhere, and his size combined with his speed make him an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses to deal with..
Remember when Jacksonville was one game away from the Super Bowl? Do you remember the main reason why they got some far? It's because of their uber talented defense, lead mostly by Jalen Ramsey.
Now that Ramsey and the rest of the Sacksonville most gone, the Jags have to rebuild their defense. Players like Josh Allen, CJ Henderson, K'Lavon Chaisson, Tyson Campbell, Andre Cisco, and others are helping the Jags move in the right direction defensively. Adding Hamilton to that young core would be a great move by the Jaguars.
Hamilton is just a football player. Anything you ask of him defensively he will do, and do it well. You don't see a lot of players with his combination of size and speed, he'd be very hard to pass on for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
NOTE: IF the Jaguars end up trading CJ Henderson, Derek Stingley will be going here, so, subject to change I guess
CB -1
The Eagles are going to be an interesting team to watch during the 2022 NFL Draft. Namly because of the reports from this past offseason stating they don't 100% know if they're committed to Jalen Hurts. Even if that is the case, it'd be hard for the Eagles, who need secondary help, to pass on the best corner in the draft in Derek Stingley.
Ever since his true freshman season at LSU, Derek Stingley has widely been considered the best corner back in college football. Yes, even as a freshman, dude was the best corner in the country. A season that saw LSU win the Naty and Stingley register six interceptions and 15 passes defended.
Though he (and LSU as a whole) had a down season last year, mostly due to injuries, Stingley should still be the first corner taken and a top five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Though that doesn't happen here, he's still an absolute beast at the corner back position. (Stingley still only allowed 163 yards last season, and that was a "down" season)
Like I said above, Stingley has long been the best corner in college football. Ever since his famed freshman year, Stingley has played 451 snaps in press coverage (per PFF). That is the fourth most in college football over that two-year span. (may be more if he didn't battle injuries last season).
Stingley will be an instant plug-and-play corner at the next level and is not only the best corner, but maybe the best overall player in the 2022 NFL Draft. All eyes will be on Stingley this season, even more so since he's wearing the famous no.7 jersey at LSU. This dude is a baller and the Eagles would be smart to take him here.
QB - 3
If you have listened to my show for long enough you should know that Malik Willis is my favorite player in this upcoming draft. Much like Vick in 2001 and Lamar Jackson in 2018, it's not often the fastest player on the field is the quarterback, but that's exactly the case for Willis.
To me, Willis is a lot more like Vick than Lamar Jackson. Both have absolute hoses for arms and can make insane plays with their feet. Creating something out of nothing, if you will.
Though he has an insanly strong arm (strongest in the class imo), it can get him into trouble and can cause some problems in regards to his accuracy, which is something he'll need to work on. He can and does put touch on this throws, but it is definetely something that'll need improved on before he makes the leap to the next level.
Much like Spencer Ratttler, Willis' ceiling is insane. If he can sustain some consistency in regards to his accuracy, he will be a real problem in the NFL. He's speed and arm talent are things you don't normally see in a quarterback and if he pans out like I think he will, we may see his name creep up closer to that number one spot in the draft.
The Falcons current starting quarterback, Matt Ryan, is going to have one more year left on his contract after this season, so why shouldn't the Falcons look to add his replacement in next years draft? Regardless whether it's Willis or someone else.
If he somehow ends up in Atlanta, where he can learn from Matt Ryan and Arthur Smith, he'll be a real threat in the NFL.
DL - 1
There's no real way around it, ever since Khalil Mack was traded to Chicago the Raiders defense has been near the bottom in regards to total defense. Though their defense as a whole has been pretty tragic, the area where they struggle the most is getting after the quarterback.
Former fourth overall pick Clelin Ferrell hasn't really panned out, getting out played by former fourth round draft pick Maxx Crosby, and their interior d-line has provided little to no pressure over the past few seasons.
Though the Raiders may look at the quarterbacks if they pick this high, I think the smarter move would be to invest in some top end defensive talent, which is plentiful in this draft. The player that I think could best suit the Raiders here at number seven in Texas A&M's DeMarvin Leal.
Whether you play him at his normal position, 4-3 defensive end, or inside as a three tech, Leal would be a massive upgrade on the Raiders defensive line.
At 6'4" 290 lbs., Leal posseses great athleticism and burst from anywhere on the defensive line. During this past season at A&M, Leal recorded 2.5 sacks with 37 total tackles and one forced fumble/fumble recovery and an interception.
For a team that struggles everywhere on defense, Leal would be an instant impact player for the Raiders. He has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive line and his athleticism should make him an excellent prospect against the pass and the run. A nice fit for the silver and black.
EDGE - 2
The Giants added wide receivers Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney as well as an experienced tight end in Kyle Rudolph. Now, the Giants should look to strengthen their strength by adding another pass rusher to partner the recently drafted Azeez Ojulari. Drake Jackson could be that guy.
At 6’4” 255 lbs., Jackson has the ideal size, athleticism and twitch to be a real threat as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Looking at the Giants roster, combined, their starting outside linebackers have one sack between them. That being said, Ojulari is a rookie and has never played a snap in the NFL.
While at USC, Jackson racked up 66 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, and three passes defended. Now, most of those sacks came during his true freshman season (5.5), but that didn’t stop him from being named second team all PAC-12 for the second straight season.
The “lack of production” is also the product of the weird PAC-12 season, changing positions, putting on some more playing weight, and playing for a new defensive coordinator. To be named to an all conference team after that is pretty impressive.
Again, the Giants should look to add some more playmakers on defense. Partnering Azeez Ojulari with Drake Jackson could be fun to see for the G-Men.
LB - 1
Once again, the Panthers use their first round pick to strengthen their defense. Ever since Matt Rhule became the Panthers head coach, they have drafted a defensive player with 11 of their 18 picks, with seven of them being taken his first year as head coach. Why buck the trend now?
The Panthers are in a very offensive heavy division and should pick up as many play makers on the defensive side of the ball as they can. The weaponry in this division is pretty crazy, so adding a playmaking linebacker like Christian Harris would be very smart to add to the middle of their defense.
A very fast and instinctive player, Harris has totaled 131 tackles with 4.5 sacks over his two year Bama career (those sacks all coming last season).
Whether you want him to drop back into coverage or get after the quarterback, Harris can do a job for your defense. Though he may need to improve on some aspects in coverage, Harris has a very high ceiling and could blossum into a very good linebacker at the next level.
iOL/OT - 2
The Giants are in a pretty weird place going into this season. Defensively, you could make the arguement that they have the leagues most underrated defense. Offensively, outside of Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay, the offense is leaving a lot to be desired.
Now, it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to go after a new starting quarterback, as, in my opinion, Daniel Jones isn't it. Of course that is subject to change. No doubt he's got talent, it's just a matter if he can put it all together or not.
Because of the connections with the Manning's, I think Jones will have a little longer leash then some other quarterbacks in his position. So, to make his job easier, and Saquon's, the Giants go after another "hog molly" in the form of Kenyon Green.
Though I have Green going at 11, I don't rank him higher than Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum. The big difference is Linderbaum is a center, a position that doesn't usually get drafted in the top 15. Kenyon Green on the other hand, has the ability to play both guard and tackle, and positional versatility is a trait a lot of teams are looking for nowadays.
The Giants cut starting guard Kevin Zeitler this past offseason, Will Hernandez has been alright at best, and Nate Soldier is not getting any younger. Green's versatility, athleticism, and intensity would be a great addition to the Giants offensive line.
Other pick: Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
CB - 2
The Cardinals just let one of their greatest ever players walk out the door for nothing, as Patrick Peterson headed up north to Minnesota.
To replace him, the Cardinals brought in Malcolm Butler, who was apart of one of the worst pass defenses last season, and Darqueze Dennard, who has only played 16 games once in his career, which was in 2017, and has played in only 17 games over the past two seasons.
In a division with some great quarterbacks and talent wide receivers, the Cardinals should definetely look to improve their secondary in the 2022 NFL Draft, and if Florida's Kaiir Elam is available, they have to take him.
Though Derek Stingley will get most of the attention throughout the 2022 Draft process, and rightfully so, Elam should not be brushed off and should not be taken for granted. Dude can ball.
At 6'2" 193 lbs., Elam possesses a nice combination of size and athleticism. His lenght has helped him out a lot over the years, for obvious reasons. Per PFF, he’s (Elam) forced incompletions on over 20% of his 77 career targets and allowed a only 42.9% completion percentage.
Like I said above, don't discount him just because he's not Stingley. Elam would be a perfect replacement for Patrick Peterson and would help lock down a division, that again, has a lot of talent at the quarterback and wide receiver position.
QB - 4
Everybody loves Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he is not the long term answer in Washington DC. Even though we'd love to see Fitz play forever, that's just not the reality, and the Football Team should look to add a younger quarterback in the upcoming draft.
When Ron Rivera was the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, the offense saw the most success with a quarterback by the name of Cam Newton.
Rivera doesn't want statue quarterbacks, he's going to want someone who can make plays with his feet, when asked to, and make plays through the air, obviously. In this quarterback class, there are a fair few that can make plays both through the air or on the ground, and the next best available is Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder.
Similarily to Trey Lance in this past year's draft, Desmond Ridder is a taller quarterback who is a phyiscal runner and has a hose for an arm. The only issue is that his arm can be a little inconsistant at times, cause his completion percetage numbers to go up and down. Going from 66.2% to 55.1% and then to 62.4%.
Ridder has all the talent in the world and is working with quarerback coach Jordan Palmer, who has done nothing but praise Ridder's skill set. If Ridder can become a more consistant passer, he could go even higher than 13. His arm talent mixed with his natural size and running ability make him a very intriging prospect for teams who are in need of a younger quarterback.
QB - 5
Big Ben's best days are clearly behind with this season (more than likely) being his last in Pittsburgh. Big Ben's departure is inevitable, and who the Steelers have on the roster currently to replace him? Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph, not exactly striking fear into the rest of the league there.
Now, Haskins or Rudolph could turn into good to great NFL quarterbacks, but just based off what I've seen of the pair, I think it'd be wise for the Steelers to go for a young QB in the 2022 NFL Draft. Carson Strong, to me, would be the perfect candidate for the Steelers.
A bigger quarterback with an absolute hose for an arm, Strong is very accurate and places balls on plates for receivers. No matter how far of a throw he has to make, Strong always seems to lead his receivers with great touch and, again, placement.
The only real "knocks" against Strong's game are in the fact that he comes from a "smaller" school (Nevada) and is not the most mobile quarterbacks in this class.
Well, in recent year's, with the likes of Josh Allen, Jordan Love, and most recently, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance, the size of your school is seeming to matter less and less. And as far as his athleticism goes, he may not be the fastest, but he's not a massive liability either.
In my opinion, Carson Strong would be an excellent candidate to replace Ben Roethlisberger as the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. He just fits that Pittsburgh quarterback mold so well. Bigger quarterback with a hose for an arm, seems like a match made in football heaven.
EDGE/DL - 3
The Vikings are a team that has a lot of potential. The fact of the matter is, can they realize it? Who really knows at this point. The only thing we do know is that the Vikings are still going to need some help defensively moving forward.
I know the Vikings added Dalvin Tomlinson and Patrick Peterson, but they've still got some holes on the defense. Remember, after they got shafted by Alvin Kamara on Christmas in 2020, HC Mike Zimmer said this was the worst defense he'd ever coached. I expect them to make some moves in the 2022 NFL Draft, regardless of if Zimmer is there or not.
One player I think the Vikings shold look at is Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis. Though Karlaftis had a pretty dissappointing 2020 season, due to injuries and contracting COVID, he still has a lot of potential in there.
If it weren't for his missfortune in 2020, Karlaftis would probably be considered a top 10 pick. During his freshman season at Purdue, Karlaftis racked up 7.5 sacks with 54 total tackles and one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries while playing 843 snaps (and registerred more pressure than Kayvon Thibodeaux). However, during the 2020 season, Karlaftis registerred four total tackles and two sacks in just three games.
If he can revert back to his freshman year numbers and just stay healthy, we may see Karlaftis back in the top 10 convorsation. His natural strength and postional versitility make him a prospect to keep an eye on in 2021. Hopefully we can see the 2019 George Karlaftis in 2021.
OT - 2
The Broncos may be one of the hardest teams to predict for this upcoming season, and it all depends on who's under center. Will it be Drew Lock? Teddy Bridgewater? Or maybe someone like Deshaun Watson (pending legal issues of course).
Obviously, if the Broncos do get Watson, they would be expected to have a lot lower draft pick than 16, as most people would expect them to be a playoff team.
Never the less, whoever is under center this year will need some help up front, especially after releasing starting right tackle Ja'Wuan James. To me, the next best pure tackle in this draft after Evan Neal is Washington's Jaxson Kirkland.
Now, unlike some of the other tackles in this draft, Kirkland is not going to blow you away with his athletic ability, but he is a very reliable pass protector and rarly let's his "lack of athleticism" get him beat around the edges.
Though he's not the most insane athlete, Kirkland still allowed a whopping zero sacks, zero QB hits, and only two hurries (per PFF).
At 6'7" 310 lbs., Kirkland has all the length in the world to keep edge rushers at bay. He's got very quick feet and has the versatility to play both guard and tackle, playing guard up until last season at Washington.
Kirkland is the best pure pass protector in this class. Whoever the Broncos get at quarterback would love to have a tackle like Kirkland on the edge, whether it be at right or left tackle.
EDGE - 4
Ohio State is quickly turning into "D-end U." From the Bosa brothers, to Chase Young, and now Zach Harrison. I don't know what's in the water in Columbus, all I know is they know how create some great edge rushers.
Now, though I mentioned the Bosa's and Chase Young, Harrison is not at that level, at least yet. At 6'6" 272 lbs., is very athletic coming off the edge and possesses two words that scouts and coaches love to hear from an edge rusher. Harrison possesses great bend and great get off.
Over the last part of the season for Ohio State, Harrison showed just that. Getting 19 pressures in their last four games. Games against Michigan, Northwestern, Clemson, and Alabama. That's some nice production against some very nice teams, and on the biggest stage.
Though his numbers as a whole were down from the season prior, mostly due to the weird Big Ten season, Harrison's potential could make him a top 10 pick. If he can put everything together, he could be a real threat at the next level.
NOTE: the Chargers can't go into another season with Jerry Tillery starting opposite of Bosa, they need an actual threat on the outside opposite of Bosa (that's my opinion as of August 2021, things could obviously change, Tillery could go off. I doubt it, but who knows?)
WR - 1
The Patriots went pretty "anti-Patriots" this offseason by spending a whole lot of money on weapons on the offensive side. Signing Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith this offseason to pair with Jakobi Meyers, getting some weapons for Cam and eventual starter Mac Jones.
Though the Pats made these signings, they're nothing that really blow you away, more so the receivers than the tight ends. Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne are not expected to be world beaters on the outside. Do we forget Agholor basically getting bullied out of Philly?
Now, the last first round wide receiver the Pats drafted hasn't really worked out, on and off the field, but I think Chris Olave would help rectify the Patriots receiving core.
Olave is a very smooth route runner and has speed to boot. He can separate from almost an defender covering him, making life super easy for his quarterback. Per PFF, Olave leads college football, since the start of the 2019 campaign, by creating a step or more of separation on 87 percent of his targets.
Olave and Wilson are two great wide receivers. There is really nothing between them in regards to draft position for the 2022 Draft. For this scenario, I went with Olave, but I'm still going to be 50-50 on the pair until maybe the start of the 2022 calendar year. Either way, Pats fans should be very happy if Olave falls into their laps.
WR - 1
The Saints are in an intersting situation when it comes to their number one wide receiver and overall best player in Michael Thomas. Though he's been amazing on the field, off the field, there's been a lot of issues between Thomas and the team as a whole.
He was benched early in the season for punch CJ Gardner-Johnson, who was punched twice (knowingly) last season. He also battled a few injuries and waited until the offseason to have "multiple surgeries" (per Adam Schefter).
Let's just say this, all in all, it doesn't seem like Michael Thomas is happy being a Saints at this point in time. Not only is he fighting with teammates, he's also gone from Drew Brees to either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill. I don't know how much he wants to be a Saint anymore.
With the dark cloud surrounding Thomas and his future, the Saints may be wise to look at another receiver in the 2022 Draft. While you're looking, might as well look at the same place you found Thomas, the Ohio State University, and pick up Garrett Wilson.
To me, there's nothing that really separtes the two Ohio State wide receivers, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. If you read my player rankings, I didn't list them as 1a and 1b, they were both equally ranked number one, and it's almost impossible to predict now who will go first.
But, for the sake of this experiment, Olave went first, allow Wilson to fall into the Saints' lap one pick later, and they're grateful. Wilson is a fantastic route runner and is really good at contorting his body to make all kinds of catches.
Whichever OSU receiver is available, I suggest the Saints take them. As of right now, I don't see either one going as high as Chase, Waddle, or Smith, but if the Saints are up and one of Olave or Wilson is there, you'd be stupid not to take one of them.
EDGE - 5
The Philadelphia Eagles are in an interestnig spot in this draft. They could potentially wind up with three first round picks (more of that later), so they can literally do anything, even replace current starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, which some fans may want.
Now, though Jalen Hurts isn't a top quarterback right now, I think the Eagles have a few bigger problems then drafting a new quarterback (remind: this is in August, this opinion could change come December).
One thing I've noticed over the past recent drafts is that the Eagles like to build towards the future, looking at players to learn under some of their more established players.
Look at Landon Dickerson (Jason Kelce), Jalen Hurts (Carson Wentz), Andre Dillard (Jason Peters), Dallas Goedert (Zach Ertz), and Derrick Barnett (Chris Long) just to name few. The Eagles see an aging player and look to draft a player to learn under them before taking the starting job the following season. I think they'll do the same here.
With Brandon Graham turning 34 before the 2022 NFL Draft, I think the Eagles would be smart to look for a guy to learn under him and eventually take the starting job. To me, that person is another Michigan man in Aidan Hutchinson.
With the first pick, the Eagles got the top corner in the draft in Derek Stingley from LSU to partner Darius Slay. With this pick, the Eagles stay on the defensive side of the ball again and take the athletic freak from Michigan.
According to Bruce Feldman of the Athletic, Aidan Hutchinson is the second biggest "freak" in college football, right behind Alabama's Evan Neal and right before Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton, two projected top five picks. (Hutchinson puts up comparable combine numbers to Kwity Paye)
Hutchinson is a great athlete and would an excellent piece for the Eagles future. Hopefully this year Hutchinson can stay healthy enough to push himself higher up this list, cause he definitely can.
OT - 3
Remember when the Cowboys were good? Like actually good? No? I admit, it has been a really fat minute since the Cowboys have been good. Hell, my parents were just getting done with college the last time the Cowboys won the Super Bowl. They're both 50 now.
Well, when the Cowboys were in their dominant phase in the early to mid 90s, they had skill all over the field. The thing though that really made them stick out was their insane offensive line.
Now, though the Cowboys haven't done anything in a while, that still hasn't stopped them from having a very good offensive line. I would even argue it was the best offensive line in the NFL (uncontested) throughout the 2010s. The main cogs being Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick.
Though they were uber dominant throughout the 2010s, they're needing to update the roster. Frederick has retired, Tyron Smith can't stay healthy, and Zack Martin is coming off a calf strain. They're getting older, and unless the Cowboys want to make sure Dak avoids snapping his leg again, they best address the o-line.
One thing that is very intriguing about this tackle class is how athletic most of them are, and none may be better than Miami's Zion Nelson.
As CBS Sports recently said, Nelson looks like an "All-Pro in the making." His combination of size, length, and athleticism make him one of the most intriguing prospect in this entire class. I would also like to add Nelson may just have the highest ceiling out of any tackle in this class.
Every year at Miami, Nelson has gotten better (as you'd expect I guess). But after allowing 38 pressures during his freshman season, he sliced that number down to 12 and one should expect that number to keep going down for this upcoming season.
It's not secret the Cowboys o-line needs some new life breathed into it. Whether it's at tackle, guard, or center, the 'boys need someone in their to eventually take over for one of the three future Hall of Famers. Nelson provides the 'boys with a great athlete and the highest upside (arguably) out of the tackles.
CB - 3a
New Jet's head coach Robert Saleh is going to want to go all defense in the first round (one suspects). Especially after taking quarterback Zach Wilson (2), o-lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (14), reciever Elijah Moore (34), and running back Michael Carter (107) with their first four picks last year.
Now that the offense is hopefully sorted for the future, the Jets can turn their attention to their defense And after stealing Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fourth overall pick, the Jets come back to the defensive side of the ball and take Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner.
Known as "Sauce" around Cincinnati (it's literally on their official website), Gardner, at 6'3" 200 lbs., possesses great length and instincts that make him one of the top corners in this draft class. Those are two things you can't teach.
In his two years starting at Cincinnati, Gardner has allowed only 40 catches on 98 targets for 581 yards with six picks and 14 pass-breakups across two years (per PFF). Like Stingley before, Gardner plays a lot of press coverage. Over the same time period, Gardner has played 454 press snaps, which ranks one spot above Stingley in third.
Another big thing about Gardner is that he was one of the "most frequently-targeted DBs this year, ranking 15th (of 200) in snaps/target" (per Evan McPhillips).
Overall, Gardner is a beast. He's super long and lengthy making him hard to get around for opposing quarterbacks and receivers alike. "Sauce" would be a great addition for the Jets, giving them two very solid pieces to build around for the future.
OT - 4
Now, this is a very interesting spot for the Philadelphia Eagles and it all depneds on their former quarterback, Carson Wentz. If Carson Wentz plays 75% of the Colts snaps OR plays 70% of the Colts snaps AND the Colts make the Playoffs, the Eagles get the Colts 2022 first round selection.
If you take a look at the AFC South and look at this draft order, two of the four teams are picking in the top five. Let's just say this, I'll be very surprised if the Colts don't make the Playoffs. The thing this depends on mostly is Wentz's health, and with him out (a very random) five to 12 weeks, we could either see him week one or midway through the season.
Like I said at the very beginning, this is not my draft order. That being said, I agree with nflmockdraftdatabase.com on this one. I think it's almost a lock for the Colts to make the Playoffs and I think Wentz will play at least 70% of the snaps. So, this pick will hypothetically being to Philly.
So, with all that out of the way, I think the Eagles should select Mississippi State's Charles Cross. With Lane Johnson's age and Charles Cross' blend of athleticism and potential, I think this'd be a very wise pick by Philly.
Like in 2019, when the Eagles drafted Andre Dillard, they would be drafting a piece for the future. Back then it was to replace Jason Peters, now they put a plan in place for Lane Johnson.
Eerily enough with this pick, both Dillard and Cross played for Mike Leach, just at two different schools. With this, you know they are going to be experienced when it comes to pass blocking and this past season, in his first year starting, Cross played 574 passing blocking snaps (per PFF), but allowed 44 pressures, which is not ideal, but looking at how many times he was in pass protection it's not an insanly high percentage.
Cross would be another building block for the Eagles and would also potentially replace a Philly legend in Lane Johnson, much like Aidan Hutchinson and Brandon Graham. Drafting Cross would give the Eagles a very athletic, yet raw, option on the offensive line. Eagles fans should be pretty happy with this draft.
TE - 1
The Titans are going to be one of the more intriguing teams in 2021. With the addition of Julio Jones, not only do the Titans have one of the best receiving cores in the league, but they still have an insane running back and a weirdly good quarterback in Ryan Tannehill.
Sadly for the Titans, they lost starting tight end Jonnu Smith to the evil empire known as the New England Patriots. If the Titans had Smith going into this season, we may have seen a damn near unstoppable. That's not the case though.
Instead of Jonnu Smith, the Titans have the like of Geoff Swaim (6 years; 484 career yards 2 TDs), Anthony Frisker (3 years; 816 yards 3 TDs), Luke Stocker (9 years; 693 yards 5 TDs), and Tommy Hudson (undrafted rookie).
Now, things can obviously change, but as of August 2021, the Titans should look to add a dynamic tight end to their offense. The best tight end in this draft, overall, is Texas A&M's Jalen Wydermyer, who is exactly who the Titans should draft.
A nice blend of size (6'5" 255 lbs.), athleticism, the ability to play out wide or on the line, and his his ability as a blocker make Wydermyer the most complete tight end in this draft class. He would also give the Titans yet another red zone play maker, with his ability to out muscle defenders and high point the ball, making him very valuable in that area.
The Titans are a very physical team, from Derrick Henry to Julio Jones and AJ Brown, the Titans rarly lose one-on-one match-ups. Wydermyer would add another match-up nightmare for opposing defenses.
DL - 2
The Browns, honestly, have one of the more complete teams in the NFL. They have a dominant running game, a great o-line, good quarterback, an elite pass rusher, a shut down corner, and some nice young pieces coming in via the 2021 NFL Draft. As weird as it sounds, the Browns may actually challenge for a Super Bowl this year.
Though they will more than likely make some noise this season, they still have some holes they're going to want to fill come the 2022 NFL Draft. The main one, to me, getting a big ol'monster in the middle of their defense. To me, the biggest and baddest monster defensively in this draft is Georgia's Jordan Davis.
Yes, I am aware the Browns have Andrew Billings as that big boy on the d-line, weighing in at 328 lbs., but I believe Davis would be an upgrade on the former Cincinnati Bengal.
Adding a moster like Jordan Davis (6'6" 340 lbs.) would be awesome for the Browns. Last season, with Davis, Georgia gave up 72.3 rush yards per game (2.4 yards per carry) (723 total yards), which ranked first in the nation in regards to stopping the run.
Jordan Davis is the best run stopping defensive tackle in this draft, pretty unanimously. His size makes him damn near impossible to move and his speed/power makes him even harder to slow down. Though he's not an insane threat against the pass, he eats up blockers, freeing up rushing lanes for everyone else on the defense.
The Browns defense needed improved upon coming into this season. After getting Newsome and JOK in the draft and John Johnson in free agency, the Browns defense is looking better, but I think could still use someone like Jordan Davis in the middle of their defense.
RB - 1a
Well Iowa State fans, here you go. The player you all wanted to see go in the first round is going to the Miami Dolphins here with the 26th (potentially). There's no denying it, Breece Hall is an absolute beast at the running back position.
Before last season, I think everyone knew Breece Hall was an amazing running back, but he surprised everyone, including Iowa State fans, when he led the nation in rushing with 1,572 yards on 279 attempts (also led the nation) with 21 rushing touchdowns (2nd behind Najee Harris).
Now, even though he is a fantastic running back, I would not be surprised to see him slip into the second round, which is not a bad place to go by any means. I just think the number of carries he gets and the fact Iowa State doesn't use him in the passing game could scare some teams off until day 2.
As I said above, Breece Hall led the nation in rush attempts, 279, and teams could look at that and be worrisome that there may not be a lot of "tread on the tires."
The carries and the lack of a true threat in the passing game is the same exact thing that saw Jonathan Taylor slip into the second round, even after back-to-back 2,000 yard seasons at Wisconsin.
Rightly or wrongly, Taylor was the third running back taken in 2020, behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32) and D'Andre Swift (35). Taylor racked up 627 attempts in two years, vs CEH and Swift, who had 370 and 440 attempts in THREE years. Again, rightly or wrongly, that can scare off teams.
The thing that benefits Hall in the first round this time is that there aren't a lot of running backs that have insane all around games, Notre Dame's Kyren Williams being the best receiver. Hall's unwillingness to go down and vision make him a great running back.
As an Iowan, I would love to see Hall go in the first round, hell, that's what I'm predicting here. But don't be surprised if Isaiah Spiller jumps him. He's not a lock to go in the first round, I'm honestly 50-50 on him vs Spiller, but for now, I'll keep him here.
The Dolphins are going to want more out of their running back room and Hall could be the guy to rectify that. Based off talent and ability alone, he deserves to be here.
iOL - 1
I think the Ravens goal for the 2022 NFL Draft is clear (for now), and that is draft some offensive lineman to compete with some of the current starters. Outside of left tackle Ronnie Stanley and guard Kevin Zeitler, the Ravens could do with some upgrades on the o-line.
Going into this season, the Ravens have Alejandro Villanueva at right tackle (33), Bradley Bozeman at center, and Ben Powers at left guard. Right tackle is a shout of drafting due to Villanueva's age, but Bozeman has been below average at guard and Powers has started only seven games in the NFL, being on the inactive list for the first 16 weeks of his rookie season.
Though Bozeman played center at Alabama and played it well, that shouldn't rule them out from drafting the best center in this class (by far) in Tyler Linderbau.
Now, the Ravens have had some success with Iowa linemen in the past, namely Marshal Yanda, who played his entire career in Baltimore. Linderbaum, much like Yanda, should be a great success in the NFL and in Baltimore (if he does end up here).
One thing Ravens fans should love about Linerbaum is the fact that he is a great run blocker. For a team that relys very heavily on the run, adding Linderbaum would be a very smart move for the Ravens.
Dude is a powerful S.O.B. who couples as a great athlete, making him a rare breed for the center position. Whoever he goes to in the 2022 Draft, he will make them very happy.
Now, Linderbaum, realistically, probably won't be available by the time the Ravens are on the clock. But the fact that he's a center makes his spot in this draft hard to predict. He is more than deserving of a top 10 pick, but again, you don't see a lot of centers drafted extremely high in the draft. He definitely deserves a spot in the top 15, let's see if he can make that a reality.
LB - 2
I think every football fan and team out there is expecting this to be Aaron Rodgers' last season in Green Bay, allowing the Jordan Love era to commence. Though I think it'd be really funny for the Packers to draft a wide receiver in the first round the same offseason A-Rod leaves, I just don't think the Packers will do that.
As we got closer to the 2021 NFL Draft, we talked about the Packers unwillingness to draft receivers in the first round, with the last one being Javon Walker in 2002. I think the Packers will continue that trend in 2022 by adding (again) to their defense.
During the 2020 offseason, the Packers let Blake Martinez leave for the Giants and in 2021 they let Christian Kirksey leave for Houston. As of right now, I think it'd be smart for the Packers to add an athletic linebacker in the former of Nakobe Dean.
One of the things the Packers have struggled with over the years is their ability, or inability, to stop the run. Though Dean may be a little "undersized" at the linebacker spot (6'0" 225 lbs.), his athleticism and instincts make him great for stopping the run.
While at Georgia, Dean was apart of a defense that led the nation in stopping the run, something we'll mention with our next contestant too. Last season, Georgia gave up 72.3 rush yards per game (2.4 yards per carry) (723 total yards), which is pretty crazy.
Like I mentioned before, Dean is an insane athlete at the linebacker position, which can make up for his perceived "lack of size." He's great against the run, like we already said, and great against the pass, which should make him a great fit in Green Bay's 3-4 defense.
CB - 3b
Ever since Sean McDermott and co have been in Buffalo, it's really been nothing but good things. From ending the Playoff drought to winning the AFC East to making it to the AFC Championship game. It's fair to say lifes been pretty good in Buffalo since McDermott and Beane came to town.
That being said, there are somethings the Bills best work on if they are going to want to seriously challenge for Super Bowls. One of the main issues was found out later in the season, and that was at the corner back position. The Bills need to get Tre' White a proper partner at conrer, and based off potential, there may be none better than Clemson's Andrew Booth.
The reason I said "based on potential" is just that, we really have no idea how good Andrew Booth is going to be this season. Per PFF, there where 189 corners who played more snaps than Booth in 2020. Though that may be the case, dude's at Clemson, he can play, we just need to see it.
Now, I could honestly flip a coin between Booth and Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner and be perfectly content on how this draft looks. Since I had "Sauce" going first to the Jets, Booth finds his way down to the Bills at 29.
Booth, though relatively inexperienced, is a great athlete and a phyical corner who has the potential to lock down an opposing team's number one reciever while also providing that aforementioned physicality to the run game.
Like I said, he's relatively inexperienced. Again, there where 189 corners who played more snaps than Booth in 2020. Dude came in as the number two corner behind Stingley in the 2019 recruiting class. The potential and skill is there, now we just need to see if he realizes it all in 2021.
WR - 3
The Lions got their quarterback of the future with the second pick of the draft in the form of North Carolina's Sam Howell, now you should go and get him a true, big bodied, number one wide reciever in the form of Treylon Burks.
At 6'3" 232 lbs., Burks is an absolute unit on the outside, and his size combined with athleticism and strength makes him a match-up nightmare for opposing defenders. Dude just feels like a Dan Campbell wide receiver. Benching 380 lbs., squatting 500 lbs., and cleaning 320 lbs. Burks is just an all around beast.
Now, I could definetelty see a scenario where Burks goes a lot earlier than 30, but for now, Lions fans can be really pleased to see Sam Howell and Treylon Burks coming their way. Could be one of the most fun duos in the NFL for years to come (if it happens of course).
EDGE - 6
The Bucs are in a situation where they brought everyone back from their Super Bowl winning roster. So looking for holes in this team can be pretty difficult to find. IF you had to nitpick, I guess the areas that will need filled next season are probably out wide and on the defensive edge.
With Jason Pierre-Paul turning 33 (January 1st) before the next NFL Draft (April 28th), I think the Bucs may look to add yet another edge rusher to their already talented defense.
Look, I know they just drafted Joe Tryon from Washington, who has the body of a Greek god, but it wouldn't hurt to dip your hand back into the edge rusher cookie jar for the 2022 NFL Draft. For this pick, I'm going to give the Bucs South Carolina's Kingsley Enagbare.
Now, I think there is a real chance he goes higher in this draft. Enagbare is an extremly powerful and athletic specimen coming off the edge. He also possesses a very high motor and, coupling with that, is very competitive. Great traits to see from any player, let alone an edge rusher.
Like I said above, this dude has every chance to be a top 15 player, but his jump in sack numbers from 4.5 his hole career to 6 his junior year will make scouts and coaches want to see him repeat his similar production again.
If he can post similar or even better numbers, he may be a surefire top 15 pick. But for now, Tampa is very happy he's available here at 31.
WR - 5
When you look at the Chiefs high powered offense, you think of Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce, and rightfully so, they are all arguably the best at their position. But really, outside of Hill and Kelce, the Chiefs are really sport for choice out wide.
Looking at the Chiefs weapons on the outside, really, you have Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, and Cornell Powell, who was drafted in the fifth round this past draft. Now, I'm not saying these are bad options by any means, but you'd certainly love to add to it and Alabama's John Metchie just feels like a Kansas City Chiefs wide reciever.
At 6'0" 194 lbs., Metchie has speed for days, but it's not just his speed that makes him an intriguing option, but he is a very strong blocker and never gives up on plays (i.e. the SEC Championship game against Florida, where he essentially kills the Florida defender). The "little" things like that will make people keep their eye on him in this draft.
With Jaylen Waddle suffering an ankle injury against Tennessee week 5 last season, Metchie stepped up as Alabama's no.2 wide receiver behind the eventual Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Now it's Metchie's turn to be the guy. He's got all the skill, work ethic, and drive to be the top reciever in this class when the 2022 Draft comes around. Let's see if he gets there.
Players who just missed out
Kedon Slovis, QB - 6, USC
Isaiah Spiller, RB - 1b, Texas A&M
Drake London, WR - 5, USC
Romero Doubs, WR - 6, Nevada
Justyn Ross, WR - 7, Clemson
George Pickens, WR - 8, Georgia
Thayer Munford, OT - 5, Ohio State
Rasheed Walker, OT - 6, Penn State
Ikem Ekwonu, iOL - 3, NC State
Perrion Winfrey, DL - 3, Oklahoma
Nik Bonitto, EDGE - 7, Oklahoma
Myjai Sanders, EDGE - 8, Cincinnati
Adam Anderson, EDGE - 9, Georgia
Sevyn Banks, CB - 5, Ohio State
Josh Jobe, CB - 6, Alabama
Trent McDuffie, CB - 7, Washington
Jordan Battle, S - 2, Alabama
Brandon Joseph, S - 3, Northwestern
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